Single-stage System Research Articles

Distributed multienergy and low-carbon heating technology for rural areas in northern China

In the context of China's “double carbon” policy and “rural revitalization” strategy, clean and low-carbon heating in rural areas of the northern China has become a key problem that needs to be urgently addressed. Practice has proved that “coal-to-gas” and “coal-to-electricity” projects have various limitations, such as high operating cost, high carbon emission, and high cost of distribution network upgrade, making them unsuitable for nationwide promotion. To address this issue, this research proposes a distributed multienergy and low-carbon heating (DMLH) system, which integrates the photovoltaic power generation, combined heat and power (CHP) system, heat storage, and newly developed multisource efficient heat pump (MEHP). The MEHP operates by simultaneously absorbing heat from air and waste heat sources of the CHP generation, providing a stable and efficient heat output. The multienergy complementary operating strategy of the DMLH system has been presented, considering variations of heating demand and environmental temperature. Comprehensive case studies were performed under typical and extremely cold winter scenarios to examine the effectiveness of the DMLH system. Simulation results revealed that 66.7 % of the operating cost can be reduced by the proposed system in typical scenario and the heat supply stability of MEHP has been considerably enhanced compared to a single-stage heat pump system. Furthermore, the DMLH system has low-level requirement of distribution network capability, which is conducive to promotion in the rural areas of northern China.

Winery wastewater treatment by microalgae Chlorella sorokiniana and characterization of the produced biomass for value-added products.

The microalgae Chlorella sorokiniana was used for the treatment of winery wastewater (WWW). Batch experiments were initially conducted to investigate how biomass acclimatization in different media, dilution of wastewater, and addition of ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N) affect the growth of microalgae and the removal of major pollutants. Afterwards, two sequencing batch reactor (SBR) systems were tested applying different configurations and hydraulic retention times. The biomass collected at the end of the experiments was characterized for proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, amino acid profile, and the existence of lutein, β-carotene, chlorophyll a, and tocopherols. Batch experiments showed that Chlorella sorokiniana acclimatization to urban wastewater enhanced the removal of NH4-N and total phosphorus (TP). The operation of a two-stage SBR system achieved COD and NH4-N removal equal to 85 ± 9% and 91 ± 20%, respectively, while the use of a single-stage system feeding with anaerobically pretreated WWW resulted to COD and NH4-N removal of 78 ± 9% and 95 ± 9%, respectively. Analyses of biomass showed higher protein content (up to 58.8%) in batch experiments with NH4-N addition as well as in SBR experiments. The cultivation of microalgae under SBR conditions enhanced the production of pigments and tocopherols. The maximum concentrations of 1075mgkg-1, 45.5mgkg-1, and 131.2mgkg-1 were achieved for lutein, β-carotene, and tocopherols, respectively, in the one-stage system. Our findings suggested that Chlorella sorokiniana cultivation in WWW not only removed nutrients from WWW but also could potentially serve for the production of value-added ingredients used in food industry, cosmetics, and animal feedstock.

Experimental study on performance characteristics of a −70 °C ultra-low temperature medical freezer with mixed hydrocarbon refrigerant

It is well-known that the −70 °C ultra-low temperature freezers have been widely concerned for vaccine and biomedical products storage due to the outbreak of COVID-19. This paper carries out the experimental investigation on performance characteristics of a −70 °C ultra-low temperature medical freezer with single-stage Joule-Thomson refrigeration system by using binary hydrocarbon mixture R601a/R1150 and ternary mixture R601a/R290/R1150. The aim is to explore and verify hydrocarbon refrigerants that can achieve lower energy consumption, thereby providing a scientific basis for the optimization of ultra-low temperature medical freezers. The experimental results show that both R601a/R1150 and R601a/R290/R1150 with a charge of 250 g could achieve the refrigeration temperature below −70 °C in a 568 L large volume vertical freezer. Comparing binary with ternary refrigerants, it is found that the addition of medium-boiling component R290 is beneficial to reduce the daily energy consumption. When the mass fraction of R601a/R1150 is 0.70/0.30, the lowest daily energy consumption for −70 °C is 9.06 kW h·24 h−1. When the mass fraction of the R601a/R290/R1150 is 0.70/0.10/0.20, the daily energy consumption is 8.42 kW h·24 h−1, which is 7.06 % lower than that when using the R601a/R1150. This indicates that careful selection of refrigerant components and composition optimization can lead to substantial energy savings. Furthermore, it is also observed that among these three components, the low-boiling component R1150 has the most significant influence on the system pressures and operating power, followed by R601a and R290.

