Diesel Usage Research Articles

Sustainability analysis of apple orchards: Integrating environmental and economic perspectives

The agricultural sector faces numerous challenges today, including the protection of biodiversity and the mitigation of environmental impact. Addressing these challenges require ensuring the stability of farmers' income, thus facilitating effective land management.The present study aims to evaluate the environmental and economic sustainability of apple orchards under two distinct systems (integrated versus organic) and a scab-resistant variety. The Life Cycle Assessment method (LCA) was employed to evaluate environmental impact, while financial and economic aspects were analysed using metrics such as Net Present Value (NPV), Equivalent Annual Value (EAV), Benefit-Cost Ratio (B/C) and Discounted Payback Period (DPP).Results analysis reveals that both inorganic fertilisation and pesticides usage have the greatest impacts in both integrated cultivation and scab-resistant orchards. In organic orchards, diesel usage emerges as a primary factor due to the substitution of chemical interventions with mechanical methods. For the same reason, labour constitutes 45 % of the organic production costs. Despite the lower environmental impact, organic treatments still contribute 22 % of the total production cost. Regarding the investment evaluation, the scab-resistant variety offers marginally lower costs than conventional varieties due to the reduction of required treatments; however, organic farming shows superior economic performance despite higher production costs, mainly attributed to higher market prices. This highlights the influence of market dynamics on business decisions in the apple sector, where farmers often have no direct control.

An Experimental Study on the Effect of Intake Pressure on a Natural Gas-Diesel Dual-Fuel Engine

Abstract Natural gas-diesel dual-fuel (NDDF) combustion can be a viable method to reduce diesel usage in compression ignition (CI) internal combustion engines. Potential benefits of NDDF engines in comparison to conventional diesel engines include decreases in soot and carbon dioxide emissions. This study focuses on the effect of intake pressure on a dual-fuel engine with intake port injected natural gas (NG) and direct injected diesel at two engine operation conditions – low load-high speed and high load-low speed. The research work was performed on a heavy-duty, single-cylinder engine at a NG-diesel energy ratio of approximately 3:1. The results show that when the intake pressure was increased, the indicated thermal efficiency (ITE) increased for diesel combustion. The trend was similar at the high load-low speed condition but opposite at the low load-high speed condition for NDDF. ITEs of diesel combustion were generally higher than NDDF combustion due to higher unburned hydrocarbon (HC) emissions associated with the latter. For low load-high speed dual-fuel combustion, increasing intake pressure increased the HC and soot emissions, but decreased the nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions. For high load-low speed case, increasing intake pressure caused the HC emissions to increase and the NOx and soot emissions to decrease. In-cylinder temperature measured at the tip of the diesel injector showed that the injector tip temperatures were higher for NDDF cases compared to diesel cases. These temperatures could be correlated with the combustion phasing and NOx emissions.

Modified Harris Hawks optimization for the 3E feasibility assessment of a hybrid renewable energy system

The off-grid Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems (HRES) demonstrate great potential to be sustainable and economically feasible options to meet the growing energy needs and counter the depletion of conventional energy sources. Therefore, it is crucial to optimize the size of HRES components to assess system cost and dependability. This paper presents the optimal sizing of HRES to provide a very cost-effective and efficient solution for supplying power to a rural region. This study develops a PV-Wind-Battery-DG system with an objective of 3E analysis which includes Energy, Economic, and Environmental CO2 emissions. Indispensable parameters like technical parameters (Loss of Power Supply Probability, Renewable factor, PV fraction, and Wind fraction) and social factor (Human Developing Index) are evaluated to show the proposed modified Harris Hawks Optimization (mHHO) algorithm’s merits over the existing algorithms. To achieve the objectives, the proposed mHHO algorithm uses nine distinct operators to obtain simultaneous optimization. Furthermore, the performance of mHHO is evaluated by using the CEC 2019 test suite and the most optimal mHHO is chosen for sizing and 3E analysis of HRES. The findings demonstrate that the mHHO has achieved optimized values for Cost of Energy (COE), Net Present Cost (NPC), and Annualized System Cost (ASC) with the lowest values being 0.14130 $/kWh, 1,649,900$, and 1,16,090$/year respectively. The reduction in COE value using the proposed mHHO approach is 0.49% in comparison with most of the other MH-algorithms. Additionally, the system primarily relies on renewable sources, with diesel usage accounting for only 0.03% of power generation. Overall, this study effectively addresses the challenge of performing a 3E analysis with mHHO algorithm which exhibits excellent convergence and is capable of producing high-quality outcomes in the design of HRES. The mHHO algorithm attains optimal economic efficiency while simultaneously minimizing the impact on the environment and maintaining a high human development index.

