Specific Fuels Research Articles

On the oxy-combustion of lignite and corn stover in a lab-scale fluidized bed reactor

This paper addresses an experimental investigation concerning oxy-combustion of coal and biomass in a lab-scale fluidized bed reactor. While co-firing has been widely studied under conventional air conditions, few experiences are available to date for O2/CO2 atmospheres. The research is focused on SO2 and NOx emissions, along with the deposition rates and ashes mineralogy. The influences of the atmosphere (air vs. 30/70% O2/CO2), the coal-to-biomass energy input ratio (80/20%, 90/10%), the chlorine mass fraction in the biomass (0.35%, 1%, 2%) and the Ca:S mole ratio (2.5, 4) are reported and discussed in the paper, for two specific fuels: high sulfur lignite and high chlorine corn stover. Concerning SO2 emissions a correlation among the sulfur and the chlorine contents is clearly detected, being affected by the direct desulfurization mechanism occurring under oxy-firing conditions. The single effect of the chlorine content is found to be almost 1.5% of the desulfurization efficiency. NOx emissions are otherwise more dependent on oxygen excess and CO concentration in the reactor, rather than the fuel share or the chlorine supplied. Thick deposition is only detected when chlorine content in the corn is 2%. Potassium aluminosilication is found to be enhanced in comparison to potassium sulfation under oxy-firing, especially for the highest Ca:S mole ratio: observed aluminosilication is five times higher when Ca:S ratio is increased from 2.5 to 4. A significant enrichment in iron is also detected for the fly ash composition, with an increase of 30–50% in comparison to air combustion.

Energy consumption and economic growth in the United States

ABSTRACTWe study the relationship between energy consumption and real GDP in the USA using a multivariate time-varying model [1973Q1–2014Q1]. We show that the combination of disaggregation into specific fuels and time variation gives more nuanced results than the alternatives for the USA. Specifically, we find that the Granger causal relationship between total energy and real US GDP is bi-directional through much of the 1990s, but unidirectional running from real US GDP to energy consumption in the 2000s. As for each fuel, similar patterns of change were observed in the causal relationship between coal consumption and real US GDP. Oil consumption largely shows a bi-directional relationship between consumption and US GDP, especially after 2009. And natural gas consumption shows a brief period in the early-to-mid 2000s where US GDP predicts energy consumption, but primarily shows that natural gas consumption and economic growth are independent.

Multiple biomass fuels and improved cook stoves from Tanzania assessed with the Water Boiling Test

Improved cook stoves can reduce fuel consumption and indoor air pollution, but are not always used as expected. A household survey in rural Tanzania showed that cooking fuels such as firewood and charcoal were supplemented with agricultural residues, and households combined improved and traditional stoves. The WBT was used to assess 7 biomass fuels in 6 stoves. Maize stalks and cobs, and stalks from sunflower showed similar burning parameters to firewood, cow dung significantly different. Ash made agricultural residues unsuitable in improved firewood stoves. The three stone fire was versatile, an advantage where fuels are limited. Okoa-II with firewood was significantly more efficient than the three stone fire, whereas Okoa-I showed no improvement. Improved charcoal stove Jiko Bora was not significantly better than its traditional counterpart. PM across fuels corresponded with «the energy ladder»; CO to lesser degree. A local sawdust stove was functional and is increasingly common in Tanzania. Where access to energy is limited by poverty and multiple fuels are utilised, dissemination of a range of stoves optimised for specific fuels or conversely a cook stove as versatile as the open fireplace, may improve cooking conditions.

