Vegetable oil is one of the most widely available renewable sources of energy that can be used to meet the world’s demands. Many vegetable oils also have the advantage of containing little to no detectable amounts of nitrogen. Recently, research studies have revealed that when two liquids with different vapor pressure values are formed into droplet-like emulsions, a micro-explosion effect can happen under specific environmental conditions. Understanding the micro-explosion phenomena can help increase the efficiency of bio-emulsion combustion as well as reduce pollution levels. Many researchers have conducted experiments to find the optimal condition that induces microexplosion effects. Microexplosion is also associated with the formation of shock waves characteristic of explosions at larger scales. However, little is known about how emulsion composition and droplet size affect the micro-explosion process. Through this research, methanol-in-vegetable oil emulsion has been studied from the microexplosion point of view using custom made electric furnace equipment with a high speed camera system and an acoustic sensor system. The main goal of this study is to understand the effect of emulsion compositions, chamber temperatures, and droplet sizes on the characteristics of microexplosion. First, an n-hexadecane-in-water emulsion was prepared to validate the performance of the custom-made experimental apparatus using previous published data. Methanol-in-canola oil emulsions with different compositions were also prepared and used to compare the micro-explosion phenomena with water as a volatile compound. Microexplosion events of the blended fuels were captured using a high speed camera and an acoustic sensor. The wave signals generated by the microexplosion were analyzed after converting the signals using a Fast Fourier Transform coded in Matlab. One of the major findings of this research work was that higher temperatures and higher concentrations of high vapor pressure fluids such as methanol and water in emulsions causes a high probability of microexplosion event due to the sudden expansion of the emulsified fluid. Also, the effect of size on microexplosion was evident in the greater probability of explosion. Methanol-in-canola oil emulsion with 15 % methanol with droplets size of 200 m placed in a furnace chamber heated to 980 ˚C showed optimal microexplosion behavior based on the formation of fine droplets. Also, smaller droplets produced higher frequencies, which could be used to detect microexplosion without high speed imaging. When large droplets microexploded, lower frequencies were detected in all the blends.

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The subject of this thesis is divided into two parts: (1) Treatment of 2-ethyl hexanol (2-EH) in an air stream by a pilot-scale biotrickling filter, and (2) Treatment of gaseous VOC emissions from a resin manufacturing plant by a full-scale biotrickling filter. Treatment of 2-Ethyl Hexanol in An Air Stream by A Pilot-Scale Biotrickling Filter 2-Ethyl Hexanol (2-EH) may release from the thermal breakdown of di-isooctyl phthalate (DOP), a commonly-used plasticizer, in the curing stage when manufacturing PVC synthetic leather and gloves. This paper reports the results of studies using a biotrickling filter (BTF) with blast-furnace slag packings (sizes = 2-4 cm and specific surface area = 120 m2/m3) for treatment of 2-EH in an air stream. The experimental setup consisted of a set of two-stage-in-series biotrickling filters. Each stage of the biotrickling filter was constructed from a 19.5-cm x 200-cm (ID x H) acrylic column packed with slags of 125 cm in height. The operation started with the conditions of recirculation liquid pH = 8.0 and rate (VL) = 8.83 m3/m2.h, a steady nutrient (ammonia nitrogen and phosphate phosphorus) addition, and without a special microbial seeding. Results indicate that, yellowish-brown biofilms on the surface of packing slags could be observed in one week and well developed in two weeks after the start-up operation. The effects of volumetric 2-EH loading (L) and superficial gas velocity (U0) on the 2-EH elimination capacity (K) and the removal efficiency (K/L) were tested. Long-term experimental results show that, in the conditions of influent 2-EH concentration C0 = 250 mg/m3, U0 = 162 m3/m2.h, and gas empty-bed-retention time EBRT = 55 s, K/L could be correlated by the equation K/L = 71.9/(72.4+L) with a correlation coefficient (R) of 0.9988. The 2-EH elimination rate was mass-transfer controlled when L<16 g/m3.h and reaction-controlled when L>16 g/m3.h. Results also indicate that nutrient addition and liquid recirculation were important for the normal operation of the BTF in eliminating the influent 2-EH. Treatment of Gaseous VOC Emissions from A Resin-Manufacturing Plant by A Full-Scale Biotrickling Filter A resin and chemical company located in Tainan County, Taiwan engages in the manufacture of PU (poly urethane), PVAC (poly vinyl acetate), PS (poly styrene), and PMMA (poly methyl methacrylate) resins from various chemical stocks. Gaseous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from the reactors include toluene, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), acetone, vinyl chloride, styrene, butyl acetate, 2-ethyl hydroxyl acetate, and methyl methacrylate. These VOCs should be properly eliminated before discharging the reactor vents to the atmosphere. This paper reports the performance results of using a biotrickling filter (BTF) with wood packings (sizes = 2-12 cm and specific surface area = 97 m2/m3) for treating the reactor vents with a total flowrate of 80 m3/min at 20-30¢J. The BTF was constructed from a 7.0 m x 6.0 m (ID x H) SUS 304 column with wood packings of 4.0 m in height. The operation started with the conditions of recirculation liquid pH = 7.0-8.0 and rate (VL) = 1.56 m3/m2.h, a steady nutrient (urea and phosphate phosphorus) addition, and without a special microbial seeding. Results indicate that, yellowish-brown biofilms on the surface of packings could be observed in one week and well developed in two weeks after the start-up operation. Long-term operation results show that, in the conditions of influent VOC concentration C0 = 200-10000 ppm (expressed in terms of methane), U0 = 125 m3/m2.h, and gas empty-bed-retention time EBRT = 115 s, K/L could be correlated by the equation K/L = 345/(467+L) with a correlation coefficient (R) of 0.9913. The VOC elimination rate was mass-transfer limited when L<45 g/m3.h, with the mass of VOCs expressed as that of methane. Results also indicate that the liquid recirculation might be interrupted for a hour without influencing the performance. Toluene was the most difficult one to eliminate among the VOCs in the gas stream.