Pemodelan Dinamis Proses Produksi Batch Satu Tahap Dalam Satu Mesin Dengan Memperhatikan Waktu Loading dan Waktu Proses

In the batch process, the company uses the same process facilities to produce various types of products. This allows businesses to change production in response to changes in market demand. Batch processes are widely used in industry. In many cases, batch processes provide several benefits over continuous processes, especially when the industry wants to ensure and maintain the quality standards of its products. This paper proposes a behavioral model of a single-stage batch processing system, using the language of system dynamics. When run, the behavioral model will provide an overview of how the system behaves. The system dynamics language is a formulation of a system of ordinary differential equations that is extracted from the real system being studied, in the form of a stock and flow diagram. The computation of this diagram is further implemented using software. Because it is actually a calculus method, the system dynamics language provides output data much faster than discrete simulation modeling. In this paper, the system behavior modeled is mainly loading, processing and unloading activities. The verification results carried out by testing it on two different case examples show that the model can sufficiently describe the behavior of the conceptual system logically so that the model can enrich experimental tool options related to batch production processes in the future.

On the selection of humidification dehumidification desalination system cycle for high productivity, low energy consumption and low capital cost

Humidification Dehumidification (HDH) desalination is a convenient process to produce drinking water from low temperature saline water in waterfront areas. High energy consumption of the system remains as a limiting factor, besides many enhancements done in improving the system performance. Though HDH system cycles are classified on the basis of air and water cycles, detailed performance analysis of different HDH cycles is absent till date. The present study aims at carrying out parametric analysis of possible HDH layouts and finally proposing a layout with high Gain Output Ratio (GOR) and Recovery Ratio (RR) at the low equipment volumes. Simulations are carried out using the Scilab® software. Simulation results are validated using the experimental data obtained from a pilot plant of open-air open-water single stage system. Variation of system parameters like humidifier volume, dehumidifier volume, GOR and RR were analysed in detail for each individual layouts. Out of the eight different layouts investigated, Layout 8 is found to be the best based on GOR, RR, equipment volume and specific energy consumption. Hence it is recommended to use Layout 8 with an inlet temperature of 74 °C and MFR of 2.4 for productivity of 90 LPH.

Efficient and robust control of a standalone PV-storage system: An integrated single sensor-based nonlinear controller with TSCC-battery management

The aim of this research undertaking is to investigate an integrated approach that extends the battery life of a single-stage off-grid photovoltaic system while simultaneously increasing the availability of solar photovoltaic power. This paper takes a synergistic approach to addressing these issues, in contrast to the numerous prior papers that have investigated them individually. In regard to the initial issue, this article proposes a hybrid MPPT solution which combines a backstepping controller with a distinct single-sensor MPPT approach. The aforementioned integrated system guarantees the exact attainment of the maximum power point (MPP) of the photovoltaic solar array, regardless of weather fluctuations. With regard to the second issue at hand, the effective management of charge for lead-acid batteries is accomplished by employing a three-stage charging controller (TSCC). The simulation results generated in MATLAB/Simulink indicate that MPPT tracking and battery charge control exhibit markedly improved performance across a range of weather conditions when the climatic conditions of El Jadida city, Morocco are taken into account. The hybrid method, as proposed, indisputable surpasses alternative MPPT approaches such as Inc-PI, FLC, PSO, RegP, and IMP-PO, with respect to convergence time (<3 milliseconds), variation (<0.19 watts), and tracking efficiency (over 99.86 %). Furthermore, the battery station is outfitted with secure and appropriate charging modes. In conclusion, the experimental validation of the proposed system against an actual experimental system in the laboratory verifies its hardware and practical viability.

