Specific Energy Requirement Research Articles

Instrumentation in Tractor for Evaluating Performance of a Tractor Drawn Rotavator

Performance measurement of agricultural machinery is essential for enhancing their efficiency for which they are operated. The performance related data helps the operator to select optimum operating parameters which reduce fuel consumption and increase field productivity. This study was aimed to develop various sensing units and install them on the tractor for evaluating performance of a tractor drawn rotavator. A microcontroller based embedded system was developed for continuous recording of wheel slip, actual forward speed, throttle opening, engine speed, velocity ratio, draft and power take-off (PTO) torque related data while carrying out tillage operation with rotavator. The wheel slip (from 1.5% to 35%) and actual forward speed of the tractor (up to 6 km h-1) was measured using inductive proximity sensors. For measuring throttle opening (0 to 100%), engine speed (750 to 2500 rpm), draft (65 to 350 kg) and PTO torque (up to 420 N-m) values, a potentiometer, magnetic pickup sensor, S-type loadcell and PTO torque transducer, respectively, were used. For computing velocity ratio, peripheral speed of rotavator was measured using PTO speed data received from PTO torque transducer, and actual forward speed of tractor was measured using inductive proximity sensor. The developed sensing units were calibrated under both dynamic and static conditions, and were also verified in laboratory and field conditions. Results showed that output signals received from the sensing units varied linearly with applied load. The mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) between measured and actual values was found to be below 5%. From the measured parameters, specific energy requirement and total power required for carrying out tillage operation could be computed. The power requirement was found to increase with increase in both gear and throttle settings. The specific energy requirement was minimum when rotavator was operated in L2 gear of the tractor. The minimum specific energy of 21 Wh m-3 was found at L2 gear and 75% throttle opening.

Enhancing energy efficiency: Design and simulation of air fractionation unit integrated through LNG cold energy and two‐stage organic Rankine cycles

AbstractThe study explores air separation processes, proposing an innovative design incorporating liquid natural gas (LNG)'s two‐stage Rankine cycles to address traditional approaches' complexity and energy intensity. Significant wastage of energy during air compression in standard units is recuperated for liquefied natural gas regasification, with a focus on enhancing cold energy recovery, emphasizing cryogenic LNG advantages. Aspen HYSYS (12.1) is used for process modelling and simulation evaluating a combined two‐stage Rankine cycle integrated into air separation. Specific energy requirements for high‐purity oxygen and nitrogen production are reduced to 0.38 and 0.12 kWh/kg, respectively. The integrated Rankine cycle generates 4456.32 kW, which is sufficient for air separation process. Exergy destruction and component efficiency are explored and parametric optimization, revealing LNG variables' significant impact. Economic analysis indicates a fair 5.25‐year payback period. This approach aligns with sustainability goals, providing a compelling efficiency‐enhancing option for the LNG sector.

(Invited) Plasma Reforming of Liquid Hydrocarbons

Engineering systems that more sustainably use our natural resources is central to both reducing the risks associated with CO2 emissions and making the long-term transition to a more circular, sustainable, and electrified economy. In particular, developing electrically driven technologies to leverage the energy density of liquids to produce clean fuels, e.g., H2, without making CO2, could be game changing. Here, we investigate the potential of directly exciting plasmas in liquid hydrocarbons to create multi-phase reaction environments, i.e., environments where plasma (ionized gas), H2, gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons, and solid carbon are all present simultaneously, to produce H2, unsaturated C2s, and carbon. The ultimate target is direct transformation of liquid hydrocarbons to gaseous H2 and solid, easy-to-separate carbon using electricity that can be provided from any source and/or points of use.This talk will focus on our recent experiments to strike and sustain low and high frequency plasma discharges in liquid hydrocarbon jets to simultaneously generate gaseous H2, C2s, and solid carbon at high rates. Preliminary experiments show that (i) input energy is not wasted in simply vaporizing the liquid - so the system’s specific energy input preferentially drives hydrocarbon cracking; (ii) discharge drive frequency and plasma space time have a big effect on the H2 specific energy requirement (SER) and H2 generation rate, respectively; (iii) feedstock chemistry affects the H2 and C2 products observed; (iv) carbon particulates rapidly form in the liquid hydrocarbon, but they can be separated easily; and (v) the SER for H2 production is 25-30 kWhr/kg, roughly two times less than water electrolysis in practice (60 kWhr/kg). Hydrocarbon conversion, reaction rates, and characterization of the plasma (OES, high speed imaging), gas (MS), liquid (GC/MS), and solid phase (SEM, Raman) products as a function of plasma operating conditions (high and low AC drive frequency; liquid-plasma contact time) and hydrocarbon source will be discussed.

