Gas Engine Research Articles

Comparative Assessment of Biomass and Power-to-Gas Processes Integrated with Different Electricity-Driven Gasification Technologies

Comparative Assessment of Biomass and Power-to-Gas Processes Integrated with Different Electricity-Driven Gasification Technologies

Template Specify layer hardened cam shaft

Definition of the thickness of the surface-hardened layer after induction heating according to ČSN EN. Description of the hardened layers of the cam shaft of a diesel or gas engine with 19 surface-hardened cams and bearings. Methods of direct and indirect determination of the thickness of hardened layers. The relationship of the visual estimation of the thickness according to the etched cut to the thicknesses according to the HV hardness curves. Possibilities of non-destructive methods to determine the thickness of hardening. An experiment with the magnetic spot method and the DOMENA device. Knowledge for practical use. The direction of further development.

Contents

Johnson Matthey’s international journal of research exploring science and technology in industrial applications Contents Volume 69, Issue 1, January 2025 2 Guest Editorial: The Relevance of Advanced Materials and their Benefits for Society By Darya Alontseva 4 A Comprehensive Exploration of Biomass Gasification Technologies Advancing United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Part I By M. N. Uddin and N. A. Nithe 13 A Comprehensive Exploration of Biomass Gasification Technologies Advancing United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Part II By M. N. Uddin and N. A Nithe 24 Theoretical Study on Copper Adsorption on Zinc Oxide Surfaces By Mustafa Al Salmi and Ali Alshammari 38 Oxidation Kinetics of Iron-Chromium and Iron-Chromium-Aluminium Alloys By Irakli Nakhutsrishvili 45 Microplasma-Sprayed Titanium and Hydroxyapatite Coatings on Ti6Al4V Alloy: in vitro Biocompatibility and Corrosion Resistance: Part I By Darya Alontseva, Yuliya Safarova (Yantsen), Sergii Voinarovych et al. 59 Microplasma-Sprayed Titanium and Hydroxyapatite Coatings on Ti6Al4V Alloy: in vitro Biocompatibility and Corrosion Resistance: Part II By Darya Alontseva, Yuliya Safarova (Yantsen), Sergii Voinarovych et al. 76 Magnetron Sputtering of Antibacterial and Antifungal Tantalum-Copper and Niobium-Copper Coatings on Three Dimensional-Printed Porous Titanium Alloy Scaffolds: Part I By Bagdat Azamatov, Alexandr Borisov, Bauyrzhan Maratuly et al. 88 Magnetron Sputtering of Antibacterial and Antifungal Tantalum-Copper and Niobium-Copper Coatings on Three Dimensional-Printed Porous Titanium Alloy Scaffolds: Part II By Bagdat Azamatov, Alexandr Borisov, Bauyrzhan Maratuly et al. 99 Slurry Jet Erosion Resistance of Stainless Steel 304 Reinforced with High Entropy Alloys through Friction Stir Processing By S. Aravind Krishna, N. Radhika and S. Ragunath 111 Erratum: Synthesis and Characterisation of Cellulose Acetate/Polyethylene Glycol Membrane from Pineapple Hump by Phase Inversion Method By Suprito Dwi Yuwono et al. 112 Utilising Machine Learning for the Automated Characterisation of In Situ Electron Microscopy Experiments with Catalytic Systems By Hamish Cavaye and Manfred Erwin Schuster 123 Johnson Matthey Highlights 126 A New Approach to Titanium-Hydroxyapatite-Bio Composite: Pressure-Assisted Coating on the Antibacterial and Electrochemical Properties of Ti6Al4V By Ridvan Yamanoglu, Darya Alontseva, Abdollah Bahador et al. 139 Effect of Hafnium on the Microstructure and Mechanical Property of Pt-15Ir-xHf-0.5Y Alloy By Xu Gan, Li Fu, Chen Wang, Hualong Ge et al. 146 Raman Spectroscopy for Diagnostic Analysis of Fuel Cell Catalyst Coated Membranes By Rudra N. Samajdar, Jonathan Goh et al.

