Increase Energy Efficiency Research Articles

Path tracking and energy efficiency coordination control strategy for skid-steering unmanned ground vehicle

The skid steering unmanned ground vehicle (SUGV) plays an important role in extremely harsh environments. Improving the autonomous control capability and energy efficiency of SUGV is urgently needed. This article presents a skid steering-based path tracking control strategy. In the upper controller, an improved model-free sliding mode controller (APMS) is used to calculate the yaw moment for tracking control. On the lower controller, the Snow Ablation Optimizer (SAO) is used to distribute the output torque of the drive motors, taking longitudinal force, yaw moment and energy consumption into account. Finally, the designed controller is validated through simulation under different operating conditions. The results show that the proposed coordination controller achieves good control performance, increases energy efficiency and at the same time ensures tracking accuracy.

Comprehensive analysis of a novel sustainable photovoltaic/thermal assisted ground source heat pump system with energy storage

The imbalance of soil heat is a significant issue hindering the sustainable operation of ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems, especially under single-mode heating conditions. To address this challenge and develop a more energy-efficient, economical, and sustainable heating system, this paper proposes a novel PV/T-GSHP-PCM (photovoltaic/thermal-ground source heat pump-phase change material) system. A simulation model of the system was developed, and its performance was thoroughly analyzed. Furthermore, the comprehensive performance of four different system coupling configurations was compared. The study concluded that the PV/T-GSHP-PCM system increases energy efficiency by 13 % and reduces operating costs by 32 % compared to conventional GSHP systems. Furthermore, the PV/T-GSHP-PCM system achieves zero energy consumption, zero operational cost, and zero carbon dioxide emissions. After 10 years of continuous operation under single-mode heating, the soil heat imbalance rate stabilized at around 7 %, the heating coefficient of performance of the system decreased by only 0.04. This system demonstrates sustainable and efficient green heating. This study provides valuable insights for advancing research on sustainable and renewable energy-based heating systems.

Control Structures for Combined H2/Electricity from Offshore Wind Turbines

Wind energy proves to be a highly favourable choice for electricity generation due to its clean and renewable nature, and is playing a significant role in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. Offshore wind turbine systems have gained widespread popularity as they can capitalise on elevated and consistent wind speeds surpassing those found in onshore locations, resulting in increased energy efficiency. Furthermore, offshore wind power possesses the potential to emerge as a significant electricity source for the production of green hydrogen. As water electrolysis technology for hydrogen production continues to advance, utilizing offshore wind power for hydrogen generation is becoming more economically viable and practical. Offshore wind power with higher wind speeds in combination with efficient control structures presents an attractive option for electricity generation and hydrogen co-production. This paper aims to present and evaluate four different production structures for combined H2/energy generation from offshore wind turbines. Previous research studies in this area often overlook control structures and lack information on power converter operations. In contrast, this article studies control structures that enable proper functionality and ensure adequate interoperability, enhancing the reliability of renewable energy integration. Each structure, including both wind turbines and electrolyser, is described in detail, along with the corresponding controllers. Simulation results are presented for each structure and controller to demonstrate their effective operation.

Retrofit of green architecture through adaptive reuse of heritage buildings in sustainable tourism management

ABSTRACT The adaptive reuse of cultural heritage buildings as tourist attractions is a growing trend. From an architectural point of view, this concept can be optimized with green architectural retrofit strategies, which help minimize construction waste and encourage environmental conservation. The challenge lies in technically implementing green architectural strategies to transform cultural heritage buildings to ensure safe and comfortable use as tourist destinations. This research uses method in-depth observations of several case studies to identify the subject’s strengths and weaknesses through SWOT analysis. The findings from this analysis are used to develop strategies for managing cultural heritage buildings through green retrofit architecture. The research results provide detailed insights into the effectiveness of management practices based on previous research, addressing issues such as limited awareness and capacity, challenges in interpreting and managing cultural heritage, data management, costs, and inadequate knowledge. Research recommends applying green retrofit techniques such as energy efficiency, water and waste management, landscaping, building material, and indoor air quality to cultural heritage buildings. This approach aims to optimize and increase energy efficiency by revitalizing buildings through landscape designs that consider environmental conservation and climate change.

