Electricity Generation Process Research Articles

Assessing the Environmental Impact of Empty Fruit Bunches for Electricity Generation in Malaysia: A Life Cycle Perspective

Abstract Empty fruit bunches (EFB) constitute a significant residual byproduct of the palm oil mill industry in Malaysia, representing approximately 22% of the weight of every fresh fruit bunch. This study aims to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with electricity generation utilizing EFB as a primary fuel through a cradle – to – grave life cycle assessment (LCA) approach. The system boundary encompasses the power plant construction, fuel preparation, electricity generation and all transportation activities throughout its life cycle. The EFBs are sourced from seven palm mills situated within a 50-kilometer radius of the plant. SimaPro 9.4.02 software integrated with Ecoinvent 3.8 database was employed to quantify the magnitudes of significant environmental indicators, such as global warming potential (GWP), ozone depletion potential (ODP), acidification potential (AP), eutrophication potential (EP), and photochemical oxidant creation potential (POCP), based on a functional unit of 1 kWh of electricity produced. The emission rate for the biomass plant stands at – 5.31 kgCO2eq/kWh, signifying a net carbon sink. The electricity generation process accounts for a substantial 96.48% of the total CO2eq/kWh emissions, thus bearing the greatest environmental burden. The construction phase of the biomass plant contributes approximately 3.06% of the total emissions, while the EFB transportation to the power plant represents a minor 0.19% of the overall emissions. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate the plant’s efficiency across fiscal years 2018 to 2021 and its corresponding global warming impacts. In 2021, the plant’s operations resulted in the most significant carbon avoidance, given the combustion of a high volume of EFB (188 kilotons) to produce 49.3GWh of electricity. The findings from this study serve as a valuable benchmark for evaluating emissions in the context of the empty fruit bunch-based plant in Peninsular Malaysia, hence offering profound insights into the environmental sustainability of the palm oil industry.

Photovoltaic cells with transparency for glass coverage: case study in party space

Sustainable energy and technological development in electricity generation processes offer opportunities for the development and utilization of new photovoltaic technologies in construction. Photovoltaic cells for glazed surfaces, known as double glass or double-skin, have been applied in modern buildings due to their attributed characteristics that can enhance thermal comfort, provide natural lighting for internal areas, ensure privacy in external environments, and reduce energy consumption. The objective of this study is to investigate the viability of using double glass in the glazed roof of a family party venue. The qualitative method, a case study, was employed to assess the demand for electrical energy in the building and the potential use of double glass photovoltaic technologies. Market research was initially conducted with technology suppliers, enabling the evaluation of characteristics for the technological and economic feasibility of the project. The results show that the installation of double glass photovoltaic technology offers 40% transparency to solar radiation through the roof, resulting in thermal and luminous comfort. In terms of economic viability, the study demonstrates the possibility of return on investment in 4.6 years, considering energy generation, reduced building energy costs, and installation expenses. The installation of double glass technology, according to market research, is economically viable and generates local electrical energy for residents, providing comfort in the environment and enhancing the quality of life for occupants.

Circular Economy as an Important Lever to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Case of an Electricity Distribution Company in Morocco

This article discusses the major challenges related to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the electricity sector and their impact on global climate change. The electricity sector is responsible for about a quarter of total global GHG emissions. To address these challenges, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is used to measure the environmental impact of different energy sources and electricity generation and distribution processes. The circular economy is presented as a promising approach to reducing the carbon footprint of the electricity sector. By optimizing the use and value of materials throughout their life cycle, this approach contributes to waste minimization and resource efficiency. Morocco is committed to reducing its GHG emissions and has adopted policies and regulatory frameworks to combat climate change. This study aims to calculate the climate change impacts of electricity distribution phases by applying a life-cycle approach to the case of an electricity distribution company in Morocco. This assessment makes it possible to identify significant contributors from each area. In the context of this company, it is a question of demonstrating how the application of the principles of the circular economy concepts contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, in particular, that of scope 3. This study may be useful for other similar companies.

