O motor a álcool pré-vaporizado tem potencial para ser uma alternativa mais eficiente e menos poluente aos motores a álcool convencionais. Nele, o combustível é vaporizado com calor rejeitado pelo próprio motor e admitido na fase gasosa, aproveitando-se das vantagens dos motores com combustíveis nessa fase sem alguns dos seus inconvenientes. O projeto foi aperfeiçoado buscando viabilidade técnica e econômica para sua instalação em veículos automotores. Água do sistema de arrefecimento cede calor para a ebulição do combustível. As novas tecnologias para injeção de combustíveis gasosos contribuem para esse objetivo, bem como o desenvolvimento de um sistema sustentável e auto-ajustável de geração de vapor de etanol que usa a água do sistema de arrefecimento. Conseguiu-se maior eficiência em quase todos os regimes de funcionamento estudados, bem como meios de reduzir as principais emissões automotivas indesejáveis. / Pre-vaporized ethanol engine (PVEE) has potential to be more efficient and less pollutant than conventional ethanol-powered engines. In it, fuel is vaporized with heat rejected by engine itself and intook in gaseous form, taking advantage of this kind of fuel but without some of its inconveniences. The PVEE project was polished looking for economical and technical liability to future use in automotive vehicles. New gaseous fuel injection technologies contribute to this goal, together the development of a sustainable and self-adjustable ethanol vapor generating system who uses water from engine\'s cooling systems. Better efficiency was achieved in almost all investigated regimes, as well as were found ways to reduce the main undesirable automotive emissions.

Global warming and the energy crisis are two of the greatest challenges on which mankind is currently focused. This has forced governments and other organisations to think how to protect the environment and how to reduce fuel costs. A variety of new and exciting technologies are being investigated to address the energy problem. Alternative energy sources such as solar power, fuel cells, wind power and tidal waves are active areas of commercial and scientific pursuit. A major area of current research is moving towards the hydrogen economy and hydrogen based energy systems. Hydrogen can be produced in many ways, most commonly by steam reforming of hydrocarbon (70% to 85% thermal efficiency) but the downside is that it releases carbon mono oxide (CO)), compared with commercial PEM electrolysers where performance has been reported to be 56 -73% at normal temperature pressure(NTP) with zero carbon emission. Electrochemical production of hydrogen has several advantages: (i) It gives pure hydrogen. (ii) It allows portability (e.g. Solar energy could be used to power the electrochemical cell). (iii) It can be produced on demand. The generation of Hydrogen via electrolysis has been the subject of many studies over the last two hundred years. However, there is still room for further work to improve both the efficiency of the process and methods of storage of the gas. The cleanest method at present is to produce hydrogen by electrolysis, and the main focus of this research is to design and develop such a green energy fuel cell for on-demand application. The aim of the work presented in this thesis was to further investigate the electrolysis method for hydrogen production. An Electrochemical fuel cell contains a minimum of two electrodes: the positively charged electrode called the anode where oxygen bubble will form, and the second negatively charged electrode called the cathode, where hydrogen bubbles will form during a chemical reaction caused by applying electrical current between these electrode. The project was initiated with the objective of finding a low cost solution for on-demand hydrogen generation. To establish a starting point, the first cell (cell-1) design was based on the work of Stephen Barrie Chambers (see chapter 3) to check the performance levels. The fabrication of the cell-1 design resulted in a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen in the same chamber, which means the cell-1 design, has a possible fire and explosion hazard. The device also has the drawback of lower performance of hydrogen production; columbic efficiency is between 40% to 46% at 1 amp to 3 amp current in 30% KOH alkaline solution. However, the advantage of reproducing Stephen’s innovation is that it allowed a quick and deep understanding of hydrogen generation. This thesis presents recent work on the fabrication of low cost electrolysis cells containing continuous flow alkaline (KOH, up to 30%) electrolyte using low cost electrodes (stainless steel 316) and membranes based on ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW PE) to produce hydrogen without the hazard of fire and explosion. In this research an On-Demand Hydrogen Generation cell-3 achieved a 95% hydrogen generation coulombic efficiency, which is about 49% efficiency improvement as compared to the stainless steel electrode, and was 22% better than the nano structured electrode. The typical cell voltage is 2.5 V at current flow ranging from 30 to 120 mA cm-2 in 30% KOH electrolyte. The achievement here of such high efficiencies paves the way for more research in the areas of space management, electrode surface structure and flow control (based on the application requirement). This invention can be used for aeronautic, marine and automotive application as well as in many other areas.

