Integrated Energy Production Research Articles

Solid residues after gasification of agricultural residues as scalable and economical CO2 adsorption materials

Economical CO2 adsorbents are gaining significant attention as viable solutions to combat climate change. This research assessed the CO2 adsorption potential of solid residues following the gasification of bagasse (SR-Bagasse), bamboo (SR-Bamboo), and rice husk (SR-Rice husk) in various systems in Vietnam and Cambodia. Among these residues, SR-Bagasse showed the highest CO2 adsorption capacity, followed by SR-Bamboo, while SR-Rice husk exhibited moderate performance. The CO2 adsorption capacity at 25 °C with 100 % CO2 flow varied from 6 % to 9.5 % of the adsorbent's weight. Under flue gas conditions (15 % CO2 and 85 % N2), the adsorption capacity ranged from 2 % to 5 %. Additionally, these chars demonstrated significant recyclability with 90 % of initial adsorption capacity retained after 30 cycles, making them comparable to several advanced CO2 adsorbents studied previously. The highest performance of SR-Bagasse could be attributed to its substantial microporous and ultra-microporous volumes, with micropores serving as both CO2 adsorption sites and conduits to ultra-micropores. This study's findings emphasize the potential for integrating energy production with the development of economical and scalable CO2 adsorbents for industrial use.

Optimal scheduling of electricity-hydrogen coupling virtual power plant considering hydrogen load response

With the rapid development of hydrogen production by water electrolysis, the coupling between the electricity-hydrogen system has become closer, providing an effective way to consume surplus new energy generation. As a form of centralized management of distributed energy resources, virtual power plants can aggregate the integrated energy production and consumption segments in a certain region and participate in electricity market transactions as a single entity to enhance overall revenue. Based on this, this paper proposes an optimal scheduling model of an electricity-hydrogen coupling virtual power plant (EHC-VPP) considering hydrogen load response, relying on hydrogen to ammonia as a flexibly adjustable load-side resource in the EHC-VPP to enable the VPP to participate in the day-ahead energy market to maximize benefits. In addition, this paper also considers the impact of the carbon emission penalty to practice the green development concept of energy saving and emission reduction. To validate the economy of the proposed optimization scheduling method in this paper, the optimization scheduling results under three different operation scenarios are compared and analyzed. The results show that considering the hydrogen load response and fully exploiting the flexibility resources of the EHC-VPP can further reduce the system operating cost and improve the overall operating efficiency.

Cross-level steam load smoothing and optimization in industrial parks using data-driven approaches

This study focuses on the integrated energy production system in industrial parks, addressing the problem of stable load dispatch of equipment under demand fluctuations. A cross-level method for steam load smoothing and optimization is proposed, aiming to achieve stable production and optimal economic performance through three levels of integration: load forecasting, load dispatch, and load regulation. Unlike traditional methods that directly use load forecasting values, heat network elasticity is presented as a buffer between demand and supply. Constraints for minimal changes in equipment load and operational parameters are established for smooth regulation. Industrial cases demonstrate that the load forecasting model has mean absolute percentage errors of 2.44% and 1.68% for medium-pressure and low-pressure steam, respectively, meeting accuracy requirements. The modified supply-side load smoothness is effectively improved by considering heat network elasticity. The method increases boiler efficiency by 1.92%, reducing average coal consumption by 0.92 t/h. Compared to manual operation, the proposed model leads to an average increase of 5.69 MW in power generation and an average reduction of 10.81% in coal-to-electricity ratio. This study verifies the importance of smooth integration across different levels and analyzes the effective response of the proposed method to the uncertainty in load forecasting. The method demonstrates the enormous potential of data-driven methods in achieving safe, economical, and sustainable production in industrial parks.

Capacity Configuration in Integrated Energy Production Unit Considering Ladder-type Carbon Trading Under CCER Quota

Capacity Configuration in Integrated Energy Production Unit Considering Ladder-type Carbon Trading Under CCER Quota

Stochastic Optimization Model of Capacity Configuration for Integrated Energy Production System Considering Source-Load Uncertainty