Does artificial intelligence reduce corporate energy consumption? New evidence from China

Artificial intelligence is playing a significant role in addressing the energy crisis. This study selected data from manufacturing companies listed on China's A-share market from 2011 to 2022 and calculated the total energy consumption for the first time. The data include the usage of coal, natural gas, gasoline, diesel and water consumption, electricity usage, and centralized heating. The data were then matched and merged with robot usage data from the International Federation of Robotics to empirically study the impact and mechanism of artificial intelligence on energy consumption levels. Our findings reveal that energy consumption decreases by 0.20 % with a one-unit increase in artificial intelligence applications by a corporation, indicating artificial intelligence can significantly reduce energy consumption. The mechanisms by which artificial intelligence affects energy consumption include technological innovation and digital transformation. Additionally, a heterogeneity analysis revealed that applying artificial intelligence in state-owned enterprises, high-tech companies, and non-heavy-pollution industries can further reduce energy consumption. Our study also provides important practical implications for formulating and optimizing global energy policies to achieve sustainable development goals.

Water-energy-food-greenhouse gas nexus: An approach to solutions for water scarcity in agriculture of a semi-arid region

CONTEXTAgricultural systems involve intricate interdependencies among water, energy, and food. Increasing understanding of these linkages, along with implications for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and developing new assessment approaches are critical for achieving key sustainability goals. OBJECTIVES1) Evaluation of the impacts of tillage, irrigation and residue management practices on water and energy consumption, and GHG emission in the cultivation of irrigated wheat and rapeseed, 2) Developing a novel Water-Energy-Food-Greenhouse gas (WEFG) nexus index to provide a holistic assessment of the linkages among water, energy, food, and GHG emissions in agriculture, and 3) Assessing the sustainability of irrigated wheat and rapeseed cultivation under different methods of tillage, irrigation and residue management applying the WEFG nexus index. METHODSThis study formulated a new WEFG nexus index applying eight indicators of water and energy consumption, CO2-eq (CO2 equivalent) emission, water and energy mass productivity, water, energy and CO2-eq economic productivity to evaluate the sustainability of wheat and rapeseed cultivation under two field management practices: 1) furrow irrigation with conventional tillage (FICT), and 2) center pivot irrigation with no-tillage (CPNT), within a semi-arid region in northeastern Iran. Irrigation in both systems was done by applying a deficit irrigation approach. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSCPNT resulted on average in 46% and 53% energy consumption reductions from water and diesel usage, respectively, compared to FICT. The mean CO2-eq emission under CPNT was 26% lower than that recorded under FICT. Furthermore, the WEFG nexus index score for wheat and rapeseed under CPNT was 0.91 and 0.73, respectively, out of 1, compared to 0.18 and 0.12 for FICT. These scores suggest that the CPNT approach is a more appropriate strategy than FICT, as it effectively reduced water and energy consumption while aligning better with long-term environmental and economic aims. SIGNIFICANCEThe study applies more accurate GHG emission-based indicators to introduce a new WEFG nexus index, and it uses these for evaluation of different field management at the farm level to reduce the uncertainties in the large-scale studies. The proposed methodology for assessing multiple aspects of the WEFG nexus can change previous perceptions about agricultural management in other regions confronting multiple resources and environmental crises.

Investigation of Diesel Spray Characteristics in Low-temperature and Low-pressure Conditions

This study investigates the influence of altitude and injection pressure on diesel fuel spray characteristics, aiming to optimize diesel usage in high-altitude conditions. Experiments were conducted at three altitude levels (plains, 1670 m, and 2400 m) with corresponding atmospheric pressures and temperatures, alongside six injection pressures ranging from 50 MPa to 100 MPa. The investigation focused on key spray parameters: equivalence ratio, spray penetration velocity, turbulence kinetic energy, evaporation rate, spray penetration distance, and Sauter Mean Diameter (SMD). Findings indicate that increased injection pressure enhances spray penetration velocity, evaporation rate, and turbulence kinetic energy, while reducing SMD, irrespective of altitude. Conversely, higher altitudes were associated with increased spray penetration speed, larger SMD, decreased evaporation rate, increased turbulence, and a higher equivalence ratio. The study concludes that both altitude and injection pressure significantly impact diesel spray characteristics, providing essential theoretical support for the application and optimization of diesel fuels in varied altitude conditions.