Transmission charges are levied against generators and suppliers for their use of transmission networks. The majority of existing transmission charging methods were designed for a system dominated by conventional and controllable generation. The resultant transmission charges reflect network users’ contribution to the system peak. The integration of renewable generation brings fundamental challenges in transmission planning and charging. Main criteria of transmission planning have changed from meeting system peak demand to the trade-offs between operational and investment costs. Transmission charging is required to effectively reflect these trade-offs. This research work aims to develop novel transmission charging methods for low carbon power systems, reflecting the contribution to transmission investments from different generation technologies, different locations, and critically different times. It firstly identifies the key drivers and key conditions of transmission investments under the economic criteria. In the second step, the key drivers and conditions are reflected in the developing of T-LRIC method, ToU-LRIC method and ToU-ICRP method. Major innovations of the proposed methods include 1. reflecting the trade-offs between operational and investments costs by employing investment time horizons to reflect the impacts of system operation on transmission investments (T-LRIC method and ToU-LRIC method). 2. differentiating various generation technologies by firstly quantifying their impacts on the time horizons of network investments, then translating these impacts to transmission charges (T-LRIC method and ToU-LRIC method). 3. providing time-specific transmission charges, in which Time-of-Use periods are identified by clustering time-series congestion costs or transmission charges, thus reflecting the typical conditions of system congestions and the required transmission investments (ToU-LRIC method and ToU-ICRP method). The main benefits from introducing these innovations are i) to guide the short-run behaviours of network users, thus mitigating transmission congestions and promoting efficient utilization of existing networks; ii) to incentivize appropriate generation expansion, thus reducing or deferring costly future transmission investments.

This research focuses on studying the feasibility of placing large wind turbines on deep-ocean platforms. Water tank studies have been conducted using the facilities at Alden Research Laboratories (ARL) on 100:1 scale Tension Leg Platform (TLP) and Spar Buoy (SB) models. Froude scaling was used for modeling the offshore wind turbine designs. Primary components of the platform turbine, tower, and cable attachments were fabricated in ABS plastic using rapid prototyping. A wireless data acquisition system was installed to prevent umbilical data cables from affecting the behavior of the platform when exposed to wave loading. In Phase I testing, Froude-scaled TLP and Spar Buoy models at a 100:1 scale were placed in a water flume and exposed to periodic waves at amplitudes ranging from 0.5 cm - 7.5 cm and frequencies ranging from 0.25 Hz - 1.5 Hz. The testing was conducted on simple tower and turbine models that only accounted for turbine weight at the nacelle. In Phase II testing, emphasis was placed on further testing of the tension leg platform as a more viable design for floating offshore wind turbines. The tension leg platform scale model was improved by adding a disc to simulate drag force incident at the top of the tower, as well as a rotor and blades to simulate the gyroscopic force due to turbine blade rotation at the top of the tower. Periodic wave motions of known amplitude and frequency were imposed on the model to study pitch, heave, roll, surge, sway motions and mooring cable tensions (in Phase II only) using accelerometers, inclinometers, capacitance wave gage, and load cells. Signal analysis and filtering techniques were used to refine the obtained data, and a Fourier analysis was conducted to study the dominant frequencies. Finally, Response Amplitude Operators (RAO's) were plotted for each data set to standardize the results and study the overall trend with respect to changes in wave amplitude and frequency. For Phase I testing, it is shown that surge motion of the platform dominates other motions for both the tension leg platform and spar buoy, and varying tether pretension has little effect on response amplitude operator values. For phase II testing, it was found that the introduction of thrust and gyroscopic forces increases sway and pitch motions as well as upstream tether forces. Coupling effects of pitch motion with roll and sway due to the presence of gyroscopic forces were also seen. The present experimental results can be used to validate the hydrodynamic kernels of linear frequency-domain models, time-domain dynamics models, and computational simulations on floating wind turbines. Numerical analysis and simulations have been conducted in a separate study at WPI. These simulations are comparable to the experimental results.

