Unconventional Energy Sources Research Articles

Use of renewable energy in global energy mix and the challenges associated with their large-scale deployment

Abstract Energy is the need for the future, and to fulfill this need, the use of renewable energy is a must. Furthermore, to counter the problem of global warming and climate change, the transition toward unconventional sources of energy is a requirement. Total global energy is majorly used in three sectors, namely, heating and cooling, transport, and electricity; however, the use and growth of renewable energy among these sectors are different. In this article, we discuss the potential of renewable energy in these sectors, the challenges associated with their large-scale deployment, and the possible solutions.

A Study On Hydrogen Production Methods Using the TOPSIS Method

For humanity and social health, energy is essential. Hydrogen is one of several potential energy carriers for green technologies. The Black Sea seas are a rich source of "hydrogen Sulphide (H2S)", which is also a known environmental contaminant. The main drivers of hydrogen technology are global warming and the depletion of fossil fuels. Additionally, the nation's economies that depend on the importation of conventional fuel have been exposed as a result of the rising prices of these fuels due to the rising energy demand. Future renewable technologies need to be carbon-free and renewable to combat climate change on a long-term basis and reduce our reliance on foreign oil. Hydrogen can be produced using a variety of traditional and unconventional sources of energy, including "natural gas, coal, nuclear power, biomass, solar, and wind". The most ecological hydrogen production method using H2S is chosen in this research using the "technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS)", taking into account sustainable factors which are inescapable in energy managerial problems. The "Equal Weights Method (EWM)" allocates weights to many criteria, most notably relevance weights. The rank of alternatives using the TOPSIS method for Thermal is second, Electrochemical is third, Thermochemical is fourth, Photochemical is fifth and Plasma is first. The analysis's findings indicate that plasma is the best and most suitable method for producing hydrogen in terms of delivering high conversion efficiency and environmentally friendly operations, such as handling, shipping, and storing dangerous chemicals.

Shale Gas: An Undepletable Energy Resource

World Energy market is growing day by day in abundance as much as 50 % growth by 2050 as compared to 2010. But the resources are continuously depleting and lowering the energy content. Thus renewable energy resources are not feasible and capable enough to fulfill the increasing demands. Increase in production of nonrenewable energy source, i.e., the fossil fuels may help to fulfill the energy requirement of future generations. Shale gas is one of the optional unconventional sources of energy. Shale gas deposits are scattered all over the planet in low-permeability and low porosity reservoirs. India has overall reserves of shale gas between 600 and 2000 TCF, of which 63 TCF is of recoverable shale gas. Shale exploration techniques are discussed. Light is provided on shale oil and gas global and national data. Challenges faced practically are described. Key Words: Shale Gas, Sedimentary Rocks, Fracking, Kerogen, Hydraulic Fracturing, Vertical Drilling.

Positioning of horizontal well-bore in the hydrate reservoir using a custom developed coupled THMC solver

Natural gas hydrate sediments are considered as an unconventional source of energy found in deep sea reservoirs and permafrost regions under specific equilibrium conditions. To efficiently extract the gas from these sediments, well-bores need to be installed in these reservoirs followed by adopting an appropriate hydrate dissociation technique. This study presents a custom-developed coupled THMC solver to realistically quantify the gas production and associated sediment deformation. The numerical scheme solves coupled equations describing hydrate phase change kinetics and non-isothermal multiphase flow in porous media. The proposed THMC solver incorporates the HISS-MH constitutive model, enabling it to capture the non-linear geomechanical behavior of gas hydrate sediments, including strain-softening and dilation characteristics. The solver is validated against existing experimental results and a benchmark problem. Finally, the effect of different horizontal well-bore positions on vertical settlement and cumulative gas production is studied. The results indicate that the well-bore in the middle of the reservoir yields the highest cumulative gas production while differential settlement is minimum, thus making it a preferable location for placing the horizontal well-bores. This study contributes towards the development of a custom THMC solver with advanced models in addition to identifying the ideal location of the horizontal well-bore for efficient gas extraction.

