Alternative Energy Resources Research Articles

Broadband and high-efficiency acoustic energy harvesting with loudspeaker enhanced by sonic black hole

It is well-known that acoustic energy sources can be seen as a promising alternative energy resource by using acoustic energy harvester (AEH) which can transform sound energy into usable electrical power. However, the current AEHs have been restricted by their narrow bandwidths and low energy conversion efficiencies. In this study, a broadband and high efficient AEH is presented. The proposed AEH comprises an open-end sonic black hole (SBH) structure and an electrodynamic loudspeaker. The sound pressure is amplified through the open-end SBH structure, then the loudspeaker is used as electricity generator to convert acoustic energy into electric energy. The open-end SBH is a cylindrical tube with an array of regularly-spaced rigid-walled thin rings. The inner radii of the SBH rings are quadratically decreasing and the SBH effect can be obtained. The model for energy harvesting and sound absorption performance of the proposed AEH is then presented. Finally, the open-end SBH is fabricated by 3D printing apparatus. A prototype of the AEH is designed and tested by using an impedance tube. The energy conversion efficiency and absorption coefficient from calculation and experiment show a reasonable agreement. The proposed AEH can convert 11 % of total incident sound energy from 50 Hz to 800 Hz. The maximum energy conversion efficiency can achieve 65 % at 425 Hz under optimal resistance load. Furthermore, the broadband sound absorption can also be achieved by using the proposed AEH.

Specifics of Pricing Policy in the Global Energy Market in Context of Energy Transitions

Identifying price fluctuation patterns between traditional, alternative energy resources of raw material origin and the systemic world transformations is vital in understanding the variability of stable and effective functioning of relevant assets at different stages of economic waves in the context of global environmental challenges. This study was aimed at examining the dynamics of irregularity in the prices of various energy resources derived from raw materials in the global economy as investment assets within the framework of global economic changes. The price pattern of conventional and alternative energy resources on the global market were also examined alongside the connection between them and the price of electricity. The study made use of the monitoring method and the comparison method of various energy resources in terms of costs, availability, the influence they have on the market, and how they differ from each other. Secondary data was also collected from monographs and publications by Ukrainians and international experts on the subject matter. The analysis of the structure of energy resources was done in a retrospective manner following the reporting format of international organizations chosen as a base. Results revealed that the price dependency of traditional and renewable energy sources differs. While traditional energy is connected to economic cycles, the price of renewable energy is more influenced by technological advancements and less by global economic cycles. It is interesting to note that the price of renewable energy is mostly unaffected by global challenges and crises. The study recommend the results to be applied in national strategies for forecasting prices and modelling market conditions and consumer demand.

Lignocellulosic biomass in circular economy: A techno-transition in carbon neutrality towards sustainable energy production

The ongoing energy crisis and global warming threat represent major challenges of the century. Our dependence on conventional fuels has reached to a critical level where attempts are made to reduce the greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission and impede its ramifications. Simultaneously, it is projected to have alternative greener energy resources to reduce the deleterious effect of biofuels on humans and the environment. The lignocellulosic biomass (LCB, an abundant feedstock) constitutes an important renewable resource with potential to replace non-renewable ones for energy production. The shift in the usage of natural resources projects biofuels on the forefront to overcome the growing energy crisis and offer a sustainable solution to the global warming to minimize its impact at the global scale. Offering a long-term viability, biofuels upholds a key component in the economic prosperity of a nation. This article highlights important aspects of feedstock selection, a concise and comprehensive account of the pre-treatment procedures, and enzymatic saccharification of the LCB employed in the biofuel production. Considering the biomass heterogeneity and optimization in predicting and managing the outputs and huge capital and operating expenditures, the study presents integration of the microbial saccharification with established biofuel technologies towards enhancing efficiency and overall productivity. Additionally, an account of the artificial technology and machine learning approaches employed in harnessing renewable resources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, have been added. Holding a greater promise, the review adds to the need of developing robust and efficient LCB conversion methods to scale up and excel in sustainable energy production for a greener future.

