Energy Generation Processes Research Articles

Maternal diet deficient in riboflavin induces embryonic death associated with alterations in the hepatic proteome of duck embryos

BackgroundMaternal riboflavin deficiency (RD) induces embryonic death in poultry. The underlying mechanisms, however, remain to be established and an overview of molecular alterations at the protein level is still lacking. We investigated embryonic hepatic proteome changes induced by maternal RD to explain embryonic death.MethodsA total of 80 45-week-old breeding female ducks were divided into two groups of 40 birds each, and all birds were raised individually for 8 weeks. All the female ducks received either a RD or a riboflavin adequate (control, CON) diet, which supplemented the basal diet with 0 or 10 mg riboflavin /kg of diet respectively.ResultsThe riboflavin concentrations of maternal plasma and egg yolk, as well as egg hatchability declined markedly in the RD group compared to those in the CON group after 2 weeks, and declined further over time. The hepatic proteome of E13 viable embryos from 8-week fertile eggs showed that 223 proteins were upregulated and 366 proteins were downregulated (> 1.5-fold change) in the RD group compared to those in the CON group. Pathway analysis showed that differentially expressed proteins were mainly enriched in the fatty acid beta-oxidation, electron transport chain (ETC), and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Specifically, all the proteins involved in the fatty acid beta-oxidation and ETC, as well as six out of seven proteins involved in the TCA cycle, were diminished in the RD group, indicating that these processes could be impaired by RD.ConclusionMaternal RD leads to embryonic death of offspring and is associated with impaired energy generation processes, indicated by a number of downregulated proteins involved in the fatty acid beta-oxidation, ETC, and TCA cycle in the hepatic of duck embryos. These findings contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms of liver metabolic disorders due to maternal RD.

Forecasting of waste-to-energy system: A case study of Faridabad, India

ABSTRACTEnergy plays a major role in the manufacturing process. Technologies used for energy generation and resource utilization were changing very fast. Conventional and nonconventional energy generation process leads to change in the energy recovery pattern. Forecasting of energy needs to be done based on the energy analysis and availability of resources. Dependency on the fossil fuel is more in India, which needs to be relooked for making Indian power sector more energy secure and reliable in the coming decades. In this paper, an attempt is made to forecast the energy generation for the 10 years (2015–2025) from municipal solid waste (MSW) in Faridabad, Haryana, India. Forecasting of MSW was analyzed based on three collection efficiencies (50%, 70%, and 80%) in Faridabad. The result shows that 2.65 kg of MSW is required to generate one unit of electrical energy with thermal conversion system. It was also obtained that approximate 2% of required electrical energy would be obtained from waste-to-energy (WTE) system in Faridabad over a period of 10 years (2015–2025). The result presented here could be a decision matrix for municipalities to develop effective waste management system for upcoming smart cities in India. Moreover, another novelty of this study reflects that cities having similar waste characteristics and population index could adopt this study for waste management and energy recovery. Proposed WTE system would reduce volume of the solid waste thereby improve environment of the city.Abbreviations: CPCB: Central Pollution Control BoardWTE: Waste-to-energyMSW: Municipal solid wasteTPD: Tons per dayGDP: Gross domestic productKcal: Kilo caloriekg: KilogramKwh: Kilo watt hourMW: MegawattMT: Metric tonCHP: Combined heat and power

An optimization method for energy structures based on life cycle assessment and its application to the power grid in China

The optimization of energy structures, aimed at saving energy and reducing emissions, is an important precautionary measure against climate change. This study considers different environmental impacts of power systems, and investigates ways to optimize power structures and decrease their potential environmental impact. A multi-objectives optimization model of energy structures was created based on life cycle assessment (LCA). This model covers several environment impacts, rather than only focusing on carbon emissions. LCA was used to calculate the different environmental impacts and provided a new method for normalization. The model was applied to the power industry in China. Three kinds of environmental impacts were considered: material input (MI), global warming potential (GWP), and water deprivation (WD). The five major existing methods of electricity generation in China were considered: thermal power, nuclear power, hydro power, wind power, and solar photovoltaic power. The system boundary included all life cycle stages; specifically, extraction of raw materials and resources, production, energy generation processes, and power transport. The optimization results showed that the total environmental impacts were reduced; MI, GWP, and WD were decreased by 29.53%, 29.67%, and 19.06%, respectively. This method provides new insights into optimization of energy structures by considering multi-environment impacts.