Life cycle analysis of the wastewater treatment system in Zabol Industrial Town: Environmental impacts, energy demand, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Use of effective environmental remediation facilities represents a crucial strategy for water reclamation and addressing the challenges of water scarcity. The objective of this study was to assess the wastewater treatment system (WWTS) in Zabol Industrial Town using the life cycle assessment method. Primary data, collected annually for a functional unit of 1 m3 of wastewater treatment, were subjected to analysis using the ReCiPe, Cumulative Energy Demand, and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) methods. Human carcinogenic toxicity (50%), freshwater ecotoxicity (13%), and marine ecotoxicity (10%) were the primary environmental impacts due to the WWTS performance. The discharge of heavy metals during sludge generation, coupled with the consumption of natural gas and oil, especially for electricity production, were pivotal factors contributing to the environmental burdens observed. Furthermore, chemical oxygen demand (COD) (56.34%), electricity consumption (>15.47%), and total phosphorous (>4.49%) significantly threatened human health and ecosystem categories, while fossil fuel consumption had the greatest impact on resources. Nonrenewable fossil fuels, namely, natural gas (47.2%) and oil (38.27%), played a predominant role in the energy provision of the system. The IPCC analysis depicted the emissions of CO2 (86.77%) and CH4 (12.16%) stemming from the process of electricity generation. Based on the outcomes of the sensitivity analysis, implementing a 10% increase in COD yielded an increment in all impacts within the range of 1.40% to 6.83%. Given Iran's geographic location and the unique climatic conditions in Zabul, use of solar and wind energy to energize the WWTS can substantially alleviate its environmental burdens. This study presents a comprehensive framework for evaluating the environmental impact, energy consumption, and carbon footprint of a WWTS. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-12. © 2024 SETAC.

Electrical Power Generation from Waste Products

Electricity generation by burning waste materials, also known as thermal waste-to-energy, is a process that involves converting waste materials into electricity by burning them in a combustion chamber. This process is a sustainable solution for waste management as it reduces the volume of waste sent to landfills while producing renewable energy. The methodology for electricity generation by burning waste materials typically involves waste collection, handling, and preparation, incineration, energy recovery, and ash management. The generated electricity can be used for local communities or industries or fed back into the national grid. The process of electricity generation by burning waste materials provides a reliable source of electricity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by avoiding the release of methane gas from landfills. Overall, electricity generation by burning waste materials is a promising solution for waste management and renewable energy production. However, it is important to carefully consider the potential benefits and drawbacks of this method and to ensure that appropriate regulations and technologies are in place to minimize any negative environmental impacts. Key Word: Heating panels, Led Bulbs, zaar box, IN4007, Battery 4.5V, Resistors, and capacitors

Peridynamic analysis of thermal behaviour of PCM composites for heat storage

One possibility to utilize excess energy from electricity generation or other industrial processes is to use thermal energy storage systems based on phase change materials (PCM). These systems can accumulate and release significant amounts of heat energy during the phase transitions. The volume and properties of PCM undergo rapid changes during the transitions, creating strong physical non-linearities and geometric discontinuities. Describing this complexity with local formulations of the physical processes, i.e., formulations with differential equations, makes the numerical solutions of the corresponding problems challenging. This paper presents a numerical approach for the analysis of such physically complicated systems based on Peridynamics. The approach is illustrated by modelling and analysing the thermal behaviour of a PCM. The computational challenges associated with simulating composite structures with large differences in the heat conductivity of their components are addressed by investigating the influence of different types of peridynamic kernels and their numerical implementation. The results demonstrate that the solution is significantly influenced by the definition of the average thermal conductivity of the peridynamic bonds. The proposed modelling framework provides the base for developing a precise thermo-hydro-mechanical description of PCM composites that can fully represent the complex physical behaviour of thermal energy storage systems.

Risk Assessment for Electricity Generation Management Process with SWARA Based Fuzzy TOPSIS Method

In the successful maintenance of electricity generation management processes in power generation plants, it is of great importance to determine the risks that may arise during the operation of the relevant processes, take measures to minimize these risks, and take the necessary actions. In this study, common risks in the electricity generation management process in HEPPs were identified and these risks were rated by experts (decision-makers) within each power plant itself. Since this rating is made by the experts of each power plant, the impact and probability values of the same risk may differ, and accordingly, different risk levels may arise for the same risk. In the study, the SWARA method was used to compare the risk levels of common risks in the electricity generation process in different power plants and calculate the final weight values of the related risks. As a result of the measures determined for each risk in the electricity generation management processes in the power plants and the actions taken for these measures, it was determined whether the relevant risks were reduced to acceptable levels by looking at the results of the internal audits. In the internal audits, the performance of HEPPs in eliminating the related risks is evaluated with fuzzy expressions separately for each risk. The risk weight values obtained by the SWARA method and the fuzzy expressions obtained as a result of the risk assessment were analyzed with the Fuzzy TOPSIS method, and the performance values of the power plants in eliminating the risks were calculated, then the performance ranking was made in the light of these values.