Secondary School Students’ Engagement with Environmental Issues via Teaching Approaches Inspired by Green Chemistry

Green chemistry refers to the design and application of practices that prevent pollution and promote environmental sustainability. A set of 12 principles make up the core of the green chemistry philosophy, and, since their emergence, they have been implemented in the educational practice of tertiary education. Over the past few years, the green chemistry approach has started expanding among secondary education as well. This review discusses green chemistry teaching experiences in secondary education as reported in 70 scientific publications (from 2002 to the present) that were identified via a literature search. All identified documents were examined and analyzed to map their green chemistry content and relevant environmental issues, the degree of the connection between the chemistry concepts and environmental issues (“environmentalization”), the implemented teaching-learning approaches, and, when applicable, the achieved learning outcomes. Analysis showed that all 12 green chemistry principles were covered within the identified publications, with the ones referring to prevention and the use of renewable feedstocks being the most frequent. The publications touch upon several environmental issues, with the most frequent being those referring to hazardous chemical waste, alternative energy resources, and recycling. Most of the publications correspond to a medium degree of environmentalization. The inquiry-based, hands-on-based, problem-based, context-based, and socio-scientific issues-based teaching approaches were shown to be the most widely used. Regarding the achieved learning goals, those mostly explored were related to the cognitive and affective domains. This comprehensive review may provide a solid foundation for the organization and design of novel curricula that will integrate green chemistry into education for sustainable development programs in secondary education.

An assessment of prospects of geothermal energy in India for energy sustanability

The search for indigenous, renewable, environment-friendly, and sustainable energy resources has increased globally during the past few decades. Geothermal energy is one such ubiquitous source of energy, having the potential to become an alternate energy resource with a reduced carbon footprint. In this study, eight crucial characteristic parameters, i.e., heat flow, thermal gradient, Curie point depth, lithology, basement depth, crustal thickness, and seismicity, were integrated into a multi-criteria decision model framework to identify areas that may have the potential for geothermal energy in India. The weights of various parameters estimated using AHP are in the order of heat flow (∼ 0.252), followed by the Curie point depth (∼ 0.195), thermal gradient (∼ 0.173), and crustal thickness. Our analysis indicates that the geothermal province in the Himalayas (including the NW and NE regions), SONATA lineaments, central parts, and some parts of the west coasts and Mahanadi graben may have better prospects of geothermal energy compared to other tectonic provinces. We find that ∼14.86%, and ∼21.98 % of the study region have extremely high to high geothermal potential. About ∼ 27.18 % of the region have medium geothermal prospects, whereas ∼ 11.78 % and 24.20 % of the region have very low to low potential for geothermal energy.

Metabolite comparative variation related lipid metabolisms among fruit, leaf, and stem of Jatropha curcas

The issue of non-renewable energy scarcity has persisted over an extended period, primarily due to the depletion of fossil fuel reserves and the adverse effects of their utilization. This scarcity stems from the finite nature of fossil energy resources. The development of oil energy or biofuels aims to utilize oil-producing plants such as Jatropha curcas to develop alternative energy resources. However, metabolomic studies in Jatropha curcas are limited and need more investigations. Therefore, this research was essential to find biomarkers of metabolites among the fruit, leaf, and stem of Jatropha curcas using the GC-MS technique. We tested the metabolite profile with the R program, especially the metaboanalystR package, to determine fold change metabolite and pathway analysis. We found that 54 metabolites were detected in both fruit, leaf, and stem tissues of Jatropha curcas L, of which 19 metabolites were upregulated in the fruit, 20 metabolites in the leaf, and 15 up-regulated metabolites in the stem. The metabolites found formed three clusters based on correlation and networking metabolites analysis. The three clusters showed a relationship with the lipid biosynthesis pathway. In this study, provisional information was obtained that there was a different pattern of expression of metabolites between fruit, leaf, and stem tissues in Jatropha curcas, which was thought to be related to the critical metabolites of oleic acid and methylcyclohexane carboxylate in the biosynthetic pathway of fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids. This information is essential as an initial reference for genetic engineering Jatropha curcas so that it can be used to transform plants, especially lipid-producing plants, as a source of oil.