A Comprehensive Exploration of Biomass Gasification Technologies Advancing United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Part I

The pursuit of sustainable energy sources on a worldwide scale is a crucial and pressing matter, with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) offering a comprehensive framework for properly addressing this challenge. This two-part paper provides an overview of the various technologies now available for the process of biomass gasification. Compared to other renewable energy sources, which have undergone significant technological advancements in recent years, the field of biomass conversion is still relatively new. Keeping up with the newest breakthroughs becomes increasingly crucial as new conversion techniques are rapidly being created. In the thermochemical conversion process called ‘biomass gasification’, biomass solid source materials are degraded or incompletely burned in an oxygen-free or oxygen-deficient high-temperature atmosphere, resulting in the production of biomass gas. Part I delves into different biomass gasification techniques, including upstream, gasification and downstream processes, highlighting their importance in transforming biomass into clean and combustible gases.

Predicting transient performance of a heavy-duty gaseous-fuelled engine using combined phenomenological and machine learning models

Decarbonizing long-haul goods transportation poses a substantial challenge. High-efficiency natural gas (NG) engines, which retain the efficiency of a diesel engine but reduce the carbon content of the fuel, offer substantial potential for near-term greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions. A fast-running model that can predict engine performance, GHG and air pollutant emissions is critical to assessing this approach for different applications and vehicle drivetrain configurations. This paper presents the development, validation and application of an engine system model that adapts GT-SUITE™’s phenomenological DI-Pulse predictive model to predict the performance and emissions of a 6-cylinder NG engine using a high pressure direct-injection combustion process. The model includes the engine air exchange system, enabling the prediction of the engine and in-cylinder conditions and overall performance over transient drive cycles. The engine model with a fixed set of calibration parameters captures the complex high-pressure direct injection combustion process and generates time-resolved parameters that are fed into a coupled machine learning model to predict emissions, including nitrogen oxide (NOx) and methane (CH4) emissions. While the 1-D model’s predictions for CH4 were not accurate, coupling the 1-D engine model with a machine learning model has been shown to substantially improve the estimation of CH4 emissions and allow accurate prediction of engine total GHG emissions over different duty cycles. The model has been validated using transient engine dynamometer data and is then applied to assess performance and emissions over several regulatory and real-world long-haul drive cycles. The model showed an average error of less than 5% in steady operation. Cumulative errors of NOx and CH4 emissions in studied cycles were also less than 10%. The results showed that CH4 share in total GHG emissions ranges from 0.2% to 1.4% over various drive cycles. By predicting engine performance and emissions, the developed combined model has considerable potential for use in engine evaluation studies, especially when combined with new technologies across different duty cycles.

Use of Biogas in Gas Turbines for the Production of Heat and Electricity

In the modern developed countries of the world, the main part of the extracted fuel and energy resources is spent on the production of electricity and heat of low and medium potential. In Ukraine, the biomethane production potential is estimated at 7.8 billion m3/year, which is 25 % of the current natural gas consumption in the country. The infrastructure of Ukraine is ready for transportation and energy use of biomethane, as biomethane is a complete analogue of natural gas. When storing organic waste ("bio-waste") – for example, the organic part of household waste - biogas, a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide, is released. This gas is a high-quality fuel for gas engines or gas turbines - just like methane gas produced from biomass in sewage treatment plants. Biogas can replace fossil fuels and is also characterized by its CO2 neutrality. Biogas can be burned on-site with little to no processing to heat buildings and power boilers or even the reactor itself. Biogas can be used for combined heat and power generation, can be simply converted to electricity using an internal combustion engine, fuel cells or gas turbine, with the resulting electricity being used on-site or sold into the electricity grid. Taking into account the advantages of using biogas, as well as the price policy for natural gas, the study carried out a calculation of the thermal scheme of the state district power plant. Natural gas is used as the main fuel, biogas was chosen for comparison. The specific heat of combustion of biogas is almost half that of natural gas. When operating on biogas, the efficiency of a gas turbine installation is 8.5 % lower, and that of a steam-gas installation is 7.5 % lower than on natural gas. Since 1000 m³ of natural gas is equivalent to 1,00 m³ of biogas, a biogas accounting factor has been introduced. On the basis of the relevant research, conclusions were drawn regarding the use of biogas as an alternative to natural gas. The relevance of the use of biogas for the production of heat and electricity is to provide a promising source of electricity and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