A Novel Versatile Methodology for the Assessment of the Effects of Alternative Fuels on Engine Durability

Since the introduction of first generation biodiesel (Fatty Acid Methyl Esters, FAME) at blending rates in diesel of up to 7% vol., concerns were raised regarding engine component durability. The deposition rate on engine components appears to be related to specific biodiesel characteristics, not included in the EN14214 standard. This paper describes a test method developed that is able to predict the effects of specific fuels on engine components that are not possible to be revealed by initial fuel properties as tested according to fuel standards EN590 and EN14214. The method is able to simulate long engine operation within a feasible test duration with controllable acceleration of involved phenomena and in a cost effective manner including the use of limited amount of fuel and only engine components affected by the fuel degradation. The paper presents the developed method, the experimental setup configuration, fuel treatment, key operating conditions and operating protocol of the main test. Test results are being presented for both current market fuels of different characteristics as regards FAME content and presence of detergent additives as well as for experimental and reference fuel blends developed for the assessment of possible future fuels and fuel injection system configurations. The paper concludes that the specific method is able to provide information on the applicability and possible durability issues associated with the use of alternative fuels and advanced fuel injection system technologies under consideration and is a candidate to be implemented as a future fuel standard.

Numerical Studies on Controlling Gaseous Fuel Combustion by Managing the Combustion Process of Diesel Pilot Dose in a Dual-Fuel Engine

Abstract Protection of the environment and counteracting global warming require finding alternative sources of energy. One of the methods of generating energy from environmentally friendly sources is increasing the share of gaseous fuels in the total energy balance. The use of these fuels in compression-ignition (CI) engines is difficult due to their relatively high autoignition temperature. One solution for using these fuels in CI engines is operating in a dualfuel mode, where the air and gas mixture is ignited with a liquid fuel dose. In this method, a series of relatively complex chemical processes occur in the engine's combustion chamber, related to the combustion of individual fuel fractions that interact with one another. Analysis of combustion of specific fuels in this type of fuel injection to the engine is difficult due to the fact that combustion of both fuel fractions takes place simultaneously. Simulation experiments can be used to analyse the impact of diesel fuel combustion on gaseous fuel combustion. In this paper, we discuss the results of simulation tests of combustion, based on the proprietary multiphase model of a dual-fuel engine. The results obtained from the simulation allow for analysis of the combustion process of individual fuels separately, which expands the knowledge obtained from experimental tests on the engine.

Short term online corrosion measurements in biomass fired boilers. Part 1: Application of a newly developed mass loss probe

Online corrosion probes enable the online determination of high-temperature corrosion rates in biomass combustion plants. These probes are exposed to the flue gas and require a layer of corrosion products and deposits on their surface to be able to perform the corrosion measurements. The formation of this layer takes time and depends on the build-up rate of the deposits as well as on the ability of the deposits to form a conductive layer. During this initial phase, which lasts about 300h based on experiences with forest wood chip combustion, the measurements are inaccurate. This inaccuracy can be neglected during long-term measurements performed at real-scale plants which last more than several 1000h. Since high-temperature corrosion in biomass combustion plants is known to generally follow a paralinear trend, high corrosion rates prevail in the beginning. Following, if short-term measurements shall reflect or come close to real-life conditions, this “start-up” effect cannot be neglected.Consequently, to be able to correct this “start-up” effect, a methodology has been developed which combines results from parallel measurements of an online corrosion probe and a mass loss probe. The mass loss probe consists of multiple test rings and is exposed to the flue gas next to the corrosion probe with similar surface temperatures. With the mass loss probe the trend of the corrosion rate within the first 300h is determined by gravimetric mass loss measurements of each ring. For evaluation this trend of the corrosion rate from the mass loss probe is coupled with the signal from the corrosion probe. Hereby, the inaccuracy at the beginning of the online corrosion probe measurements can be eliminated and reliable short-term measurements can be performed. A 50kW biomass grate combustion system coupled with a drop tube was used for the development of the mass loss probe and the evaluation methodology. Such a test rig provides multiple advantages for high-temperature corrosion measurements compared to a real-scale plant. Specific and homogenous fuels can be tested, specific influencing parameters can be adjusted and varying operating conditions occurring in a real-scale plant are excluded.