Monitoring the developmental trend and competitive landscape of natural gas hydrate through patent analysis.

Natural gas hydrate (NGH) is a significant alternative energy resource in achieving carbon neutrality. The developmental trend and competitive landscape of NGH exploitation and production are crucial for policymakers in government, managers of enterprises, and researchers. This study introduces a novel framework for conducting an in-depth analysis of NGH, integrating patentometrics, technology evolution, and correlation relationships to monitor developmental trends and competitive landscape through patent analysis. The results indicate that China, the USA, and Japan have distinct technology advantages. Current technological developments in the NGH field focus primarily on extraction technologies, equipment, and processing systems. The co-opetition analysis among countries reveals that the most extensive international cooperation network is primarily in Europe and the USA, with national partnerships in Asia concentrated in China and Japan. Institutional cooperation remains limited, primarily within universities in China, while both the USA and Japan foster collaboration between enterprises. The competitive landscapes of key NGH-related technologies among countries and institutions are also examined. This study contributes not only to monitoring the developmental trend and competitive landscape in NGH but also to providing policy recommendations for government and enterprises regarding strategic management and collaborative innovation.

Assessment of forest cover change, key drivers of change and perception of locals in Birendranagar Municipality, Surkhet District, Nepal

Land use and land cover change has an immense impact on the global environment and ecosystem and is mostly connected with human activities such as conversion of forest into agricultural land and settlements. Forests are changing globally in quantity and quality, and in both increasing and decreasing trends. For the Birendra Nagar Municipality, this study evaluated LULC dynamics, the conversion of forest cover from 2000 to 2020, as well as community perceptions on forest cover change, its drivers. Landsat images of 2000 and 2020 were used for LULC dynamics and for forest cover change detection Using software GIS 10.8. Questionnaire survey, key informant survey, field observation and secondary data were acquired from journal articles, reports, District Forest office, books, and various other sources to find out drivers of forest cover change and perception of locals. It was found that 1146 ha of forest area, 280.53 ha of water bodies, 752.62 ha of barren land were lost between 2000 and 2020. However, 1147.74 ha of settlement area and 1032.40 ha of agricultural land was gained.Net forest cover decreased overall by 4.67%, however, some areas within the municipality experienced an increase in forest cover namely Ward 11 and ward 16 of Municipality shows Highest positive and Negative Forest cover change in terms of Area. Expansion of agriculture land and settlements with the encroachment of forest area, haphazard infrastructure development, illegal timber harvesting and low regeneration capacity of land responsible for the reduction of forest, along with Community forestry approach, plantations programs, promotion of agroforestry practices, fuel transition were responsible drivers for improvements of forest cover. Water cycle disruption, Increases Natural hazard, Temperature rises, shortage of wood for fuel, extinction of indigenous species were the most perceived negative impacts of the forest cover reduction whereas income generation Activities, support biodiversity, easy to collect fuel wool and fodder and others including purifying air quality, increasing aesthetic beauty were the most perceived positive impacts of the forest cover improvement in the study area. Most of the locals have a holistic understanding of forest cover change. Strengthening forest protection, improving soil and water conservation structures, awareness creation, enrichment planting, Promote Alternate Energy Resources and Equitable benefit-sharing mechanism are possible solutions perceived by locals.