Efficient cascade waste heat utilization using thermoacoustic engine with variable temperature heat sources

Waste heat recovery is vital for greenhouse gas emissions reduction and meeting increasing power demands. Thermoacoustic engines present a promising solution. However, existing research predominantly focuses on single heating temperatures, which restricts their efficiency in harnessing heat sources with variable temperatures. To overcome this limitation, this work proposed a novel concept of thermoacoustic engine containing multistage heat exchangers capable of cascade waste heat recovery by incorporating bypass orifices to address this issue. By organizing decreasing temperatures of heat source across heat exchangers with decreasingly lower temperatures, multiple heat-to-power energy conversions can be achieved. Theoretical analyses demonstrate that the total exergy utilization efficiency of single-stage (37.7 %), two-stage (47.6 %), and three-stage systems (51.2 %) significantly increases when increasing the stage number up to three. Further increasing the stage number results in less efficiency improvement (only a 1.3 % increase in a four-stage system). Simulation results show that the three-stage thermoacoustic engine can achieve an acoustic power of 2.7 kW and a total exergy utilization efficiency of 51.2 % for recovering 12 kW variable-temperature heat sources. Coupling the engine with a linear alternator increases electricity production by 12 % with higher waste heat utilization rate compared to traditional single-stage thermoacoustic generators. The experimental results further underscore the capability of the proposed thermoacoustic generator to effectively utilize heat sources with variable temperatures.

Two-layer cascaded catalytic hairpin assemblies based on locked nucleic acids for one-step and highly sensitive ctDNA detection.

Enzyme-free signal amplification of catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) has enabled sensitive detection of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in early clinical diagnosis. Conventional CHA strategies are restrained by the limited amplification efficiency of the single-stage system, and signal leakage from "breathing" influence and nuclease degradation. Here, we introduced two-layer cascaded locked nucleic acid (LNA)-assisted CHA circuits with the intelligent incorporation of LNA in the hairpins and reporter for the highly sensitive one-step detection of scarce ctDNA. The target-triggered upstream CHA reaction continuously generates hybrid products to catalyze the downstream CHA reaction for transducing the primary sensing event, and the released target and the produced hybrid product trigger the next catalytic reaction round at the same time and finally cascade to amplify the target ctDNA fluorescence output signal. Meanwhile, the stronger binding affinity of the LNA-DNA duplex endows the two-layer LNA-assisted CHA system with thermodynamic stability and nuclease resistance, and thus our designed system exhibits an excellent detection performance for target ctDNA in the range from 2 pM to 5 nM with a low detection limit of 0.6 pM. Significantly, the two-layer LNA-assisted CHA circuits have been successfully implemented for the feasible analysis of clinical samples. This two-layer cascaded LNA-assisted CHA strategy provides a promising high sensitivity tool for one-step detection of scarce ctDNA from complex clinical samples and would facilitate the reconfiguration of DNA circuit-based DNA nanotechnology for the precise analysis of other biomarkers in clinical research fields.

Comparative Analysis of Single Stage and Dual Stage PV Based Generation System for Pollution Reduction in Asian Nations

The growing need for sustainable and clean energy solutions has elevated photovoltaic (PV) systems to the forefront of competitive options. In order to evaluate the performance and viability of single-stage and dual-stage single-phase PV voltage source inverter systems within the context of renewable energy, this study undertakes a thorough comparative analysis. MATLAB Simulink has been used to run the simulations, and the results produced show that the selected configurations are robust and closely match theoretical expectations. The study explores the subtle distinctions, benefits, and drawbacks that come with single- and dual-stage systems. By extensively evaluating the consequences on system stability, grid synchronisation, and power quality, useful insights emerge. The simplicity and efficiency of the single-stage system are demonstrated by the direct connectivity between the PV MPPT output and the inverter. In contrast, the dual-stage system addresses the issue of low PV output voltage by incorporating a boost converter with an MPPT algorithm, albeit at the expense of more parts and complexity. The research described here adds a great deal to the current discussion on PV system optimization. The study notably clarifies methods for improving dependability and efficiency in applications involving renewable energy. With the increasing worldwide trend towards sustainable energy, it is critical to comprehend the subtle dynamics of various PV setups. In addition to offering a comprehensive grasp of the complexities involved in single- and dual-stage single-phase PV voltage source inverter systems, this research paves the way for future developments in the planning and execution of effective renewable energy solutions especially for Asian nations that still rely on coal-based power plants. Increased contribution of solar based electricity generation will lead to a significant drop in pollution contributed by the ash and gases released by thermal power plants that employ fossil fuels. The ultimate goal of this study is to provide information to stakeholders in the renewable energy industry so that they may make more informed decisions and create PV systems that are both sustainable for the environment and efficient for the utility.