Development of a Solar Fuels Roadmap for South Africa

Abstract South Africa is heavily reliant on fossil fuels for energy.Fortunately it has an excellent solar resource which, through solar fuels or high temperature solar applications offers the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, to increase energy security and to optimize fossil fuel resource use. Solar fuels can be defined as solar derived thermochemical processes and can include energy carriers (hydrogen,synthesis gas and liquid fuels), chemical or material commodities (metals, lime, and cement) or thermo-chemical storage. South Africa is developing a “ Roadmap to Solar Fuels ” under the guidance of local and SolarPACES experts. This papers aims to provide an overview of the drivers and the process of developing a “ Roadmap to Solar Fuels ” for South Africa. It will also provide feedback on workshops and interactions with industry and government role players andwill provide an overview of the specific solar fuels opportunities that exists for South Africa that can be explored further.

Influence of test fuel properties and composition on UNECE R101 CO2 and fuel economy valuation

AbstractCO2 emission and fuel consumption of passenger cars is now assessed by using a simplistic procedure measuring the emission during a test performed without any control of the fuel properties and computing the fuel consumption through an unsophisticated formula. As pump gasoline and diesel fuels are refinery products mixture of many different hydrocarbons, and in case of gasoline may also contain a significant amount of oxygenates, the fuel properties, including the density, carbon and energy content may strongly vary from one pump fuel to the other. Being the specific test fuels carefully selected by the car manufacturers and everything but randomly chosen pump fuels, the claimed CO2 emission and fuel economy figures may differ largely from the certification values. I show from the analysis of the 2014 UK government data for 2358 diesel and 2103 petrol vehicles how same volumes of only theoretically same pump fuels used during the certification test by the cars manufacturers unfortunately do not produce the same carbon dioxide emission, and very likely do not have the same energy content. The CO2 emission per liter of diesel fuel is shown to oscillate froma maximum of 3049 g to a minimum of 2125 g, with an average of 2625 g, froma +16.13% to a -19.06% of the average. TheCO2 emission per liter of petrol fuel is shown to oscillate even more from a maximum of 3735 g to a minimum of 1767 g with an average of 2327 g, from a +60.48% to a -24.05% of the average. The proposed solution is to center the assessment on the energy demand by measuring with accuracy the mass of fuel consumed and the fuel properties of the test fuel starting from the lower heating. The corrected fuel consumption and the corrected carbon dioxide emission to mention from the test are then computed by using pure hydrocarbon reference fuels for diesel and petrol having a given lower heating value and a given hydrocarbon composition. Alternatively, exactly the same test fuel should be used by all the manufacturers.

Reduced Kinetic Schemes of Complex Reaction Systems: Fossil and Biomass‐Derived Transportation Fuels

ABSTRACTThe kinetic modeling of the pyrolysis and combustion of liquid transportation fuels is a very complex task for two different reasons: the challenging characterization of the complex mixture of several hydrocarbon isomers and the complexity of the oxidation mechanisms of large hydrocarbon and oxygenated molecules. While surrogate mixtures of reference components allow to tackle the first difficulty, the complex behavior of the oxidation mechanisms is mostly overcome by reducing the total number of involved species by adopting a lumping approach. After a first investigation of the different liquid fuels (gasoline, kerosene, and diesel fuels), a short discussion on the lumping techniques allows to highlight the advantages of this approach. The lumped POLIMI pyrolysis and oxidation mechanism of hydrocarbon and oxygenated fuels is then used for generating several skeletal mechanisms for typical surrogate mixtures, moving from pure n‐heptane up to heavy diesel fuels. These skeletal models are simply reduced with a reaction flux analysis, and they involve between 100 and 200 species. While these sizes already allow detailed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations in internal combustion engines, further reduction phases are necessary when the interest is toward more complex CFD computations. To maintain the standard structure of the skeletal mechanisms, successive reduction phases are not considered. Moreover, new regulations pushed toward a greater use of renewable fuels. For these reasons, the skeletal models are also extended to biogasolines including methanol, ethanol, and n‐butanol. Similarly, skeletal models of diesel and biodiesel fuels, including methyl esters, are also provided. Several comparisons with experimental data and complete validations in the operating range of internal combustion engines are also reported. The whole set of comparisons with experimental data obtained in a wide range of conditions not only validate the reduced models of specific transportation fuels but also the complete kinetic scheme POLIMI_1404.