TO THE ANNIVERSARY OF VOLODYMYR MALASCHENKO

The article is dedicated to the 85th anniversary of the famous Ukrainian scientist in the field of mechanical engineering and machine dynamics, professor of the department of technical mechanics and engineering graphics of the National University "Lviv Polytechnic", doctor of technical sciences, academician of the Lifting and Transport Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Malashchenko. After the restoration of Ukraine's independence, Volodymyr Oleksandrovych was one of the organizers of the process of training highly qualified specialists. Many of the candidate's and doctoral dissertations were defended under his supervision or opposition, not only in mechanical engineering but also in lifting and transport machines, agriculture, printing, oil and gas engineering. He is the author of more than 600 works, including more than ten monographs, more than 100 patents, about 30 study guides (of which six are in French), and about 20 articles in foreign publications indexed by scientometric databases. Volodymyr Oleksandrovych is also the author of a complex of study guides on machine design, which are widely used in the educational process of almost all technical universities of Ukraine. He is a member of the editorial boards of the magazines "Lifting and Transport Technology", "Bulletin of NTU "KhPI", series of Engineering and CAD", a member of the program and organizational committee of the international scientific and technical conference "Problems of Quality and Durability of Gears and Mechanical Drive".

A twenty-year dataset of hourly energy generation and consumption from district campus building energy systems

Distributed energy resources (DERs) would play a crucial role in the transition towards decentralized and decarbonized energy systems. However, due to the limited availability of long-term, high-resolution datasets, there has been little research on the descriptive analysis of distributed energy systems throughout the lifespan of distributed power generators and beyond. To address this challenge, this study has collected and described a twenty-year dataset (from 2002 to 2021) consisting of hourly energy generation and consumption profiles from a campus distributed energy system, covering the entire lifespan of on-site generators. The dataset includes supply-side data such as gas consumption from combined heating and power (CHP) units (fuel cell, gas engine), absorption chiller, gas boiler, solar photovoltaic generation, CHPs output, and grid electricity import. Additionally, real-life electricity, hot water, space heating, and cooling energy load profiles from individual buildings within the campus were also collected. This long-term dataset can be utilized in various scenarios, providing researchers and policymakers with comprehensive insights into the energy efficiency of distributed energy systems.

New Integral Neutron-Neutron Logging for Cement Integrity Analysis of any Backfilling

Background: The article presents a new technology of integral neutron-neutron logging technology for cement integrity analysis (hereinafter – NNL-C) of wells in hydrocarbon fields, developed by GeoSpectr Oil and Gas Technology Institute (Russia). NNL-C is designed to ensure the quality of well cementing focusing on the condition, integrity and leak tightness of any type and density of cement casing (including light cement). It can be used in any kind of well filling whether liquid, gas, or a mixture. NNL-C is applicable at all stages of the oil and gas well lifecycle – from construction to operation – without well-kill operation and tubing removal. This technology is free from the major limitations of standard (conventional) gamma-gamma and acoustic logging techniques for cement integrity evaluation. Aim: The purpose of the NNL-C is to offer a prompt and cost-effective evaluation of the integrity or failure of cementing in any active wells. In contrast to NNL-C, the standard methods for analyzing cement integrity are inadequate for this purpose, as they cannot be applied to lightweight cement, tubing wells, or gas-filled wells. Materials and methods: The science behind, methodology, and interpretation software for NNL-C were developed employing mathematical modeling. This technology hs been tested against measurement data from real wells. Results: The NNL-C method was tested in 12 and tried in more than 20 wells, demonstrating a good correlation with standard methods and achieving high accuracy of cement-bond logging. The possibility of quantifying cement under field conditions was confirmed in scenarios where standard cement-bond logging techniques are typically not applicable, such as in tubing wells, gas-filled wells, and during the use of lightweight cement. The NNL-C technology has been successfully implemented in Kazakhstan at the Kozhasai and Alibekmola oil and gas condensate fields, as well as the Bozoi underground gas storage facility. Conclusion: The technology provides reliable, accurate, and cost-effective information on the quality of cementing of wells under construction such as condition, integrity and tightness of cementing (cement sheath) of production wells.

