Steel industry presents one of the highest energy demand of all the industrial sector. Foundries have a really relevant role both in economical terms and as regards the energy demand. The cost of energy represents several percentage points of the overall costs of a foundry. The electricity demand is very high, particularly for the induction melting furnaces. A large amount of...
The paper focuses on the thermal potential utilization of the geothermal resources from the Olt Valley (Romania, Calimanesti, Caciulata area). The three existing drills ensure low enthalpy geothermal water (92–95 °C) having, at the exit of the wells, a high content of combustible gases. The equivalent hot water thermal potential—without the use of the combustible gases—is used...
It is known that both acids and salts have a positive catalytic effect on the dehydration of pentoses to form furfural, a potentially attractive platform chemical. In this study the effects of the combined usage of an organic acid, instead of stronger mineral acids, and a saline catalyst is investigated. In order to assess these effects, the kinetics of pentose dehydration to...
Ground-source heat pumps are a reliable technology and may represent an efficient and cost-effective option for space heating and cooling, when the investment for ground heat exchangers is reasonable. New advanced ground exchangers have been recently proposed, showing high performances also in shallow ground; their shape has not yet been investigated in literature. In the present...
The sustainable use of renewables will represent a key challenge in the near future, and relative energy management operations will play a crucial role in energy efficiency and savings for future generations. The operation and maintenance of energy systems are a very high valuable activity to prevent energy losses, and a correct monitoring can detect in advance equipment...
The use of concentrating solar collectors which are used in solar thermal power plant and concentrated photovoltaic systems implies that these systems only work with the direct normal irradiance (DNI). Unfortunately, DNI ground-based measurements are rarely available at the location of interest, this lack of DNI data contrasts with the availability of global and diffuse...
The objective of this study was to develop a simple and cost-effective method to produce biofertilizer using agro-wastes. There were five types of agro-wastes being used in this study. They were wastes from watermelon, papaya, pineapple, citrus orange, and banana. Solid-state fermentation method was used to produce biofertilizer, which was then applied into vegetable plantation...
In the various areas in which electrical components are used, the problem of heat dissipation generated due to the absorption of electrical energy assumes great interest and is worthy of an in-depth study. In steady state conditions, the thermal power generated can equal the electrical power absorbed and leads to an alteration in the physical properties of electrical components...
To optimize a system, the two main points to consider are a precise system definition (boundary between the system and the environment) and a precise choice of criteria to fulfill. Various energy, environmental and economical goals imply various criteria to minimize energy consumption, rejected nonrecoverable heat or entropy production as well as a maximization of the useful...
Routing of high-voltage electric transmission lines for the connection of renewable energy-distributed generation plants is a critical issue from an environmental point of view. A standard methodology that accounts for multiple perspectives, influence factors and is able to mediate between weighted constraints can be a useful tool for the regulating bodies that are involved in...
Renewable energy is an inevitable choice to meet the demands of energy resource. In the 21st century, one of the serious problems facings us is the energy resources that restrict the social progress and sustainable development. Environmental pollution and fossil energy resources shortage force people to explore and use new energy resources. The aim of this paper is to study the...
The results of an investigation of the potential of wind energy as a power source are reported for an Iranian north-western city, Ardabil. The Weibull probability distribution function using a long-term data source, consisting of 6 years (2005–2010) of 3-h period measured mean wind data, is adopted and analyzed. The data have been measured at a height of 10 m above the ground...
The present investigation aims to analyse alternative uses of bottom ash and fly ash as part of construction materials for different applications: bottom ash-based ceramic bricks, pozzolanic material in the cement production, waste stabilisation/solidification of an electric arc furnace dust using ash-based geopolymers, and ash-based geopolymers used as hydraulic road binders...
Anaerobic digestion (AD) was introduced in Vietnam more than 10 years ago, but at a small scale to deal with agricultural wastes, manure, etc. Despite its many advantages, AD does not yet make a significant contribution to resolving Vietnams urban waste issues due to a lack of information, data and experience. This paper, using an energy model of food waste digestion, provides a...
The problem of neutral current compensation has to be addressed in Wind Energy integrated weak micro-grids. This study analyses two types of techniques possible for implementation of neutral current compensation by drawing a comparative research of their application on the same wind energy conversion system. The hybrid micro-grid considered in the study comprises a synchronous...
Combustion of fossil fuels is one of the major sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) CO2, it is therefore necessary to develop technologies that will allow us to utilize the fossil fuels while reducing the emissions of GHG. Removal of CO2 from flue gasses has become an effective way to mitigate the GHG and adsorption is considered to be one of the methods. Adsorption of CO2 on zeolite...
This study describes the industrial use of waste generated from the brewing industry, specifically sludge from a wastewater treatment plant. The processing technique was developed to produce ceramic material with the potential for use as a lightweight aggregate in construction. This waste is usually dumped in landfills, but the current increase in restrictions on dumping and...
This work analyses the link between the aspect ratio of a vertical-axis straight-bladed (H-Rotor) wind turbine and its performance (power coefficient). The aspect ratio of this particular wind turbine is defined as the ratio between blade length and rotor radius. Since the aspect ratio variations of a vertical-axis wind turbine cause Reynolds number variations, any changes in the...
The deployment of CO2 capture and storage technologies in oil sands operations exhibits an outstanding potential to reduce CO2 emissions, out of the ones produced by power generation sector. This paper assesses through thermodynamic modeling the influence of integrating CO2 capture technologies into two different configurations for in situ bitumen extraction plant (SAGD...
This paper deals with the analysis of the performance of different wind turbines using the Similitude Theory. Wind turbine performance was determined as a function of geometrical similarity coefficient, which is related to all parameters of the Similitude Theory. Therefore, a mathematical model simplification is possible in the ‘in similitude’ wind turbines comparison. The...
In the present study, various white-rot fungi were used for the pretreatment of oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) using solid-state cultivation. The results showed that Trametes versicolor TISTR 3224 gave the highest selectivity value (the ratio of lignin degradation to cellulose degradation) of 1.57. In comparison, Trametes sp. BCC 8729, Phanerochaete chrysosporium ATCC 24725...
The beneficial effects of vermicast on soil fertility in general, and agriculture in particular, are widely recognized, but there are no reports on the effect of storage on vermicast quality. The present study is an attempt to cover this knowledge gap as it may assist in the formulation of guidelines for packaging and storing of vermicast in a manner that preserves the cast’s...
Microalgal biomass is the most promising and attractive alternative to replace the terrestrial crop utilization for renewable biomass fuel feedstock. The potential for biomass fuel is due to its fast growth rate and high ability for CO2 fixation as compared to terrestrial vegetation. There are many species in the globe, growing both in marine and freshwater. In this work, the...
According to the United Nation Development Programme, access to modern low-cost energy systems in developing countries is important in the realization of the globally agreed developmental goals, as well as the Millennium Development Goals, and sustainable development, which would assist in the reduction of poverty and to improve the conditions and quality of life for the greater...