Integrated Energy Creation Using Wind Energy and Solar Energy

Electricity is one of the most important things for our daily lives in today's technology-driven environment. We are all unaware of the reality that renewable energy sources are exhausting at a breakneck pace. So it's time to switch our attention from conventional to unconventional energy sources to generate electricity. When compared to traditional sources, non-conventional sources produce less electricity overall. The environment is not harmed by the use of renewable resources. In essence, a solar-wind hybrid system combines a solar energy plant with a wind energy plant. It will contribute to ensuring a steady supply of power. The hybrid system can be applied to both household and commercial settings. Solar-wind hybrid structures are essentially a combination of wind and sun power flowers. The main rotor shaft of horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs) is a particular design of wind turbines. One benefit of this configuration is that solar panels and generators can both be installed near the ground, creating a hybrid system. This electricity can be used for a variety of things. At a reasonable price, electricity will be generated. The goal of this project is to generate electricity from two sources simultaneously at a low cost without endangering the delicate balance of nature.

Biogeochemical Controls on Methane Generation: A Review on Indian Coal Resources

Coal bed methane (CBM) extraction has astounding effects on the global energy budget. Since the earliest discoveries of CBM, this natural gas form has witnessed ever-increasing demands from the core sectors of the economy. CBM is an unconventional source of energy occurring naturally within coal beds. The multiphase CBM generation during coal evolution commences with microbial diagenesis of the sedimentary organic matter during peatification, followed by early to mature thermogenic kerogen decomposition and post-coalification occurrences. Indeed, the origin of the CBM and, moreover, its economically valuable retention within coal seams is a function of various parameters. Several noticeable knowledge gaps include the controls of coal make-up and its physico-chemical position on the CBM generation and genetic link through fossil molecular and stable isotopic integration with the parent coal during its evolution. Therefore, this manuscript reviews the origin of CBM; the influences of coal properties and micropetrographic entities on CBM generation and storage; and its genetic molecular and stable isotope compositions in India and the world’s major coal reservoirs. Moreover, analyses of and outlooks on future development trends in the exploration, production, and application of coalbed methane are also addressed. Finally, as India has the fifth largest proven coal reserves, this brief review of the recent CBM discoveries and developments provides a plausible scope for microbially enhanced CBM production from these basins.

BIOFUELS – A NOVEL DIMENSION FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

The demand for energy has increased globally and the availability of fossil fuel is limited. Added to this, there has been a negative effect on climate due to the emission of greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels. These are the alarming signals to explore unconventional and sustainable energy sources. Biomass energy is becoming popular these days as it is clean and sustainable form of energy. It can potentially solve the problems of waste management and energy security. Growth in industrialization and agricultural sector has witnessed the accumulation of huge biowastes like forest residues, food waste, agriculture crop residues, wood processing residues industrial waste and municipal solid waste (MSW). Biomass from these biowastes have also simultaneously emerged prospective feedstocks for bioenergy production. Production and consumption of biofuel is becoming popular as it will be a novel approach for a sustainable future.

Coaxial multi-criteria optimization of a methane steam reforming reactor for effective hydrogen production and thermal management

The advancement in environmental awareness is the recent driving factor of the energy industry development. The market sentiments dictate the commercialization of unconventional energy sources. Thus, generation via hydrogen conversion gains popularity. The presented research regards the enhancement of the steam reforming reaction, used for the production of hydrogen via the conversion of hydrocarbons. The reforming process characterizes by a strong endothermic nature. The rapid course of the reaction leads to the creation of temperature gradients of a considerable magnitude. The presented research strives to alleviate the negative consequences of the reaction character. An original strategy by the name of macro-patterning is suggested as a remedy. The presented research proposes an updated concept, predicting the introduction of coaxial segments to the catalytic insert. The segments may consist of catalytic material or metallic foam applied for local suppression of the reaction. The morphology of specific segments may be altered independently, to allow for additional control of the reforming reaction. The objective of the research is to define the optimal segment composition. The optimization process is based on an in-house procedure implementing a genetic algorithm. The acquired results appear to validate the macro-pattering concept. A significant unification of the temperature field is obtained, with a simultaneous increase in hydrogen productivity.