Syngas for Internal Combustion Engines, Current State, and Future Prospects: A Systematic Review

Biomass is a potential alternative energy source. This study offers a comprehensive analysis of biomass gasification as an energy source, particularly its application in diesel engines, gas engines, and gas turbines. No specific research has been identified that addresses syngas utilization as fuel for internal combustion engines. The paper employs the PRISMA methodology to select and analyze observations. The examination encompasses four subjects: biomass, reactor gasification, operational parameters, and syngas for internal combustion. The Van Krevelen diagram is employed to analyze the characteristics of biomass that produce high-energy syngas, efficiency, variable calorific value of syngas, and decreased power output. Feedstock, gasification reactors, and operational conditions significantly influence the generation of biomass gasification syngas. A downdraft reactor is appropriate for small- to medium-scale gasification. The utilization of biomass gasification technology and syngas as fuel for internal combustion engines is investigated. The hydrogen-to-carbon ratio (H/C), oxygen-to-carbon ratio (O/C), high temperature, low ash content, low equivalence ratio (ER), and the amount of air in the syngas all affect its calorific value. The advantages of utilizing syngas include reduced pollutants, decreased reliance on diesel fuel, and a reduction in diesel fuel use in internal combustion engines. The disadvantages of syngas include necessary engine modifications, decreased thermal efficiency, the calorific value of syngas, and decreased power generation.

Thermodynamic Analysis of Cyclic Operation of On-Board Nanoporous Carbon-Based Adsorbed Methane Storage Tank with Various Thermal Control Systems

Thermal effects of adsorption and desorption, leading to temperature fluctuations and losses of adsorption storage systems capacity in the processes of gas charging and discharging, are the main obstacle to the wide practical application of adsorbed natural gas (ANG) technology. This work presents a numerical simulation of heat and mass transfer processes under various cyclic operation modes of a full-scale adsorption storage tank with various thermal control systems. The high-density monolithic adsorbent KS-HAM, obtained on the basis of industrial activated carbon KS-HA, was used as the adsorption material. The phase composition, surface morphology, and porous structure of the sorbents were studied. The adsorption of methane on the KS-HA adsorbent was measured. It is shown that increasing the duration of charging leads to obtaining additional capacity of the ANG system; however, the final efficiency and benefit at the end of the charging–discharging cycle are determined by the efficiency of the thermal control system and the gas-discharging mode. It has been shown that the presence of a finned thermal control system allows for charging the adsorption storage tank 3–8 times faster and provides an 8–24% greater amount of gas discharged at the discharging stage compared to the ANG system without fins.

Regression analysis of gas engine heat pump and gas absorption heat pump performance for district heating network modeling

Regression analysis of gas engine heat pump and gas absorption heat pump performance for district heating network modeling

Three-Dimensional Pulsating Flow Simulation in a Multi-Point Gas Admission Valve for Large-Bore CNG Engines

This study examines the dynamic fluid behavior of a PWM-controlled Solenoid-Operated Gas Admission Valve (SOGAV) for large-bore CNG engines using 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations with dynamic mesh techniques. The research focuses on the influence of orifice geometry variations in the multi-hole restrictor and pressure differentials between the inlet and outlet on flow stability, turbulence, and valve performance. Results demonstrate that multi-hole restrictors with different-sized orifices improve flow uniformity and reduce turbulence, thereby mitigating flow resistance. Transient simulations further reveal standing wave formation and pressure wave interference, emphasizing that steady-state models cannot capture critical transient phenomena, such as accelerated and decelerated jet-like flows and flow separation. These findings provide key insights into SOGAV optimization, contributing to enhanced fuel efficiency and engine responsiveness, meeting the performance requirements of modern gas engines.

