Gas Plant Research Articles

Achieving successful gas plant construction: A risk modelling framework with quantitative risk-based approach to schedule management

The construction of gas plants often experiences delays caused by various factors, which can lead to significant financial and operational losses. This research aims to develop an accurate risk model to improve the schedule performance of gas plant projects. The model uses Quantitative Risk Analysis (QRA) and Monte Carlo simulation methods to identify and measure the risks that most significantly impact project schedule performance. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify the risk variables that may cause delays. The risk model, pre-simulation modeling, result analysis, and expert validation were all developed using a Focused Group Discussion (FGD). Primavera Risk Analysis (PRA) software was used to perform Monte Carlo simulations. The simulation output provides information on probability distribution, histograms, descriptive statistics, sensitivity analysis, and graphical results that aid in better understanding and decision-making regarding project risks. The research results show that the simulated project completion timeline after mitigation suggested an acceleration of 61–65 days compared to the findings of the baseline simulation. This demonstrates that activity-based mitigation has a major influence on improving schedule performance. This research makes a significant contribution to addressing project delay issues by introducing an innovative and effective risk model. The model empowers project teams to proactively identify, measure, and mitigate risks, thereby improving project schedule performance and delivering more successful projects.

Corrosion resistance in LNG plant design: Engineering lessons for future energy projects

Corrosion resistance is a critical consideration in the design and operation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants, where harsh environmental conditions and aggressive chemicals can significantly impact asset integrity and safety. This paper explores engineering lessons learned from past LNG projects, emphasizing the importance of corrosion management strategies to enhance the longevity and reliability of energy infrastructure. The study highlights key factors contributing to corrosion in LNG facilities, including materials selection, environmental exposure, and operational practices. By employing advanced materials such as corrosion-resistant alloys and coatings, engineers can mitigate corrosion risks, leading to reduced maintenance costs and extended equipment lifespan. The paper examines successful case studies where proactive corrosion management has been implemented, showcasing innovative engineering solutions such as cathodic protection, corrosion monitoring systems, and design modifications that enhance resistance to corrosion-related failures. Furthermore, it addresses the role of regular inspections, predictive maintenance, and risk-based approaches in identifying potential corrosion issues before they escalate into significant problems. As LNG plants continue to proliferate globally, the integration of corrosion resistance into design and operational frameworks becomes increasingly vital. This paper also discusses emerging technologies and materials that hold promise for improving corrosion resistance, including nanotechnology and smart coatings that provide real-time monitoring capabilities. By learning from past projects and embracing a proactive approach to corrosion management, future energy projects can enhance safety, reduce operational risks, and achieve greater sustainability in their operations. Ultimately, the lessons derived from this research will contribute to developing best practices for designing and operating LNG plants and other energy facilities, ensuring that they meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving energy landscape.

Classification of offshore oil and gas plants

Oil and gas plants can be classified into onshore plants and offshore plants, colloquially called oil and gas platforms or simply oil platforms. Oil rigs represent an enormous feat of engineering developed from over 150 years of industrial expertise. This paper shows the classification of oil and gas platforms according to their constructions and purposes and describes the types of oil platforms, their construction, advantages and disadvantages.

Was carbon pricing effective in Virginia? The withdrawal from RGGI

ABSTRACT Climate change has drawn increasing attention worldwide. Market-based Cap and Trade (CAT) programmes achieve environmental goals in the most cost-efficient way. This timely research evaluates the effectiveness of Virginia’s involvement in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a CAT programme that Virginia joined in 2021 but decided to withdraw from in 2023. We find significant evidence that RGGI reduced CO 2 emissions from the power sector in Virginia during the regulation period. Both coal and natural gas (NG) plants reduced their generation and CO 2 emissions. The findings support Virginia’s continuation of RGGI regulations.