Temperature Coefficients of the Refractive Index for Complex Hydrocarbon Mixtures

Temperature coefficients of the refractive index ( $$\mathrm{d}n/\mathrm{d}T$$ ) in the $$25\,^{\circ }\mathrm{C}$$ to $$35\,^{\circ }\mathrm{C}$$ temperature interval for hydrocarbon mixtures containing as many as 14 compounds were investigated in this work. The measured $$-\mathrm{d}n/\mathrm{d}T$$ of the mixtures were compared with calculations based on the values for each compound and their concentrations. Differences of about 1 % between measured and calculated values were observed for all mixtures. The additivity of $$-\mathrm{d}n/\mathrm{d}T$$ for these hydrocarbons enables preparation of surrogate fuels that are formulated to have properties like those of specific diesel fuels.

Strategy for the Application of Novel Characterization Methods for Biomass Fuels: Case Study of Straw

Because of an increasing interest in the utilization of new and in terms of combustion-related properties rather unknown biomass fuels in heat and power production, advanced fuel characterization tools are gaining rising interest. Currently, ongoing research and development (R&D) focuses on a better and more precise description of the combustion properties of specific biomass fuels by applying new/advanced analysis methods and modeling tools. These novel characterization methods cover combustion tests in specially designed lab reactors, special fuel indices for biomass fuels, and the dedicated application of high-temperature equilibrium calculations. In this paper, a strategy is presented how the information gained from different advanced fuel characterization methods can be combined to characterize a fuel regarding its combustion behavior in a novel way. By means of this strategy, relevant qualitative and quantitative information regarding the ash-melting behavior, aerosol, SOx, HCl, and NOx emissions to be expected, and high-temperature corrosion risks can be gained. In addition, the approach can also be used for the evaluation of additives and fuel blending as measures to improve specific combustion properties. The results show that a much better and clearer picture about the combustion properties of a specific biomass fuel can be provided than by conventional approaches (such as wet chemical analysis or other standardized methods). The results can be used for the preliminary design of plants as well as for evaluation of the applicability of a specific technology for a certain biomass fuel or fuel spectrum. Moreover, they can be applied in combination with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations for the detailed design and evaluation of furnaces and boilers.

Fuel flexible distributed combustion for efficient and clean gas turbine engines

The need for fuel flexible ultra-low emission gas turbine combustors is imminent to secure future power needs. Distributed combustion technology is demonstrated to provide significant performance improvement of gas turbine combustors including uniform thermal field in the entire combustion chamber (improved pattern factor) at very high combustion intensity, ultra-low emission of NOx and CO, low noise, enhanced stability, higher efficiency and alleviation of combustion instability. Distributed reaction conditions were achieved using swirl for desirable controlled mixing between the injected air, fuel and hot reactive gases from within the combustor prior to mixture ignition. In this paper, distributed combustion is further investigated using a variety of fuels. Gaseous (methane, diluted methane, hydrogen enriched methane and propane) and liquid fuels, including both traditional (kerosene) and alternate fuels (ethanol) that cover a wide range of calorific values are investigated with emphasis on pollutants emission and combustor performance with each fuel. For liquid fuels, no atomization or spray device was used. Performance evaluation with the different fuels was established to outline the flexibility of the combustor using a wide range of fuels of different composition, phase and calorific value with specific focus on ultra-low pollutants emission. Results obtained on pollutants emission and OH* chemiluminescence for the specific fuels at various equivalence ratios are presented. Near distributed combustion conditions with less than 8PPM of NO emission were demonstrated under novel premixed conditions for the various fuels tested at heat (energy) release intensity (HRI) of 27MW/m3-atm. and a rather high equivalence ratio of 0.6. Higher equivalence ratios lacked favorable distributed combustion conditions. For the same conditions, CO emission varied for each fuel; less than 10ppm were demonstrated for methane based fuels, while heavier liquid fuels provided less than 40ppm CO emissions. Lower emissions of NO (<4.5PPM) were also demonstrated at lower equivalence ratios. This demonstration outlines the combustor ability for fuel flexibility without any modifications to the combustor injectors, while maintaining high performance. Further reduction of NOx can be possible by establishing true distributed combustion condition, in particular at higher equivalence ratios.