Efficiency enhancement in a heat-driven single-unit thermoacoustic refrigeration system

Heat-driven thermoacoustic cooling technology provides promising alternatives for eco-friendly refrigeration systems due to its high reliability and minimal environmental impact, meanwhile facing limited efficiency compared to current prevailing cooling technologies. The present work introduces an innovative bypass configuration in heat-driven thermoacoustic refrigeration systems aimed at enhancing the energy coupling between the engine and refrigerator, thereby enhancing system efficiency, particularly when the sources temperature is high. The acoustic power diversion mechanism of the bypass tube is firstly explored in an ideal thermoacoustic core unit through theoretical analysis. This core unit is subsequently studied in Sage platform and integrated into an actual single-stage looped traveling-wave thermoacoustic refrigeration system, respectively, and the effects of the bypass tube dimensions and operating conditions on the system are investigated. Furthermore, a comparative analysis is conducted between the proposed bypass tube-based system and the conventional bypass tube-free system, considering aspects such as system performance, key parameter distribution, and exergy loss analysis. The results demonstrate a significant efficiency enhancement, with a 68.8% increase in Coefficient of Performance (COP) and a 6.2 percentage point boost in relative Carnot efficiency compared to the system without a bypass tube. Additionally, the impact of the bypass dimensions and the DC flow introduced by the bypass tube on the system performance is further discussed at a numerical level. These findings offer valuable insights and serve as a reference for the future development of more efficient thermoacoustic refrigeration systems.

Enhancing of single-stage grid-connected photovoltaic system using fuzzy logic controller

The power generated by photovoltaic (PV) systems is influenced by environmental factors. This variability hampers the control and utilization of solar cells' peak output. In this study, a single-stage grid-connected PV system is designed to enhance power quality. Our approach employs fuzzy logic in the direct power control (DPC) of a three-phase voltage source inverter (VSI), enabling seamless integration of the PV connected to the grid. Additionally, a fuzzy logic-based maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller is adopted, which outperforms traditional methods like incremental conductance (INC) in enhancing solar cell efficiency and minimizing the response time. Moreover, the inverter's real-time active and reactive power is directly managed to achieve a unity power factor (UPF). The system's performance is assessed through MATLAB/Simulink implementation, showing marked improvement over conventional methods, particularly in steady-state and varying weather conditions. For solar irradiances of 500 and 1,000 W/m&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;, the results show that the proposed method reduces the total harmonic distortion (THD) of the injected current to the grid by approximately 46% and 38% compared to conventional methods, respectively. Furthermore, we compare the simulation results with IEEE standards to evaluate the system's grid compatibility.

Experimental study on performance and compressor characteristics of transcritical CO2 heat pump system

The accelerated advancement of the economy has led to a heightened focus on the issue of energy conservation and reduced consumption within heat pump systems. An experimental investigation was conducted to analyze the impact of discharge pressure and outlet water temperature on the performance of the transcritical CO2 single-stage heat pump system and vapor injection heat pump system. The experimental results show that the heating capacity first increases and then tends to be constant or even slightly decreases with the increase of discharge pressure in single-stage heat pump system. When subjected to the same operating conditions, the coefficient of performance of vapor injection heat pump system exceeds that of single-stage heat pump system. Compared with single-stage heat pump system, the performance coefficient of vapor injection heat pump system has increased by an average of 6.21% and the heating capacity has increased by an average of 9.54%. Additionally, the volumetric efficiency of the compressor substantially decreases when producing high-temperature hot water. Semi-empirical models for evaluating the compressor performance in both single-stage heat pump system and vapor injection pump system are established through the parameterization of the volumetric efficiency with respect to the pressure ratio and compressor speed. These models effectively forecast compressor performance.