China’s carbon neutrality strategy has expedited a transition towards greener and lower-carbon integrated energy systems. Faced with the problem that the central position of thermal power cannot be transformed quickly, utilizing traditional thermal power units in a low-carbon and efficient manner is the premise to guarantee green energy development. This study focuses on the integrated energy production system (IEPS) and a stochastic optimization model for capacity configuration that integrates carbon capture storage and power-to-gas while considering source-load uncertainty. Firstly, carbon capture storage and power-to-gas technologies are introduced, and the architecture and models of the IEPS are established. The carbon and hydrogen storage equipment configuration enhances the system’s flexibility. Also, source-load uncertainty is considered, and a deterministic transformation is applied using the simultaneous backward reduction algorithm combined with K-means clustering. The paper simulates the optimal capacity configuration of the IEPS in a park energy system in Suzhou, China. Furthermore, the research performs a sensitivity analysis on coal, natural gas, and carbon tax prices. Case studies verified that IEPS can realize the recycling of electricity, gas, hydrogen, and carbon, with remarkable characteristics of low-carbon, flexibility, and economical. Stochastic optimized capacity allocation results considering source-load uncertainty are more realistic. Sensitivity intervals for energy prices can reference pricing mechanisms in energy markets. This study can provide ideas for the transition of China’s energy structure and offer directions to the low-carbon sustainable development of the energy system.

How turbulent transport broadens the heat flux width: local SOL production or edge turbulence spreading?

This paper uses data from limited HL-2A Ohmic-plasma to answer the question of how turbulent transport broadens the heat flux width. A key issue in this study is the determination of the origin of scrape-off layer (SOL) turbulence. We develop the concept of the energy production ratio Ra , which compares the flux of turbulence energy across the last closed flux surface (LCFS) to the net, integrated energy production in the SOL. The flux of turbulence energy (i.e. spreading) is measured directly, using Langmuir probes. Experimental data is used to evaluate Ra . Results show that usually 1$?> Ra>1 , indicating that SOL turbulence is energized primarily by edge turbulence spreading. The exceptions—cases where Ra<1 —are those with relatively stronger E×B shear near the LCFS. The latter inhibits both turbulence spreading and local SOL production, but has greater effects on spreading. High blob fraction in the turbulence correlates with large values of Ra . The implications for heat flux width physics are discussed.

Comprehensive assessment of solar cracking of natural gas for the production and transportation of turquoise energy carriers

Bridge technologies incorporating integrated energy production systems are used to adapt to the growing global energy demand while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This study aims to propose a system to produce energy in the form of turquoise hydrogen, ammonia, and urea from natural gas. In this study, natural gas is fed to a fluidized bed reactor where high temperatures crack the light-end hydrocarbons into hydrogen and solid carbon. The hydrogen is split between the stored final product and the remainder is further processed as an intermediate product to produce ammonia and urea. This integrated process uses a zero-emission thermochemical cracking unit utilizing solar power as the primary heat source. This work analyzes the feasibility of transporting the produced energy carrier fuels; turquoise hydrogen, ammonia, and urea, overseas for fuel cell power production. The processes are modelled using Aspen Plus© and Engineering Equation Solver software. The main system feed is 4969 kg/h of natural gas, 3733 kg/h nitrogen, and 1991 kg/h of oxygen producing 397 kg/h of hydrogen, 2136 kg/h of ammonia and 4752 kg/h of urea. An integrated Rankine cycle generates 957 kW of power in a steam turbine from waste heat. The supply chain's boil-off gas rates are 1% and 0.02% for hydrogen and ammonia, respectively. The total electrical energy output of the energy carriers used in the fuel cells is 185,900 MWh from hydrogen, 362,100 MWh from ammonia and 458,700 MWh from the urea fuel.

Data-driven source-load robust optimal scheduling of integrated energy production unit including hydrogen energy coupling

A robust low-carbon economic optimal scheduling method that considers source-load uncertainty and hydrogen energy utilization is developed. The proposed method overcomes the challenge of source-load random fluctuations in integrated energy systems (IESs) in the operation scheduling problem of integrated energy production units (IEPUs). First, to solve the problem of inaccurate prediction of renewable energy output, an improved robust kernel density estimation method is proposed to construct a data-driven uncertainty output set of renewable energy sources statistically and build a typical scenario of load uncertainty using stochastic scenario reduction. Subsequently, to resolve the problem of insufficient utilization of hydrogen energy in existing IEPUs, a robust low-carbon economic optimal scheduling model of the source-load interaction of an IES with a hydrogen energy system is established. The system considers the further utilization of energy using hydrogen energy coupling equipment (such as hydrogen storage devices and fuel cells) and the comprehensive demand response of load-side schedulable resources. The simulation results show that the proposed robust stochastic optimization model driven by data can effectively reduce carbon dioxide emissions, improve the source-load interaction of the IES, realize the efficient use of hydrogen energy, and improve system robustness.