Contributing to healthier populations by reducing energy poverty via innovative financial models

Abstract Issue/problem Energy poverty is a major challenge affecting 9.3% of the EU population (EUROSTAT 2022). Health problems attributable to energy poverty include respiratory diseases, heart attacks, stroke, and mental disorders. Governments must act quickly and intervene with policies and programmes that reduce energy poverty and promote citizens' health and well-being. Description of the problem We propose Social Impact Bonds (SIBs), a new family of instruments that address serious social challenges, to finance interventions targeting energy poverty,improving the health and well-being of households in a context of limited public resources. For this purpose, data from interventions to increase energy efficiency and combat energy poverty implemented during one year in 6 pilot sites in the framework of the EU project WELLBASED are used. First, a compliance check will be carried out, followed by an estimation of the costs, savings, and benefits of the application of SIBs to finance energy poverty reduction interventions with an impact on health. Results The results of the analysis will show whether the intervention to reduce energy poverty meets the necessary characteristics for a SIB to be implemented. In addition, the possible key actors that could lead its implementation are identified. Lessons If the interventions for the reduction of energy poverty carried out under the WELLBASED project are successful, SIBs could be considered as a valuable alternative to finance interventions that combat energy poverty and increase the well-being of citizens. Key knowledge on how to apply SIBs makers to tackle a serious social issue with important consequences on health will be at disposal of (EU and worldwide) local authorities and policy. Key messages • Energy poverty is a public health issue, requiring urgent support measures. • SIBs fund interventions via public-private collaboration to fight energy poverty and boost citizen wellbeing.

Method for Increasing the Energy Efficiency of the Gear Teeth Cutting Process by Smoothing the Cutting Force Variation

The energy efficiency in metal cutting is, sometimes, very low. Recent studies show that the energy consumed for detaching chips represents only about 15% of the total energy involved in material machining. The available solutions for energy optimization in cutting processes mentioned are the improvement of manufacturing equipment, the optimization of processes, and appropriate production scheduling. Already-performed research shows that to increase energy efficiency, the cutting force must be reduced, for example, by reducing the depth of the cut and by increasing the feed rate. However, this is applicable when the cutting force is quasi-constant during the process, which is not the case for gear teeth cutting when the cutting force significantly varies. The present paper proposes a new solution for energy efficiency increase in gear teeth cutting, namely, the smoothing of the cutting force variation during the machining process, by keeping the area of the detached chip section quasi-constant during the cutting process. This can be reached by replacing the constant rolling feed, currently used in gear teeth cutting, with a rolling feed that varies after an appropriate law. An algorithm dedicated to implementing this solution has been developed. It uses graphical modeling in CATIA to find the variation in the detached chip area. Original MatLab R2018a applications were developed (i) to identify the analytical form of the law that approximates this variation and (ii) to find the variation law of the feed during the rolling motion, if imposing a constant area of the detached chip. The algorithm was successfully applied in the cases of toothing with a rack tool (by slotting) and with a pinion cutter (by slotting and turning). A technical solution for method implementation in practice is also presented.

Digital Twins for Reducing Energy Consumption in Buildings: A Review

This research investigates the use of digital twin (DT) technology to improve building energy management and analyse occupant behaviour. DTs perform the function of acting as virtual replicas of physical assets, which facilitates real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and data-driven decision-making. Consequently, energy performance and occupant comfort can be enhanced. This study evaluates the efficiency of DTs in optimising energy usage by a mix of a systematic literature review and scientometric analysis of 466 articles from the Scopus database. Among the main obstacles noted are interoperability issues, privacy and data quality difficulties, and the requirement for a more thorough integration of digital and physical interactions. The results highlight the necessity of standardised frameworks to direct DT implementations and suggest areas for further study, especially in the areas of improving cybersecurity and incorporating occupant behaviour into DT models. This research makes practical recommendations for using DT technology to increase energy efficiency and sustainability in the built environment.

