Modern gas turbine combustors implement lean premixed (LPM) combustion system to reduce the formation of NOx pollutants. LPM technology has advanced to have the ability to produce extremely low level of NOx emissions. The current focus of research on LPM is focused on reducing the NOx emission to much smaller scales, which is mandated because of the stricter regulations and environmental concerns. However, LPM combustors are susceptible to lean blowout (LBO), and other corresponding instabilities as the combustor is operated lean. Therefore, it is essential to understand the LBO limits and dynamics of flow in lean operating conditions. One of the other primary parameters for the improved combustion chamber designs is an accurate characterization of the heat loads on the liner walls in the wide range of operating conditions. Currently, there are very limited studies on the flame side heat transfer in reacting conditions. Current gas turbine combustion technology primarily focuses on burning natural gas as the gas fuel option for industrial systems. However, interest in utilizing additional options due to environmental regulations as well as concerns about energy security have motivated interest in using fuel gases that have blends of Methane, Propane, H2, CO, CO2, and N2. For example, fuel blends of 35%/60% to 55%/35% of CH4/CO2 are typically seen in Landfill gases. Syngas fuels are typically composed primarily of H2, CO, and N2. Gases from anaerobic digestion of sewage, used commonly in wastewater treatment plants, usually have 65–75% CH4 with the balance being N2. The objective of this study is to understand the LBO limits and the effects of the instabilities that arise (called near blowout oscillations) as the combustor is operated lean. Near blowout oscillations arise as the equivalence ratio is reduced. These oscillations are characterized by continuous blowout and re-ignition events happening at low frequencies. The low-frequency oscillations have very high-pressure amplitude and can potentially damage the liner wall. The impact of the near blowout oscillations on the flow field and heat transfer on the liner walls are studied. To accomplish this, the experiments were conducted at Advanced Propulsion and Power laboratory located at Virginia Tech. A lean premixed, swirl stabilized fuel nozzle designed with central pilot hub was used for the study. Additionally, this work also studies the lean blowout limits with fuel blends of CH4-C3H8, CH4-CO2, and CH4-N2 and also their effect on the stability limits as the pilot fuel percentage was changed. Flow field during near blowout oscillations was studied using planar particle image velocimetry (PIV) and flame shapes and locations during these oscillations was studied by using high-speed imaging of the flame. A statistical tool called proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) was utilized to post-process the PIV data and high-speed imaging data. Heat transfer on the liner walls was studied using a transient IR thermography methodology. The heat transfer on the liner wall during the near blowout instabilities was resolved. LBO limits and near blowout oscillations were characterized by studying the pressure measurements in the primary combustor region. Fluctuating heat loads on the liner walls with the same frequency as that of near blowout instabilities was observed. The magnitude of fluctuation was found to be very high. Phase sorted POD reconstructed flame images demonstrated the location of the flame during near blowout oscillations. Thus, blowout and re-ignition events are resolved from the high-speed flame images. POD reconstructed flow field from the PIV data demonstrated the statistically significant flow structures during near blowout oscillations. A hypothesis for the mechanism of near blowout oscillations was explained based on the measurements and observations made. Lean Blowout limits (LBO) changed when the percentage of pilot and air flow rates was changed. As the pilot percentage increased, LBO limits improved. Results on the study of fuel mixtures demonstrate that the addition of propane, nitrogen and carbon dioxide has minimal effect on when the flame becomes unstable in lean operating conditions. However, on the other hand, the addition of diluent gas showed a potential blowout at higher operating conditions. It was also observed that Wobbe index might not be a good representation for fuels to study the fuel interchangeability in lean operating conditions. / Ph. D.

Texas – the energy center of the world – is emerging as a pioneer in algae biodiesel research and production. There are a number of reasons for this. Texas is the largest emitter of CO₂ in the country, and efforts are being made to reduce the state's dependence on fossil fuels. Also, algae – robust and promising organisms – need non-arable land, lots of sunlight and brackish/waste water, along with CO₂. Texas has all of these in abundance, plus universities and algae start-ups that are doing crucial R / text

The theme of the diploma thesis is to analyze the use and prepare the business plan of establishing alternative fuel showroom cars. Showroom will focus on sales of new cars with full warranty that are primary equipped with alternative fuel engine. The idea of concentrating sales center of alternative fuel cars is unique, in the vast majority of cases sellers are becoming dealers of automobile manufacturers and their direct representatives. The sales center will be concentrated in the Prague region where the parent company has its placr of business. The theoretical part of the thesis is devoted to the characteristics of conventional and alternative fuels. In the practical part there is created a business plan of construction and operation alternative fuel cars showroom. The project is prepared on real numbers and will be used during implementation in practise.