Mitochondrial Quality Control in Ovarian Function: From Mechanisms to Therapeutic Strategies.

Mitochondrial quality control plays a critical role in cytogenetic development by regulating various cell-death pathways and modulating the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Dysregulated mitochondrial quality control can lead to a broad spectrum of diseases, including reproductive disorders, particularly female infertility. Ovarian insufficiency is a significant contributor to female infertility, given its high prevalence, complex pathogenesis, and profound impact on women's health. Understanding the pathogenesis of ovarian insufficiency and devising treatment strategies based on this understanding are crucial. Oocytes and granulosa cells (GCs) are the primary ovarian cell types, with GCs regulated by oocytes, fulfilling their specific energy requirements prior to ovulation. Dysregulation of mitochondrial quality control through gene knockout or external stimuli can precipitate apoptosis, inflammatory responses, or ferroptosis in both oocytes and GCs, exacerbating ovarian insufficiency. This review aimed to delineate the regulatory mechanisms of mitochondrial quality control in GCs and oocytes during ovarian development. This study highlights the adverse consequences of dysregulated mitochondrial quality control on GCs and oocyte development and proposes therapeutic interventions for ovarian insufficiency based on mitochondrial quality control. These insights provide a foundation for future clinical approaches for treating ovarian insufficiency.

Towards sustainable regional energy solutions: An optimized operational model for integrated energy systems with price-responsive planning

With dynamic changes in the energy market and continuous advances in smart energy technology, regional integrated energy systems (RIESs) have emerged as a vital direction in the evolution of energy systems. They are increasingly gaining significance in the realm of energy supply (ES) and demand response initiatives. In this context, this article introduces a novel optimal operational model for an integrated energy system (IES) that incorporates energy price responsiveness. The paper commences by delivering a comprehensive overview of the typical structure of an IES, presenting detailed models for each system module, encompassing the electrical energy supplier, heating, and cooling components. The proposed system model comprises three distinct subsystems, each catering to specific energy requirements. The primary emphasis is on devising an efficient planning scheme tailored to the energy consumption patterns and operational aspects of the IES. Through the presented model, there is substantial potential for significantly reducing the overall system cost without inducing a noteworthy upsurge in environmental pollution. Moreover, the energy efficiency of the system can experience considerable enhancement. The desired optimization problem has been solved using the proposed multi-objective Horse Herd Optimization Algorithm (MOHHOA). Additionally, in this strategy, Pareto front and fuzzy selection are employed to make better decisions among all Pareto solutions. The optimization strategy devised in this research not only enables the integrated operation of the IES but also ensures its compatibility with ongoing energy development initiatives. The proposed method yields a diverse set of Pareto solutions across the objective space, providing various trade-offs between economic, environmental, and reliability considerations. Utilizing MOHHOA, the algorithm efficiently balances exploration and exploitation during optimization, resulting in informed decision-making. In optimal planning, Scenario 2 exhibits lower operational costs (8.2 % reduction) and a dramatic improvement in LESP (1.24 %–1.176 %) compared to Scenario 1. Sensitivity analysis reveals an 11.2 % increase in environmental costs in Scenario 1 with a 36 % rise in electricity prices. Conversely, in Scenario 2, a 10 % reduction in natural gas prices leads to a 24.5 % increase in system running costs. These findings underscore the significance of considering energy price fluctuations for optimizing integrated energy system performance.

Teaching old laws new tricks: Specific energy requirements for breakage based on modern kernels and a population balance model

A general expression for specific energy requirements in particle breakage is derived from a population balance model. The model employs power-law rate kernels, self-similar fragment distributions and an energy dependence based on the Vogel-Peukert master curve. This model connects the empirical constants and exponents of size in older empirical energy laws to the parameters of the population balance model, the nature of the particles, and certain moments of the self-similar particle size distribution predicted by the model. The resulting model is used to extract values of the order of the power-law rate kernel from literature data. The extracted order values are consistent with known expressions for individual particle breakage. The model developed here may be coupled with experimental determination of the material parameter needed in the Vogel-Peukert master curve to enable extraction of energy utilization efficiency values from experimentally determined values of the size-independent portion of the selection function.