Prediction of the performance of a solid oxide fuel cell fuelled with biosyngas: Influence of different steam-reforming reaction kinetic parameters

SOFCs are often designed to operate with specific fuels, quite often natural gas. CFD modeling is often used to arrive at efficient and safe SOFC designs. Therefore, when an SOFC is fed with different fuels, i.e., biosyngas, CFD can be used as a tool to predict whether the cell and stack will be safe and operate efficiently, and thus can give suggestions for the operation strategies for SOFCs. For that reason, a combined mass and heat transport model of an SOFC (single channel) has been developed for an anode-supported SOFC fed with biosyngas with special attention to the reaction kinetics of the direct internal reforming (DIR) reaction together with the water–gas shift reaction. An SOFC design jointly developed by ECN and Delft University of Technology is employed for the calculations. This work aims to predict the influence of different reforming reaction kinetic parameters on the cell performance by using an anode-supported intermediate temperature DIR planar solid oxide fuel single channel model, under co-flow operation. The DIR reaction of methane, the water–gas shift reaction and the electrochemical oxidation of hydrogen are being considered. As different reaction kinetic models are available in literature and employing them in CFD calculations will yield different results, a comparative analysis is carried out. Several cases were studied with a variety of DIR and water gas shift reaction kinetic parameters available from literature. For the different cases considered, the modeling results show differences in the current density distribution and temperature profile in the channel and in gas concentration profile along the channel. These differences are presented and discussed in detail. Predictions of the behaviors of internal reforming reaction in the reaction zone, and the possibilities of unwanted side reactions such as carbon deposition and Ni oxidation are given with constructive suggestions for future lab experiments.

Combustion chemistry aspects of alternative fuels reforming for high-temperature fuel cell applications

Abstract Solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFC) constitute a particularly attractive technology for sustainable, combined heat and power generation, both at domestic and district levels. The elevated operating temperature of SOFC systems, allows the utilization of a wide spectrum of conventional and alternative fuels, through suitable reforming processes. The high temperatures and fuel rich conditions prevailing in SOFC reformers, enhance syngas yield and reforming efficiency but may give rise to unwanted effects, such as ignition, soot and coke formation and deposition. The above phenomena cannot be described via thermodynamic considerations and can only be effectively tackled through a detailed chemical kinetic approach. The present study provides a comparative assessment of SOFC reformer operation on conventional and alternative hydrocarbon fuels in terms of syngas yield, thermal efficiency and pollutants formation. In particular, the reforming of methane, a typical biogas (comprising of 60% CH 4 and 40% CO 2 ), methanol and ethanol is numerically assessed by utilizing a recently developed and validated comprehensive detailed kinetic mechanism for C 1 –C 6 hydrocarbons, augmented with a PAH model. Chemical aspects of the fuel reforming process are investigated through rate-of-production path and sensitivity analyses. The study supports design guidelines aiming towards identification of optimum operating conditions, for specific applications and fuels. The analysis reveals that the extent of coupling between syngas formation and molecular growth processes is strongly dependent on fuel and operating conditions choice and identifies windows of efficient operation, for each case.

Selective Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Catalytic Conversion of Methanol/Dimethyl Ether to Triptane