The inordinate reliance of the United States on the automobile for transportation causes a number of problems for the nation. Finite supplies of petroleum imported from volatile parts of the world place the economy at risk from price spikes and eventual depletion. Pollution from motor vehicle exhaust has public health and environmental consequences. Many politicians, automotive interest groups, and others advocate for the use of alternative fuels to replace fossil fuels. This paper investigates the advantages and disadvantages of the following: Natural Gas, Ethanol, Biodiesel, Hydrogen Fuel Cells, and Hybrid Gasoline Electric Systems. The paper concludes with a discussion of the problems associated with the automobile that will not be addressed through a movement towards alternative fuels: urban sprawl, transportation equity, environmental degradation, and public health. / Master of Urban and Regional Planning

A crescente pressão mundial pelo desenvolvimento de tecnologias automotivas menos poluentes de emissões de combustíveis, incluindo o de combustiveis alternativos, foi a forma de impulsionar a tecnologia do Biodiesel, de origem não fóssil, derivados de fontes renováveis, visando substituir, gradualmente, o uso do óleo diesel, na matriz energética mundial. A diretiva americana “Clean air Act amendment of 1990", a Lei S-517 e a diretiva européia “2003/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 May 2003" instituíram a adição do Biodiesel no óleo diesel. Nos Estados Unidos, este teor é de 20%, e, na Europa, é obrigatória a adição de 2%, em 2005, e será de 5,75%, em 2010. Dentro deste contexto, o Biodiesel necessita ser implementado no Brasil, de maneira gradual. A Lei brasileira 11097/05 tornará obrigatória sua adição de 2% (Biodiesel B2), em 2008 (ou de cerca de 840 milhões de litros de Biodiesel, do montante estimado de demanda do óleo diesel, de 42 bilhões de litros, em 2008), e de 5% (Biodiesel B5), em 2013. O objetivo deste trabalho é o de se identificarem alguns gargalos existentes, no âmbito técnico-econômico, no Programa Brasileiro do Biodiesel, e o de se estabelecer um plano de ação para o sucesso da implementação deste programa. No plano de ação, estão traçados possíveis cenários, com dois focos distintos: o de receita líquida máxima ao governo, sendo esta uma visão parcial de custeio (através dos cenários de substituição de importações do óleo diesel pelo Biodiesel e da introdução de óleo diesel / Biodiesel em veículos leves), e o do número máximo de empregos gerados, em 2008 e em 2013. A metodologia de pesquisa se baseia em pesquisa bibliográfica e na análise de dados coletados, que apontam para a urgente necessidade de isenção de impostos e de subsídios governamentais, para se viabilizar a produção das oleaginosas da mamona e da soja, a preços competitivos em relação ao óleo diesel. Dentro deste contexto, a mamona só se torna viável no âmbito social e técnico-social, de geração máxima de empregos, ao passo que as demais podem ser inseridas no contexto econômico e técnico-econômico, de receita líquida máxima ao governo. / The increasing demand for the development of automotive technologies of less polluting fuel emissions, including that of alternative fuels, has been the way to foster Biodiesel technology, of non-fossil origin, derived from renewable sources, aiming at gradually substituting the use of diesel oil, in the worldwide energetic matrix. The american directive “Clean air Act amendment of 1990" , the Law S-517, and the European directive “2003/30/EC of the European Parliament of the Council of 8 May 2003" established the addition of Biodiesel in diesel oil. In the United States, this percentage is of 20%, and, in Europe, it is compulsory the addition of 2%, in 2005, and will be of 5,75%, in 2010. From that prospective, the Biodiesel needs to be gradually implemented in Brazil. The brazilian Law 11097/05 will demand the addition of 2% (Biodiesel B2), in 2008 (or about 840 millions of Biodiesel liters, of the estimated amount of diesel oil demand, of 42 billions of liters, in 2008), and of 5% (Biodiesel B5), in 2013. The objective of this project is to identify some existing shortfalls, on an technical-economic assessment, in the Brazilian Biodiesel Program, and to establish a workplan in order to achieve the success of this program. In this workplan, possible scenarios are identified, with two different focus: maximum government net revenue, on a partial cost prospective (via the scenarios of diesel oil importation replacement by Biodiesel and of diesel oil / Biodiesel intruction into light vehicles) and maximum jobs generation, in 2008 and in 2013. The research methodology is based on bibliographic survey and on data analysis, which shows the urgent need to viabilize castor and soybean oilseeds on competitive prices compared to that of diesel oil. From that prospective, castor is only viable on a social and technical-social aspect, of maximum employment generation, whereas the remaining oilseeds can be inserted into the economic and technical-economic context, of maximum governmental net income.