Development of concurrent multi wire feed mechanism for WAAM-TIG to enhance process efficiency

A novel multi wire feed mechanism has been introduced and investigated for tungsten-inert-gas-based wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM-TIG) method to minimise the dependency of wire feed direction. The concurrent three wire feed mechanism mounted 120° apart around the TIG torch was developed by employing three independent wire feeders, and an integrated effect of front-back-side feeding minimised the dependency of the wire feeding direction on the deposited bead. The mechanism was compared with the single wire feed, and geometrical uniformity, material deposition rate and overall specific energy requirements were found to improve by ∼26%, ∼66% and ∼56%, respectively, with good arc-stability.

Oxidative Stress in Military Missions-Impact and Management Strategies: A Narrative Analysis.

This narrative review comprehensively examines the impact of oxidative stress on military personnel, highlighting the crucial role of physical exercise and tailored diets, particularly the ketogenic diet, in minimizing this stress. Through a meticulous analysis of the recent literature, the study emphasizes how regular physical exercise not only enhances cardiovascular, cognitive, and musculoskeletal health but is also essential in neutralizing the effects of oxidative stress, thereby improving endurance and performance during long-term missions. Furthermore, the implementation of the ketogenic diet provides an efficient and consistent energy source through ketone bodies, tailored to the specific energy requirements of military activities, and significantly contributes to the reduction in reactive oxygen species production, thus protecting against cellular deterioration under extreme stress. The study also underlines the importance of integrating advanced technologies, such as wearable devices and smart sensors that allow for the precise and real-time monitoring of oxidative stress and physiological responses, thus facilitating the customization of training and nutritional regimes. Observations from this review emphasize significant variability among individuals in responses to oxidative stress, highlighting the need for a personalized approach in formulating intervention strategies. It is crucial to develop and implement well-monitored, personalized supplementation protocols to ensure that each member of the military personnel receives a regimen tailored to their specific needs, thereby maximizing the effectiveness of measures to combat oxidative stress. This analysis makes a valuable contribution to the specialized literature, proposing a detailed framework for addressing oxidative stress in the armed forces and opening new directions for future research with the aim of optimizing clinical practices and improving the health and performance of military personnel under stress and specific challenges of the military field.

An analysis of social acceptance of energy in Iran: case study of fossil, nuclear, solar and wind energy

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the social acceptance of renewable and non-renewable energies in Iran using the social acceptance pyramid. Design/methodology/approach Today, social acceptance is considered a very important phenomenon in the development, implementation and achievement of energy policy goals. Low acceptance will make it difficult to achieve energy development goals; therefore, social acceptance must be taken into account when making policy. Firstly, the model criteria, using data obtained from questionnaires, are weighted by the Shannon entropy method and, finally, four sources of fossil, nuclear, wind and solar energy were ranked by means of VIKOR, Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). Findings The results show that, in Iran, the social acceptance criterion and trust sub-criterion are the most important criteria for energy acceptance. The results of the ranking of options based on multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques show that, given Iran's specific energy requirements, social acceptance of fossil energy is higher than wind, solar and nuclear, and wind, solar and nuclear energy come later in the rankings. Originality/value This research contributes to the literature in two ways: Firstly, social acceptance is considered a very important phenomenon in the development, implementation and achievement of energy policy goals; thus social acceptance must be taken into account when making policy. The results of the ranking of options based on MCDM techniques show that, given Iran's specific energy requirements, social acceptance of fossil energy is higher than wind, solar and nuclear, and wind, solar and nuclear energy come later in the rankings. Also, the social acceptance criterion and trust sub-criterion are the most important criteria for energy acceptance in Iran.