Global status and prospects for hybrid hydrogen-natural gas systems for power plants in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract With the lowest power access rate in the world (51.4%), Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing a severe energy crisis. Many of the region’s countries report access rates of less than 20%. Even though Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest global greenhouse gas emissions, the region still suffers from climate change, especially extreme droughts. Efforts to tackle these issues by implementing a macro-grid system that integrates natural gas and renewable energy resources have not been successful in reducing the adverse environmental effects and energy poverty. This study highlights research on the technological approaches used in hybrid hydrogen/natural gas in heavy-duty dual-fuel power plants, their benefits and drawbacks, and their economic viability. The goal of this is to suggest an improved and more reliable hub energy system for Sub-Saharan Africa. While all countries in Sub-Saharan Africa utilize natural gas plants, only 17% are involved in hydrogen production, and none have implemented hybrid methods for electrical energy generation. Studies using experimental and numerical analyses have shown that adding hydrogen to natural gas plants increases overall efficiency and lowers CO2 emissions. Furthermore, this research introduces an energy hub approach that incorporates carbon capture and power-to-X technologies, potentially improving efficiency by 42%. These strategies not only support environmental sustainability but also provide economic advantages by decreasing operational and financial losses in power plants. The results reveal a new pathway for the region’s transition to sustainable energy: identifying key locations for the technological and economic viability of hybrid hydrogen/natural gas power plants in Sub-Saharan Africa.

DEVELOPMENT OF AN ENERGY-SAVING TECHNOLOGY FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SYNTHETIC METHANE FROM CARBON DIOXIDE. 1. RESEARCH OF KINETICS AND MACRO-KINETICS OF THE SABATIER REACTION ON MODIFICATIONS OF THE SERIAL NI/Α-AL2O3 CATALYST GIAP-3-6N

This study presents the results of laboratory research of kinetics and mechanisms of heterogeneous catalytic reactions of hydrogenation of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide and methane through the Sabatier reaction on modifications of the serial Ni/α-Al2O3 catalyst GIAP-3-6N manufactured in Ukraine. The research was carried out on a laboratory bench using a classic glass gradientless reactor with internal piston stirring, which provides kinetic equations at the level of physicochemical constants of the reactions under consideration. A detailed analysis and review of the literature in the areas of kinetic research of our interest was carried out. A detailed comparison of the kinetic parameters obtained by us for the powder (kinetic) form of contact with a nickel content of 7.5 % (NiO = 7.5 %) with a similar and one of the best foreign analogs containing nickel, Katalco 57-4 (NiO = 15−18 %), produced by the British chemical and metallurgical company Johnson Matthey, was performed. The results of the research confirmed almost equal parameters of the kinetic activity of the compared catalysts in the reactions of hydrogenation of carbon dioxide with hydrogen, including the «Sabatier» reaction, which made it possible to propose a similar mechanism of the processes, calculate the reaction rate constants and their activation energy, propose (determine) kinetic equations for design of reactors and processes, both with the loading of a domestic catalyst and its replacement with a foreign analog. Kinetic equations will be used in the development of multi-ton synthesis gas plants for the production of methanol, ammonia, and synthetic methane, as well as carbon-free e-fuel for internal combustion engines that meet modern climate requirements. Bibl. 28, Fig. 4, Tab. 6.

Geothermal Power, and a Battery as Well

One of geothermal energy’s key advantages is that it’s always on. But making money selling power increasingly requires being able to react to shifts in electric prices by adjusting production up and down. The fact this is a concern now is an indication of the ambition of a new generation of companies that have shown it is possible to use horizontal drilling and fracturing to build subsurface heat exchangers to harvest large amounts of geothermal energy. The geologic potential is huge—there are a lot of places with hot rock at a drillable depth. But monetizing that potential will require grabbing a sizeable share of the market in big states such as California and Texas where the price of electricity can sink toward zero when sunny conditions allow maximum solar power production, and then rebound as the sun sets. This is a pressing concern for Houston-based Fervo Energy because it is one of the first firms in a small pack of innovators to reach the point where it is building a large scale power plant using this emerging technology. Unlike wind and solar, it can deliver power on demand, similar to coal, gas, and nuclear-powered plants that supply baseload power to the electric market. Fervo’s founders play up its ability to deliver power on demand, but they resist the label baseload power provider because, as Jack Norbeck, chief technology officer and cofounder of Fervo, said, “In the future, baseload power will be a thing of the past.” Baseload power plants are not yet an endangered species. There are still large, mostly old fossil-fueled plants providing baseload power that are still around because they were paid for long ago. However, their numbers are declining as they wear out and are hit with demands for costly emission reductions. The initial sales by Fervo’s Cape Station project in Utah will provide baseload power to southern California power suppliers, complying with a unique California rule that requires them to source low-carbon power supplies that are available 24/7. But for new geothermal companies to sell enough power to become significant players in US power markets, they will need to provide what the electricity business describes as “more flexible, dispatchable power.” Big baseload plants ruled the power universe back when regulators set rates high enough to maintain a sizable surplus of generating capacity—ensuring the lights stayed on. Now, in markets such as Texas and California, power pricing rises and falls based on supply and demand, with selling at all times sometimes resulting in very low payments during peak production periods for solar and wind. This is particularly true during seasons where days tend to be sunny and windy with moderate temperatures. “If you are consuming electricity, particularly in the spring and fall, it is an extremely clean grid you are pulling from,” said Christian Gradl, vice president of operations for Fervo during a panel at this year’s Offshore Technology Conference.