Competition and evaluation of two-stage systems with fixed-sum outputs

Fixed-sum outputs are widely found in fields and lead to fierce competition among individuals or organizations. While competition strategy and efficiency evaluation for single-stage or black-box systems with fixed-sum outputs are discussed, few concerns the network systems with fixed-sum outputs that prevail in practical production and should not be neglected. In this study we analyze the competition and evaluation of network systems with fixed-sum outputs. First, we propose a data envelopment analysis (DEA) method searching a competition equilibrium that all basic two-stage systems are relatively efficient, by simultaneous adjustment of their intermediate outputs and fixed-sum outputs simultaneously, rather than only adjusting fixed-sum outputs, then proposing models for evaluating system competition efficiency and intervals of stage efficiencies based on the equilibrium frontier. Second, we focus on the normal case in which systems’ intermediate outputs may be excessive or inadequate for the uncertain capacity of final outputs, which are determined by competition instead of personal preference in the condition of fixed-sum outputs. To balance the excess and shortage in achieving the competition equilibrium, a method that allows external transfer of intermediate outputs is developed. An illustrative example indicates that the competition equilibrium can be achieved with less adjustments in some situations, when intermediate outputs are allowed to be externally transferred.

Unlocking potential: Exploring the methane production potential in anaerobic co-digestion of cassava wastewater and glycerol

This study aimed at evaluating the feasibility of CH4 production in a mesophilic (30 °C) single-stage anaerobic co-digestion of cassava wastewater (CW) and glycerol in an anaerobic fluidized bed reactor (AFBR) with mixing ratio of 50 % / 50 % CW/Gly on a (chemical oxygen demand)COD basis. Thus, the following strategy was used: increasing the organic loading rate (OLR) (1–20 g COD.L−1.d−1) by increasing the substrate concentration (1–20 g COD.L−1) and applying a hydraulic detention time (HRT) of 24 h. The AFBR presented a maximum methane (CH4) content of 88.38±1.94 % and a CH4 yield (MY) of 293.48±18.37 mL of CH4.mL−1CODrem in the OLR of 1 g COD.L−1.d−1 and the maximum methane production rate (MPR) of 62.09±2.75 mL of CH4.L−1.h−1 in the OLR of 20 g COD.L−1.d−1. The conversion of glycerol and carbohydrates remained above 91±0.54 % and 82±2.79 %, respectively, and the COD conversion was above 80±0.65 %. The main metabolites were HAc, HPr, HBu, EtOH and HVa. The most abundant genera identified in the AFBR were Izemoplasmatales and Enterobacteriaceae for the bacteria domain, and Methanosaeta, Methanobacterium for the archaea domain. The single-stage system is robust and can operate with higher OLR without reducing the efficiency of wastewater treatment and CH4 production.

A techno-economic assessment of hydrogen and methane production from the anaerobic treatment of vinasse and glycerol: Single- vs. two-stage process