Complex Energy Supply Systems for Individual Sites

The final dedication of either photoelectric system or any other equipment producing energy is to supply to consumers energy in such forms and quantities that they need. Therefore, the factual efficiency of energy generating equipment is defined by not only characteristics of this generating equipment such as, for example, PV plant, but also by the specifics of equipment, structures, and many other factors that make their effect on the process of energy generation, transmission and use. Integration of this equipment, structures and factors in a system followed by optimization of such system will make it possible to ensure maximal operation efficiency. In this work, energy supply of individual sites by implementing a generalized complex energy supply system has been studied. Necessity of such systems has been substantiated and generic principles of their building, effectiveness criterion, and photoelectric equipment as an integral part of such complex energy supply system have been analysed.

COMPUTER-BASED MODEL FOR STUDYING THE OPERATION OF THE PHOTOVOLTAIC STATION WITH FUZZY REGULATOR OF THE GRID INVERTER

Computer-based model of 250 kW photovoltaic station, consisting of 88 parallel strings, each of which contains 7 serially connected modules of SunPower SPR-415E-WHT-D type, connected to the local electric grid was developed, applying Matlab programs. Such model enables to carry out the study of the operation of the station with fuzzy regulator of the grid inverter, based on the mathematical model of the electric energy generation process optimization in the grid at photovoltaic station, applying fuzzy sets tool. For the verification of operation adequacy of the photovoltaic station fuzzy regulator the modeling was performed for two cases of electric station operation: with fuzzy regulator and without it. The following condition was met - the loading, climatic conditions and their change was identical for both cases. The greatest impact in the process of electric energy generation by photovoltaic station has the sudden cloud coverage, that leads to the decrease of the amount of solar radiation per unit of the surface area. As a result, electric energy generation drastically drops. That is why, in the process of modeling this parameter played the most important role. Besides the climatic factors, the carrying capacity of the grid has great impact on the process of photovoltaic station generation. Thus, in the process of modeling such modes as electric energy consumers load drop, load increase and simulation of drastically changing climatic factors, for instance, sudden cloud coverage were simulated. Modeling was performed in the time interval from 0 to 0.2 sec. This was sufficient for the assessment of photovoltaic power plant operation in the above- mentioned modes. In the computer model active-inductive loading was used for obtaining the conditions, maximally close to real conditions, in its turn, this enabled to obtain information, regarding the generation of active and reactive power by photovoltaic power plant. For the correct assessment of the grid parameters phase currents and linear voltage of photovoltaic power plant were evaluated. The obtained results prove the efficiency of the fuzzy regulator application, the correctness of the mathematical model and the necessity of taking into consideration the impact of the climatic factors, carrying capacity of the grid on the control of the process of the electric energy transmission by the power plant into the grid.

Characterization of bamboo species and other biomasses with potential for thermal energy generation>

ABSTRACT Biomass quality is important to strengthen the use of species as reliable energy sources. This study aimed to characterize the energy quality attributes of bamboo species (Bambusa vulgaris, Bambusa tuldoides, Dendrocalamus giganteus and Guadua angustifolia) biomass, when compared to other raw materials of residual origin with a high potential for use in thermal energy generation processes (rice husk, eucalyptus chips, coconut husk and fiber). The basic density, higher calorific value and fiber, lignin and ash contents were evaluated. All the evaluated bamboo species present energy quality characteristics equivalent to those of biomasses traditionally used in thermal energy generation, such as high energy density (2,415-2,967 Mcal m-3), high calorific power (4,359-4,568 kcal kg-1), high basic density (0.537-0.653 g cm-3) and low ash content (1.41-2.41 %). The bamboo biomasses of the four evaluated species present adequate characteristics as fuel for thermal energy generation processes, with potential for use in several industrial sectors.