Computational investigation of isoeugenol transformations on a platinum cluster—II: Deoxygenation through hydrogenation to propylcyclohexane

The debate on climate change and the future of our Planet has brought to general attention the problem of fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas), among the main causes of pollution on Earth. At the same time, the necessity to encourage research and development of alternative and renewable energy resources has become increasingly relevant. In this context, biomass is an attractive option to produce biofuels and chemicals currently derived from petroleum. The hydrodeoxygenation process of bio-oils, produced by the rapid pyrolysis of biomass, is the most effective strategy for obtaining biofuels, hence the reason for the investigation of its mechanism on model biomass compounds. Having investigated the direct deoxygenation (DDO) mechanims in the first paper of this series, the present work aims to illustrate the deoxygenation-through-hydrogenation (HYD) mechanism, by which isoeugenol, a compound chosen as a model of bio-oils, is converted into propylcyclohexane on a ten-atom platinum cluster. DFT calculations highlight, from kinetic and thermodynamic perspectives, how the formation of propylcyclohexane takes place through 4-propyl-2-methoxycyclohexane-1-ol, the removal of –OCH3 as methanol and then of the –OH group as water. Microkinetic analysis, performed by joining findings on both DDO and HYD routes, reveals that the isoeugenol DDO mechanism is favored at any selected temperatures.

Energy storage technologies and their combinational usage in micro/mini unmanned aerial vehicles: a review

As the world population increases, energy consumption extensively increases in every field. Energy is a need in several applications, and depending on its importance, its production should be renewable and clean. In order to meet energy requirements sustainably nowadays various alternative energy resources and improvements are recommended in each sector. One of the environmental steps taken in the aviation industry is the improvement of the propulsion systems and the resources used. For this purpose, the use of electrical energy, a more sustainable option than the energy obtained from fossil fuels, is suggested. In order for electrical energy to be used efficiently, it must be stored. This article reviews energy storage technologies used in aviation, specifically for micro/mini Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Combinational energy storage technologies in hybrid propulsion system architectures and their individual usage in all-electric propulsion system architectures are examined. New-generation propulsion technologies are also evaluated and classified in detail.

Synthesis of BaO/NiO/rGO nanocomposite for supercapacitor application

Abstract Considering the global energy crisis, alternative energy resources requirement is rising gradually. In light of dwindling energy resources, we turn to renewable alternatives. Storing this energy for future utilization remains a pressing endeavor. The ideal storage device should possess intensified energy density, power density, and cyclic stability. In this study, we have synthesized metal oxide with carbon based material nanocomposite such as BaO/NiO, BaO/NiO/rGO through cost effective co-precipitation method and their comparative performance for supercapacitor application were studied. Various characterizations were taken for the above synthesized material. X-ray diffraction (XRD) study confirmed the material formation and their crystallinity of the nanocomposite. BaO has tetragonal structure which was confirmed through JCPDS card number 26-0178 and NiO has rhombohedral structure which was confirmed through JCPDS card number 89-7390. To study electrochemical behaviour of electrode material and its cyclic stability, cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies was executed. BaO/NiO/rGO possesses 1072 F/g specific capacitance at 0.3 A/g in aqueous 1 M KOH. The electrochemical action of hybrid device was setup and it revealed 224 F/g at 0.3 A/g within the charging potential of 1.6 V. Capacitive retention of 97.6 % was achieved by asymmetric hybrid supercapacitor even after 5000 cycles at 10 A/g, this shows prepared nanocomposite exceptional cyclic stability in energy storage application.

A direct observation of a hydrogen-rich pressurized reservoir within an ophiolite (Tișovița, Romania)