Holistic characterization analysis of tar waste content from gasification process at Surakarta landfill

Surakarta is facing serious problems related to waste management at the Putri Cempo landfill. PT. Solo Citra Metro Plasma Power with the Surakarta city government built a waste power plant installation with gasification technology. Tar waste is a gasification liquid product that is dangerous if not managed. This study aimed to determine the heavy metal content and toxicity level of gasified tar waste using the atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and lethal dose-50 (LD<sub>50</sub>) acute toxicity test. The parameters of heavy metals tested are lead (Pb), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and total chromium (Cr). In the LD<sub>50</sub> test, the animals were divided into 5 groups, namely 1 control group and 4 groups with doses of 0.50 mL, 1 mL, 2 mL, and 4 mL. The results showed that the tar contained 17.4 mg/L of iron, 3.5 mg/L of zinc, and <0.01 mg/L of lead, copper, and chromium. Acute toxicity tests did not cause death in the animals but still showed toxic symptoms, so the LD<sub>50</sub> value is declared pseudo. The content of some heavy metals in tar is within safe limits and the level of toxicity is relatively harmless.

Artificial intelligence entropy generation modelling of steam turbine control valves at extremely low steam mass flow

Abstract Technological and ecological environmental regulations in the EU are increasingly focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Consequently, older coal-fired thermal power plants are being compelled to cease operations or switch to more environmentally friendly primary energy sources. By replacing coal technology with gas technology, the production of steam, which drives the existing steam turbine, is significantly reduced. The existing coal boiler is replaced with a heat recovery steam generator that utilises the exhaust heat from the gas turbine, thus reducing the nominal steam input to the steam turbine from 64 kg/s to only 10 kg/s. This raises doubts about the feasibility of retaining the existing steam turbine, which is designed for higher flows. To address this, a simulation model has been created using artificial intelligence and real process data. The model calculates entropy generation and consequently the loss of available work energy (exergy) at the inlet throttling valves of the steam turbine under extremely low flow conditions. The generated entropy is closely related to the losses of available work energy or exergy. The model results show that due to the extreme throttling of the steam passing through the inlet control valves, exergy losses can amount to up to 1.12 MW. This is work energy permanently lost, which could otherwise have been used for electricity production.

Design and operation of a demonstration plant for fluidized bed low-temperature gasification of alternative fuels applied to cement production

A fluidized bed low-temperature gasification technology for solid waste treatment is proposed, which provides an effective solution for energy saving and carbon reduction in the cement industry. A demonstration plant was designed and constructed, which is a fluidized bed low-temperature gasifier coupled to the calciner, capable of treating more than 4,000 kg/h of solid waste. The project involved detailed equipment configuration to ensure stable operation. Commissioning tests for rice husk and textile waste gasification assessed system reliability and gasification performance, with a thermal substitution rate (TSR) of 53.10 % for the calciner. At the same time, targeting a clinker production capacity of 2500 t/d, the gasification plant could achieve an annual net profit of at least 753,100 USD. The fluidized bed low-temperature gasification technology not only has a good economic and environmental value for the use of alternative fuels in the cement production process, but also is important for the design and operation of industrial-scale gasifiers and for numerical modeling.

Results of the study of operating conditions in the cylinder and changes in the characteristics of diesel and gas diesel motor oils

Abstract This article discusses the results of a study of changes in the characteristics of M10G2 oils during the operation of diesel engines and gas engines based on diesel engines. During engine operation, the oil in the lubrication system circulates under conditions of temperature difference. The thermal load of the engine depends on the engine boost. Thermal stress and temperature of hot gases intensively influence the oxidation of oil; this process occurs in the annular zone of the pistons. The operating conditions are harsh in the working surface of the cylinder in the piston stroke area, in this area the oil is subject to thermal decomposition and high oxidation intensity. When operating a diesel engine, compared to a gas-diesel engine, the main oil indicators such as viscosity, density, mechanical impurities, high- and low-temperature characteristics, chemical characteristics such as base number have lower limit values, and the oil service life can be considered 1.5 times higher when operating at gaseous fuel. The alkaline number in samples of used oils varies from 2.24 to 1.4, which indicates the emergency condition of the used oil. The results of analyzes of the alkaline number of the studied motor oils show that when the engine is running on gaseous fuel it decreased on average from 6.0 to 2.2 mg KOH/g, and when running on diesel fuel from 6.0 to 1.4 mg KOH/g. i.e. below the permissible level.