Diversos equipamentos industriais utilizam processos de combustão com sprays. As principais vantagens deste processo estão relacionadas ao aumento do controle da chama e à maior segurança na logística do combustível líquido. Atualmente, o interesse na utilização de bio-combustíveis como alternativa para a redução na emissão de dióxido de carbono é crescente. Entre os tipos de bio-combustíveis o etanol se destaca por ser utilizado em vários países misturado à gasolina no setor de transportes. Partindo deste panorama, o presente trabalho apresenta a modelagem e simulação de uma chama turbulenta de spray de etanol. Os resultados das simulações realizadas são comparados com dados experimentais da literatura. O modelo resultante baseia-se no método dos volumes finitos para escoamentos com baixo número de Mach e em regime permanente. O spray foi calculado com a aproximação de escoamentos separados com uma formulação Euler-Lagrange, em que a fase dispersante é modelada com a abordagem Euleriana, enquanto que a fase dispersa é modelada com a abordagem Lagrangeana. As duas fases foram completamente acopladas nos dois sentidos. O modelo de turbulência k- Padrão foi utilizado na fase dispersante. A evaporação de gotículas foi considerada, em que o modelo de condutividade infinita foi utilizado para a fase líquida. Dessa forma, a distribuição de temperaturas no interior da gotícula é uniforme, porém varia conforme ela se move no spray. Para reproduzir os efeitos do resfriamento evaporativo, a combustão foi modelada com um modelo de folha de chama modificado que considerou uma função joint -PDF de fração de mistura e entalpia. Transferências de calor por radiação foram negligenciadas neste trabalho. Aproximações razoáveis foram obtidas entre os perfis medidos e calculados de temperatura média da fase gasosa e de distribuições de tamanhos de gotículas. Algumas discrepâncias foram observadas nas comparações entre os perfis do componente axial de velocidade média da fase gasosa, que foram atribuídas à difusão superestimada das quantidades médias transportadas pela fase gasosa nas simulações. / Several industrial equipments use combustion processes with sprays. The main advantages of this process are related to the increase in the flame control and in the safety of liquid fuel logistics. Currently, the interest on the utilization of biofuels as an alternative to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions is increasing. Among the types of biofuels the ethanol stands out by being used blended with gasoline in the transport sector of several countries. From this overview, this work presents the modeling and simulation of an ethanol turbulent spray flame. The results of the simulations were compared with experimental data from the literature. The resulting model was based on the finite volume method for low Mach number and steady state flows. The spray was calculated using the Separated Flow method (SF) with an Euler-Lagrange model, where the gaseous phase was described by an Eulerian model and the liquid phase by a Lagrangian particle method. Both phases were fully coupled in order to account for shared effects. The turbulence model k- Standard was used to determine the dispersant phase. Evaporation of droplets was calculated with the assumption of the infinite-liquid-conductivity model, where the droplet inner temperature is uniform, but varies with the mass and heat transfer within the dispersant phase. To reproduce the effects of the evaporative cooling the combustion was modeled with a modified flamesheet model which regarded a jointed mixture fraction-enthalpy -PDF. Radiactive heat transfer was not accounted for in this work. Reasonable agreement between measured and computed mean profiles of temperature of the gas phase and droplet size distributions was achieved. Some deviations were observed in the mean velocity profiles comparisons between experimental data and simulations, which were assigned to the over predicted diffusion of the mean quantities transported by the gas phase.