MAGNESIUM AS NECESSARY MINERAL IN THE RIGHT DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN ORGANISM

Minerals are inorganic elements that are part of the tissue of the plants and animals themselves, they are found in the composition of food products and participate in the building of tissues and organs in the human organism. Mineral matters are basic building materials and they make up 4-5% of the the mass of the human body. Minerals can be found in almost every cell, tissue, and organs. They are important ingredients of essential molecules (thyroxine, hemoglobin, vitamin B12, etc.). Minerals are important cofactors in numerous enzymatic reactions that form the solid part of the bones. In addition, mineral substances maintain the pH, osmotic pressure, help in the transmission of nerve impulses, muscle contraction, processes of energy generation in the body and participate in almost all other metabolic processes. Magnesium is a very important mineral for the health of the whole body because it participates in more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body. About 50% of the total magnesium level is found in bones, and the rest is in cells, tissues, and organs. Only 1% of magnesium is found in the blood.

NAMPT Inhibitor KPT-9274 Selectively Targets Self-Renewal Capacity in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disease that is characterized by an accumulation of neoplastic myeloid precursor cells in the bone marrow. Recently, multiple agents targeting AML associated mutations in FLT3, IDH1 and IDH2 have been developed. However, a majority of AML patients lack these mutations. Therefore, development of a novel therapeutic approach broadly relevant to AML would be attractive. The clonal capacity of AML cells is maintained by leukemic initiating cells (LICs), which possess self-renewal capabilities and are resistant against cytotoxic combination chemotherapy. Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the generation of NAD+, which is an important enzymatic cofactor and serves as a metabolite required for cellular respiration. LICs show a higher energy turnover rate than normal cells and are heavily reliant on oxidative phosphorylation. This suggests that energy generation processes, such as NAD+ biosynthesis, are critically required in myeloid malignancies. Thus, targeting the regeneration of NAD+ offers an attractive alternative therapeutic strategy in AML. Unlike many targeted therapies that are limited to one genetic subtype of AML, targeting regeneration of NAD+ via NAMPT inhibition could be relevant to a much broader patient population based upon metabolic differences between tumor and normal cells.We show that inhibition of NAMPT using the agent KPT-9274 induces loss of glycolytic and mitochondrial activity, more specifically a depleted total spare reserve capacity (p<0.001), in MV4-11 and THP-1 cell lines. KPT-9274 treatment decreased colony formation in AML patient samples across multiple genotypes (p<0.001) with a minimal decrease in colony formation by normal CD34+ hematopoietic cells. In addition, KPT-9274 treatment of AML cells decreased re-plating capacity, suggesting decreased self-renewal capacity (p=0.031). In contrast to pre-clinical activity observed in AML, there was minimal depletion of absolute counts observed in cell numbers of B, T and NK-lymphocyte treated ex-vivo as measured by flow cytometry, suggesting potent selectivity of KPT-9274. Furthermore, in a PDX mouse model of AML, KPT-9274 treatment significantly reduced disease burden (p<0.001) and prevented leukemic infiltration in spleen, bone marrow, and liver. In addition, KPT-9274 treatment induced differentiation, which is evident by a decrease in blast percentage and an introduction of segmented and band neutrophils in bone marrow differentials. Mice treated with KPT-9274 showed a reduction of bone marrow CD34+/CD38- cells (p<0.001), which are considered the stem cell population within the bulk leukemic cells. Extending our findings, consecutive re-plating of KPT-9274-treated PDX leukemic cells showed a marked decrease in colony formation, indicative of a loss of self-renewal capacity. KPT-9274 in combination with the anthracycline doxorubicin further decreased the infiltration of AML cells in comparison to either treatment alone. Overall, our data show that the NAMPT inhibitor KPT-9274 targets the leukemia initiating cell population, a potential source of resistance to cytotoxic chemotherapy, which is not adequately eradicated by current therapies in most patients. DisclosuresMims:Abbvie Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Agios Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy. Baloglu:Karyopharm Therpeutics: Employment. Senapedis:Karyopharm Therapeutics: Employment.