Application of STPA for Comprehensive Risk Analysis of Naphtha Explosion Hazards

Chemical accidents always result in significant losses due to the flammable, explosive, and toxic characteristics of hazardous chemicals. Analysis of process safety parameters is an effective way to prevent hazardous chemical accidents and reduce losses. System-theoretic process analysis (STPA) is a newer hazard analysis technique that is based on systems theory. It has been shown to be effective in identifying hazards in other industries, but its application in oil and gas plants is still rare and limited due to systems complexities and other challenges. This paper aims to apply the STPA method to a complex system “column C-63” at the Skikda RA1K refinery to prevent the explosion scenario of naphtha. The results show that STPA was able to identify the root causes of the explosion scenario, which is important for preventing chemical risks.

Performance analysis of refuse‐derived fuel gasification plant with carbon capture and storage for power, heating, and hydrogen production

AbstractAmong various waste‐to‐energy technologies, gasification is one of the most promising, because of high efficiency, feedstock flexibility, and carbon capture potential. This case study is focused on comprehensive analysis of integrated gasification combined cycle‐based plant with refuse‐derived fuel (RDF) as feedstock and carbon capture. As there are hardly any studies focused on simulation of waste gasification with carbon capture, most of which are lacking important process specifics, this study addresses existing research gap. Process flowsheets are developed in detail according to literature data for various process configurations and simulated in AspenPlus software, while obtained results on material and energy balance were used for estimation of plant efficiency and performance indicators. Waste generation data in Novi Sad, Serbia, were used for determination of RDF flowrate. Configurations include different syngas cleaning pathways, final products (power, heating, and hydrogen) and co‐gasification with coal. Cogeneration increases overall plant efficiency from 27%–36% (power production only) to 63%–76%. High net hydrogen efficiencies, around 58%, compensate lower power and thermal energy production in hydrogen‐based configurations. Overall, co‐gasification produces better results due to higher feedstock heating value. Obtained results will be used in further research for environmental and economic evaluation to provide multi‐level assessment of proposed processes.

The combination of high leaf hydraulic safety and water use efficiency allows alpine shrubs to adapt to high‐altitude habitats