The demand for specific fuels and chemical feed-stocks fluctuates, and as a result, logistical mismatches can occur in the supply of their precursor raw materials such as coal, biomass, crude oil, and methane. To overcome these challenges, industry requires a versatile and robust suite of conversion technologies, many of which are mediated by synthesis gas (CO + H(2)) or methanol/dimethyl ether (DME) intermediates. One such transformation, the conversion of methanol/DME to triptane (2,2,3-trimethylbutane) has spurred particular research interest. Practically, triptane is a high-octane, high-value fuel component, but this transformation also raises fundamental questions: how can such a complex molecule be generated from such a simple precursor with high selectivity? In this Account, we present studies of this reaction carried out in two modes: homogeneously with soluble metal halide catalysts and heterogeneously over solid microporous acid catalysts. Despite their very different compositions, reaction conditions, provenance, and historical scientific context, both processes lead to remarkably similar products and mechanistic interpretations. In both cases, hydrocarbon chains grow by successive methylation in a carbocation-based mechanism. The relative rates of competitive processes-chain growth by methylation, chain termination by hydrogen transfer, isomerization, and cracking-systematically depend upon the structure of the various hydrocarbons produced, strongly favoring the formation of the maximally branched C(7) alkane, triptane. The two catalysts also show parallels in their dependence on acid strength. Stronger acids exhibit higher methanol/DME conversion but also tend to favor chain termination, isomerization, and cracking relative to chain growth, decreasing the preference for triptane. Hence, in both modes, there will be an optimal range: if the acid strength is too low, activity will be poor, but if it is too high, selectivity will be poor. A related reaction, the methylative homologation of alkanes, offers the possibility of upgrading low-value refinery byproducts such as isobutane and isopentane to more valuable gasoline components. With the addition of adamantane, a hydride transfer catalyst that promotes activation of alkanes, both systems effectively catalyze the reaction of methanol/DME with lighter alkanes to produce heavier ones. This transformation has the further advantage of providing stoichiometric balance, whereas the stoichiometry for conversion of methanol/DME to alkanes is deficient in hydrogen and requires rejection of excess carbon in the form of carbon-rich arenes, which lowers the overall yield of desired products. Alternatively, other molecules can serve as sacrificial sources of hydrogen atoms: H(2) on heterogeneous catalysts modified by cations that activate it, and H(3)PO(2) or H(3)PO(3) on homogeneous catalysts. We have interpreted most of the features of these potentially useful reactions at a highly detailed level of mechanistic understanding, and we show that this interpretation applies equally to these two widely disparate types of catalysts. Such approaches can play a key role in developing and optimizing the catalysts that are needed to solve our energy problems.

Deposit formation and emissions from co-firing miscanthus with Daw Mill coal: Pilot plant experiments

An investigation has been carried out into the deposits generated on cooled probes and the gas compositions produced from co-firing miscanthus mixed with Daw Mill coal. The biomass additions to the coal were at 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100wt.% in a 100kWth pilot-scale pulverised fuel (PF) combustion test rig operated with a feed rate of ∼7–15kg/h. Online monitoring of the combustion gas stream was carried out for CO2, O2, H2O, SO2, CO, NO, NO2, N2O, HCl and HF using a high resolution multi-component Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) gas analyser. The deposits were collected from the upstream, side and downstream surfaces of three air-cooled probes that were exposed in the flue gas path and operated at surface temperatures of 500, 600 and 700°C (to simulate heat exchanger tubes). The compositions of these deposits were determined using a range of analytical techniques including Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM) with Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The composition of the combustion gas streams and deposits changed as a function of the fuel mixtures used in the combustion process. The increasing miscanthus share in combination with the Daw Mill coal resulted in a reduction of SOx, NOx and HCl levels. The deposition on the upstream surfaces of the probes decreased with increasing biomass percentage, but increased on the downstream surfaces. The concentration of K and S in the deposits increased with increasing miscanthus share in the fuel up to 80wt.%, particularly on the coolest probe (∼500°C surface temperature). In addition, Cl was detected in the deposit on the two lower temperature probes only when 100% miscanthus was used in the combustion process. Thermodynamic modelling of the combustion/deposition process carried out in parallel also suggested formation of KCl only at the highest levels of biomass co-firing for miscanthus/Daw Mill coal, with K2SO4 being predicted at lower co-firing levels for these specific fuels.

Demand for cooking fuels in a developing country: To what extent do taste and preferences matter?