Novel solutions for closed-loop reverse electrodialysis: Thermodynamic characterisation and perspective analysis

Closed-loop Reverse Electrodialysis is a novel technology to directly convert low-grade heat into electricity. It consists of a reverse electrodialysis (RED) unit where electricity is produced exploiting the salinity gradient between two salt-water solutions, coupled with a regeneration unit where waste-heat is used to treat the solutions exiting from the RED unit and restore their initial composition. One of the most important advantages of closed-loop systems compared to the open systems is the possibility to select ad-hoc salt solutions to achieve high efficiencies. Therefore, the properties of the salt solutions are essential to assess the performance of the energy generation and solution regeneration processes. The aim of this study is to analyse the influence of thermodynamic properties of non-conventional salt solutions (i.e. other than NaCl-aqueous solutions) and their influence on the operation of the closed-loop RED. New data for caesium and potassium acetate salts, i.e. osmotic and activity coefficients in aqueous solutions, at temperature between 20 and 90 °C are reported as a function of molality. The data are correlated using Pitzer's model, which is then used to assess the theoretical performance of the whole closed-loop RED system considering both single and multi-stage regeneration units. Results indicate that KAc, CsAc and LiCl are the most promising salts among those screened.

Anaerobic and photocatalytic treatments of post-hydrothermal liquefaction wastewater using H2O2

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of cyanobacteria is a promising process for energy generation. However, post-HTL wastewater (PHWW) contains high amounts of organic matter and toxic compounds. This study investigated photocatalysis and anaerobic digestion (AD) for the treatment of PHWW from Spirulina conversion. H2O2 was used as an external oxidant in the photocatalysis or as a pretreatment in the AD process. The effect of different concentrations of H2O2 was evaluated. Greater CH4 production and higher COD reduction were observed when pre-treated PHWW was used. In the photocatalytic treatment, color and COD reduction reached 93.1% and 23.4%, respectively, with the addition of H2O2. When a combination of the oxidative pretreatment and AD was applied, a maximum energy recovery of 66.7% was reached, while the photocatalysis reached a maximum of 61.5%. Use of the best conditions with proper dilutions resulted in higher growths of the Spirulina cultivation compared to that with conventional algal media.

Triboelectric–Thermoelectric Hybrid Nanogenerator for Harvesting Energy from Ambient Environments

AbstractRecently developed triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) with advantages of a low fabrication cost, high output voltage, and high energy conversion efficiency have shown potential applications in harvesting ambient environment energy. However, the heat energy produced and wasted during the triboelectric energy generation process limits the output of TENG. One approach is to design TENG based on a noncontact mode to minimize the energy loss. The other approach is to scavenge the lost energy with a supplementary nanogenerator. In this work, triboelectric–thermoelectric hybrid nanogenerator (TTENG) is fabricated to harvest the energy from ambient environment and the thermal energy from the temperature difference induced by r‐TENG friction. At a rotation rate of 500 rpm, r‐TENG can produce a constant open‐circuit voltage (Voc) of 200 V and a short‐circuit current (Isc) of 0.06 mA. The thermoelectric nanogenerator (TMENG) with a size of 16 cm2 can produce a Voc of 0.2 V and an Isc of 20 mA. The experimental results show that the TTENG is a promising method to harvest the ambient mechanical energy.

Research on the Discharge and Mitigation Created by Ultra-high Velocity Impact on Solar Array With Applied Power Supply

Solar array is one of the core components of spacecraft exposed to space environment; it is vulnerable to the impact from space debris. Discharge of solar array induced by ultrahigh-speed collision will produce a serious threat to the power supply system of spacecraft in orbit. In order to mitigate discharge effect and simulate working state of solar array effectively during debris impacting on solar array, realizing charging through sunlight irradiance on the ground simulating experiments is very difficult. Therefore, the inverse process of solar energy generation is adopted by applied power supply to solar array. In addition, loading and measurement systems of discharge have been established in a laboratory. A two-stage light gas gun was used to launch the projectile to impact on solar array at the applied power supply voltage of 100 V, and the spacings among the cells of solar array were 0.6, 3, and 5 mm, respectively. The applied power supply system, the diagnostic system of plasma characteristic parameters, and the measuring system of discharge current and voltage were constructed to provide voltage for solar array, diagnosing characteristic parameters of plasma and measuring discharge parameters, respectively. Six sets of experiments have been performed to measure discharge current and voltage induced by plasma during 2A12 aluminum projectile impacting on the solar array with carbon fiber reinforced plastics Al honeycomb sandwich and 2A12 aluminum substrates, respectively. The experimental results showed that the discharge did happen during 2A12 aluminum projectile impacting on solar array, and the discharge current among the cells increased with the increase of the impact velocity under the given experimental conditions. Also, increasing spacings among the cells of solar array could indeed mitigate or inhibit plasma discharge effects created by hypervelocity impact on solar array at the same projectile incident angles and applied power supply.