Optimizing Atmospheric Ion Harvesting Electrodes with Graphene for Clean Energy Generation Based on Capacitive Properties and Energy Storage

The atmosphere is rich in positive ions, rendering it electrically more positive than the Earth's surface. This characteristic presents the atmosphere as a potential source of renewable energy through ion harvesting. This study harnesses the electrical properties by optimizing ion harvesting electrodes using pristine graphene and graphene-Au thin films to generate clean electricity. Research methods included Raman Spectroscopy and Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) to assess the surface characteristics and capacitance of the graphene samples, along with laboratory-scale ion harvesting simulations to evaluate the energy data produced in the ion harvesting process. The samples used in this study were identified as bilayer graphene, as confirmed by Raman Spectroscopy. CV testing yielded capacitance values of 0.40288 F for pristine graphene and 0.44879 F for graphene-Au samples. According to ion harvesting simulations, graphene-Au generated approximately 6.8 times more energy than pristine graphene and five times more energy than copper alone. The respective energy outputs for graphene-Au, pristine graphene, and pure copper were 1.376 mW, 1.157 mW, and 0.374 mW. These results demonstrate that adding a graphene layer to the atmospheric ion-harvesting electrode can optimize the electricity generation process.

Electrostatic self-assembled nickel cobalt sulfide/Ti3C2 Mxene as a bio-capacitive anode for specific attracting sulfur-cycling bacteria and regulating extracellular electron transfer efficiency

Microbial fuel cells have been proposed as one of the sustainable and potential technologies for treating contaminants and synchronously producing green energy. However, the poor performance of the anode is a major obstacle in the practical application of MFCs. To address this challenge, the rational design of anode materials with enhanced biocatalytic and biocompatible properties has been considered as an effective approach to improve extracellular electron transfer (EET) processes and general MFC performance. Herein, in light of the interaction between the transition metal and exoelectrogens, nickel-cobalt sulfide/Ti3C2 Mxene (NiCo2S4/Mxene) is prepared by electrostatic assembly, which combined positively charged sea-urchin-like NiCo2S4 with negatively charged Mxene. This not only prevents the stacking of NiCo2S4 and Mxene but also accelerates the EET process by harnessing their biocompatibility and biocatalyst. As expected, the MFC with NiCo2S4/Mxene harvested higher electricity energy (9.66 ± 0.28 W/m3), significantly exceeded those of plain carbon felt (CF, 1.68 ± 0.13 W/m3), Mxene (4.32 ± 0.20 W/m3) and NiCo2S4 (5.41 ± 0.22 W/m3). Moreover, the microbial community analysis further revealed that the sulfide composite attracts a higher percentage of sulfur-cycling exoelectrogens (Desulfuromonas (24.25%) and Marinobacterium (15.75%)), motivating associated metabolic pathways with more efficient electricity generation processes. Such commendable performances are mainly attributed to the synergistic effect between NiCo2S4 and Mxene, which confers the bioanode with good biocompatibility and biocatalyst for biofilm adhesion and colonization, as well as providing abundant transition metals and sulfide active sites for the EET process. Our finding provides a facile routine for developing sulfide with appropriate modification as anode material for favorable performance of MFC, providing insights for sustainable and cleaner energy production in the future.