Orientador: Helenice de Oliveira Florentino Silva / Resumo: A escassez de combustíveis fósseis e a demanda por fontes alternativas de energia renovável e limpa são impulsionadores para o desenvolvimento de biocombustíveis, tais como o biohidrogênio. Este gás é conhecido por seu alto valor calorífico, extrema leveza e baixa densidade, além de, ao ser queimado, produzir apenas vapor d'água e calor. Dentre os modos de produção, destaca-se a fermentação escura, a qual gera biohidrogênio e subprodutos através do tratamento microbiológico de resíduos agroindustriais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi modelar matematicamente este bioprocesso, estudar suas propriedades à luz da teoria de estabilidade, além de propor um modelo de otimização que determine uma combinação das concentrações de substrato e bactérias, tais que maximizem o rendimento da produção de biohidrogênio. Foram propostas duas heurísticas para a resolução do modelo, Algoritmo de Busca em Vizinhança Variável e Algoritmo Memético. Os resultados das simulações numéricas mostraram que o modelo obtido corrobora com a dinâmica bioquímica e microbiológica do bioprocesso. / Abstract: The lack of fossil fuels and the demand of alternative, renewable and clean energy sources promote development in biofuels, as biohydrogen. It is known by its high heat, extreme lightness and low density and also when it burns, the products are only steam and energy. Among the productions ways, we highlight dark fermentation, which generates biohydrogen and subproducts through organic waste microbiological treatment. The aim of this work was to mathematical model this bioprocess, to study its properties via stability analysis, besides to propose a optmization model to determine a combination of substract and bacteria concentrations, in order to maximize biohydrogen production yield. To solve the mathematical model have been proposed two heuristics: Variable Neighboor Search Algorithm and Memetic Algorithm. Numeric simulations showed that the mathematical model corroborates with the bioprocess microbial and biochemical dynamics. / Mestre

The benefits of the Oceans and Seas have been exploited by societies for many centuries; the marine offshore and naval sectors have been the predominant users of the waters. It has been overlooked until recently, that significant amounts of energy can be harnessed by waves, providing an additional abundant resource for renewable energy generation. The increasing energy needs of current societies have led to the consideration of waves as an exploitable renewable resource. During the past decades, advancements have been made towards commercialising wave energy converters (WECs), though significant knowledge gap exists on the accurate estimation of the potential energy that can be harnessed. In order, to enhance our understanding of opportunities within wave energy highly resolved long-term resource assessment of potential sites are necessary, which will allow for not only a detailed energy estimation methodology but also information on extreme waves that are expected to affect the survivability and reliability of future wave energy converters. This research work aims to contribute the necessary knowledge to the estimation of wave energy resources from both highly energetic and milder sea environment, exhibiting the opportunities that lay within these environments. A numerical model SWAN (Simulating WAves Nearshore), based on spectral wave formulation has been utilised for wave hindcasting which was driven by high resolution temporal and spatially varying wind data. The capabilities of the model, allow a detailed representation of several coastal areas, which are not usually accurately resolved by larger ocean models. The outcome of this research provides long-term data and characterisation of the wave environment and its extremes for the Scottish region. Moreover, investigation on the applicability of wave energy in the Mediterranean Sea, an area which was often overlooked, showed that wave energy is more versatile than expected. The outcomes provide robust estimations of extreme wave values for coastal waters, alongside valuable information about the usage of numerical modelling and WECs to establish energy pattern production. Several key tuning factors and inputs such as boundary wind conditions and computational domain parameters are tested. This was done in a systematic way in order to establish a customized solution and detect parameters that may hinder the process and lead to erroneous results. The uncertainty of power production by WECs is reduced by the introduction of utilization rates based on the long-term data, which include annual and seasonal variability. This will assist to minimize assumptions for energy estimates and financial returns in business plans. Finally, the importance of continuous improvements in resource assessment is stressed in order to enhance our understanding of the wave environment.