Ammonia is an important compound to many industries around the world. Most of the fertilizers used by crop growers have ammonia as an essential ingredient. It can also be useful as a fuel source, offering greater energy density per unit than hydrogen and greater safety. Currently, the predominant method for producing ammonia on an industrial scale is by the Haber-Bosch process. This process uses steam evolution of methane to provide H2 gas, which is then combined with N2 gas over an iron catalyst to form NH3. This process requires large amounts of energy as well as high temperatures and pressures. Here, an alternative method for ammonia production is explored. With Anabaena Variabilis, a photosynthetic cyanobacteria, on a carbon electrode, ammonia can be generated at ambient temperatures and pressures at little energy cost, a few tenths of a volt. A bioelectrocatalytic device has been constructed by immobilizing whole cell a. variabilis in a Nafion film modified with a trimethyl octadecyl ammonium bromide (TMODA) salt at an electrode surface [3]. The polymer modified electrode provides the driving force and reductive microenvironment to facilitate production of NH3 by nitrogenase and nitrate/nitrite reductase enzymes present in a. variabilis. Ammonia production by cyanobacteria were increased from basal levels of 2.8 ± 0.4 µM produced over a two week period, to 22 ± 8 µM produced in 20 minutes under mild voltage perturbation, roughly 104% increase in rate. Control of ammonia producing structures (nitrogenase in heterocystic cells or nitrate/nitrite reductase in vegetative cells) can be accomplished by growing the algae with and without fixed sources of nitrogen in the growth media. With the addition of various nitrogen-containing gases to the electrolyte solution during cyclic voltammetry, there is evidence that biofilms containing a mixture of cell types increases ammonia production above controls when the nitrogen is present as NO2-, NO, or N2O. Chronoamperometric perturbation studies show increased ammonia production at near +600 mV and -300 mV vs SCE. In cyclic voltammetric studies, nitrate/nitrite reductase in vegetative-only biofilms responds favorably to positive voltage ranges, while isolated heterocyst biofilms containing nitrogenase can be effectively targeted with the application of a negative voltage profile. References: [1] Johna Leddy and Timothy M. Pashkewitz, Ammonia Production Using Bioelectrocatalytic Devices, US Patent Application 20140011252 [2] Timothy M. Paschkewitz, Ammonia Production at Ambient Temperature and Pressure: An Electrochemical and Biological Approach, Ph.D., University of Iowa, 2012.

There is at present some uncertainty as to what the roles and requirements of the next generation of UAVs might be and the configurations that might be adopted. The incorporation of technological features on these designs is also a significant driving force in their configuration, efficiency, performance abilities and operational requirements. The objective of this project is thus to provide some insight into what the next generation of technologies might be and what their impact would be on the rest of the aircraft. This work involved the conceptual designs of two new relevant full-scale UAVs which were used to integrate a select number of these advanced technologies. The project was a CASE award which was linked to the Flaviir research programme for advanced UAV technologies. Thus, the technologies investigated during this study were selected with respect to the objectives of the Flaviir project. These were either relative to those already being developed as course of the Flaviir project or others from elsewhere. As course of this project, two technologies have been identified and evaluated which fit this criterion and show potential for use on future aircraft. Thus we have been able to make a contirubtion knowledge in two gaps in current aerospace technology. The first of these studies was to investigate the feasibility of using a low cost mechanical thrust vectoring system as used on the X-31, to replace conventional control surfaces. This is an alternative to the fluidic thrust vectoring devices being proposed by the Flaviir project for this task. The second study is to investigate the use of fuel reformer based fuel cell system to supply power to an all-electric power train which will be a means of primary propulsion. A number of different fuels were investigated for such a system with methanol showing the greatest promise and has been shown to have a number of distinct advantages over the traditional fuel for fuel cells (hydrogen). Each of these technologies was integrated onto the baseline conceptual design which was identified as that most suitable to each technology. A UCAV configuration was selected for the thrust vectoring system while a MALE configuration was selected for the fuel cell propulsion system. Each aircraft was a new design which was developed specifically for the needs of this project. Analysis of these baseline configurations with and without the technologies allowed an assessment to be made of the viability of these technologies. The benefits of the thrust vectoring system were evaluated at take-off, cruise and landing. It showed no benefit at take-off and landing which was due to its location on the very aft of the airframe. At cruise, its performance and efficiency was shown to be comparable to that of a conventional configuration utilizing elevons and expected to be comparable to the fluidic devices developed by the Flaviir project. This system does however offer a number of benefits over many other nozzle configurations of improved stealth due to significant exhaust nozzle shielding.The fuel reformer based fuel cell system was evaluated in both all-electric and hybrid configurations. In the ell-electric configuration, the conventional turboprop engine was completely replaced with an all-electric powertrain. This system was shown to have an inferior fuel consumption compared to a turboprop engine and thus the hybrid system was conceived. In this system, the fuel cell is only used at loiter with the turboprop engine being retained for all other flight phases. For the same quantity of fuel, a reduction in loiter time of 24% was experienced (compared to the baseline turboprop) but such a system does have benefits of reduced emissions and IR signature. With further refinement, it is possible that the performance and efficiency of such a system could be further improved. In this project, two potential technologies were identified and thoroughly analysed. We are therefore able to say that the project objectives have been met and the project has proven worthwhile to the advancement of aerospace technology. Although these systems did not provide the desired results at this stage, they have shown the potential for improvement with further development.