The effect of failure on energy efficiency in maritime vessels autopilot systems

The increasing demands for energy efficiency and environmental sustainability in the maritime industry have underscored the critical importance of optimizing autopilot systems, which, despite their significance, are often overlooked in ship energy efficiency management. The objective of this study is to enhance the energy efficiency of ships by focusing on the efficiency of autopilot systems, which play a significant role in the management of energy efficiency. The research emphasizes the need for effective decision support systems for ship operators, not only for optimizing ship speeds but also for making informed operational decisions. By utilizing Fuzzy Fault Tree Analysis (FFTA), the study identifies and prioritizes the causes of efficiency losses in autopilot systems and examines their frequency. Based on expert opinions, the research delves into the complexity of autopilot systems and the interactions among various components. Notably, the study highlights the impact of multiple factors on the efficiency of complex autopilot systems, elucidating their relationships through Minimum Cut Sets (MCS) analysis. Furthermore, attention was drawn to the “Improper Alarm Input” event caused by insufficient knowledge and awareness among ship operators, which hinders the effective use of autopilot systems. The findings demonstrate that decision support systems can increase energy efficiency and contribute to the reduction of operational errors by reducing the human factor, which is 99% effective on the “Inefficient Heading Control System”. Additionally, proper utilization of autopilot systems can lead to a decrease in a ship's carbon footprint and operating costs. Overall, the results can affect strategic decisions in ship energy efficiency management and encourage significant steps toward achieving International Maritime Organization's (IMO) sustainability objectives.

Part-load performance analysis of a modular biomass boiler with a combined heat and power industrial Rankine cycle and supplementary sCO2 Brayton cycle

Abstract The addition of a supplementary high efficiency cycle integrated with an existing steam power cycle may increase energy efficiency and net generation. In this paper, part load performance and operation of a modular biomass boiler with an existing industrial Rankine steam heat and power cycle and supplementary supercritical CO2 (sCO2) Brayton cycle is analysed. The aim is to leverage the high efficiency of the sCO2 cycle by retrofitting sCO2 heaters in the existing biomass boiler, increasing net power output and thermal efficiency. With nominal load performance previously investigated, understanding part-load performance and operation is vital to determine cycle feasibility. A quasi-steady-state one dimensional thermofluid network model was used to simulate the integrated cycle performance for loads ranging from 100% to 60%. The model solves the mass, energy, momentum, and species balance equations, capturing detailed component characteristics. Two control methodologies are explored for the sCO2 Brayton cycle, namely inventory control and inventory control combined with throttling valve control. Inventory control is selected as the better performing control strategy for load following, maintaining high thermal efficiency across partial loads. At 60% load, the sCO2 compressor operates near the pseudo-critical point, leading to a sharp decrease in sCO2 cycle capacity, which requires careful management of inventory control. Two sCO2 heater configurations are investigated, namely a single convective-dominant heater, and a dual heater configuration with a radiative and a convective heater. The single heater configuration is preferred to minimise adverse impacts on the Rankine cycle superheaters.

Multidisciplinary Review of Induction Stove Technology: Technological Advances, Societal Impacts, and Challenges for Its Widespread Use

Induction stoves are increasingly recognized as the future of cooking technology due to their numerous benefits, including enhanced energy efficiency, improved safety, and precise cooking control. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the key technological advancements in induction stoves, while also examining the societal and health impacts that need to be addressed to support their widespread adoption. Induction stoves operate based on the principle of eddy currents induced in metal cookware, which generate heat directly within the pot, reducing cooking times and increasing energy efficiency compared with conventional gas and electric stoves. Moreover, induction stoves are considered an environmentally sustainable option, as they contribute to improvements in indoor air quality by reducing emissions associated with fuel combustion during cooking. However, ongoing research is essential to ensure the safe and effective use of this technology on a broader scale.

How can phase change materials improve vehicle cooling systems for better motor efficiency and thermal management?