Economic and Environmental Benefits of Heating of Poultry Houses with Geothermal Energy: A Case Study for Nevşehir Province of Turkey

In this study, as an example of the use of geothermal energy resources for the air-conditioning of animal shelters, the technical, economic and environmental gains that will be achieved in the case of heating a chicken coop with a total floor area of 480 m2 in Nevşehir province of Turkey in the winter months have been evaluated. For this purpose, a standard chicken coop with a length of 40 m, a width of 12 m and a height of 2.5 m and a capacity of 4320 chickens has been considered. The optimum indoor temperature for adult chickens is considered to be 22 °C. The total heat losses related to the different structural components of the considered standard house were determined. The annual total highest heat load for the poultry house was calculated as Qt = 197.32 kW. For geothermal resources suitable for house heating in the region, the amount of heat to be gained from the geothermal fluid to the house environment was calculated, taking into account the lowest physical properties (the lowest temperature Tgeo = 30 °C and the lowest flow rate mgeo = 30 m3/h). Since the amount of heat energy gained to the poultry environment with geothermal fluid (Qgeo=278.96 kW) is higher than the total heat losses (Qt = 197.32 kW) of the poultry house (Qgeo>Qt), it can be used for poultry heating with geothermal fluid. In case the considered poultry house is heated with geothermal energy, a total of 45073 kg of fuel will be saved annually from LPG consumption and 42186.4 kg of diesel fuel consumption will be saved. If Diesel or LGP fuel is used instead of geothermal fluid for poultry heating, the annual total fuel cost will be 266 211.6 TL for LPG usage and 274 585.2 TL for Diesel usage. In case the considered house is heated with geothermal energy, 136 571.2 kgCO2-eq or 133 798.3 kgCO2-eq from the annual total greenhouse gas emissions will save compared to the use of LPG and Diesel, respectively.

Potato cultivation energy ratio in Food Estate, Hutajulu, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Food Estates is a government scheme to feed a rising population. Field data demonstrate the usage of diesel fuel, electricity, and chemicals to apply insecticides, fertilisers, and fungicides, which harms the environment and requires energy-saving methods. This study examines Bliss potato cultivation energy ratios. This research examined 0.13 hectares of potato farming energy. Machinery, human resources, diesel fuel, chemicals, fertilisers, manure, irrigation water, seeds, and power are studied in potato production. Low energy ratio (0.724) compared to sample yield (4.3). The energy ratio rises with yield generation, but yield per unit of energy is low. A negative net energy balance exists. The research advises increasing potato output to meet energy ratios. Potato farmers may save money, minimize environmental impact, and increase productivity by improving energy efficiency.

Techno-economic analysis of renewable energy generation at the South Pole

Transitioning from fossil-fuel power generation to renewable energy generation and energy storage in remote locations has the potential to reduce both carbon emissions and cost. This study presents a techno-economic analysis for implementation of a hybrid renewable energy system at the South Pole in Antarctica, which currently hosts several high-energy physics experiments with nontrivial power needs. A tailored model of resource availability and economics for solar photovoltaics, wind turbine generators, lithium-ion energy storage, and long-duration energy storage at this site is explored in different combinations with and without existing diesel energy generation. The Renewable Energy Integration and Optimization (REopt) platform is used to determine the optimal system component sizing and the associated system economics and environmental benefit. We find that the least-cost system includes all three energy generation sources and lithium-ion energy storage. For an example steady-state load of 170 kW, this hybrid system includes 180 kW-DC of photovoltaic panels, 570 kW of wind turbines, and a 3.4 MWh lithium-ion battery energy storage system. This system reduces diesel consumption by 95% compared to an all-diesel configuration, resulting in approximately 1200 metric tons of carbon footprint avoided annually. Over the course of a 15-year analysis period the reduced diesel usage leads to a net savings of 57 million United States dollars, with a time to payback of approximately two years. All the scenarios modeled show that the transition to renewables is highly cost effective under the unique economics and constraints of this extremely remote site.