Structure and materials of alkaline fuel cell

To solve the problems of energy and environment, after experimentations and selections, hydrogen steps into the limelight; we call it "the ultimate energy source for the development of human society," and fuel cell technology is an essential step of pursuing the recyclable hydrogen energy. Fuel Cell is viewed as one of "The ideal power generation devices in the 21st century"; it has a high energy transformation efficiency, and the electricity generation process has a low environmental impact. If the fuel is being provided, fuel cells can continuously provide electricity, which can likely be applied in power plants, electric vehicles, electronic devices, mobile communications, and space facilities. This work focuses on Alkaline Fuel Cells. The oxidation-reduction process will be more straightforward in alkaline-based electrolytes than in acidic electrolytes, and the alkaline system will also perform better under room temperature. Besides, Alkaline Fuel Cells (AFC) can use non-platinum catalysts, so the cost is lower than the other Fuel Cells. Thus, designing a Hydrogen-based AFC is what's being focused on in this article. However, AFC has its disadvantages too. First, the CO2 in air and fuel gas must be cleaned up because of the alkaline electrolyte. Furthermore, water is a by-product of the electrochemical reactions inside AFCs. Therefore, AFC performance will be seriously affected if the water doesn`t expel. Another issue that current AFCs face is the problem of CO2 poisoning. To address the above questions, we approached it from a thermodynamic perspective, compared the basic structure, material, drainage method, etc., of multiple alkaline fuel cells, and selected the more efficient ones that will be more effective for developing the AFCs.

ОЦІНЮВАННЯ НЕБЕЗПЕЧНИХ ПАРАМЕТРІВ ВИБУХУ ВОДНЕВО-ПОВІТРЯНОЇ СУМІШІ ПІД ЧАС ЕКСПЛУАТАЦІЇ СИСТЕМИ ОХОЛОДЖЕННЯ ТУРБОГЕНЕРАТОРА ЕЛЕКТРОСТАНЦІЙ

As a result of the work, it is shown that electricity generation is a complex and dangerous process. The most fire and explosion hazardous technological process of electricity generation at power plants is the process associated with the operation of hydr

Mapping Capillary Infiltration-Induced Potential in Water-Triggered Electric Generator Using an Electrical Probe Integrated Microscope.

Power generation from water-triggered capillary action in porous structures has recently geared extensive attention, offering the potential for generating electricity from ubiquitous water evaporation. However, conclusively establishing the nature of electrical generation and charge transfer is extremely challenging arising from the complicated aqueous solid-liquid interfacial phenomenon. Here, an electric probe-integrated microscope is developed to on-line monitor the correlation between water capillary action and potential values at any desired position of an active layer. With a probe spatial resolution reaching up to fifty micrometers, the internal factors prevailing over the potential distribution across the whole wet and dry regions are comprehensively identified. Further, the self-powered sensing capabilities of this integrated system are also demonstrated, including real-time monitoring of wind speed, environmental humidity, ionic strength, and inclination angle of generators. The combination of electric potential and chemical color indicator suggests that charge generation is likely correlated with ion-selective transport in the nanoporous channel during the water infiltration process. And unipolar ions (for instance protons) should be the dominant charge-transfer species. The work reveals the fundamental principles regulating charge generation/transfer during the water-triggered electric generation process.

Assessment Method of Bioenergy in the Industrial Sector

The industrial sector is one of the major energy consumers and polluters in emerging countries. With the great demand for a maximum reduction of gas emissions that aggravate the increase in Earth temperature, alternative sources of energy are being adapted for use in the industrial sector, such as bioenergy. Along with methodologies that ease implementation and use, several decision-making methods are currently under development to provide industrial managers with better scenario alternatives for the implementation of bioenergetic factors. This work aims to develop a decision-making method for the use and exploitation of bioenergy in Brazil, considering the initial assessment of sustainability and the implementation of technologies that compose the process of electricity generation through bioenergy. Fuzzy logic was used as the model development structure. It was used to analyze three case studies of manufacturing companies. As a result, there is an applicability of the method through government subsidies, regionalization of biomass for energy generation, and efforts in adapting and maintaining equipment for energy conversion with a strong driver of reduction of environmental impacts. This proposal, in addition to being useful for the industrial sector, helps the government sector with the reduction of energy, taking knowledge beyond the university using a new structured method, environmentally conscious, in this emerging area.

Hydrovoltaic Electricity Generator with Hygroscopic Materials: A Review and New Perspective.