Phase change materials, or PCMs, have become an attractive option for improving thermal management in the vehicle industry. With the increasing demand for efficient cooling systems and improved driving ranges in electric vehicles, PCMs offer an innovative approach to managing heat dissipation and improving performance. While PCMs are already applied in industries such as construction, their potential to revolutionize automotive thermal management could lead to advancements in all aspects of the field. They are a perfect option for increasing energy efficiency because of their capacity to collect and release thermal energy. This study explores the application of PCMs in vehicles and assesses their effectiveness in improving cooling systems.

Forecasting Electricity Consumption Using Function Fitting Artificial Neural Networks and Regression Methods

With the growth of smart grids, consumers now have access to new technologies that enable improvements in the quality of service provided and allow new levels of energy efficiency. Much of this increase in energy efficiency is directly related to changes in consumption habits due to the quantity and quality of information made available by new technologies. At this point, short-term consumption forecasting can be considered an effective information tool in the search for better consumption patterns and energy efficiency. This paper presents prediction tests combining the result obtained from an artificial neural network and regression methods. The artificial neural network used was the Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), and its results were compared with polynomial regression techniques (first, second, and third degree), demonstrating the superiority of the network. The neural network has proven to be a highly effective tool for forecasting future data, demonstrating its ability to capture complex patterns in input data and produce accurate estimates. Additionally, the flexibility of neural networks in handling large volumes of data and their continuous adjustment capability further enhance their suitability as a robust tool for future predictions. The results corroborate the capacity of the methodology presented for short-term consumption forecasting.

Sustainability Strategies in Municipal Wastewater Treatment

The European Parliament adopted a legislative resolution of 10 April 2024 on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning urban wastewater treatment. The reduction in pollution in discharged treated wastewater in the parameters of BOD5, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus was emphasized. Based on these results, it stated that the impacts on the quality of lakes, rivers, and seas in the EU are visible and tangible. At the same time, it was emphasized that the sector of urban wastewater removal and treatment is responsible for 0.8% of total electricity consumption and about 0.86% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the entire EU. Almost a third of these emissions could be prevented by improving the treatment process, better use of sewage sludge, and increasing energy efficiency, as well as a higher rate of use of renewable resource technologies. It is also necessary to integrate treatment processes into the circular economy. Sludge management and water reuse are suboptimal as too many valuable resources are still being wasted. This article focuses on sustainable municipal wastewater treatment, innovative and new wastewater treatment processes and technologies (combined and hybrid processes, ANAMMOX, etc.) and their use in practice with the aim of increasing environmental and energy efficiency and reducing the carbon footprint. The research is focused on the possibilities of increasing the efficiency of energy processing of sludge, reuse of nitrogen and phosphorus, sludge, and reuse of treated wastewater.

Energy management system for multi interconnected microgrids during grid connected and autonomous operation modes considering load management

This study focuses on improving power system grid performance and efficiency through the integration of distributed energy resources (DERs). The study proposes an artificial intelligence (AI) based effective approach for economic dispatch and load management for three linked microgrids (MGs) that operate in both grid-connected and autonomous modes. A day-ahead scheduling method is suggested to calculate the optimal set points for various energy sources in MGs considering various system constraints for safe operation. In addition, a load management approach that shifts the controllable loads from one interval to another is applied to reduce the operating cost of MG. To handle the optimization challenges of energy scheduling and load shifting such complexity and non-linearity, an advanced meta-heuristic method known as the one-to-one based optimizer (OOBO) is used. Overall, the paper proposes a viable and efficient methodology for economical distribution in linked microgrids, which takes advantage of renewable energy resources and incorporates scheduling optimization via the OOBO algorithm. The proposed energy management strategy enhances the system performance, increases energy efficiency, and reduces the daily operational cost by 1.6% for grid connected mode and by 0.47% for islanded operation mode.

Collaborative design approach to identify research and innovation needs within the European smart building community.