Thesis (M. Arch.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1982. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 112). / The opportunities for utilizing Jamaica/s rich supply of renewable energy resources as a base for stead, environmentally sound rural development is tremendous. This thesis explores as way of tapping this potential. Jamaica's current plans for both energy and rural community development are reviewed and general suggestions offered as to how the necessary integration of the two plans can be achieved for short and long term energy conscious planning and program implementation. The focus of the proposal is on the development of Rural Community Development Centers that would be designed to build a renewable energy infrastructural base for the specific communities and generally respond to the energy, educational and productive needs as they change over time. / by Michael Onaje Jackson. / M.Arch.

Due to the increasingly detrimental impacts of the global fossil fuel-driven energy economy, technological solutions that can mitigate the deleterious emissions from fossil fuel conversion or that can lessen societal dependence on fossil fuels are urgently required. The conversion of biomass, a renewable energy feedstock, into energy and fuels that are fungible with those derived from fossil fuels would help supplant some of the global fossil fuel consumption with sustainable energy generation. However, one of the main disadvantages of biomass as an energy feedstock when compared to fossil fuels is its low energy density. The majority of thermochemical biomass conversion technologies therefore focus on converting a low energy density feedstock in biomass to a higher energy density end product. Due to the operating parameters involved in these processes, they are typically accomplished on larger and more centralized scales by skilled operators. Few technologies exist that utilize biomass in a sustainable manner under a distributed energy framework, which would allow energy consumers to use locally available resources and waste material to generate energy. The alkaline thermal treatment of biomass has recently been proposed as a novel method for producing high purity H₂ with suppressed COₓ formation under moderate reaction conditions (i.e., 573 K and ambient pressure). Essentially, biomass, which in this study were the model compounds of glucose and cellulose, is reacted with an alkali metal hydroxide, such as NaOH, in such a molar proportion that all of the carbon and oxygen embodied in the reactants is fixed as an alkali metal carbonate, while all of the elemental hydrogen is released as pure H₂ gas. Thus, fuel cell ready H₂ can be produced from biomass in a single reactor. This technology has great potential for sustainable bioenergy production since it can handle a wide range of feedstocks including biomass and biogenic wastes with high water content. In addition to having the potential to be a distributed energy generation technology, the alkaline thermal treatment of biomass could help meet increasing industrial demand for H₂ in a more sustainable manner, as 96% of current H₂ generation is derived from fossil fuels. The alkaline thermal treatment technology is also relatively unexplored; thus, the effects of parameters such as feedstock type, reaction temperature, heating rate, NaOH:Biomass ratio, method of reactant mixing, flow of steam, and concentration of steam flow, on the gaseous and solid products formed are not fully understood. This study was undertaken to quantify the effects of these non-catalytic variables on the alkaline thermal treatment reaction and to elucidate potential reaction pathways in order to better evaluate the potential of the alkaline thermal treatment technology as a viable biomass conversion technology. In the study of the