Integrated Power System Using Wind and Solar Energy

Abstract: Electricity is one of the most important things for our daily lives in today's technology-driven environment. We are all unaware of the reality that renewable energy sources are exhausting at a breakneck pace. So it's time to switch our attention from conventional to unconventional energy sources in order to generate electricity. When compared to traditional sources, nonconventional sources produce less electricity overall. The environment is not harmed by the use of renewable resources. In essence, a solar-wind hybrid system combines a solar energy plant with a wind energy plant. It will contribute to ensuring a steady supply of power. The hybrid system can be applied to both household and commercial settings. Solar-wind hybrid structures are essentially a combination of wind and sun power flowers. The main rotor shaft of horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs) is a particular design of wind turbine. One benefit of this configuration is that solar panels and generators can both be installed near to the ground, creating a hybrid system. This electricity can be used for a variety of things. At a reasonable price, electricity will be generated. The goal of this project is to generate electricity from two sources simultaneously at a low cost without endangering the delicate balance of nature.

Comprehensive Analysis of Power Systems for Hybrid Electric Vehicles

Now the pollution problem is becoming more and more serious, and the gas emitted by cars has seriously affected the environment. In order to reduce environmental pollution and Strength conservation and emission discount, sell the first-rate sustainable development of China's new electricity automobile industry, accelerate the development of vehicle strength, and the study of new energy vehicles is inevitable. New power vehicles are designed to use unconventional energy sources or indirectly use gasoline energy in a way that differs from conventional automotive internal combustion engines. The new power vehicle is the superior technology to complete the power control and driving of the vehicle which transcends the traditional technology and way. It is a vehicle with new technology as well as new structure. This paper mainly analyzes the energy conversion of hybrid electric vehicles, the advantages and disadvantages of the power system of hybrid electric vehicles, and also discusses the actual application of technology and the plate and management mode of power battery.

Effect of clay on methane hydrate formation and dissociation in sediment: Implications for energy recovery from clayey-sandy hydrate reservoirs

Natural gas hydrate (NGH) is an unconventional energy source with high energy density, huge reserves and worldwide distribution. Sand-dominated hydrate-bearing sediments (HBS) are believed to be the most economically and technically feasible category of HBS for exploitation. Clay is one major mineral component of the natural HBS apart from sands. Due to the inhibition effect of clay on thermodynamics and kinetics of hydrate formation, it is challenging to synthesize representative clayey-sandy HBS samples in laboratory, and thus the corresponding fluid production behavior remains poorly understood. In this study, a sample synthesis method dedicated to clayey-sandy HBS (20 wt% clay) was developed. Two synergistic strategies including pre-wetting and multiple-site water injection were employed to enhance hydrate formation kinetics, increasing the final hydrate saturation from 0.285 to 0.473. Water-rich clayey-sandy HBS samples were formed with no dry sediment zones and improved hydrate distribution homogeneity. This optimized HBS synthesis method fills the gap between the conventional HBS synthesis methods and the need to form more representative clayey-sandy HBS samples. Energy recovery and fluid production from sandy and clayey-sandy HBS samples were investigated by depressurizing to 3.0 MPa at 6.0 °C. Unique features were observed for hydrate dissociation in clayey-sandy HBS: immediate hydrate decomposition upon depressurization and a great pressure difference (∼1.0 MPa) between sediment and wellbore during the production period. This pressure gradient, likely caused by the aggregation and clogging of clays near the wellbore, slowed hydrate decomposition compared to sandy HBS. Additionally, the gas recovery increased from 81.7% to 88.5%, whereas the water recovery substantially decreased from 25.3% to 8.1%. The significant difference in fluid production behavior between clayey-sandy HBS and sandy HBS calls for more thorough investigations into clay-containing HBS to develop specific production strategies for energy recovery from this type of HBS.

Techno-economic appraisal and machine learning-based gray wolf optimization of enhanced fuel cell integrated with stirling engine and vanadium-chlorine cycle

Researchers' interest in Fuel Cells (FCs), a cutting-edge technology for producing heat and electricity simultaneously, has grown significantly in recent years. FC technology is a non-renewable yet unconventional distributed energy source with a number of benefits for the economic, environmental, and dependable operation of energy systems. In the present study, a highly efficient FC type is integrated with a Stirling engine and vanadium chlorine scheme. The proposed cycles are efficient not only in power generation but also in hydrogen production since it uses waste heat to generate hydrogen. The system is investigated from technical, economic, and environmental aspects through the scrutiny of parameters affecting the system's performance. A cutting-edge method of machine learning-based optimization with a gray wolf algorithm is used to identify the ideal solution point when different optimization goals are selected. The results indicate that the TOPSIS point matches the maximum efficiency and hydrogen production of 81% and 0.008 kg/s, and the ζ equals 0.21. Also, maximum net power output and hydrogen production of 7500 kW and 0.0045 kg/s happens in the TOPSIS point with the levelized cost of the products of 0.14 $/kWh.