Comparative Analysis of Hybrid and Single‐Source Power Systems for Sustainable Electricity Generation for Remote Areas: A Case Study in Zahedan

Providing sustainable electricity access to remote areas is critical for economic development and environmental preservation. This study investigates the performance of single‐source and hybrid renewable energy systems for the town of Zahedan, Iran, which has significant solar and wind energy potential. Using TRNSYS software, eight configurations were simulated and analyzed, comprising two single‐source (photovoltaic [PV] and wind turbine [WT]) and six hybrid systems incorporating combinations of PV panels, WTs, alkaline fuel cells, and diesel generators. The analysis revealed that hybrid systems, particularly those combining PV and WT, outperformed single‐source configurations. For instance, a hybrid system with 800 kW of PV and a 50 kW WT reduced diesel consumption by 35% and CO2 emissions by 45% compared to a system relying solely on a diesel generator. Conversely, the configuration involving WTs, fuel cells, and diesel generators showed high energy dumping (1,821,776 kWh) and considerable diesel usage, underscoring the challenges of maintaining energy balance without solar integration. Overall, hybrid renewable systems generally provide enhanced reliability and environmental benefits, although their performance heavily depends on the specific energy source mix. This study offers insights into optimizing renewable energy systems for remote locations, highlighting the necessity of a balanced solar‐wind combination to achieve optimal sustainability and cost‐effectiveness. The findings are applicable to regions with similar climatic conditions and contribute to global sustainable energy solutions, providing crucial information for policymakers and investors focused on supporting sustainable energy projects in isolated areas.

Walk & Bike Society in KMUTT THAILAND

KMUTT committed to be Green and sustainable university for SDGs 2030 since 2018 and committed to be a part of society that is a major force in promotion and implementation on walk and bike society within the university and expand to communities surrounded. To support walk & bike society in campus, walk & bike master plan has been designed with bike lane, pedestrian cover way, bicycle share services, bicycle repair center and “Zombike” activities which all students and staff make their own bicycle for free by using bicycle accessories from old bicycle in campus. KMUTT Walk & Bike Society policy has been launched since 2018 with bike riding activities which help to support sustainable transportation goal comply to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being; SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy; SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities and SDG13: Climate Action. The results from 5 years implementation (2018-2022) showed 75% of students and staff walking daily which can make 20,250,000 Km per 5 years in our campus. Bike activities showed daily use and 228 bicycle riding activities in total of 2,008,995 Km distance, initiated by 650 Green heart‘s students and 48,720 people from students, staff and communities participated on these activities. The results showed these walking and riding activities help to reduce carbon emission 3,188 tCO2 and reduce Diesel usage 1.59 million L. KMUTT walk & bike society help to initiate KMUTT sustainable leadership, make Green Heart ‘s students and change agents for helping communities and society expand the sustainable mobility to make healthy and low carbon society, and sustainability for all

Performance analysis of a diesel engine using margosa oil ethyl ester-based biodiesel with diethyl ether as an oxygenated additive

In this study, the effect of Margosa oil ethyl ester (MOEE) with oxygenated additive Diethyl ether (DEE) on the thermal performance, combustion, and emission characteristics of a direct-injection compression ignition engine (CIE) was examined. Experiments were performed under various engine loadings at a constant speed of 1500 rpm. Two-step transesterification process was followed for producing MOEE-based biodiesel from Margosa oil owing to its high free fatty acid content. Further, four different blends of MOEE and Diesel with fixed DEE concentration (5% by vol.) were fuelled in a CIE and compared its performance with Diesel. Results showed that the increase in MOEE proportion in the blends decremented the mean brake thermal efficiency and the maximum reduction was about 14.3% for MOEE20 as compared to diesel. Moreover, there was a decline in In-cylinder pressure and net heat release rate when MOEE20 fuelled in a CIE by up to 8.1% and 8.7% respectively. Emission results found that the MOEE blends emitted more oxides of nitrogen and carbon dioxide by up to 18.8% and 14.7% respectively with a major decrement in emissions of hydrocarbon by up to 41.2%. Overall, it is concluded that the fueling of MOEE20 could be the plausible option for swapping the diesel usage in CIE with an excellent reduction in emission despite a marginal drop in performance.