Effect of foreign direct investments, economic development and energy consumption on greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries

In accordance with the Sustainable Development Goal 17 of improving global partnership for sustainable development, this study examined the effect of foreign direct investment inflows, economic development, and energy consumption on greenhouse gas emissions from 1982 to 2016 for the top five emitters of greenhouse gas emissions from fuel combustion in the developing countries, namely; China, India, Iran, Indonesia and South Africa. The study employed a panel data regression with Driscoll-Kraay standard errors, U test estimation approach and panel quantile regression with non-additive fixed-effects. The study found a strong positive effect of energy consumption on greenhouse gas emissions and confirmed the validity of the pollution haven hypothesis. The environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis is valid for China and Indonesia at a turning point of US$ 6014 and US$ 2999; second, a U-shape relationship is valid for India and South Africa at a turning point of US$ 1476 and US$ 7573. Foreign direct investment inflows with clean technological transfer and improvement in labour and environmental management practices will help developing countries to achieve the sustainable development goals. Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions depends on enhanced energy efficiency, adoption of clean and modern energy technologies, such as renewable energy, nuclear, and the utilization of carbon capture and storage for fossil fuel and biomass energy generation processes.

A techno-economic evaluation of the energy generation by proton exchange membrane fuel cell using biogas reforming

The development of more efficient processes for energy generation and the use of renewable energy sources, such as biogas, can promote the sustainable use of natural resources as well as the reduction of greenhouse gases emissions. The H2 production through biogas reforming for energy generation by fuel cells has been considered as an interesting alternative, since fuel cell systems exhibit higher energy efficiency than combustion engines. Thus, the aim of this work is to perform a techno-economic evaluation of a process for energy production by proton exchange membrane fuel cell using biogas reforming. For this, a plant for energy production was simulated. Next, the effect of important parameters such as composition of inlet stream of reforming reactor and biogas flow rate on the technical performance of the process, on cost of H2 production and on the selling price of energy generated was evaluated. The Jardim Gramacho landfill, located in the city of Rio de Janeiro/Brazil was used as a representative model of other landfills in Brazilian cities. The sensitivity analysis showed that the biogas flow rate had the greatest influence on the price of H2 produced and on the selling price of energy generated. The use of the highest biogas flow rate with a plant life of 14 y resulted in a high H2 production, a lower amount of H2O consumed and lower energy selling prices than the market selling prices. Moreover, these conditions made possible the supply of energy for 36,000 houses. These results showed that this technology is sustainable and economically feasible under these operating conditions. It may promote the widespread use of H2 and fuel cell technologies, which could ensure environmental sustainability.

Carbon-based sorbents impregnated with iron oxides for removing mercury in energy generation processes

Gaseous phase mercury emissions into the atmosphere from fossil fuel combustion processes for energy production are a matter of serious environmental concern. Several technologies have been studied and proposed to address this problem, but none of them is mature enough from a commercial point of view. This study aims to provide new insights into the interaction between mercury and iron oxides in order to enable the design of cost-effective mercury capture technology based on regenerable sorbents. Different iron oxides supported on an activated carbon were prepared and tested for the removal of elemental mercury (Hg0). It was found that 1) maghemite promoted the removal of mercury to a greater extent than goetite/hematite achieving 100% efficiencies and 2) the mercury-sorbent interaction is determined by the oxygen vacancies present in the iron oxide. The mercury retention efficiency is maintained after the sorbent is regenerated and it is not deactivated by the presence of acid gases. The results obtained with the sorbent loaded with maghemite open new perspectives for the retention of gaseous Hg0, combining high efficiency, good regenerability and lower price in comparison with sorbents developed to date. Once the regeneration capacity is assessed, the adsorption process will be scaled.