Because of the economic development of Taiwan, population gathering and the habit of people using transports, these considerations have made vehicle grow up fast. Vehicles emitted a large amount of pollutant that has caused many air pollution occasions. The motive of this study is to understand the motorcycle driving cycle, amount of pollutant and emission factor in four areas ¡VTaipei, Taichung, Kaoshiung and Pingtung. But it is very poor on concerning study in Taiwan. It is necessary to go on the concerning investigation and to establish the driving cycle and the actual emission factor of mobile source of Taiwan. The experiment includes two parts: one is regional driving pattern that is selected by factor analysis from samples; the other is to get the concentration of the pollutant and to calculate emission factors of the one by using Dynamometer. The pollutants are carbon monoxide (CO), total hydrocarbon (THC) and nitrogen oxides (NOX). In this study, the emission factors of motorcycles of the four areas are ¡§Taipei: CO 8.24 g/km, THC 2.53 g/km, NOX 0.12 g/km, CO2 55.98 g/km, Taichung: CO 7.81 g/km, THC 2.28 g/km, NOX 0.12 g/km, CO2 54.31 g/km, Kaoshiung: CO 6.53 g/km, THC 1.62 g/km, NOX 0.13 g/km, CO2 54.03 g/km, and Pingtung: CO 6.79 g/km, THC 1.63 g/km, NOX 0.13 g/km, CO2 41.42 g/km.

The objectives of this study were to 1) determine the effects of cycle-to-cycle variations (ccv) on nitric oxide (NO) emissions, and 2) determine if the consideration of ccv affects the average NO emission as compared to the mean cycle NO emission. To carry out the proposed study, an engine simulation model was used. The simulation determines engine performance and NO emissions as functions of engine operating conditions, engine design parameters, and combustion parameters. An automotive, spark-ignition engine at part load and 1400 rpm was examined in this study. The engine cycle simulation employed three zones for the combustion process: (1) unburned gas, (2) adiabatic core region, and (3) boundary-layer gas. The use of the adiabatic core region has been shown to be especially necessary to capture the production of nitric oxides which are highly temperature dependent. Past research has shown that cyclic variations in combustion cause ccv of burn duration, ignition delay and equivalence ratio. Furthermore, literature has shown that variations of these three input parameters may be approximated by a normal frequency distribution. Using the mean and standard deviation, and a random number generator, input values were tabulated for the ignition delay, burn duration and equivalence ratio. These three input parameters were then used to simulate cyclic variations in the combustion process. Calculated results show that cyclic variations of the input parameters cause the cycle-by-cycle NO emissions to increase and decrease by as much as 59% from the mean cycle NO of 3,247 ppm. The average NO emission resulting from ccv was 4.9% less than the mean cycle NO emission. This result indicates that cyclic variations must be considered when calculating the overall NO emissions.