Effect of gangue on CO2 emission for different decarbonisation pathways

At present, iron and steelmaking industry worldwide is going through the transition of decarbonisation to meet its goal of reaching net zero by 2050. In addition, Australian iron and steelmaking industry is facing its own challenge of processing lower grade ores with increasing gangue content. Two major pathways are direct reduction of iron – electric arc furnace pathway (DRI-EAF) and direct reduction of iron – electric smelter-BOF (DRI-electric smelter-BOF) pathway. In the present work, a mass and energy balance model of basic oxygen furnace (BOF) and electric arc furnace (EAF) have been developed using thermodynamic software. The EAF model showed that with 100 wt-% cold DRI, the specific electric energy requirement varied between 514 and 651 kWh/tls whereas in case of hot DRI, it varied between 399 kWh/tls and 510 kWh/tls. As the gangue content increased from 10.7 wt-% to 19.1 wt-%, yield decreased from 88 wt-% to 75.5 wt-% and slag weight increased from about 200 kg/tls to 630 kg/tls. The BOF model showed that the slag produced in a BOF varied between 63 kg/tls and 73 kg/tls for lower to higher grade ores reflecting different hot metal chemistry (P, Mn) coming from different ores. The results indicated that electric smelter-BOF is more compatible to process lower grade ores than EAF where quantity of slag and loss of yield are very high with increasing gangue content. CO2 emissions from H2DRI-EAF and H2DRI-electric smelter-BOF pathway for different types of ores increased with the increasing gangue content. For H2DRI-EAF pathway, as gangue content increases from 10.7 wt-% to 19.1 wt-%, CO2 emission rises from 0.10 t/tls to 0.19 t/tls as more limestone is needed to remove the gangue which also increases the production of CO2. In case of H2DRI-electric smelter-BOF pathway, CO2 emission increases from 0.12 t/tls to 0.19 t/tls with increasing gangue content. CO2 emissions from both pathways are significantly lower than the current BF-BOF pathway.

Intelligent electric vehicle charging optimization and horse herd-inspired power generation for enhanced energy management

This article focuses on optimizing electric vehicle charging in distribution networks, emphasizing technical and economic considerations. Unlike traditional methods, the proposed intelligent approach tailors each EV's charging based on specific daily trip energy requirements. Vehicle owners provide trip data to the charge management system, enabling precise charging calculations considering factors such as energy tariffs, distribution network limits, and charging levels. The paper introduces the horse herd optimization algorithm, inspired by horse herd behavior, offering advantages like reduced computational time and improved convergence in maximizing power generation, especially under shading conditions. The comparative analysis of smart EV charging under normal and fast conditions, considering various constraints and load response programs, demonstrates the proposed method's effectiveness. Numerical results reveal a 46.02 % average load reduction and a 20.53 % peak load decrease with a Load Response Program. Charging costs are optimized, with Case 2 exhibiting a 2.61 % cost reduction compared to Case 3. The study delves into charging frequencies, discharge frequencies, total unsupplied energy, and unloaded energy for each case, providing crucial insights into algorithmic performance. The horse herd optimization algorithm-based approach proves superior, offering a promising solution for efficient and cost-effective electric vehicle charging in distribution networks. Furthermore, graphical representations illustrate the algorithm's impact on charging power, energy allocation, power passing through distribution posts, and megavolt-ampere flow through network lines. These numerical and graphical analyses provide a comprehensive understanding of the horse herd optimization algorithm capabilities, emphasizing its potential to optimize power distribution, reduce costs, and enhance the resilience of residential distribution networks.

Improving microfiltration efficiency of fruit beverages through backpulsing: Impact on permeate flux, cost-effectiveness and bioactive compounds retention

ABSTRACT Cross-flow microfiltration (CFM) combined with ultra-clean or aseptic packaging offers a promising solution to meet consumer demand for more natural, non-heat treated ready-to-drink fruit beverages. However, membrane fouling can significantly reduce the efficiency of CFM and increase the production cost. To address this issue, we studied the effect of backpulsing on the performance of a semi-industrial CFM equipment featuring 2 m2 of ceramic membranes with 0.2 μm pore size. Using an optimum transmembrane pressure of 150 kPa, we found that backpulsing with a high frequency (every minute) at the beginning of microfiltration and then slowing down the frequency (every 2 min) resulted in higher (+14%) and more consistent average fluxes (100 l.h−1.m−2) while reaching volumetric concentration ratio up to 11. Additionally, the overall specific energy requirements are reduced by 12.5% to 0.0376 kWh.l-1 of treated juice, which is the lowest value among all known de-bacterizing processes, including thermal pasteurization. Importantly, our results showed that backpulsing reduces the retention of the main bioactive compounds of blackberry, including anthocyanins and ellagitannins. These findings demonstrate that CFM with backpulsing is a more cost-effective process that allows for the production of stabilized fruit juices with higher content of bioactive compounds.