Integration between photovoltaic systems and cultural heritage: A socio-technical comparison of international policies, design criteria, applications, and innovation developments

The European legislative framework asks for massive application of renewable energy source (particularly of photovoltaic systems) in the built environment to face the recent energy crisis, reducing energy demand, environmental emissions, and costs. These policies could generate serious preservations problems for architecturally sensitive areas, such as historical towns, historic buildings, and protected landscapes. Inside them, photovoltaic technologies have several benefits for the built environment related to aesthetic appeal, reliability, modularity, scalability, versatility, low maintenance costs, and peak shaving. The major challenge for their application is the presumed negative impact on heritage value. Thus, the diffusion of these systems in the territory is hindered by a social diffidence on their acceptability due to legislative, cultural, technical, and economic barriers. To support the definition of appropriate policies, and realistic targets, the study presents a complete discussion on policy-related design criteria for integrating photovoltaic systems on cultural heritage. This socio-technical analysis can increase a cleaner and integrated energy production, favoring the energy transition and the mitigation of climate changes, respecting heritage and natural values, and considering current energy needs, and innovative developments of photovoltaic systems. The comparison of relevant research projects, scientific studies, awards, and guidelines describes the state of the art of this topic, also identifying 42 international guidelines on energy efficiency, renewable sources, and solar integration on cultural heritage. International recommendations are categorized to find recurring, and applied design criteria for architectural heritage sites, protected landscapes, historic and traditional buildings, and building extensions. Then, updated criteria, pros, and cons for a possible integration are defined through specific focus groups with the Heritage Authorities. These activities are based on international criteria of architectural conservation. The synopsis of these results shows non-negotiable criteria for heritage-compatible solar applications. Finally, the study presents some policy-relevant implications connected with these design criteria, to define realistic energy targets and scenarios, to prepare strategic policy options (e.g., guidelines, rules, policies, and financial incentives) based on updated criteria, correct targets, and recent innovations, to implement existing energy policies in a correct way, to correctly assess restoration design projects, and to evaluate socio-economic trends of innovative photovoltaics' markets.

Introducing and assessment of a new wind and solar-based diversified energy production system intergrading single-effect absorption refrigeration, ORC, and SRC cycles

This paper proposes and evaluates an integrated energy production system using two forms of renewable energy, solar and wind, in order to deliver cooling, heating, electricity, and water desalination. Along with organic Rankine cycle components (ORC), this diversified energy system includes an absorption refrigeration system, steam Rankine cycle (SRC), thermoelectrics, reverse osmosis, wind turbines, and parabolic-linear solar collectors. This study contains several innovations, including using thermoelectrics in the Rankine organic cycle instead of a condenser that gives the system a high capacity, utilizing parabolic solar collectors, and implementing wind energy as the direct source of electricity for such system. Energy, Exergy, and Exergoeconomic analysis approach is performed for the evaluation approach. EES software is used to model and analyze the data. As part of the validation process, the results are compared with those published previously and are found to be relatively consistent. The research results revealed four points. First, with the increase in solar radiation, the amount of freshwater produced for the system increased from 69.15 to 75.23 m3/h. Second, the total exergy efficiency increased from 54.24 to 77.27% when the steam turbine's inlet pressure was increased. Third, the system's total cost decreased from 77.27 to 28.30 $/h with increasing ambient temperature. Fourth, the highest exergy loss is associated with solar energy with a central receiver. Based on exergy losses, it was determined that a solar system with 60% and a wind turbine with 17% have the highest losses.

Historical Buildings Potential to Power Urban Electromobility: State-of-the-Art and Future Challenges for Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB) Microgrids

The growing need for electric energy is forcing the construction industry to greater integrate energy production systems based on renewable energy sources. The energy ought to be used not only to support functions of the building but also to charge electric vehicles, whose number has been increasing for the last few years. However, implementation of RES (Renewable Energy Sources) systems in already existing buildings is problematic. Basing on an example of a historical building, the article presents the conversion of a facility into a nearly zero-energy building, where energy surplus may be used to charge EVs (Electric Vehicles). Interdisciplinary research describes energy consumption of the EV in real driving conditions, taking into consideration changing weather conditions and an option of energy being produced by buildings operating in an urban agglomeration: it stipulates the time needed to charge the vehicle, depending on the charging We removed dot, according to email in submitting system, please confirm.method, as well as an energy potential of adapting the solution in selected periods of building operation. The summary presents how electromobility can be supported by the construction industry.

