Feasibility Of Power Generation Research Articles

Power generation from flat-tube solid oxide fuel cells by direct internal dry reforming of methanol: A route for simultaneous utilization of CO2 and biofuels

Dry reforming of liquid alcohols coupled with solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) is a promising approach for clean and efficient energy conversion. Herein, the feasibility of power generation from flat-tube SOFCs with direct internal dry reforming of methanol has been studied. The effects of CO2/MeOH ratio, temperature, and current density on cell performance and long-term durability were investigated. Higher CO2/MeOH ratios reduced the power density, but suppressed carbon deposition and enhanced long-term durability. A cell was operated stably over 500 h with a constant current density of 200 mA/cm2 under CO2/MeOH = 1 and 2 at 750 °C. In addition to stable power generation, simultaneous syngas production and reduction in CO2 emissions were achieved. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations elucidated the possible pathways for methanol dry reforming and mechanism of carbon removal. Our experimental and simulation results provide insights into the direct utilization of methanol in SOFCs using dry reforming.

The feasibility of clean power generation from a novel dual-vertical-well enhanced geothermal system (EGS): A case study in the Gonghe Basin, China

Recently, the first demonstration enhanced geothermal system (EGS) is being constructed at the Gonghe Basin, northwestern China, where manifests a massive potential source of geothermal energy for clean power generation within the hot dry rock (HDR). Based on the available geological data, a conceptual EGS with a novel dual-vertical-well is proposed to investigate the potential of clean power generation from the target geothermal reservoir in the Gonghe Basin. Particularly, the multiple interacting continua approach is employed to accurately delineate the transport of heat and fluid within the high-temperature fractured geothermal reservoir. The feasibility of power generation at depths between 2900 m and 3300 m is reasonably forecasted over the 30 years with a production rate of 40 kg/s. The results demonstrate that the proposed EGS can obtain an ascending production in the first 10 years, and a slight temperature drop by 7.7% in the following 20 years. In addition, the electric power ranges within 2.86–3.23 MW, and the electric energy efficiency ranges within 13.88–18.47 over the 30 years, showing a promising production performance. The levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for the proposed geothermal power system is estimated at 0.035 $/kWh, and the reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions is expected at 0.29–1.01 million tons. Thus, the spread of this proposed geothermal power plant is very important for realizing carbon neutrality by 2060 in China. The sensitivity analysis indicates that the injection temperature and injection rate are two key parameters that have significant effects on the production performance. For the proposed geothermal system in the Gonghe Basin, the suitable injection temperature and injection rate are recommended as 60 °C and 40 kg/s, respectively. This work also provides a guideline for the exploitation, reservoir stimulation, and flow test of future EGS development in the Gonghe Basin and other sites under similar conditions.

Design Study on Customised Piezoelectric Elements for Energy Harvesting in Total Hip Replacements

Energy harvesting is a promising approach to power novel instrumented implants that have passive sensory functions or actuators for therapeutic measures. We recently proposed a new piezoelectric concept for energy harvesting in total hip replacements. The mechanical implant safety and the feasibility of power generation were numerically demonstrated. However, the power output for the chosen piezoelectric element was low. Therefore, we investigated in the present study different geometry variants for an increased power output for in vivo applications. Using the same finite element model, we focused on new, customised piezoelectric element geometries to optimally exploit the available space for integration of the energy harvesting system, while maintaining the mechanical safety of the implant. The result of our iterative design study was an increased power output from 29.8 to 729.9 µW. This amount is sufficient for low-power electronics.

Potential for geothermal heat mining by analysis of the numerical simulation parameters in proposing enhanced geothermal system at bongor basin, chad

In this paper, the feasibility of power generation from an enhanced geothermal system (EGS) located beneath an oilfield at the Bongor basin in Chad was examined through the analysis of numerical simulation parameters. A 3D geometric model is constructed to represent the proposed EGS and a thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) coupled mathematical model was used in the simulation process to link all inter-dependent parameters of heat mining. Oilfield warm water is anticipated to be the circulating fluid of the thermal reservoir due to its ready availability from high water-cut oil wells. Chad depends heavily on a diesel power plant, thus this work further proposes the utilization of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the power plants to be used as heat mining fluid and likely CO2 sequestration into deep granite formation. The results indicate that the implementation of EGS beneath the current oilfield would have significant advantages both technically, environmentally, and economically. Oilfield produced water at warm temperatures improved heat mining efficiency and utilization of oilfield water in geothermal wells will reduce costs involved in water treatment and disposal. The geothermal gradient is sufficient to produce water at a higher temperature that can be utilized commercially by different binary power plants. Utilizing CO2 as heat extraction fluid showed significant heat extraction, higher than using oilfield produced water. Furthermore, substantial amount of CO2 can be deposited into the formation, thus reducing emission of greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere.

A Feasibility Study of Power Generation from Sewage Using a Hollowed Pico-Hydraulic Turbine

Abstract This study is concerned with the feasibility of power generation using a pico-hydraulic turbine from sewage flowing in pipes. First, the sewage flow rate at two connection points to the Toyogawa River-Basin Sewerage, Japan, was explored for over a year to elucidate the hydraulic energy potential of the sewage. Second, the performance of the pico-hydraulic turbine was investigated via laboratory experiments that supposed the turbine to be installed in the sewage pipe at the connection points. This study indicates that the connection points have hydraulic potential that can be used for power generation throughout the year. It also demonstrates that the pico-hydraulic turbine can be usefully employed for power generation from sewage flowing in the pipe at the connection points.