Highly effective organic draw solutions for renewable power generation by closed-loop pressure retarded osmosis

An appropriate draw solution selection is a key to successful implementation of closed-loop pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) process for sustainable energy generation. In this study, the organic compounds potassium citrate, calcium acetate, potassium oxalate, potassium acetate, ammonium acetate, ammonium carbamate, ammonium formate, potassium formate, sodium glycolate, sodium propionate and calcium propionate were identified for the first time as highly effective draw solutions (except for NaP) using an easy desk-top screening method. This method identified these organic compounds by considering physical state at ambient condition, water solubility and osmotic pressure. The draw solutions were comprehensively evaluated for water flux, power density, and reverse salt flux through a laboratory-based investigation of the PRO process. The peak power densities achieved for the identified draw solutions were 5.32–6.73 W/m2 at 2.8 MPa osmotic pressure. These peak power densities increased from 109% to 118% (11.1–14.64 W/m2) when increasing the osmotic pressure of the draw solutions by 50% (4.2 MPa). A significant increase in the peak power density was obtained due to the very low reverse salt flux for the organic draw solutions (0.029–0.0699 mol m−2 h−1 and 0.0325–0.0854 mol m−2 h−1 at osmotic pressures of 2.8 MPa and 4.2 MPa, respectively). The identified organic draw solutions were also analyzed as distillable and thermolytic through gravimetric method, for the identification of potential downstream recovery methods to recycle the draw solutions in the closed-loop PRO process. Membrane distillation could be used as a downstream separator technique for the distillable organic draw solutions; however, only the ammonium carbamate among the thermolytic compounds could be separated downstream by using a low-temperature thermal distillation process.

Synthesis of Magnetite Nanoparticles and Its Application As Electrode Material for the Electrochemical Oxidation of Methanol

In this study, magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles were synthesized by a simple and facile chemical co-precipitation method at ambient laboratory conditions. The synthesized Fe3O4 nanostructures were characterized for their morphology, size, crystalline structure and component analysis using field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction and electron dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles showed semi-spherical geometry with an average particle diameter up to 14 nm. The catalytic properties of Fe3O4 nanoparticles were evaluated for electrochemical oxidation of methanol. For this purpose, the magnetite NPs were coated on the surface of an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode and used as a working electrode in the electrochemical oxidation of methanol. The effect of potential scan rate, the concentration of methanol, the volume of electrolyte and catalyst (Fe3O4 NPs) deposition volume was studied to get high peak current densities for methanol oxidation. The stability and selectivity of the fabricated electrode (Fe3O4/ITO) were also assessed during the electrochemical process. This study revealed that the Fe3O4/ITO electrode was highly stable and selective towards methanol electrochemical oxidation in basic (KOH) media. Bare ITO and Fe3O4 NPs modified glassy (Fe3O4/GCE) electrodes were also tested in the electro-oxidation study of methanol, but their peak current density responses were very low as compared to the Fe3O4/ITO electrode, which showed high electrocatalytic activity towards methanol oxidation under similar conditions. We hope that Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) will be an alternative for methanol oxidation as compared to the expensive noble metals (Pt, Au, and Pd) for energy generation processes.

Sustainability assessment of gas based power generation using a life cycle assessment approach