<p>This thesis examines the debate between the auctioning of green house gas permits vs. the free distribution of green house gas permits, also known as grandfathering. The authors’ purpose is to discover which allocation system is more suited under the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS).</p><p>To help draw the conclusion, data and views have been collected from different known researchers within the emission trading field and – compared to different theories and the view of the authors.</p><p>Evidence suggested that auctioning as an allocation system is more efficient than a system based solely on free allocation (e.g. grandfathering). Evidence of this can be found in the electricity sector by comparing the electricity prices the consumer stand to pay before and after the producing firm receives there emission rights for free. When the producing firms receive their emission rights free of charge they stand with the option to sell their rights or to use them in their production. By selling its electricity the producers wants to recover their forgone opportunity and can do so via the price paid for by the consumer.</p><p>By also looking at the two systems under distribution one can also see that auctioning is more efficient since under this system, the polluters end up buying the right to pollute from the public. With a system based on grandfathering, the affected firms under EU ETS will receive windfall profits when given the emission rights for free as they can choose to store and sell the rights at a later date.</p> / <p>Denna kandidatuppsats undersöker debatten kring auktionering vs. gratis tilldelning av utsläppsrätter även kallat grandfathering. Målet med uppsatsen är att fastslå vilket tilldelningssystem som är bättre anpassat för användning i Europeiska Unionens handelssystem med utsläppsrätter, (EU ETS).</p><p>För att komma fram till en slutsats, har författarna samlat data och teori från diverse kända forskare inom området och jämfört dessa med sina egna ekonomiska teorier och tankar.</p><p>I rapporten framgår det att auktionering som tilldelningssystem är sannolikt mer effektivt än ett tilldelningssystem baserat enbart på gratis tilldelning. Detta går att påvisa bland annat genom att jämföra priset av elektricitet som konsumenten får betala både innan och efter att företagen erhållit gratis utsläppsrätter. När företagen som verkar inom energisektorn får sina utsläppsrätter gratis står de med möjligheten att sälja dem vidare eller att använda sig av dem. På så vis om företagen väljer att producera elektricitet kan de inte längre sälja sina utsläppsrätter och måste på så sätt kompensera detta beslut, vilket de ofta gör via en höjning av priset för konsumenten.</p><p>Ser man även till själva tilldelningssystemet är auktionen av utsläppsrätter ett bättre val då det gör så att de företag som släpper ut växthusgaser även får stå för notan. Vid gratis tilldelning får företagen som är berörda av EU ETS en oväntad inkomst som de kan spara eller använda när de behagar.</p>

<p>In January 2005 a trading scheme with emission allowances, including carbon dioxide (CO2), was introduced in Europe. This has influenced the electricity price as well as the price of CO2 emitting production. The paper and pulp industry uses a high share of electricity and emits CO2 and is therefore chosen. This industry is investigated to see if the competitiveness for the industry has been influenced by the emission trading scheme. Since the trial period is too short to give any clear results, USA has been investigated to make comparisons with Sweden. Different theories about the subject together with electricity price and production price data from Statistiska Centralbyrån. A competitiveness model is calculated with help from production prices and show that Sweden has become relatively more competitive compared to the USA since 1995. A reason for this can be the introduction of an emission trading scheme in the USA in 1995. If this is the case, the Swedish paper and pulp industry can face a decrease in competitiveness in the near future.</p>

Thesis (M.S.)--Eastern Illinois University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 170-180).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2010. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-90). Also available on the World Wide Web.