The global energy crisis caused by the overconsumption of nonrenewable fuels has prompted researchers to develop alternative strategies for producing electrical energy. In this review, a fascinating strategy that simply utilizes water, an abundant natural substance throughout the globe and even in air as moisture, as a power source is introduced. The concept of the hydrovoltaic electricity generator (HEG) proposed herein involves generating an electrical potential gradient by exposing the two ends of the HEG device to dissimilar physicochemical environments, which leads to the production of an electrical current through the active material. HEGs, with a large variety of viable active materials, have much potential for expansion toward diverse applications including permanent and/or emergency power sources. In this review, representative HEGs that generate electricity by the mechanisms of diffusion, streaming, and capacitance as case studies for building a fundamental understanding of the electricity generation process are discussed. In particular, by comparing the use and absence of hygroscopic materials, HEG mechanism studies to establish active material design principles are meticulously elucidated. The review with future perspectives on electrode design using conducting nanomaterials, considerations for high performance device construction, and potential impacts of the HEG technology in improving the livelihoods are reviewed.

Monitoring the green transition in the power sector with the electricity generation emissions (EGE) tracker

This paper introduces the Electricity Generation Emissions (EGE) tracker as a new indicator for measuring the decarbonization process associated with the electricity generation mix. The EGE is a composite indicator calculated at the cross-country level on the basis of electricity production of different generation technologies weighted by their corresponding life cycle emission factors. In addition, a four-step methodology is proposed to monitor the energy transition rigorously. It combines index construction and decomposition with the application of machine learning and visualization techniques in a cross-country cluster analysis and temporal mapping. EGE tracker provides a benchmark for comparing countries' sustainability performance in the electricity generation process and quantifies the effectiveness of their climate policies. The design of the index offers a novel measurement to analyze the contribution of each technology to emission reduction.The application of EGE tracker and the proposed methodology reveals a highly heterogeneous emissions reduction trend across the OECD, indicating that the process of moving away from fossil fuels varies by country and evidences different effectiveness in their climate policies. Moreover, our study highlights the potential for better utilization of renewables and the optimization of sustainable energy mix combinations, paving the way for a cleaner, greener energy future.

Advancing Energy Harvesting Efficiency from a Single Droplet: A Mechanically Guided 4D Printed Elastic Hybrid Droplet-Based Electricity Generator.

A droplet possesses the ubiquity and potential to harvest a vast amount of energy. To exploit droplets effectively, a novel output enhancement strategy that can coexist and create synergy with the recently studied droplet-based electricity generator (DEG) and material/surface structure modification must be investigated. In this study, a mechanical buckling-based 4D printed elastic hybrid droplet-based electricity generator (HDEG) consisting of a DEG and solid-solid triboelectric nanogenerator (S-S TENG) is first presented. During the electricity generation process of the DEG by droplet impact, the HDEG structure, which is merged via a simple 4D printing technique, permits the conversion of dissipated energy into elastic energy, resulting in an S-S TENG output. The HDEG outputs are naturally integrated owing to the simultaneous activation of a single droplet, resulting in an approximately 30% improvement over the output of a single DEG. Internal and external parametric studies are performed as HDEG design guidelines. The HDEG exhibits a 25% better energy supply performance than that of a single DEG, demonstrating its applicability as a power source. This research proposes the way toward a hybrid system that efficiently harvests energy from ubiquitous droplets.

Independent Wind Power Installations with Optimum Control Being the Part of Wind Power Plant

Based on the analysis of the independent wind power unit control with advanced blade installation to the required angle in accordance with pitch drive motor turn-on time estimation and taking into account the parameters of inductive resistance x1, reduced inductive resistance x′2, active resistance of the stator winding phase r1, reduced active resistance of the winding phase stator r′2, aimed at minimizing the time of the phase voltage transient regulation of the wind turbine generator, so as to improve the quality of the self-excitation process and the performance of power supply under conditions of incomplete information about wind speed and electrical load characteristics that change significantly over time - a criterion for delimiting the access time has been developed for the device to change blade position in terms of proposed and main methodsto develop controlling actions. Access time differentiation is made for the effective matching of the offered and basic ways of wind power installation control blade position, and minimization of time extrapolation interval of wind stream and electric loading promotes wind speed accuracy estimation and power consumption due to steady average values of meteorological and electric and power process, and also provides control time reduction of target control parameters from an existing basic control method, that essentially reduces its participation in decision making process as the given way generates control actions with delay that leads to fluctuations of phase voltage. The software control module of independent wind unit operationwithin the structure of wind power plant with the set advanced time and taking dynamic properties of the system into account that increases voltage stability of modern wind generators for an independent operation mode is developed. The software package for controlling a wind power plant has been improved based on the power unit operation mode - an independent process of electricity generation or for the power system.