Abstract Leaf hydraulic traits are considered the key determinants of gas exchange and therefore affect species distributions along environmental gradients, but the patterns of leaf hydraulic traits and their associations with gas exchange across altitudinal gradients remain largely unknown. Here, we measured leaf hydraulic traits, gas exchange, leaf anatomical traits and plant size traits in two dominant alpine shrubs (Caragana jubata and Salix gilashanica) across an altitudinal gradient from 3100 to 3700 m. The findings indicated that with increasing altitude, both shrub species exhibited an increase in leaf hydraulic safety (more negative Kleaf P50), a decrease in leaf hydraulic efficiency (Kleaf‐max) and an increase in intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi), thus allowing them to adapt to higher altitude habitats. The more negative Kleaf P50 was associated with a greater ratio of major to minor vein density (VLAmaj/VLAmin), the lower Kleaf‐max was associated with a lower minor vein density (VLAmin) and greater increase in WUEi arose from the small decrease in the photosynthetic rate relative to the stomatal conductance. However, C. jubata was consistent with the ‘hydraulic safety strategy’ with a great decrease in Kleaf P50, a small decrease in Kleaf‐max and a small increase in WUEi along with decreasing plant height and leaf area with increasing altitude. Whereas S. gilashanica was consistent with the ‘photosynthetic efficiency strategy’ with a small decrease in Kleaf P50, a greater decrease in Kleaf‐max and a greater increase in WUEi along with an increasing plant height and unchanged leaf area with increasing altitude. Overall, these findings provide new insights to improve understanding how shift in leaf hydraulic traits and their associations with gas exchange and plant size allow plants to adapt to high‐altitude habitats. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with sensor packages to study spatiotemporal variations of air pollutants in industry parks.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with a miniaturized sensor package were developed for aerial observations, which realizes aerial observations affordable to scientists in atmospheric science and achieves aerial measurements in high spatial resolution. UAVs are deployed to a variety of aerial detecting tasks in different scientific scenarios including chemical industry parks (CIPs) with hazardous gases emissions, and some places difficult for humans to reach. In this study, UAV sensing technology was deployed to detect air pollutants in a suburb, a CIP and a natural gas plant, respectively. The effects of atmospheric conditions such as the atmospheric boundary layer height, long-distance transport and atmospheric stability on the spatiotemporal variations of the air pollutants vertical profiles were investigated by the UAV. The UAV with the sensor package was deployed to capture the methane (CH4) leakages in a natural gas plant. The spatiotemporal variations of CH4 in both vertical and horizontal directions studied by UAV were employed to calculate accurate CH4 emissions, which is crucial to reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases. The low-cost UAV sensing technology for air pollutants was developed by Dr. Xiaobing Pang, who was funded by the Newton Fellowship in 2009 and worked in the University of York. This article is part of the theme issue 'Celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Royal Society Newton International Fellowship'.

Performance Enhancement of Solar Still Couples With Solar Water Heater by Using Different PCM's and Nanoparticle Combinations

ABSTRACTThe majority of the water on Earth roughly 97% is contaminated or salty, only 3% is fresh water, and only 1% of pure water is easily available for human use. In rural areas and remote locations suffering from pure drinking water scarcity.Water purification techniques are generally dependent on electricity, which relies on coal and gas plants, these poses a risk to the environment and society. Solar desalination is being recognized as the most practical way to deal with the scarcity of pure drinking water in all aspects of sustainable development. This paper describes the creation of a single slope solar still (SSSS) using opaque and crystal‐clear toughened glass with a thickness of 6 mm as a cover and also another setup of a single slope phase change material (PCM)‐based solar still (MSSSS). In this paper, a flat plate solar collector coupled with water heater is used to enhance the productivity of still. In this study, an experimental model has been developed to experimentally analyze exercise productivity performance of SSSS and MSSSS of MMIT Kushinagar, India on April 10, 2023 to April 15, 2023. Combination of stearic acid, lauric acid, and paraffin wax combined with CuO (nanoadditive) is used to enhance the solar still productivity. Also, basin temperature for different PCM's such as paraffin wax, lauric acid, and stearic acid are compared. Different combinations of PCM's and nanoadditives are compared to find the better productivity. It is observed that maximum output is obtained at 3:00 p.m. afternoon on experimental setup. Paraffin wax, stearic acid, and lauric acid still increases productivity by 38.8%, 20.3%, and 30.5%, respectively, when compared to simple solar still. On experimentation of various combinations, it is found that the use of PCM paraffin wax and nanoadditives CuO gives 55% better productivity compared to other combinations. This innovative system is suitable and ideal for desalinating water in isolated and rural locations with low traffic and limited demand.