Trading strategy and benefit optimization of load aggregators in integrated energy systems considering integrated demand response: A hierarchical Stackelberg game

With the rise of integrated energy systems, the load aggregator's role in forming a connection between the demand and supply sides has been gaining increasing importance. Traditional demand response has gradually developed into integrated demand response. Considering consumer psychology, a bilateral integrated demand response model between the integrated energy production base, load aggregator, and users is established; the model is a hierarchical Stackelberg game. Simultaneously, a mixed integer quadratic programming-multi-verse optimizer distributed algorithm is proposed to solve the game model. During the continuous interactive gaming process, the utilities of all parties can be maximized while achieving a balance of benefits. Considering whether price incentives should be implemented and including consumers' psychological characteristics, three scenarios were established for case analysis. The results show that the proposed trading strategy can increase the benefits of the integrated energy production base, load aggregator, and users by 5%, 4%, and 23%, respectively. In addition, the penalty cost of abandoning wind and solar power and of power reserve capacity are reduced by $34.4 and $9, respectively. The introduction of the hierarchical game model ensures the sustainability of the mechanism and provides innovative ideas for the development of integrated energy systems.

Integrated energy production unit: An innovative concept and design for energy transition toward low-carbon development

To achieve the goals of emission peak and carbon neutrality, significant effort is invested to accelerate the energy transition, with a focus on the development and utilization of renewable energy, as well as the upgrading of conventional units. Within this context, this paper proposes an innovative concept, known as the integrated energy production unit (IEPU), providing a variety of energy products and flexible adjustment functions for power systems with high penetration of non-hydro renewable energy. In the IEPU framework, a photovoltaic (PV) power plant is installed to produce electricity; CO <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf> capture technology is applied to the existing coal-fired power plant with biomass co-combustion. The generated CO <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf> is used to synthesize methane or methanol with hydrogen through electrolysis. First, the operational principle and advantages of this concept are illustrated. Then, a simplified model is built to provide an optimal configuration scheme of equipment capacity. Finally, the potential contribution of IEPU to the operational flexibility of the power system is also analyzed.

Microalgae fuel cell for wastewater treatment: Recent advances and challenges

Electricity generation from wastewater using a microalgae-based microbial fuel cell (MFC) has captured a lot of attention from researchers these days. Microalgae-microbial fuel cell (m-MFC) is a device that can overcome the problem of fossil-fuel depletion and environmental pollution by generating electrical energy from wastewater and sunlight. Sustainable applications of the microalgae-based microbial fuel cells are not only reliable for wastewater treatment and bio-electricity generation but also versatile in the field of bio-hydrogen energy production, eco-friendly solution of desalination, and carbon sequestration. In this review article, we have summarized the mechanism and operational configuration of the microbial fuel cell using an anode chamber, a cathode chamber, and a separation membrane. The technological advancement of photosynthetic microalgae in the microbial fuel cell for energy production and wastewater treatment has been explored. The use of microalgae species such as the anode and cathode is also conferred with the resulting power densities. The challenges and possible solutions of the microalgae-microbial fuel cells in integrated energy production systems with wastewater treatment have been discussed for potential industrialization.

Integrated Production of Fuels, Energy and Chemicals from Jatropha Curcas: Multi-objective Optimisation of Sustainable Value Chains

In this work, a comprehensive optimisation model, based on mixed-integer linear programming, was developed that can support complex decision-making related to multi-product Jatropha value chains and can capture the trade-offs between water, energy and land utilisation. The model can identify promising Jatropha value chains for sustainable and efficient production of energy, fuels and chemicals. This paper presents the optimisation model and the key findings from a preliminary case study on biodiesel production for the Philippines.

Energy Balance Analysis for Integrated Energy Production System from Water Hyacinth Operated with no Electricity Supply

The aims of this paper are to investigate the energy balance on an integrated energy production system using water hyacinth as biomass fuel with no electricity supply to the system. The conceptual framework of the present study is to use water hyacinth as primary energy source input into gasifier through the gasification process. The producer gas produced will be used as energy input to drive the other parts of the system that be connected with the gasifier. The integrated energy production system comprise of three main parts such as (1) collection system of fresh water hyacinth from canal or river (2) briquetting system of water hyacinth and (3) gasification system using briquetted water hyacinth as biomass fuel. Based on the concept of the system that will be operated with no electricity supply to the system, thus every engines of the production system will be driven with the producer gas. The investigation was conducted based on the calculation of energy balance in the system. The calculation results based on the average value of biomass gasification rate showed that the gasifier with the capacity of 100 kg/hr can produce the producer gas at the rate of 300 m3/hr. And the total amount of the producer gas required to operate the engines installed within the system are 165.75 m3/hr in which equivalent with the amount of briquetted water hyacinth around 55 kg/hr. Thus from the energy balance analysis found that the producer gas produced from the gasifier with the capacity of 100 kg/hr can supply the energy to drive all engines installed at the site. Moreover there are the extra amount of water hyacinth briquettes produced from the system around 45 kilogram per hour.

How Do Agricultural Biogas Investments Affect Czech Farms?