Subsurface natural hydrogen accumulations that can be economically and safely recovered are a major target of the present roadmap towards the use of hydrogen as an alternative and C-free energy resource. The existence of H2-rich reservoirs in ophiolites, where H2 is produced via serpentinization, was theoretically predicted based on the intensity of gas seeps in Turkey and Albania. Here, we examine the geological bases supporting the potential existence of H2 reservoirs within ophiolites in general, also considering available data on ophiolitic petroleum reservoirs, and we document a direct observation of a H2-rich accumulation within an ophiolite. We studied the case of a borehole, drilled in the 1970s for metal mining exploration purposes within the Tișovița–Iuți ophiolite, in Romania, which accidentally encountered pressurized gas with ∼29 vol% H2 at a depth of about 800 m. We reconstructed the geometry of the ophiolite sequence in correspondence with the well and suggested that the reservoir is within cataclastic dunite near the tectonic contact between layered dunite and the harzburgite-dunite peridotites; the upper, non deformed portion of serpentinized layered dunite, likely with the contribution of tonalite veins, acted as a fluid trap. Although plugged, we detected H2 leakage from this well and from a second well in the same area, with H2 concentrations exceeding 100 ppmv in the air and 0.1 mg H2/L in the water within the wellhead open casing. We propose a broad conceptual model in which deformed, fractured, and non-deformed, impermeable sections of serpentinized peridotites can determine ophiolitic H2-rich reservoirs and traps, respectively, as factors that shall be considered in the guidelines for H2 reservoir exploration.

Managing the kinetic energy of descending greywater in tall buildings and converting them into a valuable source

Harnessing energy from descending greywater (GW) in tall buildings (TBs) is an innovative concept that combines water management with renewable energy generation and applying simulation methods. This study proposes a novel approach to enhancing sustainable energy recovery in TBs by capitalizing on the kinetic energy inherent in descending GW. Greywater, derived from non-toilet fixtures such as showers, bathroom sinks, and washing machines, offers a readily accessible source of potential energy due to its gravity-driven flow through the plumbing system. This gravitational potential energy could feasibly be converted into useable electricity through the incorporation of specialized energy-recovery mechanisms, such as turbines, hydroelectric generators, and piezoelectric devices. The study addresses the technical, economic and environmental aspects of implementing this idea in TBs. It describes the challenges of system integration, maintenance requirements and adherence to regulatory standards, as well as the potential benefits in terms of water conservation and reduced reliance on conventional energy sources, through a comprehensive analysis encompassing modeling, experimental validation and feasibility assessments. The research offers insights into the potential viability of harnessing downward-flowing GW as an alternative and sustainable green energy resource.

Time-dependent deformation of marine gas hydrate-bearing strata conditioned to a wellbore: Experiments and implications

Natural gas hydrate (NGH) is a promising alternative energy resource, whereas marine NGH exploitation suffers from various potential geo-environmental concerns. The existence of a production wellbore not only provides channel for gas extraction, but also causes specific boundary conditions for the occurrence of geo-environmental risks. Almost all kinds of geo-environmental risks during NGH production initiate from time-dependent deformation of the near-wellbore strata. In this paper, the pressuremeter test (PMT) method was firstly introduced to investigate the lateral creep behaviors of the NGH-bearing sediment. The PMT probe was used to apply outwards lateral stress onto the hydrate-bearing sediment to simulate the horizontal stress state of the near-wellbore reservoir during drilling, completion, and/or hydraulic fracturing, during which the pressure inside the wellbore is higher than the reservoirs static pressure. The results indicated that the decelerated creep accounts for more than 70% of the lateral strain before the effective stress reaches the long-term strength. The hardening modulus of the sediment was proven to be increased from the magnitude of ∼102 MPa–∼103 MPa, when the hydrate saturation increases from 2.2% to 50.0%. The PMT creep test results can be used for interpretation of the in-situ horizontal stress and geomechanical parameters such as pro-plastic pressure and ultimate pressure. Based on the fact that PMT test results complies with the previous results from other techniques, a field-applicable PMT technique for NGH reservoir test is suggested to be developed in future study, and a systematic hypothesis and workflow for NGH reservoir modelling is also proposed in this study.