Value-of-Information Methods Assess Surveillance Data From Fields to LNG Plants

_ This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 215318, “Assessing the Value of Reservoir Surveillance Data From Gas Fields Producing to LNG Plants Using Value of Information,” by Daniel I. O’Reilly, SPE, Zhi Qui Xia, and Andrew R. House, Chevron. The paper has not been peer reviewed. _ A set of examples is shared in the complete paper for calculating the value of reservoir surveillance conducted in gas fields tying into liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants. The objective is to use existing value of information (VOI) methods to provide a means of justifying this reservoir surveillance, given that management of operating companies often is more inclined to agree to reservoir surveillance when its value is calculated clearly. Introduction The main objective in supplying gas to an LNG plant is to ensure that sufficient gas feed is available at all time scales (short-, medium-, and long-term). To forecast future gasfield performance, surveillance of producing reservoirs is required. The surveillance data are considered highly valuable by petroleum engineers, but a quantitative value is not always calculated. Oil and gas engineers have considered VOI when gathering field-appraisal information for some time. Many concepts were originally borrowed from the financial industry. Two potential decisions can be identified when deciding on reservoir surveillance in producing fields: what surveillance data to obtain and, if applicable, how frequently the data should be obtained. This may influence the total cost of obtaining the data, along with its reliability. Problem Statement LNG plants normally are designed with a lifespan of several decades, and gas fields must supply at the plant capacity over this period. It is common for different fields to be developed sequentially over the life of the plant. It is crucial that new fields are brought online before producing fields can no longer meet plant demand. In the medium to long term, continuous withdrawal of gas from the reservoir means that its pressure and gas deliverability decline. Initially, gasfield potential is much higher than plant demand, and often this allows for reservoir surveillance at no cost. Many operating companies favor bringing online a new field once minimum excess wellhead capacity is met (i.e., earlier than when gas supply equals plant demand). The offshore gas-rate potential normally is not directly measurable because production is constrained at the maximum rate of the LNG plant; it is a calculated value and subject to uncertainty. Well potential is calculated after the hydraulic performance of the reservoir and wellbore are fully characterized. Reservoir surveillance data are required as inputs to these calculations. In the short term, problems may occur with the near-wellbore formation, well, tree, or subsea infrastructure that could cause reduced flow rates or require the well to be shut in. The likelihood of all production risks can be estimated using reservoir surveillance data. Commonly, reservoir surveillance events are executed during planned or unplanned plant downtime. This avoids a situation in which plant capacity is underused because of a well being shut in for surveillance. However, many situations exist in which surveillance may require an investment or production well downtime. In these cases, an actual cost is incurred that must be evaluated. The objective of the complete paper, therefore, is to use VOI to quantify the value of reservoir surveillance data.

Low-carbon optimal scheduling of an integrated electricity, heat-and-gas energy system considering a biomass gas and carbon capture power plant

Abstract In light of enhancing the extraction level of biomass energy and rectifying the efficiency of integrated energy system (IES) operations in the backdrop of the “ twin carbon” policy, we present an enhanced scheduling methodology for IES incorporating biomass gas and carbon absorption power plants, addressing the constraints of linear carbon trading. Initially, an organizational blueprint for the combined exploitation of biomass-laden gas, electricity-to-gas, and carbon absorption power plants is established. Secondly, we devise a ladder-like configuration of carbon trading mechanisms to counterbalance the inadequacies of standard persistent carbon trading schemes. Subsequently, this advanced form of carbon trading is incorporated into the IES framework and is optimized using the ultimate goal of minimizing system expenditures. Lastly, evaluations across diverse scenarios demonstrate that the proposed sequential carbon trading significantly enhances the economic viability of the system, and the accompanying simulation corroborates the validity of our proposed model.

Integration of Steam Recovered from Molten Salts in a Solar Integrated Combined Cycle

In the current context of the energy transition, Integrated Solar Combined Cycle (ISCC) power plants are an alternative that are able to reduce carbon emissions from combined cycle (CC) power plants. In addition, the coupling to an energy storage system based on molten salts benefits hybridization, allowing the energy surplus to be to stored to cover peaks in energy demand. Because it is a recent technology, the determination of the optimal injection points for the solar-generated steam into the combined cycle is a critical issue. In this work, a thermodynamic model of a hybrid natural gas and solar thermal CC power plant has been developed using Thermoflex to analyze the integration effects in terms of efficiency and power. For all the steam injection candidate positions, the effects of ‘power boosting’ and ‘fuel saving’ operation modes have been simulated, considering operation conditions that are compatible with the useful range of molten salts. The results show that injection of steam at the high-pressure line before the steam turbine increases the cycle’s gross efficiency with respect to the reference case, estimating a reduction of carbon emissions of 6696 kg/h in the ‘fuel saving’ mode and an increase in gross power of 14.4 MW in the ‘power boosting’ mode. Hence, adapting current combined cycles for hybridization with solar power is a viable solution in the transition period towards more sustainable energy sources.