Upgrading the level of smartness in buildings can significantly contribute to improve our quality and sustainability of living, through increased energy efficiency, optimised resource management, and improved air quality and comfort. However, the fragmented nature of the sector makes it challenging to identify what is technically, socially and economically achieved today in Europe in terms of building smartness, and what should be developed and financially supported tomorrow to accelerate the roll-out of smart and energy efficient buildings. This paper introduces the collaborative process developed to involve a large community of experts in detecting and formalising research and innovation gaps related to smart buildings. This process is composed of four successive steps: 1) a communication phase to invite volunteer experts to join the proposed task forces; 2) The organisation and facilitation of online brainstorming workshops to identify research & innovation (R&I) gaps; 3) the collective drafting of a white paper synthesising the brainstorming outcomes; and 4) an open consultation to collect additional external feedback before finalising the white paper. The collaborative process developed was tested over 18 months and implemented on 12 different topics relying on 27 brainstorming workshops. Building on the collective knowledge of 135 participants, it enabled identification a significant series of R&I gaps related to smart buildings. The collective sessions as well as the open consultation phases showed overall some clear convergence on the gaps identified. It can therefore be concluded the outcome of the collaborative process reached a consensus among the targeted innovation community. The feedback collected on the process, shows that the frequency, duration and attendance of the brainstorming workshops proposed were very relevant, while the selection of online participatory tools could still be improved. This process could be replicated in other frameworks where research and innovation gaps are sought for.

Static Power Equipment for the Active Elimination of Harmonics from the National Energy Grid

Taking into account the long-term (2020-2050) Energy Strategy of Romania, and the Integrated National Plan in the Energy and Climate Changing 2021-2030, Dunărea de Jos University of Galati, utilizing the industrial partners, will conduct the applied industrial research to provide in the National Grid a clean energy, by harmonics mitigation. This paper deals with the Shunt Active Power solution to efficiently mitigate the current harmonics within the national power grid. Both numerical and experimental results are presented in this paper. The results of this paper are obtained by the beneficiary and the industrial partner of the „Knowledge transfer regarding the increase of energy efficiency and intelligent power systems” project, acronym CRESC-INTEL, within the POC Competitiveness Operational Program. The obtained results of this project will conduct one innovation-based ecosystem in the European Union research and technological development field. Innovative static power types of equipment ensure an increased energy efficiency of the power system with a high power factor. Based on the obtained prototype, a mass production of the innovative static power equipment will be delivered to the specific market, by complying with the available power quality standards. In this way, based on the static power equipment series production, by considering alternative power ranges, harmonic cleaning of the national grid is obtained.

Numerical study of [formula omitted]-fuelled micro-free piston CHP system, coupled with thermophotovoltaic (TPV) and battolyser units

Hydrogen (H2) fuelled internal combustion engines (ICEs) can play an important role in small-scale applications despite low efficiency, short reactant residence time and pre-combustion issues. In this study, a hybrid green H2 production and utilisation system covering renewable-powered H2O electrolysis, micro-CHP (combined heat and power) and thermoelectric units was developed. The solar or wind powered battolyser system stores electricity and utilises it to produce H2. The produced green H2 combusts with air in the cylinder to drive the turbine and the electric generator. While the thermophotovoltaic (TPV) unit converts the heat radiation into electrical energy to maximise the power efficiency of the developed hybrid system. The result showed a better temperature distribution, higher pressure discharge on both pistons’ walls and increased energy efficiency by replacing a single-piston with the opposed piston cylinder combustor and using cylinder exit gas to generate more electricity. Steam coolant reduced the thermal stress on the cylinder wall. The mounted TPV unit on the cylinder wall converted the absorbed heat flux to 3.9 kW. The maximum power output of the solar PV and wind turbine systems was reached at an irradiance of 1200 W/m2 under ambient temperature conditions and a wind speed of 17 m/s. By using the exhaust gas from the cylinder to drive the gas turbine, 8.8 kW power output and an electrical efficiency of 31.9 % were recorded. NOx emissions <6 ppm and a CHP efficiency of 93.5 % were achieved for the developed hybrid system. The proposed system can substitute the current domestic gas boiler which is in the phase-out state.