PurposeIndia is a developing economy along with an increasing population estimated to be the largest populated country in about seven years. Simultaneously, its power consumption is projected to increase more than double by 2020. Currently, the dependence on coal is relatively high, making it the largest global greenhouse gas emitting sector which is a matter of great concern. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the environmental impacts of the natural gas electricity generation in India and propose a model using a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach.Design/methodology/approachLCA is used as a tool to evaluate the environmental impact of the natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) power plant, as it adopts a holistic approach towards the whole process. The LCA methodology used in this study follows the ISO 14040 and 14044 standards (ISO 14040: 2009; ISO 14044: 2009). A questionnaire was designed for data collection and validated by expert review primary data for the annual environmental emission was collected by personally visiting the power plant. The study follows a cradle to gate assessment using the CML (2001) methodology.FindingsThe analysis reveals that the main impacts were during the process of combustion. The Global warming potential is approximately 0.50 kg CO2 equivalents per kWh of electricity generation from this gas-based power plant. These results can be used by stakeholders, experts and members who are authorised to probe positive initiative for the reduction of environmental impacts from the power generation sector.Practical implicationsConsidering the pace of growth of economic development of India, it is the need of the hour to emphasise on the patterns of sustainable energy generation which is an important subject to be addressed considering India’s ratification to the Paris Climate Change Agreement. This paper analyzes the environmental impacts of gas-based electricity generation.Originality/valuePresenting this case study is an opportunity to get a glimpse of the challenges associated with gas-based electricity generation in India. It gives a direction and helps us to better understand the right spot which require efforts for the improvement of sustainable energy generation processes, by taking appropriate measures for emission reduction. This paper also proposes a model for gas-based electricity generation in India. It has been developed following an LCA approach. As far as we aware, this is the first study which proposes an LCA model for gas-based electricity generation in India. The model is developed in line with the LCA methodology and focusses on the impact categories specific for gas-based electricity generation.

Electricity generation from landfill gas in Turkey

ABSTRACTLandfill gas (LFG)-to-energy plants in Turkey were investigated, and the LFG-to-energy plant of a metropolitan municipal landfill was monitored for 3 years. Installed capacities and actual gas engine working hours were determined. An equation was developed to estimate the power capacity for LFG-to-energy plants for a given amount of landfilled waste. Monitoring the actual gas generation rates enabled determination of LFG generation factors for Turkish municipal waste. A significant relationship (R = 0.524, p < 0.01, two-tailed) was found between the amounts of landfilled waste and the ambient temperature, which can be attributed to food consumption and kitchen waste generation behaviors influenced by the ambient temperature. However, no significant correlation was found between the ambient temperature and the generated LFG. A temperature buffering capacity was inferred to exist within the landfill, which enables the anaerobic reactions to continue functioning even during cold seasons. The average LFG and energy generation rates were 45 m3 LFG/ton waste landfilled and 0.08 MWhr/ton waste landfilled, respectively. The mean specific LFG consumption for electricity generation was 529 ± 28 m3/MWhr.Implications: The paper will be useful for local authorities who need to manage municipal waste by using landfills. The paper will also be useful for investors who want to evaluate the energy production potential of municipal wastes and the factors affecting the energy generation process mostly for economical purposes. Landfills can be regarded as energy sources and their potentials need to be investigated. The paper will also be useful for policymakers dealing with energy issues. The paper contains information on real practical data such as engine working hours, equation to estimate the necessary power for a given amount of landfilled waste, and son on.

Controlled Synthesis of CuS/TiO2 Heterostructured Nanocomposites for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation through Water Splitting.

Photocatalytic hydrogen (H2) generation through water splitting has attracted substantial attention as a clean and renewable energy generation process that has enormous potential in converting solar-to-chemical energy using suitable photocatalysts. The major bottleneck in the development of semiconductor-based photocatalysts lies in poor light absorption and fast recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Herein we report the synthesis of CuS/TiO2 heterostructured nanocomposites with varied TiO2 contents via simple hydrothermal and solution-based process. The morphology, crystal structure, composition, and optical properties of the as-synthesized CuS/TiO2 hybrids are evaluated in detail. Controlling the CuS/TiO2 ratio to an optimum value leads to the highest photocatalytic H2 production rate of 1262 μmol h-1 g-1, which is 9.7 and 9.3 times higher than that of pristine TiO2 nanospindles and CuS nanoflakes under irradiation, respectively. The enhancement in the H2 evolution rate is attributed to increased light absorption and efficient charge separation with an optimum CuS coverage on TiO2. The photoluminescence and photoelectrochemical measurements further confirm the efficient separation of charge carriers in the CuS/TiO2 hybrid. The mechanism and synergistic role of CuS and TiO2 semiconductors for enhanced photoactivity is further delineated.