Elevated CO2 alleviates the exacerbation of evapotranspiration rates of grapevine (Vitis vinifera) under elevated temperature

Climate change is increasing crop water consumption while reducing precipitations in most places where grapevines are grown. This study aimed to quantify whole-plant water consumption of grapevines under climate change factors to determine what are the biggest contributors to changes in evapotranspiration under climate change conditions. Two experiments were carried out: i) Cabernet Sauvignon grafted onto 110 R grown in the temperature gradient greenhouses (TGG) exposed to elevated CO2 (700 µmol mol−1) and/or elevated temperature (+4 °C) and ii) Tempranillo vegetative cuttings grown in the controlled environment greenhouses (CEG) exposed to ambient CO2 and standard temperatures (i.e CA24°C) or elevated CO2 combined with elevated temperature (i.e CE28°C) under cyclic water deficit conditions. In the overall, the combination of elevated CO2 and elevated temperature did not increase pot evapotranspiration, and in the only case this happened, it was mediated by a greater leaf area per plant. There was an interaction in which CO2 compensated for the increase in evapotranspiration induced by elevated temperature. Plants under elevated CO2 and elevated temperature (CETE) had lower stomatal conductance which resulted in similar transpiration rates to plants under ambient CO2 and ambient temperature conditions (CATA) despites the 4 °C increase. Net assimilation was greater under elevated CO2, and thus, instantaneous water use efficiency (WUE). Pot evapotranspiration was correlated to parameters such as leaf area per plant, gas exchange transpiration rates, reference evapotranspiration and plant available water content in the substrate. Pot lysimeters are a good compromise to study whole-plant water consumption rates under controlled conditions. Climate change conditions will likely continue to threat the sustainability of crops due to water shortages, however, our results point out that the interaction between elevated temperature and CO2 should be considered. The sensitivity of plant responses to elevated CO2 could be exploited as a key trait for the adaptation of crops to climate change.

Effect of water on CO2 capture and phase change in non-aqueous 1,4-butanediamine/ethylene glycol biphasic absorbents: Role of hydrogen bond competition

Non-aqueous liquid–solid biphasic absorbents show significant potential for reducing energy consumption in CO2 capture. However, the high hygroscopic nature of amine compounds and the approximately 10 % to 20 % water vapor in natural gas plants’ flue gases challenge their efficiency and stability. This study investigated water’s effects on the CO2 absorption/desorption performance, phase-change behavior, and products of the non-aqueous absorbent 1,4-Butanediamine (BDA)/ethylene glycol (EG). Experimental results show that water significantly impacts absorption/desorption performance. The maximum CO2 loading and regeneration efficiency were 1.4199 mol·mol−1 and 89.85 %, respectively. Water leads to the gradual disappearance of phase changes, with solid-phase CO2 loading decreasing from 0.008 to 0.004 mol·g−1. Quantitative NMR demonstrates that carbamates and CO32-/HCO3- are the main CO2-related products in aqueous systems, with their relative proportions affected by water content. Quantum chemical calculations and molecular dynamics simulations reveal that water enhances absorption efficiency by participating in the catalytic environment and reaction process. Water-induced hydrogen bonding competition is the leading cause of weakened interactions between species. Specifically, H-bonds between carbamate/protonated amines were decreased by 23.94 %. The enhanced solvation effect reduces aggregation of the key products, contributing to the gradual disappearance of phase changes. This study provides insights into water’s effect on non-aqueous biphasic absorbents at the molecular level, offering a theoretical foundation for the development and optimization of absorbents suitable for use with steam-containing flue gases.