The best-case scenario for anaerobic digestion (AD) could include co-digestion and two-stage systems, a combination that has not yet been extensively studied. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of increasing the organic loading rate from 5 to 20 kg-COD/m3/d in second-stage thermophilic (55 °C, CH4-RThermo) and mesophilic (25 ± 5 °C, CH4-RMeso) anaerobic fluidized bed reactors (AFBR) fed with sugarcane vinasse and glycerol (1:1 on a COD basis) previously fermented in a thermophilic AFBR. AD was stable with high methane production and COD removal up to 20 kg-COD/m3/d for CH4-RThermo (4.53 L-CH4/L/d; 79 %) and CH4-RMeso (3.85 L-CH4/L/d; 66 %), respectively. At 20 kg-COD/m3/d, CH4-RMeso failed due to acid accumulation (1279 mg/L), which probably inhibited methanogenic activity. Results of two-stage thermophilic + thermophilic (H2-RThermo + CH4-RThermo) were compared with a thermophilic single-stage AFBR. In comparison to the two-stage system, for 10, 15, and 20 kg- COD/m3/d, the single-stage energetic yields were higher at 33, 26 and 22 %, respectively. A techno-economic assessment was conducted. The scale-up and economic analyses revealed that the single-stage would be the most compact system (17,820 vs. 20,560 m3) with the lowest initial investment (USD 45 M vs. USD 52 M), highest net present value (NPV) (USD 58 M vs. USD 47 M), and internal rate of return (IRR) (18 vs. 16 %) compared to the best two-stage system (thermophilic + thermophilic). A Monte Carlo simulation indicated a 12 % risk of financial loss at 20 kg-COD/m3/d for the single-stage system. Furthermore, it showed that variation on the capitalization rate, inflation, and the electricity sales price can significantly affect the NPV. Therefore, in addition to better laboratory performance, the single-stage system is simpler to operate, less costly, and would be more suitable for industrial scale implementation.

Effects of carbon to nitrogen ratio on nitrogen removal in a single-stage microaerobic system: A model-based evaluation

Single-stage microaerobic systems have been proven to be effective for concurrent removal of ammonium and organic carbon from sewage. While mechanistic models derived from activated sludge models (ASMs) have simulated nutrients removal under microaerobic conditions, classic ASMs exhibit limitations in capturing the intricate effects of carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio on nitrogen removal performance. To address this issue, a mechanistic model modified from the classic ASMs was proposed to capture the combined inhibitory effects of carbon and ammonium on microaerobic systems. This modified model was established based on experimental data from a single-stage microaerobic reactor encompassing simultaneous nitrification-denitrification and anammox processes. The inhibition coefficient of C/N ratio was integrated into the process rate equations, and its effectiveness was validated through model performance evaluation. Compared to the classic models, the modified one achieved superior predictions for nitrite and nitrate nitrogen concentrations. Simulations revealed that under optimized conditions with a C/N of 4.57 and a dissolved oxygen (DO) of 0.41 mg/L, the system could achieve up to 95.5% of total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency. Based on the simulation of substrate uptake/production rate, increasing the nitrogen loading rate (NLR) rather than organic loading rate (OLR) was crucial for efficient nitrogen removal. The proposed modified model served as a valuable tool for designing and optimizing similar biological wastewater treatment systems.

Performance Enhancement Analysis of Environmentally Friendly Refrigerants

Due to the impact of global warming and climate change, more and more people are starting to have a clearer understanding and vigilance about greenhouse gases. To prevent further deterioration of the global environment, this study examines the coefficients of performance of 21 currently available refrigerants with very low global-warming potential and zero ozone-depleting potential under evaporation temperatures of 10, −20, −40, and −60 °C and condensation temperatures of 30, 40, and 50 °C, respectively. It is found that the use of pure refrigerant in a two-stage refrigeration system to replace the single-stage refrigeration system, in addition to mixing it into an appropriate mixture, can effectively improve the performance coefficient of the refrigeration system. For single-stage vapor compression refrigeration systems, R1234ze(Z), R601, and R1233zd(E) have the best refrigeration performances among the environmentally friendly refrigerants studied, while R441A performs the worst for Teva = 10 °C and −20 °C. Moreover, RE170 has the highest COP of the refrigeration system for Teva = −40 °C and −60 °C. However, R1234yf performs worse in COP when the evaporation temperature is lower, and it ranks last for Teva = −60 °C. When a double-stage vapor compression refrigeration system is employed instead, the percentage increase in the COP of the system using R1234yf becomes the largest for Teva = −40 °C and −60 °C. However, the growth rate of R717 ranks last for Teva = −60 °C. For an R717/R1234yf mixture at an optimum mass fraction of 0.25, the COP of the refrigeration system can be increased up to 25.8% despite an increase of 15.2% in operating pressure compared to R1234yf. The discharge temperature may rise; however, there will be no overheating problem for the compressor.