alkaline thermal treatment of glucose, NaOH did play an important role in suppressing COₓ formation while facilitating H₂ production and promoting CH₄ formation. The non-catalytic alkaline thermal treatment of glucose in the absence of steam flow resulted in a maximum H₂ conversion of about 27% at 523 K with a stoichiometric mixture of NaOH and glucose. The solids analysis confirmed the presence of Na₂CO₃ in the solid product, indicating the inherent carbon management potential of the alkaline thermal treatment process. The addition of steam flow increased conversion to H₂ from 25% to 33%, while decreasing total CH₄ formation 5 fold. After the investigation of the alkaline thermal treatment applied to glucose, cellulose was studied as a feedstock because it is the predominant component of lignocellulosic biomass, the target feedstock source for second generation biofuels. Like in the glucose study, it was found that H₂ and hydrocarbon formation occurred with the addition of NaOH to cellulose under thermal treatment, while the further addition of steam enhanced H₂ production and suppressed hydrocarbon formation. Both the enhancement of H₂ conversion and the suppression of hydrocarbon formation with the addition of steam flow was found to be more significant for cellulose than it was for glucose, with in the cellulose case H₂ conversion doubling from 25% to 48%, and CH₄ formation falling 35 times from the no steam flow case. Also like the glucose study, much of the carbon and oxygen present in the reactants were converted to Na₂CO₃. With the knowledge gained about the effects various reaction parameters had on the alkaline thermal treatment reaction, a study of the reaction pathways of the alkaline thermal treatment of cellulose reaction was undertaken. Compounds formed at intermediate temperatures were identified, tested for gaseous production when reacted with NaOH, and the gas product formation rate trends of these reactions were compared with those trends observed from the alkaline thermal treatment of cellulose reaction. The intermediates identified included sodium carboxylate salts, namely sodium formate, sodium glycolate, and sodium acetate, among others. The reactions of these compounds with NaOH were found to yield H₂ and CH₄, with the gaseous formation rate trends being similar to trends observed for the alkaline thermal treatment reaction for cellulose in certain temperature regions. Particular focus was placed on sodium glycolate, which was an intermediate found in high concentration and that reacted with NaOH to produce both H₂ and CH₄. The formation of Na₂CO₃ at intermediate temperatures was also studied, and the comparison of Na₂CO₃ conversion to H₂ conversion at intermediate temperatures revealed that H₂ and Na₂CO₃ formation do not always occur at the 2:1 H₂:Na₂CO₃ molar ratio implied by the proposed stoichiometry of the alkaline thermal treatment reaction for cellulose. The aforementioned studies were conducted both in the presence and absence of steam flow to study its influence on the reaction. Finally H₂ formation kinetic studies were performed on the alkaline thermal treatment of cellulose system as well as the H₂-producing sodium carboxylate salt reaction systems. Sodium formate and sodium oxalate were found to have better selectivity toward H₂ formation and their reactions were more kinetically favored than sodium glycolate with NaOH. A comparison of the isothermal H₂ kinetics between the cellulose and sodium glycolate systems at higher temperatures, however, revealed that H₂ conversion in the alkaline thermal treatment of cellulose appeared to be limited by the rate of conversion of sodium glycolate. From the results of these studies, recommendations are made for future research directions aimed at improving the alkaline thermal treatment of cellulose reaction.