Power Generation from Utilizing Thermal Energy of Hazardous Waste Incinerators

A large amount of thermal energy is generated from burning hazardous chemical wastes, and the temperature of the flue gases in hazardous waste incinerators reaches up to (1200 °C). The flue gases are cooled to (40°C) and are treated before emission. This thermal energy can be utilized to produce electrical power by designing a system suitable for dangerous flue gases in the future depending on the results of much research about using a proto-type small steam power plant that uses safe fuel to study and develop the electricity generation process with water tube boiler which is manufactured experimentally with theoretical development for some of its parts which are inefficient in experimental work. The studied system generates theoretically (120 kg steam /h at 8 bars) with dry wood as fuel and preheating for the air of combustion and feed water and a diesel engine of (8 hp) four-stroke with single piston converted to steam engine coupled with the electrical generator of (3 kVA). The results are compared with practical values valid in the literature about small power plants of steam capacity (0.1-1) ton/h and operating pressure up to 10 bars. Experimentally, the generated electrical power is little and sufficient to operate a small fan and lump. The current converted steam engine is better than a conventional steam engine in auto lubrication with some operational problems. The boiler efficiency is 63.28%.

A Novel Adaptive Neural Network-Based Thermoelectric Parameter Prediction Method for Enhancing Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System Efficiency

Efficiency prediction plays a crucial role in the ongoing development of electrochemical energy technology. Our industries heavily depend on a reliable energy supply for power and electricity, and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems stand out as renewable devices with immense potential. SOFCs, as one of the various types of fuel cells, are renowned for their capability of combined heat and power generation. They can achieve an efficiency of up to 90% in operation. Furthermore, due to the fact that water is the byproduct of their electricity generation process, they are extremely environmentally friendly, contributing significantly to humanity’s sustainable development. With the advancement of renewable energy technologies and the increasing emphasis on sustainable development requirements, predicting and optimizing the efficiency of SOFC systems is gaining importance. This study leverages data collected from an SOFC system and applies an improved neural network structure, specifically the dendritic network (DN) architecture, to forecast thermoelectric efficiency. The key advantage of this method lies in the adaptive neural network algorithm based on the dendritic network structure without manually setting hidden nodes. Moreover, the predicted model of thermoelectric efficiency is validated using 682 and 1099 h of operational data from the SOFC system, and the results are compared against a conventional machine learning method. After comparison, it is found that when the novel method with adaptive characteristics proposed was used for SOFC system efficiency prediction, the MAE and RMSE values were both lower than 0.014; the result is significantly better than from other traditional methods. Additionally, this study demonstrated its effectiveness in predicting the thermoelectric efficiency of SOFC systems through secondary experiments. This study offers guidance on enhancing SOFC systems thermoelectric efficiency. Therefore, this study provides a foundation for the future industrialization of fuel cell systems.

Cloud-edge Collaboration Based Methods in Improving the Safety Inspection Efficiency on Electric Operation Scenes

The safety in electric operation scenes directly influences social economic development and stability. Safety supervision and inspection is one of the most important links in the electricity generation process. The previous mode of executing supervision and inspection in advance and analyzing and reporting afterwards cannot satisfy the requirements of the modern management system, which requests beforehand prevention, in-process control, post review, and analysis. The supervision and inspection efficiency is low. Therefore, this paper proposed three innovative methods to increase the supervision and inspection efficiency of the electric operation. First, we proposed an operation demonstration method on electric equipment that integrates with Augmented Reality (AR). It can greatly increase the operating accuracy and decrease the probability of accidents. Then, a smart, mobile, and cloud-edge collaborated method is proposed, aiming at increasing the availability and effectiveness of safety supervision and inspection. Last, we adopted technical means of integrative recognition to increase the efficiency of obtaining evidence on inspection.