Integrating solar-driven biomass gasification and PV-electrolysis for sustainable fuel production: Thermodynamic performance, economic assessment, and CO2 emission analysis

Biomass gasification provides a promising pathway for sustainable fuel production. Nevertheless, its development is hindered by lower efficiencies in biomass–to–fuel energy conversion and carbon utilization, along with restricted scale due to economic collection radius. To tackle these challenges, a solar–biomass hybrid gasification system is proposed for sustainable fuel production. The system employs parabolic trough and tower concentrators to generate solar heat, driving the biomass pyrolysis and pyrolysis products gasification reactions to produce bio–solar syngas. The high–density bio–oil and char produced in distributed pyrolysis units can be economically transported to the centralized gasification plant. Moreover, PV–electrolysis water is utilized to generate H2 and O2, which are used to adjust syngas composition and substitute for air separation O2, respectively. Consequently, the energy consumption for water–gas shift, CO2 separation, and air separation units can be reduced. Thermodynamic, economic, and CO2 emission performance are analyzed for a typical case of methanol production using corn residue. The total energy conversion efficiency of the hybrid system can reach 65.01 %, representing an improvement of 6.57 % compared to the conventional biomass gasification system. The fuel production cost is estimated to be $354.1 per ton, falling within the market price range. Additionally, the greenhouse gas emissions to produce unit kg methanol can be reduced by 0.63 kg CO2eq. Furthermore, we analyzed the performance of six representative fuel production scenarios involving different types of biomass feedstocks. Finally, the limitations of this work and the feasibility of its practical applications are discussed. This study offers an innovative approach to bio-solar fuel production, promoting the development of circular bio-economy and the application of sustainable fuel.

Moderately Elevated Temperature Offsets the Adverse Effects of Waterlogging Stress on Tomato.

Global warming and waterlogging stress due to climate change are expected to continue influencing agricultural production worldwide. In the field, two or more environmental stresses usually happen simultaneously, inducing more complex responses in plants compared with individual stresses. Our aim was to clarify how the two key factors (temperature and water) interacted and influenced physiological response and plant growth in tomatoes under ambient temperature, moderately elevated temperature, waterlogging stress, and moderately elevated temperature and waterlogging stress. The results showed that leaf photosynthesis was inhibited by waterlogging stress but enhanced by elevated temperature, as shown by both the light- and temperature-response curves. The elevated temperature decreased leaf water-use efficiency, but enhanced plant growth and fresh and dry weights of plants under both normal water supply and waterlogging stress conditions. Elevated temperature generally decreased the anthocyanin and flavonol index in tomato leaves compared with the control temperature, regardless of water status. The increase in the optimal temperature was more pronounced in plants under normal irrigation than under waterlogging stress. Waterlogging stress significantly inhibited the root length, and leaf number and area, while the moderately elevated temperature significantly enhanced the leaf number and area. Overall, the moderately elevated temperature offset the effects of waterlogging stress on tomato plants, as shown by leaf gas exchange, plant size, and dry matter accumulation. Our study will improve the understanding of how tomatoes respond to increasing temperature and excess water.

ANALYSIS OF METHODS OF ETHANE PIPELINE TRANSPORTATION

The products of hydrocarbon light fractions processing are becoming of great demand. An important component of natural gas is ethane used for high-tech products at gas chemical complexes. Ethane production in situ is a promising direction, with its subsequent transportation to gas and chemical plants. The most economical type of transport is pipeline transportation, providing the construction of a pipeline system including facilities and a linear part. Ethane is a gas that can be transported along isothermal pipelines in both liquid and gaseous states. At the same time, the question of choosing the most rational variant is relevant. The article analyzes possible methods of transporting ethane and ethane fractions along pipelines, consideres variants for pumping gas in a liquid and gaseous states, taking into account the component composition of the product at a specified productivity and initial thermal parameters to summarize recommendations when choosing the most rational method of product transportation. A method is presented for the analytical representation of the dependences of pressure, elasticity, density and viscosity on temperature for the convenient determination of physical properties of multicomponent ethane fractions. The methodological foundations of the thermal and hydraulic analysis of variants for ethane transportation in two phase states – in liquid and gaseous – with the energy efficiency assessment of gas pumping are presented. It is shown that when transporting ethane in a gaseous state, the metal consumption for the pipeline increases twice as compared with the pipeline for transporting the product in a liquid state, while energy consumption also doubles.