Energy Generation from Revolving Door

To meet energy demand, renewable energy and some unconventional source of energy can provide the necessary amount of clean energy for climate stabilization and reduce the consumption of fossil fuel. In this paper, prospect and feasibility of power generation by using revolving door has been investigated. The objectives of this paper is to designand fabricated of a prototype revolving door which can generate energy by amplifying the initial RPM of door shaft. Gear, pinion and motor mechanismare used as an energy generation part of the proposed revolving door. Different data are taken by applying various conditions despite the RPM in practice. The prototype can produce 4 volts and the total output depends on frequency of people passing through the door. By this arrangement, the minimum output power is obtained nearly 1.564 watts at RPM 13 and the maximum output power is found about 2.6 watts at RPM 23.

Feasibility of Power Generation from MSW by Plasma Gasification Technology: A Case Study in Sri Lanka

This paper presents the outcome of a study undertaken to determine energy harvesting potential of Municipal Solid Wastes (MSW) and, the feasibility of using Plasma assisted gasification process for electrical power generation. In this study quantitative and qualitative analysis of MSW were carried out considering the waste generated in the western province of Sri Lanka, encompassing three Districts; Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara, to select the most feasible technology. Further, social, economic and ecological aspects of the selected technology are discussed together with sustainability of such an implementation.

Utilization of biogas released from palm oil mill effluent for power generation using self-preheated reactor

In palm oil mills, for one ton crude palm oil (CPO) production, 70m3 biogas is released from palm oil mill effluent (POME) which can endanger the environment. Palm oil mills without appropriate strategies for biogas collection can participate in greenhouse gases (GHGs) generation actively. In this paper, a typical palm oil mill with annual capacity of 300,000ton oil palm production and 3MW electricity demand is considered as a pilot plant and feasibility of power generation by POME biogas is modeled by Aspen Plus considering flameless mode in combustion system. A new design of lab-scale flameless reactor called self-preheated flameless combustion (SPFC) system is presented and employed in power generation modeling. In SPFC system, the flameless chamber is employed as a heater to preheat an oxidizer over the self-ignition temperature of the fuel. A helical stainless steel pipe (called self-preheating pipe) is installed inside the chamber to conduct the oxidizer from exhaust zone to the combustion zone inside the chamber and preheat oxidizer. In the flameless mode, the diluted oxidizer is injected to the helical pipe from the exhaust zone and the preheated oxidizer at the burner is conducted to the flameless furnace through a distributor. In SPFC system external heater for preheating oxidizer is removed and the rate of power generation increases. The results show that 10.8MW power could be generated in ultra-lean POME biogas SPFC. However, the rate of pollutant especially CO2 and NOx is high in this circumstances. In stoichiometric condition, 4MW power could be available in stable conditions with lower pollutant formation. Since, hydrogen is one of the ingredients of POME biogas, calculations confirm that the rate of power generation increases around 0.7MW when just 2% hydrogen is added to biogas.

Rhizosphere mediated electrogenesis with the function of anode placement for harnessing bioenergy through CO2 sequestration

The feasibility of power generation by non-destructive usage of rhizodeposits of Pennisetum setaceum plant formed mainly due to photosynthesis-carbon sequestration mechanism was studied in rhizosphere based microbial fuel-cell (R-MFC). Four fuel-cell assemblies (non-catalyzed graphite-plates; membrane-less operation; air–cathode) were evaluated for their electrogenic activity by varying anode distances from root in rhizosphere [A1 – 0; A2 – 8; A3 – 12 and A4 – 16cm] at 2cm depth from soil-layer and analyzed their electrogenic potential. The fuel-cell assembly near to the root zone showed maximum electrogenic-activity (R1, 1007mV/4.52mA) followed by R2 (780mV/4.11mA), R3 (720mV/3.4mA) and R4 (220mV/1.2mA). The observed maximum electrogenesis with R1 and minimum with R4 electrode-assemblies enumerated the critical role of root-exudates as substrates. All fuel-cell assemblies showed 10% higher electrogenic activity during day-time operation which can be directly attributed to plant’s photosynthetic activity. The study enumerated the potential of plant to harness power in a sustainable way by optimum placement of fuel-cell setup in their rhizosphere.

Analysis about the Feasibility of Power Generation through Renewable Energy on Coral Reefs

This paper analyzed the feasibility of development and utilization of four kinds of renewable energy sources which are wind energy, wave energy and ocean current energy, solar energy and gave some specific recommendations about the use of wind power. The richness of four kinds of energy sources and some problems about the cost, reliability, installation, utilization and maintenance were systematically investigated. Studies have shown that on the coral reefs solar power generation has the more feasibility than wind power generation, and wave power generation and marine power generation have no feasibility within future ten years.

A silicon mems micro power generator for wearable micro devices

In this paper, a prototype vibration‐induced micro power generator is fabricated and tested to investigate the feasibility of a wearable silicon micro power source. This prototype device consists of an energy‐collecting electroplated copper coil of 0.1 mm thickness, a nickel‐iron alloy (NiFe) suspension spring and a commercially available neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) magnet of dimension 2 mm ×2 mm ×1 mm. The overall size of the micro power generator is 6 mm ×6 mm ×1mm. The average generated power is 0.32 uW when the device is tapped gently with fingers. This tapping mimics the vibration when the device is worn on a person, and demonstrates power generation feasibility by general human activity. Average power of 1.44uW was measured when the device was placed on a vibration bed excited with a sinusoidal signal of 50 μm amplitude.