Quantitative Estimation and Comparative Assessment of Particle Morphological Features and Energy Requirement During Hammer Milling of Softwood Chips and Wheat Straw

Highlights Quantified particle size and shapes generated during hammer milling of softwood and wheat straw. Size reductions in length and width correlated with milling energy requirement. Assessed the validity of existing comminution laws for predicting milling energy requirement. Improved milling energy requirement prediction for softwood based on size reductions. Abstract. The valorization of agricultural and woody residues into higher quality fuels is an attractive pathway and can contribute to decarbonizing the energy system. One essential step for the conversion of these residues to fuels is comminution through commercial mills. This study aimed to investigate the effects of feedstock, input feed size, and milling screen size on particle size and shape, as well as to validate the reliability of existing comminution laws for predicting energy requirements during hammer milling of agricultural and wood biomass. Additionally, the study proposed a new empirical correlation for comminution energy prediction, taking two-dimensional size reduction descriptors into consideration. A machine vision-based image processing method was used to estimate particle size, particle size distribution (PSD), and particle shape factors. The aspect ratio of wheat straw particles was 1.3 to 1.5 times larger than softwood particles, suggesting they are more fibrous. The shapes generated during hammer milling were estimated, with rectangular shapes being predominant. The specific energy requirement (SER) estimated for the hammer milling of softwood chips and wheat straw at different mill screen sizes (4, 8, and 12 mm) was found to be in the range of 153.2–25.5 kJ kg-1 and 38.5–16.1 kJ kg-1, respectively. The validity of existing comminution laws to predict the SER during hammer milling of softwood and wheat straw was tested at a fixed feed rate of 45 kg hr-1, and an improvement in SER prediction for softwood was achieved by formulating a new empirical correlation factoring size reductions in length and width. Further, the correlation developed for the SER for wheat straw was found to lack statistical significance. The findings of this study can be applied to improve the effectiveness of the comminution process, a critical precursor to numerous thermochemical conversion methods used for transforming biomass residues into valuable fuels. Keywords: Bioenergy, Biomass comminution, Machine-vision image analysis, Particle shape, Particle size distribution, Specific energy consumption.

Prediction of the specific energy requirement of hydraulic rock breaker based on laboratory impact hammer - a case study

Prediction of the specific energy requirement of hydraulic rock breaker based on laboratory impact hammer - a case study

The Effect of Plasma Electrolysis for Biodiesel Synthesis Using Waste Cooking Oil as a Raw Material and KOH Catalyst

The high consumption of cooking oil in Indonesia is directly proportional to the production of used cooking oil waste that can pollute the environment. To overcome this problem, used cooking oil is used as a biodiesel feedstock using the plasma electrolysis method. Plasma electrolysis is a synthesis process by applying a high voltage to the process. This study aims to determine the effect of the plasma electrolysis method with variations in voltage (400 - 500 volts) and the type of reagent (methanol and ethanol) on % yield and characteristics of biodiesel. The process is carried out by reacting used cooking oil with a reagent that is given a voltage until an electric discharge occurs and two layers are formed and the calculation of the specific energy requirements for the synthesis process is carried out. The results show that at a voltage of 500 volts with methanol reagent produces a yield of 85.73% with characteristics according to the SNI 7128:2015 standard such as density 888.36 Kg/m3, viscosity 5.79 Cst, acid number 0.39 mg - KOH/g, content ester 97.56% and flash point 117oC with the exception of water content 0.373%, with a specific energy requirement of 1758,031 J/mL.

Life cycle energy and environmental impacts in sugarcane production: A case study of Amirkabir Sugarcane Agro-Industrial Company in Khuzestan province

The objective of this study was to investigate the factors influencing sugarcane production and identify opportunities to reduce energy consumption. The study evaluated the life cycle of sugarcane farms in the Amirkabir Sugarcane Agro-Industrial Company of Khuzestan province using data envelopment analysis (DEA) and collected data through face-to-face interviews and questionnaire completion. The study presented data on the energy input and output for sugarcane cultivation, which were 63,207.84 and 33,974.30 MJ ha−1, respectively. The energy use efficiency was 0.53, with a production energy of 1.01 kg MJ−1 and a specific energy requirement of 0.98 MJ kg−1. The environmental impact of sugarcane cultivation was also evaluated, with the resource depletion category having the highest impact valued at 194.32 USD2013. The findings highlight the need for the responsible use of chemical fertilizers and sustainable agricultural practices to minimize environmental impact and protect human health. The study also identified the best approach to reduce energy consumption while maintaining constant output energy, which can result in a savings of 51,916.93 MJ ha−1 or 28.23 % under a condition of 14,659.56 MJ ha−1. The study suggests that human health and ecosystem quality are the most effective categories for reducing environmental emissions, while fixed performance in the resource depletion category is ineffective. Overall, the study provides valuable insights into improving the sustainability of sugarcane production and can inform policy decisions in the region.