Recent applications of mechanochemistry in synthetic organic chemistry

Abstract The promotion of chemical reactions by an unconventional energy source, mechanical energy (mechanochemistry) has increasing number of applications in organic synthesis. The advantages of mechanochemistry are versatile, from reduction of solvent use, increase of reaction efficiency to better environmental sustainability. This paper gives a short review on the recent developments in the fast growing field of organic mechanochemistry which are illustrated by selected examples.

Analysis of Floating Solar Panels for Solar Pumping Irrigation System

Electricity consumption will more than treble by 2050. Despite its enormous potential as an environmentally benign power generation technology, solar energy only accounts for a small portion of worldwide demand. One of the issues is the sustainable use of land resources. Energy technology is a popular engineering discipline that deals with the study of conventional and unconventional energy sources in today’s world. The objective of the work is to use conventional energy sources to produce non-traditional energy sources and focus on the study of floating solar collectors with the use of the solar hybrid power plant. Further the focus is on the use of photovoltaic solar panels which use hydroelectricity all year round where it is a non-traditional source and we can use it during the year with the help of, which have a non-conventional energy source. Solar energy is abundant.

Gas Diffusion Characteristics and Size Effect in Coal Particles with Different Degrees of Metamorphism

Coalbed methane (CBM) is a green unconventional energy source where the gas diffusion efficiency in coal directly limits the production capacity. Therefore, different gas adsorption experiments were used to determine the diffusion characteristics of coal samples with varying degrees of metamorphism. The influence law based on the gas type, pore structure, and coal sample size on the gas diffusion coefficient was analyzed, and the synergistic control effect of various factors on diffusion was discussed. The results show that when the particle size is the same, the diffusion coefficient of different gases shows the change rule of CO2 > N2 > CH4, and the diffusion coefficient of different samples is positively correlated with the degree of pore development. When the particle size is different, the diffusion coefficient is negatively correlated with the pore development degree and positively correlated with the sample particle size. The effective diffusion coefficient is consistent with the diffusion coefficient when the particle size of the sample is the same, and the effective diffusion coefficient is opposite to the diffusion coefficient when the particle size decreases. The analysis reveals that the diffusion coefficients of different gas are limited by the diameter of gas molecular dynamics, and the diffusion coefficient is reduced with the decrease in the diameter of the gas molecular dynamics. The change of diffusion coefficient caused by particle size change is positively correlated with the change of diffusion cross section caused by size effect. The difference between the effective diffusion coefficient and the diffusion coefficient mainly comes from whether the effective diffusion path is calculated. Therefore, when the particle size is constant, the effective diffusion coefficient can replace the diffusion coefficient to characterize the diffusion behavior. When the particle size is different, it is more appropriate to use the diffusion coefficient to characterize the gas diffusion behavior. The significance of the research findings in revealing gas transport in the coal matrix and coalbed methane formation is substantial.

Petrology, Mineralogy, and Geochemical Characterization of Paleogene Oil Shales of the Youganwo Formation in the Maoming Basin, Southern China: Implication for Source Rock Evaluation, Provenance, Paleoweathering and Maturity

Oil shale is a crucial unconventional energy source to supplement conventional oil and gas. The oil shale in the Maoming Basin of China has excellent resource potential. In this study, through systematic geochemical testing, the industrial quality and geochemical characteristics of oil shale are revealed, and the hydrocarbon generation potential of oil shale, the parent rock type, and the tectonic setting of the source area are discussed. It is comprehensively assessed that Maoming oil shale has a medium-oil yield (avg. 6.71%) with high ash content (avg. 76.1%), a high calorific value (avg. 7.16 M J/kg), and ultra-low sulfur (avg. 0.54%). The mineralogical compositions primarily consist of clay minerals and quartz, and barely pyrite. Maoming oil shale is in an immature evolution stage, with high TOC and I-II1 kerogen type, and could be considered an excellent hydrocarbon source rock. The chemical index of alteration (CIA), the index of chemical variability (ICV), and the Th/U ratio indicate that the Maoming oil shale parent rock area is strongly weathered. Multitudinous geochemical diagrams also show that the oil shale was mainly derived from Late Cretaceous felsic volcanic rock and the granite zone, and the tectonic setting was a continental island arc environment related to the active continental margin. This is consistent with the tectonic history of southern China in the Late Cretaceous.