Performance and emission characteristics of an ammonia/diesel dual-fuel marine engine

This study explores the challenges and possibilities of using ammonia (NH3) as a carbon-free fuel for marine propulsion in a Wärtsilä ammonia/diesel dual-fuel engine using a reactivity-controlled compression ignition (RCCI) concept. The main issues in ammonia RCCI engines are high ammonia slip and high emissions of nitrogen oxides and nitrous oxide. A joint experimental and computational investigation was conducted to understand the combustion process, pollutant and greenhouse gas (GHG) formation mechanisms, and the effects of injector configuration and injection timing on engine performance. A comparative assessment between the ammonia/diesel RCCI engine and a baseline natural gas/diesel RCCI engine showed that, upon replacing premixed natural gas with ammonia and maintaining the same energy share of diesel (8.5% of the total energy from diesel), the engine yielded considerably poor combustion efficiency. Increasing diesel usage to 24% share of the total energy allowed a successful engine operation, cutting GHG by 70%. However, higher diesel usage increased CO and CO2 emissions. N2O emission was attributed to the slow premixed ammonia/air flame propagation and near-wall flame quenching. The primary sources of NO emissions in ammonia/diesel RCCI engines were identified as fuel-NOx from premixed ammonia oxidation and thermal NOx in the diesel flame region. A recommendation was put forth for enhancing the operating conditions and injection strategies of ammonia RCCI engines. The proposed operation and injection strategy results in a 45% reduction in CO emission, a 60% reduction in total GHG emissions, and, notably, an 89% decrease in CO2 emissions compared to the LNG/diesel engine.

Projection of Carbon Emissions from the Diesel, Biodiesel, and Battery Electric Vehicle in Indonesia: A Policy Scenario Analysis for Decarbonization of Transportation Sector

The Indonesian government is intensifying the mandatory biodiesel program to achieve the carbon emission reduction target. Although the emissions from the use of biodiesel are lower than diesel, its rapid development has raised concerns about other environmental issues, such as deforestation, hydrological disturbances, and biodiversity. At the same time, the global trend of electric cars offers a new alternative to the decarbonization of the transportation sector. Therefore, this study aims to compare the carbon emission reduction of biodiesel and electric vehicle policy scenarios. The baseline scenario is defined as full usage of diesel. The projection is conducted until 2060 using a model built with Vensim software. As a result, the biodiesel program with a 30% blending rate (B30) only reduced carbon emissions by 6.14 and 11.26 million tons in 2030 and 2060, respectively. Higher emissions reduction can be achieved by increasing the blending rate to 50% and 100%. On the other hand, emission reduction from electric vehicles program is very dependent on the energy mix of electricity generation. Under the 2021–2030 National Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL) target, the electric vehicle scenario would produce higher emissions than the baseline scenario. However, there is a potential emission reduction of up to three times larger than B100 by the electric vehicle (EV) scenario if the EV transition is accompanied by an ambitious energy transition.

Thermal and vibration analysis of CI engine using diesel and waste cooking oil biodiesel blends

Compression Ignition (CI) engines can operate on blend of diesel, and waste cooking oil biodiesel (WCOBD). In order to reduce the consumption of diesel, a rapidly depleting fossil fuel, can be replaced with WCOBD, which was derived from waste cooking oil (WCO). To support this, an experimental analysis is carried out on combustion, performance, emission and vibration characteristics of CI engines using blends of diesel and WCOBD. As a result, the WCOBD is recommended to replace the diesel partially in order to address the issues raised due to large usage of diesel and re-use of cooking oil. The large usage of diesel causes pollution. Similarly, the re-use of cooking oil leads to severe health issues such as cancers and lungs related diseases. The diesel and blend of diesel and WCOBD such as BD10 (Blend of 90% diesel and 10% WCOBD), BD20, BD30 and BD40 are used as fuels in the test engine. According to the experimental results, at full load and 1500 RPM, the Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTE) of the engine utilizing BD20 is 32.36%, with a Rate of Pressure Rise (RPR) of 4.48 bar/0CA. Further increase in WCOBD% resulted in decreased BTE. At BD20 CO and HC emissions decreased marginally. In comparison to other fuels, BD20 has a reduced vibration acceleration i.e., 0.10 m/s2. Therefore, it can be inferred that the engine without any modifications can operate on BD20 blend as it has a modest BTE, RPR, and low vibration and low emission as compared to other WCOBD blends.