Recent optimistic revisions to projections for recoverable natural gas resources in the United States have generated renewed interest in the possibility of greater utilization of natural gas as a transportation fuel. Against a backdrop of significant policy challenges for the United States, including air quality concerns in urban areas, slow economic growth and high unemployment, and a rising unease with regard to an increasing dependence on foreign oil; natural gas offers the nation’s transportation sector an opportunity to reduce mobile emissions, lower fuel costs, create jobs and reduce dependence on imported oil. While the current focus for expanded use of natural gas in the transportation sector emphasizes heavy duty and fleet vehicles, there may also be potential for increased use for passenger vehicles. Inconvenience, with regard to refueling, and high incremental vehicle costs, however, are seen as major obstacles to greater adaptation. This analysis examines the benefits and drawbacks of natural gas vehicles from the passenger vehicle perspective and includes data from a cross-country road trip. The report includes a review of market trends and possible development scenarios and concludes with recommendations to minimize the potential challenges of greater adaptation of natural gas vehicles in the passenger vehicle market. / text

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-07-02Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:39:47Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 mosckem_sl_me_guara.pdf: 1245042 bytes, checksum: 8a691aa6f65edd8f060ed9355bc9c3bd (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O trabalho de análise do uso de materiais alternativos no Alto Forno 1 da ArcelorMittal Tubarão estabelece uma taxa de substituição de cada material alternativo, plástico e pneu, em relação ao uso exclusivo do carvão mineral injetado no Alto Forno através das ventaneiras. A taxa de utilização de plástico e pneu é avaliada considerando o aporte de energia e dos agentes necessários para a reação química de redução do minério de ferro em ferro metálico. No presente trabalho são elaborados os balanços de massa e de energia de acordo com a configuração operacional vigente no segundo semestre de 2009 para o Alto Forno 1 e com os dados de produção do mês de julho de 2009. O resultado mostra a viabilidade técnica do uso de plástico ou pneu e estabelece as condições de uso de cada um em relação à quantidade, tipo e granulometria. A substituição energética decorrente do uso de plástico e pneu estabelece uma forma de aplicação segura e controlada deste resíduo, além de agregar valor a estes materiais normalmente descartados pela sociedade. Contribui também para amenizar os impactos ambientais decorrentes da falta de uma destinação regulamentada e eficaz para plásticos descartados e pneus inservíveis / The study of alternative fuel materials in the Blast Furnace 1 of ArcelorMittal Tubarão, establishes a rate of each material analyzed, waste plastics packaging and waste tires, in order to replace part of the pulverized coal that is usually injected in to the Blast Furnace through the tuyeres. The injection rate of waste plastic packaging and waste tires is analyzed considering the energy input and the necessary elements for the iron ore reduction chemical reaction. The mass and energy balance is done according to the operational configuration of the Blast Furnace 1 in the second semester of 2009 and operation data from July of 2009. The result of the study shows technical viability to use waste plastics packaging and waste tires and establish requirements for the injection, such as flow rate and particles size. The alternative energy provided from these waste materials builds a safety and controlled way to reach the best utilization for each one. Moreover, the environmental impact can be reduced due to its disposal is normally done in outdoor areas