Wavelet entropy and complexity–entropy curves approach for energy commodity price predictability amid the transition to alternative energy sources

In recent years, energy commodities have emerged as pivotal and widely debated subjects, driven by their profound influence on the global economy and their intricate interconnections. Moreover, the challenges stemming from the predictability of energy commodity prices have become a prominent and intensifying focus of discussion. To this aim, in this paper, we employ wavelet analysis with an entropy approach to investigate and evaluate fluctuations, low-frequency events, and rare events in energy commodity prices and the consequent predictability of such time series. In particular, wavelet analysis can differentiate high-frequency from low-frequency movements in a time series, and entropy is a valuable mathematical tool used to evaluate the state of disorder, randomness, or uncertainty in a time series. Specifically, we employ Rényi Entropy instead of the Shannon entropy because it allows for enhanced consideration of low-frequency events and spikes in a time series. Therefore, to analyze the predictability of a series, we use Wavelet Rényi Entropy (WRE) and the Rényi complexity–entropy curves by combining the wavelet transform with Rényi entropy. Finally, we apply our analysis to real financial data, including energy commodities and indices that can describe the transition to alternative energy resources.

Theoretical investigations of structural, electronic, magnetic, and optical properties of group V (X = V, Nb, Ta) added CeO2-X materials for optoelectronic applications.

Depletion of natural resources, responsible for energy production, is a serious concern for researchers to develop alternate energy resources or materials. Scientists have proposed various energy materials which are based on semiconductors and their underlying physics. Cerium oxide (CeO2) is a versatile energy material which receives much attention owing to excellent photocatalytic, photonic, thermal stability, and optoelectronic applications. Even though CeO2 exhibited remarkable physical properties, but yet, they can be enhanced upon suitable doping. Focus on current research is to dope group V elements into CeO2 in order to enhance its electronic and optical response. The density of states (DOS) and band gaps of proposed materials are calculated, and significant improvement is noted after applying TB-mbj method. Optical absorption spectra of V/Nb/Ta-doped CeO2 show blueshift and decrease in reflectivity along with the presence of magnetism illustrate potential uses of these materials in future UV optoelectronics, spintronics, sensing, and energy harvesting devices. This research is based on computational work carried using Wien2k code where PBE-GGA approximation is used to approximate exchange and correlation potentials. Supercells of vanadium/niobium/tantalum-doped CeO2 are constructed, and spin-polarized density of states (DOS) along with optical constant are calculated. TB-mbj method is used to bring improvements in DOS and band gaps of proposed materials. Iterations are conducted using convergence criterion, and non-relativistic calculations are performed.

A Systematic Review on the Use of AI for Energy Efficiency and Indoor Environmental Quality in Buildings

Global warming, climate change and the energy crisis are trending topics around the world, especially within the energy sector. The rising cost of energy, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and global temperatures stem from the over-reliance on fossil fuel as the major energy resource. These challenges have highlighted the need for alternative energy resources and urgent intervention strategies like energy consumption reduction and improving energy efficiency. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system in a building accounts for about 70% of energy consumption, and a decision to reduce energy consumption may impact the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of the building. It is important to adequately balance the tradeoff between IEQ and energy management. Artificial intelligence (AI)-based solutions are being explored for improving building energy performance without compromising IEQ. This paper systematically reviews recent studies on AI and machine learning (ML) for building energy management and IEQ by exploring common use areas, the methods or algorithms applied and the results obtained. The overall purpose of this research is to add to the existing body of work and to highlight energy-related AI applications in buildings and the related gaps. The result shows five common application areas: thermal comfort and indoor air quality (IAQ) control; energy management and energy consumption prediction; indoor temperature prediction; anomaly detection; and HVAC controls. Gaps involving policy, real-life scenario applications, and insufficient study of the visual and acoustic comfort areas are also identified. Very few studies take into consideration the need to follow IEQ standards in the selection process and positioning of sensors in AI applications for IEQ in buildings. This study reveals a need for more systematically summarized research.