Spatiotemporal analysis and forecasting of air quality in the greater Dhaka region and assessment of a novel particulate matter filtration unit.

Bangladesh is one of the most polluted nations in the world, with an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 161 in 2021; its capital, Dhaka, has the worst air quality of any major city in the world. The present study aims to analyze the spatiotemporal distribution of air quality indicators in the greater Dhaka region, forecast weekly AQI, and assess the performance of a novel particulate matter filtration unit in removing particulate matter. Air quality indicators remained highest during the dry season with an average of 128.5μm/m3, while the lowest concentration was found in the monsoon season with an average of 19.096μm/m3. Analysis revealed a statistically significant annual increasing trend of CO, which was associated with the growing number of brick kilns and usage of high-sulfur diesel. Except for the pre-monsoon AQI, concentrations of both seasonal and yearly AQI and PM2.5 showed decreasing trend, though predominantly insignificant, demonstrating the improvement in air quality. Prevailing winds influenced the seasonal distribution of tropospheric CO & NO2. The study also employed a seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model to forecast weekly AQI values. ARIMA (3,0,4) (3,1,3) at the 7-periodicity level performed best forecasting the AQI values among all developed models with low root mean square error (RMSE)-29.42 and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE)-13.11 values. The predicted AQI values suggested that the air quality would remain unhealthy for most weeks. The experimental simulation of the particulate matter filtration unit, designed in the shape of a road divider, generated substantial cyclonic motion while maintaining a very minimal pressure drop. In the real-world scenario, using only cyclonic separation and dry deposition, the suggested air filtration system removed 40%, 44%, and 42% of PM2.5, PM10, and TSP, respectively. Without employing filters, the device removed significant amounts of particulate matter, implying enormous potential to be used in the study area. The study could be useful for policy makers to improve urban air quality and public health in Bangladesh and in other developing countries.

DI-diesel engine fueled with orange peel calophylluminophyllum seed blended biodiesel

Engines that run on diesel fuel are very important to the functioning of contemporary society. At the same time, they are a significant contributor to the pollution of the atmosphere. Because both the comfort of the atmosphere and the inter-related, we are unable to cut down on the usage of diesel at this time. This is a very precarious scenario. The number of vehicles that run on diesel continues to grow on a daily basis. We have no choice but to switch to alternate fuels such as biodiesel if we want to prevent this problem. In the current experiment, orange peel oil was combined with diesel in two distinct proportions: 20% orange oil and 80% diesel, and 40% orange oil and 60% diesel. The purpose of this was to compare the two different combinations. According to the findings, the mixture consisting of 40% orange oil and 60% diesel is the most effective one. Then, Calophyllum inophyllum oil was further added using a transesterification process mixed with potassium hydroxide, isopropyl alcohol, pH indicator, and methanol. Then, different cases were tested: (40% orange oil + 20% Calophyllum inophyllum + 60% diesel), (40% orange oil + 40% Calophyllum inophyllum + 20% diesel) and (100% diesel). The tests show that the break thermal efficiency of O40+C20+D40 and O40+C40+D20 is 4.36 % and 4.76 % which is almost similar. O40+C40+D20 increase the NOx emissions slightly, but it decreases the emissions of HC, CO, CO2, and smoke compared to O40+C20+D40. So, O40+C40+D20 is the best alternative fuel for diesel engines.

Decarbonizing Telecommunication Sector: Techno-Economic Assessment and Optimization of PV Integration in Base Transceiver Stations in Telecom Sector Spreading across Various Geographically Regions