Overreliance on biomass energy, such as firewood and charcoal, for cooking in developing countries has contributed to high rates of deforestation and resulted in substantial indoor pollution, which has negatively impacted the health of many individuals. However, the effectiveness of public policies aimed at encouraging households to switch to cleaner fuels, such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and kerosene, hinges on the extent to which they are mentally committed to specific fuels. Using data on four cooking fuels (charcoal, firewood, LPG, and kerosene) from the Ghana living standards survey, we found strong evidence that the most preferred fuel is LPG, followed by charcoal, with kerosene the least preferred. In addition, with the exception of kerosene that has price-elastic demand, the price elasticities of demand for the fuel types examined are inelastic. This finding suggests the so-called fuel-ladder is not robust.

ACSEPT—Partitioning technologies and actinide science: Towards pilot facilities in Europe

Actinide recycling by separation and transmutation is considered worldwide and particularly in several European countries as one of the most promising strategies to reduce the inventory of radioactive waste and to optimise the use of natural resources. With its multidisciplinary consortium of 34 partners from 12 European countries plus Australia and Japan, the European Research Project ACSEPT (Actinide reCycling by SEParation and Transmutation) aims at contributing to the development of this strategy by studying both hydrometallurgical and pyrochemical partitioning routes. ACSEPT is organised into three technical domains: (i) Considering technically mature aqueous separation processes, ACSEPT works to optimise and select the most promising ones dedicated either to actinide partitioning (for the heterogeneous recycling of actinides in ADS target or specific actinide bearing blanket fuels in fast reactor) or to grouped actinide separation (for the homogeneous recycling of the actinides in fast reactor fuels). In addition, dissolution and conversion studies are underway taking into account the specific requirements of these specific fuels. (ii) Concerning pyrochemical separation processes, ACSEPT focuses on the enhancement of the two reference cores processes selected within FP6-EUROPART. R&D efforts are also devoted to key scientific and technical issues compulsory to set up a complete separation process (head-end steps, salt treatment for recycling and waste management). (iii) By integrating all the experimental results in engineering and system studies, both in hydro and pyro domains, ACSEPT will deliver relevant flowsheets and recommendations to prepare for future demonstrations at a pilot level. After more than two years of work, significant progress was achieved in process development with the demonstration of the SANEX and innovative SANEX flowsheets. Chemical systems were selected for GANEX and are under study. In addition, efforts were made to increase collaborations, mutualise and homogenise procedures and share good practices. Based on these assessments, it is now time to look at the future challenges to overcome. A training and education program is implemented to share the knowledge among the partitioning community, present and future generations of researchers. Specific attention is paid to the funding of post-doctorate fellowships, two having been appointed respectively at the end of 2008 and at the end of 2009. Through this training and education programme, the first ACSEPT International Workshop was organised last March in Lisbon, Portugal. It gave an emphasis to young researchers’ contributions (two thirds of the contributions) and allowed young scientists to meet and exchange with international recognised experts.

Multi-agent simulation of adoption of alternative fuels

We have formalized and parameterized a model for the production of six transport fuels and six fuels blends from six feedstocks through 13 different production chains, and their adoption of by 11 distinct subpopulations of motorists. The motorists are represented by agents that use heuristics to choose a fuel on the basis of three attributes and a social feedback loop. Adoption of specific fuels is mostly driven by price differences, but other factors play a role if prices are similar. The results are not always intuitive and do not always show up immediately. We find that sustained combinations of interventions are required to bring about a transition away from petrol or diesel. Adoption of alternative fuels was most often confined to niche markets with a share of 5% or lower. Only in a single case was a complete fuel transition observed.

European and international policy interventions of implementing the use of wood fuels in bioenergy sector: a trend analysis and a specific wood fuels' energy application

During the last century, wood fuels exploitation is extensively implemented in European and international levels. Their use is especially effective to support the subsistence level of rural regions, thus strengthening the local economies. In the present study, a systematic presentation of policy interventions is given, regarding the use of wood fuels in bioenergy sector. In addition, the possibility of specific wood fuel types utility, which are prolifically cultivated in the Northern Greece context, is examined as an alternative energy source in the conventional coal-based energy network. This energy application focuses on the successful estimation of the actual energy demand in domestic hot water and space heating applications and consequently on the precise evaluation of energy production from the proposed wood fuels exploitation. Furthermore, the optimum environmental, economic and socioeconomic conditions are evaluated.