The article aims to evaluate the impacts of strategic investments in biogas plants on the economic sustainability and vulnerability of farms with a special focus on investment subsidies. Data spanning 148 farms from the Czech Republic over a thirteen-year period (2004-2016) are used to estimate random effects panel regression models to quantify the short-term and long-term economic sustainability and vulnerability of integrated energy production in the context of mixed type farming. Investments in biogas plants can negatively affect the viability of agricultural companies in the short term because farms which invest in biogas suffer from debt pressures due to inadequate revenues in the construction phase. However, in the long term, the effects of biogas plant operations are positive: economic sustainability is enhanced and vulnerability is reduced mainly due to public support for renewable energy production in the form of feed-in tariffs and green bonuses. Comparing farms that received investment subsidies with nonparticipating farms indicates a high deadweight loss effect which means that programme participants would undertake a similar investment without programme support. However, the investment subsidies improve recipients´ cash flows.

Modeling and Prediction of New Energy Use

This paper looks into clean energy consumption in the four states of California (CA), Arizona (AZ), New Mexico (NM) and Texas (TX) by analyzing and comparing the methods of energy consumption, the similarity and difference of their energy composition and the causes for it, and finding out the state with the optimal ways of energy consumption, and based on it, predicts the future energy composition of these states and proposes a target for interstate energy convention. And through multiple regression analysis, and the corresponding indicators of the methods of energy consumption in these states, we compare the ways of new energy consumption in these states, and analyze the difference from the perspective of industries and geographies in these states, which prepares necessary reference for the following modeling. After some basic analysis of the data, we establish a multi-attribute decision making to find a state with optimal composition of energies through the five indicators of energy composition, volume of clean energy consumption etc; and based on the analysis, we find the different characteristics of energy consumption in these states. Then we set up a GM (1, 1) model to make prediction based on the data of energy consumption of the near 20 years and project energy consumption of the four states in 2025 and 2050. By means of multi-attribute decision making, we find out the state with optimal energy composition, and propose a target of the energy convention based on a two-year clean energy consumption in this state. After analyzing the difference of energy consumption methods in these four states, and in order to coordinate and integrate energy production and consumption in these states, we propose the 6 suggestions for action. In addition to the multiple regression analysis, multi-attribute decision making for the analysis of the energy consumption in these four states, principal component analysis also plays an important role. This method helps to find the significance of different ways of energy consumption, figure out the current and future energy consumption in these four states, and the state with optimal energy consumption method. Finally, by means of comparing with different models, we have nearly the same conclusion: CA is a state with optimal energy combination and has best practice for future development. There in projecting the 2025 and 2050 energy consumption, we can use CA as a reference state and set such as the target for energy convention between these four states.

Flexibilization of Gas Turbine Combined Cycle via Heat Pump: development of control logics via Software-in-the-loop application

Flexibilization of Gas Turbine Combined Cycle (GTCC) is a key for plant operations in the present as well as in the near future. The increasing of non-dispatchable sources in the energy production environment causes strong fluctuations in energy price and energy production profiles. The opportunity to enhance flexibility of traditional GTCC is consequenlty welcomed. This work focuses on integration of a Heat Pump in a GTCC devoted to cogenerative purpose with the goal to integrate energy production, assist the power plant in normal operations and enriches the transient capability of the whole compound. This approach can be developed to be retro-fitted to existing power plant. In particular, a software-in-the-loop (SiL) application is here presented to test the developed control logics governing such power plant. The power plant model is developed and runs under Siemens AMESIM environemnt, whilst the control system is developed and integrated in Matlab/Simulink environment. The two systems are intefraced and exchange information with the goal to verify reliability of the control logics before going into the real field..

A paper microfluidic fuel cell powered by urea

A paper microfluidic fuel cell was developed that is powered by urea and compares favorably to recent literature reports of paper microfluidic fuel cells. During fuel cell testing, we found the maximum power density to be as high as 0.91 mW cm−2 and the maximum current density to be as high as 4.3 mA cm-2 at room temperature using 0.3 M urea as fuel. Under continuous reactant flow, the fuel cell voltage is stable for at least 1 h. Under stopped flow conditions, the voltage was stable for up to 20 min. When 3 fuel cells (using Ni anode) were connected in series, sufficient energy was produced to power the LCD screen of a paper-based, over-the-counter pregnancy test for at least 30 min. Since this fuel cell is constructed on paper, it does not require continuous flow of reactants as a micro-channeled microfluidic fuel cell would. Hence, it could be possible with this chemistry to integrate energy production with urinalysis on paper since human urine contains both urea (fuel) and hormones (analyte) to provide power and analyte simultaneously.