Design and performance evaluation of inverted downdraft biomass gasifier cook stove for improving the kitchen environment of rural area

The use of biomass is becoming increasingly important as an alternative energy resource for developing countries. In India, various Chula or biomass Gasifier stoves are utilized in various restaurants, including kitchens and roadside tea stands. These Chula or existing biomass Gasifier stoves have higher smoke emissions as well as lower thermal efficiency. Therefore, sustainable design and performance evaluation of biomass Gasifier cookstoves are required. IDBG cookstove has an inner diameter, outer diameter, and height of 19 cm, 21.5 cm, and 45 cm used for experimentation. Wooden blocks, Charcoal, and Animal dung were used as feedstocks with three repetitions of experimentations. The present case study illustrated the design and analysis of an inverted downdraft Biomass gasifier (IDBG) cook stove. It was tested in climate conditions of A D Patel Institute of Technology, Anand, Gujarat, India. Animal Dung found outstanding performance compared to other feedstocks, such as wooden blocks and Charcoal, with a thermal efficiency of 11-20% from the experiments. It has also been found that smoke emission of up to 20 to 40% is reduced using the IDBG cookstove. The current research has concluded that the IDBG cookstove reduced smoke emissions and improved thermal efficiency.

EXHAUST GAS ANALYSIS OF DIESEL - CADOBA FARINOSA FORSKK BIO-ETHANOL BLENDED FUEL SAMPLES RUNNING ON COMPRESSION IGNITION ENGINE

The world is facing declining liquid fuel reserves at a time when energy demand is exploding. As the supply decreases and costs rise, everyone will be forced to adopt the alternative energy resources. In order to achieve a secure and stable energy supply that does not cause environmental damage, renewable energy sources must be explored and promising technologies should be developed. This study investigates the effects of exhaust gases of diesel-Cadoba farinosa forskk bio-ethanol blended fuel samples run on a compression ignition engine. The test fuels were prepared; BDE2 (97% Diesel and 2% bio-ethanol volumetric proportion), BDE4, BDE6, BDE8 and BDE10 with 1% biodiesel (palm oil methyl esters) was maintained throughout to prevent phase separation of the ethanol and diesel respectively. The engine performance and exhaust gas analysis were also conducted to investigate the effect of bio-ethanol as diesel fuel extender, with a TD110-115 single-cylinder, four-stroke and air-cooled, compression ignition engine test rig, under different loading conditions, and incorporated with an SV-5Q automobile exhaust gas analyzer was used to monitor and measure the concentration of gaseous emissions, such as; exhaust gas temperature (EGT), carbon dioxide (CO 2), carbon monoxide (CO), and unburned hydrocarbon (HC) from the engine tail pipe. Results of the test revealed an appreciable increase in exhaust gas temperature of 16.66% due to the rise in cylinder pressure and temperature respectively. An appreciable decrease in HC, CO and CO 2 15.7%, 37.5% and 15% respectively emissions was recorded for all blended fuel samples with the exception of diesel. While, the least CO and CO 2 emission levels were observed for BDE10 fuel samples. On the account of its satisfactory engine performance behavior, fuel conservation advantages, and inherent greenhouse gas mitigation potentials, the candidacy of Cadoba Farinosa Forskk bio-ethanol and diesel blends, offers the promise of a prospective fuel for compression ignition engines.

Effect of high-pressure pyrolysis on syngas and char structure of petroleum coke

Petroleum coke, a byproduct of petroleum refining, is considered a potential alternative fuel owing to its low ash content and high calorific value. This study aims to enhance our understanding of the pyrolysis process and its potential applications by investigating the effect of pressure on the pyrolysis of petroleum coke, focusing on changes in its syngas composition and char structure. High-pressure pyrolysis was employed to explore structural changes, decomposition pathways, and gas production. High pressures increase the residence time and promote secondary pyrolysis, leading to the increased production of hydrogen. Also, high pressure can promote gasification reactions such as methanation. The influence of pressure on the chemical and physical structures of the produced char was also observed. Higher pressures resulted in more active secondary pyrolysis, causing a decrease in the aromatic groups and an increase in the aliphatic and oxygen-containing groups in the char. The surface area and porosity of char increased at higher pressures, enhancing its reactivity and gasification rate. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the effects of pressure on petroleum coke pyrolysis, shedding light on its potential as an alternative energy resource and highlighting changes in gas composition and char structure under various pressure conditions.