ASEAN geology bibliometric analysis: A way forward for sustainable development

Geology has facilitated societal growth and development. This study analysed the latest development in geology research within 10 ASEAN countries. The VOSviewer software was utilised to examine the distribution of bibliometric maps. The data was acquired from the Scopus database through a data filtering process using the “geology” terms contained in the title, keyword, and abstract. A total of 2,319 articles published between 2018 and 2022 were chosen to capture the prevailing latest circumstances. The findings showed a notable change in geology study throughout the five-year duration, with the number of articles published decreasing from 407 in 2018 to 265 in 2022. The VOSviewer association strength method further revealed the five terms with the highest frequency occurrences, namely geology (794 occurrences), structural geology (259 occurrences), engineering geology (278 occurrences), geophysics (240 occurrences), and remote sensing (214 occurrences). The terms were further categorised into seven distinct clusters, consisting of geology, structural geology, seismology, economic geology, deposits, engineering geology, and volcanoes. Both Indonesia and Malaysia were the most significant countries associated with the geology terms. The emerging latest terms adopted were gas engineering, environmental technology, tourism, machine learning, and sustainable development. This study serves as a valuable point of reference and a source of contemplation for researchers seeking to explore additional research areas, particularly in the field of geology within the ASEAN territory.

Experimental and theoretical investigation of Ce/Ti-doped LaMnO3 catalysts effect on catalytic oxidation rarefied CH4 for natural gas engine

To mitigate the high greenhouse effect caused by methane emissions of natural gas engines, this study employed the citric acid complexation method to synthesize Ce/Ti-doped LaMnO3 perovskite catalysts. Firstly, the properties of perovskite catalysts were investigated through several characterization techniques and activity evaluations. Secondly, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to study the effects of Ce/Ti doping on perovskite unit cell properties and methane adsorption characteristics. Results indicate that Ce/Ti doping is conducive to enhancing the magnetic properties and attractive forces between particles, thereby improving the crystallinity and specific surface area of catalyst. Additionally, it enhances the oxygen migration rate, promotes the formation of low-temperature reduction active components and reduces the reduction temperature for the catalysts. When Ce/Ti are co-doped, the ratios of the surface-active elements Mn4+/Mn3+ and O−/O2− on the catalyst reach their maximum values of 1.56 and 1.53, respectively. The co-doping also leads to the formation of alkaline sites such as Mn-O and Ti-O metal pairs, which facilitate the dehydrogenation oxidation of methane. Ce/Ti-co-doped LaMnO3 perovskite exhibits the optimal low-temperature oxidation activity towards methane, with an ignition temperature reduced to 269 °C and complete methane conversion at 479 °C. Ce/Ti doping enhances the adsorption behavior of methane on catalyst surface, with the adsorption energy of −5.4361eV. Meanwhile, Ce/Ti doping results in a significant transfer of electrons from H1 atoms of methane to Mn atoms and increases the charge directivity of the surface-active atoms of catalysts, and in turn, it leads to higher catalytic performance and structural stability.

Isolated microgrid frequency stabilization through nonlinear model predictive control of a gas engine generator set

Gas engine generator sets are applied in microgrids due to their capability to provide reliable, responsive and efficient distributed power generation, enhancing grid resilience and enabling the integration of renewable energy sources. This article proposes a methodology for stabilizing the frequency of an isolated microgrid subjected to a measurable disturbance by controlling the power of a premixed turbocharged natural gas engine. Control difficulties of this task include strongly nonlinear dynamics, time delay in the air-fuel path and constrained operating conditions. Conventional control methods like proportional-integral control have difficulties solving these problems, and require extensive tuning efforts and gain scheduling to deliver acceptable performance, prompting adoption of advanced control strategies. The presented approach utilizes a cascaded control architecture with a nonlinear model predictive controller (NMPC) for high level control and engine specific low-level controllers for controlling the intake manifold pressure and air-fuel ratio. The NMPC captures the inherent nonlinear dynamics, accounts for an input delay and handles state-dependent constraints. The cascaded control architecture enables the usage of a comparably simple model for the NMPC design, reducing the computational cost and the parametrization effort. This additionally enables application of the high level controller for different gas engine types and allows design of the controller in a simple simulation environment prior to the experiments on the real engine. Experimental results highlight the NMPC’s ability to control the engine at its physical limits over the entire load range without inducing frequency oscillations using just one parameter set. This emphasizes the robustness of the presented approach, making it a promising solution for real-world applications.