O etanol é utilizado como combustível desde o início do século XX, porém foi a partir da década de 1970 que sua utilização em larga escala foi concretizada pela primeira vez no mundo. Através do PROÁLCOOL foi estabelecido bases para sua produção, distribuição e comercialização. A cultura da cana-de-açúcar prevaleceu em relação às demais como mandioca e babaçu. Análises do potencial do sorgo sacarino também foram realizadas, mas devido ao desconhecimento desta cultura no Brasil não houve muito progresso na sua utilização. No início do século XXI, motivado por razões ambientais e estratégicas, surge o etanol brasileiro como exemplo de utilização de combustíveis alternativos aos derivados do petróleo. A aceitação do veículo com gerenciamento eletrônico para alimentação de combustíveis diferenciados, popularmente denominados de Flex, impulsionou o uso de etanol em território nacional chamando a atenção do mundo. A constatação de mudanças climáticas mundiais despertou a consciência do uso de hidrocarbonetos e suas conseqüências. A expectativa de um mercado mundial de etanol leva a procura de novas fontes de matérias-primas, uma vez que não se pode e não se deve plantar cana-de-açúcar em todos os lugares ou regiões do planeta. Surge o sorgo sacarino como uma das alternativas. Cultura milenar em vários paises demonstra grande potencial para produção de etanol, seguindo os mesmos procedimentos utilizados para cana, porém com menor ciclo de cultivo e menor necessidade hídrica e tolerância ao tipo de terra a ser cultivado. Seu aproveitamento é apoiado pela FAO em diversos paises, entre eles a China. A adoção por parte dos Estados Unidos do etanol em substituição ao metanol e as metas estabelecidas para a adição à gasolina nos próximos anos, provocou um acelerado aumento na produção de etanol, sendo esta baseada em milho. Diversos paises já se espelham nas experiências brasileiras para obtenção de maior independência energética. As necessidades para o abastecimento, dos mercados interno e externo, refletem as iniciativas de investimentos em novos projetos de novas usinas produtoras de etanol. Paises como China, Suécia, Japão já demonstraram amplo interesse na adoção do etanol como aditivo junto à gasolina. As pesquisas em novos sistemas de produção de etanol motivam instituições e empresas a uma busca acelerada para obtenção de processos mais rentáveis e economicamente viáveis. / Ethanol is being used as combustible since the beginning of century XX. However, since the decade of seventy it has been used in large scale in the world. The PROÁLCOOL program established bases for its production, distribution and commercialization. The culture of the sugar cane prevailed in relation to cassava and babaçu. Analyses of the potential of sweet sorghum had been also carried through, but due to the unfamiliarity of this culture in Brazil it did not have much progress in its use. At the beginning of century XXI, motivated for environmental and strategy reasons, Brazilian ethanol appears in the world scenario as an example of use of alternative fuels as substitutes for oil derivatives. The acceptance of vehicles with electronic management for differentiated fuel feeding, known as Flex cars, stimulated the use of ethanol in Brazil calling the attention the world. The knowledge of the worldwide climate changes brought the conscience of the use of hydrocarbons and its consequences. The expectation of a worldwide market of ethanol leads to the search for new sources of fuels. Since sugar cane cannot be planted all over the world due to climate differences, sweet sorghum appears as a promising alternative. Millenarian culture in several countries, it demonstrates a great production potential for the production of ethanol. The same procedures employed for sugar cane can be used. However, the sorghum crops require a lesser cycle of culture and minor water needs and tolerance when compared against sugar cane. Its exploitation is supported by FAO in several countries, being China among them. The adoption of ethanol the United States in substitution to methanol and the goals established for the addition to the gasoline in the next years, has been leading to the increase in the production of ethanol, manufactured from maize. Several countries already have been following the Brazilian path for the attainment of bigger energy independence. The necessities for the supplying of the domestic and external markets reflect the initiatives of investments in new projects of new producing plants of ethanol. Countries such as China, Sweden and Japan already had demonstrated a great interest in the adoption of ethanol as a gasoline additive. The research for new systems of production of ethanol motivates institutions and companies to search for the attainment of more income-producing and economically viable processes.

This dissertation investigates the relationship between electricity market reforms and the development of renewable energy through interviews with policymakers, energy experts, and industry representatives in Brazil. Within the context of market-oriented power reforms initiated in the 1990s, policymakers have attempted to diversify the energy supply and reduce the country’s reliance on hydroelectric power. However, Brazil’s pre-existing hydropower infrastructure has hindered the diffusion of alternative options. By looking at energy auctions and net-metering regulations for wind and solar energy, this research explores the role of independent regulators in facilitating the development of non-hydro renewable sources of energy. While academic and policy debates center on designing public support schemes for renewable energy, this research argues that adaptive regulation can provide opportunities for new technologies that policy instruments alone are unable to achieve. In particular, the governance characteristics of regulatory agencies are critical to the effective articulation of renewable energy policies. Three subnational case studies further demonstrate how states and regions contribute to developing and deploying wind and solar energy technologies.