Conversion of Vacuum Residue from Refinery Waste to Cleaner Fuel: Technical and Economic Assessment

Environmental concerns surrounding the use of high-sulfur fuel oil (HFO), a marine fuel derived from refinery vacuum residue, motivate the exploration of alternative solutions. Burning high-sulfur fuel oil (HFO) is a major source of air pollution, acid rain, ocean acidification, and climate change. When HFO is burned, it releases sulfur dioxide (SO2) into the air, a harmful gas that can cause respiratory problems, heart disease, and cancer. SO2 emissions can also contribute to acid rain, which can damage forests and lakes. Several countries and international organizations have taken steps to reduce HFO emissions from ships. For example, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has implemented a global sulfur cap for marine fuels, which limits the sulfur content of fuel to 0.5% by mass. In addition, there is a worldwide effort to encourage the use of low-carbon gases to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. There are several alternative fuels that can be used in ships instead of HFO, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), methanol, and hydrogen. These fuels are cleaner and more environmentally friendly than HFO. The aim of this study is to develop a process integration framework to co-produce methanol and hydrogen from vacuum residue while minimizing the sulfur and carbon emissions. Two process models have been developed in this study to produce methanol and hydrogen from vacuum residue. In case 1, vacuum residue is gasified using oxygen—steam and the syngas leaving the gasifier is processed to produce both methanol and hydrogen. Case 2 shares the same process model as case 1 except it is concentrated on mainly methanol production from vacuum residue. Both models are techno-economically compared in terms of methanol and H2 production rates, specific energy requirements, carbon conversion, CO2 specific emissions, overall process efficiencies, and project feasibility while considering the fluctuation of vacuum residue feed price from 0.022 $/kg to 0.11 $/kg. The comparative analysis showed that case 2 offers an 86.01% lower specific energy requirement (GJ) for each kilogram (kg) of fuel produced. The CO2 specific emission also decreased in case 2 by 69.76% compared to case 1. In addition, the calculated total net fuel production cost is 0.453 $/kg and 0.223 $/kg at 0.066 $/kg for case 1 and 2, respectively. Overall, case 2 exhibits better project feasibility compared to case 1 with higher process performance and lower production costs.

Effect of Throttle Position and Gear Selection on Specific Energy Requirement and Power Utilization Efficiency of a Tractor Drawn Rotavator in Sandy Clay Loam Soil

Effect of Throttle Position and Gear Selection on Specific Energy Requirement and Power Utilization Efficiency of a Tractor Drawn Rotavator in Sandy Clay Loam Soil

Advanced structures of reversal multi-stage flash desalination

Three different modifications of the reversal multi-stage flash (MSF) plant are proposed and compared. One configuration consists of hybrid MSF and membrane distillation (MD), denoted as HYB, where the MD is linked to the MSF to leverage the thermal energy of the MSF outlet streams. The other configurations comprise cascaded MSF blocks connected sequentially to harness the thermal energy of the reject brine. One of the cascades uses independent external cooling water and is termed ICB while the other, termed CCB, uses the seawater intake to recover the heat in the brine cooler reducing the feed heating duty. Simulation indicated that the ICB possesses the highest recovery ratio of 33.6 % and the lowest specific area requirement of 327 m2/(kg/s) but the largest specific energy consumption of 320 kWh/m3. The CCB has the lowest specific energy consumption of 139 kWh/m3 and highest GOR of 4.9 but the lowest recovery ratio of 18.3 %. However, if the reversal MSF is powered by free waste heat, CCB possesses the minimum cooling demand and hence specific energy requirements. However, it has the minimum recovery ratio. Alternatively, the HYB can be argued as the best structure as it owns the second lowest energy consumption and second higher recovery ratio.

Plasma‐catalytic synthesis of acrylonitrile from methane and nitrogen

AbstractIn this work, we demonstrate plasma‐catalytic synthesis of hydrogen and acrylonitrile (AN) from CH4 and N2. The process involves two steps: (1) plasma synthesis of C2H2 and HCN in a nominally 1:1 stoichiometric ratio with high yield up to 90% and (2) downstream thermocatalytic reaction of these intermediates to make AN. The effect of process parameters on product distributions and specific energy requirements are reported. If the catalytic conversion of C2H2 and HCN in the downstream thermocatalytic step to AN were perfect, which will require further improvements in the thermocatalytic reactor, then at the maximum output of our 1 kW radiofrequency 13.56 MHz transformer, a specific energy requirement of 73 kWh kgAN−1 was determined. The expectation is that scaling up the process to higher throughputs would result in decreases in specific energy requirement into the predicted economically viable range less than 10 kWh kgAN−1.