Renewable energy is considered to be sustainable solution to the energy crisis and climate change. The transition to renewable energy needs to be considered on a sectoral basis and one such sector that can potentially decarbonized with renewable energy is the telecommunication sector. Several base transceiver stations (BTS) in remote regions have unstable electric supply systems. Diesel generators (DG) are a common solution to energy problems on such telecommunication sites. However, they have high fuel costs on the global market and contribute to high carbon emissions. Hybrid renewable energy systems may provide a stable power output by integrating multiple energy sources, essential for supplying a dependable and uninterrupted power supply in the context of the telecom sector, notably base transceiver stations (BTS). Deploying such a system might also help BTS, which relies mainly on diesel generators with battery storage backup, reduce operational costs and environmental problems. This study presents the framework for large-scale photovoltaic system penetration based on techno-economic analysis (based on actual on ground data with least assumptions) in base transceiver stations (BTS) encapsulating telecom sector spread across various geographical regions. The proposed framework includes a mathematical model complemented with system design in HOMER software tool. The techno-economic aspects of the study were spread across 2, 12 and 263 sites, along with comparison analysis of photovoltaic system installation with and without energy storage devices, respectively. The sites included both on-grid and off-grid sites, which were exposed to high levels of power outages and subjected to reliance on costly and environmentally hazardous diesel generators. Optimization results showed that the photovoltaic system with a diesel generator and battery storage system provide a promising solution to the energy problem, with an average decrease in LCOE of 29%, DG hour’s reduction by 82% with 92% reduction in carbon emission and a reduction in NPC of 34% due to the high availability of solar. The techno-economic analysis indicated that optimized photovoltaic system and storage results in both on–off grid BTS sites with better options, amid low cost of energy and free accessibility of solar. Moreover, the results spread across geographical regions aiming at a reliable and environmentally friendly option that reduces load on utility grid across on-grid BTS sites and substantial overall reduction in diesel usage.

A comparative analysis of the performance of multiple meta-heuristic algorithms in sizing hybrid energy systems connected to an unreliable grid

The availability of affordable and reliable power supply fosters social and economic growth and raises the standard of living. In most developing nations, there is a considerable gap between energy supply and demand, often resulting in load shedding and blackouts. Integrating two or more renewable power sources is a potential solution for the inconsistent nature of renewable energy, thereby supplying clean and sustainable electricity. However, proper component sizing and operation planning for different system components are necessary for a reliable and cost-effective system. This paper compares the performance of three widely used optimisation techniques (Artificial Bee Colony (ABC), Genetic Algorithm (GA), and Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO)) in determining the size of a hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) with the lowest levelised cost of energy (LCOE) to meet the energy needs of a dairy farm in a rural settlement. PSO is observed to be the best-performed algorithm proposing a system with an LCOE of $0.162 per kWh, a net present cost (NPC) of 2.05 million dollars and a payback period of 5 years and 7 months when compared with the existing power system. The proposed HRES is determined to reduce annual diesel usage by 96%. Therefore, significantly decreasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The PSO algorithm performs satisfactorily in terms of results and convergence time compared to the results from commercially available hybrid optimisation software (HOMER Pro).

Dual fuel combustion of 1-hexanol with diesel and biodiesel fuels in a diesel engine: An experimental investigation and multi criteria optimization using artificial neural network and TOPSIS algorithm

The use of renewable biofuels namely higher alcohol and biodiesel in diesel engines under dual fuel combustion (DFC) mode gains importance because of reduced usage of diesel and enhanced performance and emission characteristics. In this DFC study, 1-hexanol (HX) is injected at various premixed energy ratio (PER) of 10%, 20% and 30% in the intake port, while diesel/waste cooking oil biodiesel is directly injected as in the conventional combustion mode (CCM). The experiments are carried out using diesel (D100), B20, B50 and B100 in CCM as well as DFC mode at various engine loads. The comparison between CCM and DFC reveals that the DFC mode with PER of 10% increases the BTE at all loads. The DFC decreased the NOx emission at lower loads and increased it at high loads, while a decline in smoke emission along with an increase in CO (except at rated load) and HC emission are observed at all the loads. A maximum reduction in NOx emission is observed from the DFC of diesel-1-hexanol by 37.81%, 26.68%, and 3.01% at 25, 50 and 75% loads respectively, while it increased by 13.3% at 100% load compared to its CCM. The required data set for the optimisation are predicted using an artificial neural network (ANN) model trained by the measured data with higher R2 values in the range of 0.993–0.996, 0.9892 and 0.985–0.996 for performance, combustion and emission parameters respectively. To optimise the fuel combination and the PER of 1-hexanol for an effective operation of DFC at various loads, a multi-objective decision-making optimization technique TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) is adopted. The optimal conditions in terms of overall improved performance and emission are the CCM of D100 for 25% and 50% loads and the DFC of B50 and B70 with 30% PER of 1-hexanol for 75% and 100% loads respectively. This concludes the ability of the DFC of renewable biofuels to diminish fossil diesel usage as well as harmful pollutants.