Performance Characteristics and Optimization of a Single-Stage Direct Air Capture Membrane System in Terms of Process Energy Intensity

The increase in emissions and concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere necessitates the implementation of direct carbon dioxide capture technologies. The article presents the characteristics of a single-stage membrane unit for the direct capture of carbon dioxide from the air. A membrane with a selectivity of αCO2/N2=70 and permeability PCO2=108m3(STP)(m2·h·bar) is chosen as the reference variant. It is demonstrated that increasing the pressure difference in the system by reducing the pressure of the permeate stream results in an improvement of all analyzed parameters. Manipulating both the membrane surface and its CO2 permeability yields similar results. With an increase in permeability or membrane surface area, the proportion of CO2 in the retentate and permeate decreases, while the degree of carbon dioxide recovery increases. However, the energy intensity of the process is a complex issue due to the presence of a local minimum in the obtained characteristics. Therefore, a relationship between the constants of energy intensity values for the separation process on the surface area field and CO2 membrane permeability is presented. The minimum energy intensity of the process obtained is 22.5 kWh/kgCO2. The CO2 content in the retentate for all analyses did not exceed 280 ppm.

Phase separation as a strategy to prevent sulfide-related drawbacks in methanogenesis: performance and energetic aspects.

The establishment of sulfate (SO42-) reduction during methanogenesis may considerably hinder the efficient energetic exploitation of methane, once removing sulfide from biogas is obligate and can be costly. In addition, sulfide generation can negatively impact the performance of methanogens by triggering substrate competition and sulfide inhibition. This study investigated the impacts of removing SO42- during fermentation on the performance of a second-stage methanogenic continuous reactor (R2), comparing the results with those obtained in a single-stage system (R1) fed with SO42--rich wastewater (SO42- of up to 400mg L-1, COD/SO42- of 3.12-12.50). The organic load (OL) was progressively increased to 5.0g COD d-1 in both reactors, showing completely discrepant performances. Sulfate-reducing bacteria outperformed methanogens in the consumption for organic matter during the start-up phase (OL = 2.5g COD d-1) in R1, directing up to 73% of the electron flow to SO42- reduction. An efficient methanogenic activity was established in R1 only after decreasing the OL to 0.625g COD d-1, after which methanogenesis prevailed by consuming ca. 90% of the removed COD. Nevertheless, high sulfide proportions (up to 3.1%) were measured in biogas. Conversely, methanogenesis was promptly established in R2, resulting in a methane-rich (> 80%) and sulfide-free biogas regardless of the operating condition. From an economic perspective, processing the biogas evolved from R2 would be cheaper, although the techno-economic impacts of managing the sulfur pollution in the fermentative reactor still need to be understood.

Refrigerants for eutectic refrigerating systems–Experimental results and future consideration

The new European F-Gas and PFAS Directives threaten to dramatically reduce quotas or even outright ban synthetic refrigerants, and transition to natural refrigerants in the near future seems inevitable. This article examines eutectic refrigerating systems used in low-temperature transport refrigerators for retail distribution considering transition to natural refrigerants. The main limitation for the operation of eutectic systems is the low evaporation pressure, and various designs addressing this limitation were already tried in the last few years during transition from R507A to R452A and other alternatives. In this article 5 systems with R452A, two with R290 and two with R1270 are compared. The greatest effect was demonstrated by addition of roll-bond plates – it reduced the difference between the inside air and evaporation temperatures by about 3 K. However, this solution is not promising with hydrocarbons due to the higher refrigerant charge. All other solutions together give no more effect than roll-bond plates in terms of evaporation temperature at the end of pull-down. Based on experimental results, the prospects of eutectic refrigeration system with natural refrigerants are reviewed. R290 is not suitable for such systems, but R1270 could be used in systems where eutectic plates just need to be crystallized. However, in weight-optimized systems used in refrigerated vans, the evaporation pressure of R1270 would be lower than atmospheric, which is considered unacceptable due to safety requirements. If this provision remains, the eutectic refrigerators with a single-stage vapour compression refrigerating system become impossible, and more complicated cascade system has to be developed.