Improving the quality of core sampling from methane coal seams

In the article, the authors talk about ways to improve the quality of core sampling from methane coal seams in the Kuznetsk coal basin. Core sampling is carried out at the exploration wells of Naryksko-Ostashinskaya square. Methane extraction is carried out to remove gas from coal seams. Moreover, gas can be used as unconventional energy sources. Thus, safety at coal mining facilities increases, and we receive additional income for the sale of gas to end consumers. To develop a technology for extracting gas from coal seams, core sampling is carried out, and the results obtained are analyzed. Further adjustments are made to the extraction technology, the selection of technological equipment is carried out. Drilling is carried out in the following sequence: initially, a vertical well with core sampling is performed, and then a multi-hole well is drilled with a large face deviation. As a result of experimental core selection and development of improved equipment, core removal was increased from 77% to 100%.

Экономическое сотрудничество Индии и Израиля

The article deals with the India–Israel economic relations within 1990–2020s. The authors stress that the Israeli direction is among the priorities in the external economic policy of India at the present time. The authors examine the importance of mutual trade stressing that it is well balanced and its volume has increased more than twice since 1992. A number of indices are calculated to conclude that the mutual trade is characterized by its high intensity. Intra-industry trade is also relatively high as there is high complementarity of India and Israel economy and the trade balance is usually positive for India. As a whole both India and Israel are interested in one another’s market. Countries have been conducting negotiations on creating a free trade zone but due to many obstacles from both parts the agreement is not yet reached. The authors underline that India–Israel investment cooperation has been rather well developing for the latest decade. Israeli investors are more active on Indian market and the average volume of their investments is usually about twice higher than the Indian direct investments to Israeli economy. Nowadays there are more than 300 companies with the participation of Israeli capital registered in India operating mainly in the sphere of medicine, telecommunications, chemical industry, energy, including the use of unconventional energy sources, as well as agriculture. Investments are very diverse in nature: among them there are the organization of manufacturing enterprises, the opening of research centers, the creation of subsidiaries etc. Scientific and technical cooperation is another important direction of India–Israel ties. Thanks to scientific and technical cooperation with Israel, the rapidly developing Indian economy is successfully compensating for the lack of advanced technologies that it needs. In addition to bilateral interaction, the countries also cooperate with each other through the I2U2 Dialogue and two large-scale projects in the field of food security and clean energy are being implemented in India at the present time. At the end of the article the authors underline that there is every reason to sure that economic relations between India and Israel will reach a fundamentally new level in the near future, which will contribute to the further development and modernization of the Indian economy.

Потенциал и перспективы использования возобновляемых источников энергии Мурманской области

Unconventional renewable energy sources of the Murmansk region are considered. Their potential and practical use possibilities are assessed. The prospects of involving the wind energy resources of the region in the economic turnover are highlighted. The main elements of the wind energy cadastre of the Kola Peninsula are presented, the technical resources of wind are estimated. The prospects of using wind power plants in the electricity and heat supply of small autonomous consumers, as well as the large scale use of wind farms as part of the Kola electric power system are considered.

An Introduction to the Application of Marine Controlled-Source Electromagnetic Methods for Natural Gas Hydrate Exploration

Natural gas hydrates have been an unconventional source of energy since the beginning of this century. Gas-hydrate-filled reservoirs show higher resistivity values compared with water-filled sediments. Their presence can be detected using marine controlled-source electromagnetic methods. We classify acquisition configurations into stationary and moving receiver configurations, which are described in terms of the design group, the operational details, and where they have been used successfully in the field for natural gas hydrate exploration. All configurations showed good numerical results for the detection of a 700 m long gas hydrate reservoir buried 200 m below the seafloor, but only the stationary configurations provided data that can be used to estimate the horizontal boundaries of the resistive part of the reservoir when the burial depth is known from seismic data. We discuss the operational steps of the configurations and provide the steps on how to choose a suitable configuration. Different CSEM configurations were used together with seismic data to estimate the edge of the gas hydrate reservoir and the total volume of the gas hydrates, to optimize the drilling location, to increase production safety, and to improve geological interpretations. It seems that CSEM has become a reliable method to aid in the decision-making process for gas hydrate reservoir appraisal and development.