Deep reinforcement learning-based energy management system enhancement using digital twin for electric vehicles

Compared to conventional engine-based powertrains, electrified powertrain exhibit increased energy efficiency and reduced emissions, making electrification a key goal for the automotive industry. For a vehicle with a hybrid energy storage system, its performance and lifespan are substantially affected by the energy management system. Reinforcement learning-based methods are gaining popularity in vehicle energy management, but most of the literature in this area focuses on pure simulation, while hardware implementation is still limited. This paper introduces the digital twin methodology to enhance the reinforcement learning-based energy management system for battery and ultracapacitor electric vehicles. The digital twin model can exploit the bilateral interdependency between the virtual model and the actual system, which improves the control performance of the energy management system in real-time control. The physical model is established based on a hardware-in-the-loop simulation platform. In addition, battery degradation is also considered for prolonging the battery lifespan to reduce operating costs. The validation results of the trained reinforcement learning agent illustrate that the digital twin-enhanced Q-learning energy management system improves the energy efficiency by 7.08 % and reduces the battery degradation by 25.28 %.

BIM-based parametric energy analysis of green building components for the roofs and facades

Buildings are distinguished by their high energy demand over their lifespan. Iimproving energy efficiency in buildings necessitates mitigating the operation energy performance by evaluating more sustainable building components such as green infrastructures. The novelty herein is to conduct a BIM-based parametric energy analysis of green building components for the roofs and facades, taking into consideration the climate classification and orientation of the building. The proposed framework of this study uses Autodesk Revit software and Autodesk Green Building Studio as BIM tools, and Minitab software as a parametric analysis tool to estimate the energy performance of several alternative components based on Energy Use Intensity (EUI) and Annual Peak Demand (APD). A case study of a residential building is examined in four cities within different climate zones in Brazil; Rio de Janeiro (climate zone 08), Macaé (climate zone 05), Petrópolis (climate zone 03), and Nova Friburgo (climate zone 02). The base model design of components of the building includes a reinforced concrete roof and ceramic masonry façade. The utilized alternatives are roof components (i.e. green roofs and expanded clay roofs), and green façade. This work insight using green façade for all elevations and green roofs to enhance energy efficiency in terms of EUI by (10,17 %) in Rio de Janeiro, (6,67 %) in Macaé, (11,43 %) in Pertópolis, and (16,43 %) in Nova Friburgo. While the efficiency in terms of APD would be about (28,07 %) in Rio de Janeiro, (22,79 %) in Macaé, (21,67 %) in Pertópolis, and (12,58 %) in Nova Friburgo. When the construction project is designed to install a green façade to the main elevation only, this work recommends using green roofs rather than the expanded clay roof or the base model design roofs to increase energy efficiency in such types of buildings. This work contributes to integrating green building components into building designs to improve energy efficiency and empower decision-making and sustainability in buildings.

Thermal Analysis of Infrared Heater as an Alternative Heat Source for Flexitank Application Using CFD

The heating pad was a mechanism for heating elements using steam as a heat source and heating the liquid inside a flexitank to liquidise for easy discharge completely. Alternative heat sources such as infrared, electric, and exothermic reactions may improve thermal performance for the heating process. Infrared heating is chosen for this study due to its efficient radiation heat transfer compared to conduction and convection. This study aims to determine the optimal infrared heater configuration to improve the time to liquidify fluid on the flexitank for easier discharge. Nine flexitank and infrared heater geometries were made using SolidWorks with different heater positions and heating element thicknesses. Each geometry was simulated using Ansys Mechanical to study the thermal performance of radiation heat transfer with three different heating element materials. The heat output and energy input obtained from the simulation were used to calculate heating time and energy efficiency, respectively. The effects of each parameter were studied to determine the best configuration of the infrared heater in terms of heating time, energy consumption and both. The results showed that the position of the heater plays the most crucial role in determining the heating time and energy consumption, as a heater position that produces a larger heated surface area on the flexitank can reduce heating time. The thickness of the heating element and its material contributes a minor impact on heating time and energy consumption. Increasing thickness would lower the heating time and increase energy efficiency if the thickness improves heat retention capabilities. Increasing material emissivity will increase the heating time. Higher conductive materials would use more energy compared to lower conductive materials. The heating time was improved by about 30% compared to a steam heating pad. Energy consumption was reduced by about 85% compared to a small steam generator. In conclusion, the infrared heater was a promising alternative as a heat source for flexitank applications.