As societies around the world become increasingly more dependent on fossil based fuels, the need to investigate alternative fuel sources becomes more pressing. Renewable, biomass-based carbon sources obtained from the biosphere can be gasified to produce synthesis gas, which can in turn be fermented to produce fuel-grade ethanol. A byproduct of ethanol production via fermentation is acetic acid. An optimized ethanol fermentation process should produce a wastewater stream containing less than 2 g/L of acetic acid. This is not enough acid to justify recovery of the acid; however it is a high enough concentration that treatment of the stream is required before it can be discharged. The purpose of this research was to convert the acetic acid into biogas, producing a twoold result: removal of the acid from the wastewater stream and the production of methane, which is a valuable source of energy. Microorganisms known as methanogens will consume acetic acid to produce methane and carbon dioxide under anaerobic conditions. The goal of this research was to optimize methane production from the wastewater stream discharged from an ethanol to syngas facility. Sludge containing methanogenic organisms was obtained from the anaerobic digester of a wastewater treatment facility and used as inoculum in batch reactors containing a synthetic acetic acid solution. Variables such as the type and amount of supplied nutrients, acid concentration, pH, cell acclimation, oxygen exposure, headspace gas composition, and agitation rate were examined. The effects of these parameters on the amount of biogas produced and acetic acid degraded were used to evaluate and optimize reactor performance. Additional experimentation further evaluating methanogenesis at low pH was also conducted using a laboratory scale semi-continuous fermentor. Finally, advanced analytical techniques were used to evaluate changes in organism population with respect to changes in reactor operational parameters. The results of this research were used to estimate kinetic parameters, develop different full-scale reactor design models, and estimate the both the cost of wastewater treatment as well as the value of the methane produced.

The emergence of biomass based energy warrants the evaluation of syngas from biomass gasification as a fuel for personal power systems. The objectives of this study were to determine the performance and exhaust emissions of a commercial 5.5 kW generator modified for operation with 100% syngas at different syngas flows and to compare the results with those obtained for gasoline operation at same electrical power. Maximum power output for gasoline operation was 2451 W and maximum power output for syngas operation was 1392 W. Overall efficiencies of the generator were same at maximum electrical power outputs for operation with both the fuels. At four different electrical power output categories, the exhaust concentrations of carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen were significantly lower while the carbon dioxide emissions were significantly higher for the syngas operation. The unit cost of electricity generation was $6.38/kWh for syngas operation and $0.56/kWh for gasoline operation.

No description available.

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.

The selection of the form of spent nuclear fuel disposition, currently under debate, will precipitate an immediate requirement for spent-fuel transport regardless of the disposition alternative chosen. In this study, a constrained transportation model of the spent fuel cask scheduling problem is formulated with the objective of determining the minimum number of casks required to meet a fixed transport schedule. An iterative search procedure is employed to determine schedules which minimize cask idle time for each required spent fuel cask. The formulated model and the iterative search procedure are applied to a reference case to demonstrate their utility. An economic analysis of the results was performed to compare the truck and rail transport modes. Results indicate a substantial savings when rail transport is employed. An economic comparison of the cask lease and cask purchase options indicates that cask purchase is preferable for the 23-year planning horizon. / Master of Science

The purpose of this study is to determine the constituents of value in spent nuclear fuel and integrate these results into an economic time dependent model of a spent fuel assembly. The value of the constituents in the spent fuel is balanced against the cost of the various nuclear fuel cycle services. BWR and PWR-UO₂/MOX spent fuel assemblies are modeled at 5 different burnups. The recycle modes that are examined are uranium recycle with and without fission product sales and uranium and plutonium recycle with and without fission product sales. UO₂ and MOX spent fuel assemblies discharged from a nuclear reactor from 1977 to 1990 are modeled for a period of 19 years. Four key results of this study are: (1) a re-examination of the value of recycling materials other than uranium and plutonium, namely cesium-137, 134, rhodium, palladium and xenon is justified; (2) the magnitude of the net profits obtainable from the recycling of spent nuclear fuel are tied primarily to burnup and the decision to sell fission products; (3) for fission product recycle, any burnup yields a net positive value with the greater values being at high burnups; and (4) under only spent uranium and plutonium recycle, it is marginally profitable or unprofitable to recycle spent nuclear fuel. The utilization of cesium-137, 134 in the treatment of municipal sludge can reduce the importation of oil by 47.92 million U.S. barrels annually for the United States. / Master of Science

No description available.

This dissertation reports the findings of an investigation aiming to the incorporation of the transition elements: cobalt, vanadium, and molybdenum into AlPO₄-5 molecular sieves, to the study of the redox properties of the resulting materials and to the potential application of these compounds in the partial oxidation of methane to methanol and formaldehyde. AlPO₄-5 molecular sieves containing Co, V, and Mo were synthesized by hydrothermal crystallization of typical aluminophosphate gels with the adequate metal substrates at temperatures of 200°C, 150°C, and 150°C respectively. Samples of each material were calcined in oxidant, reducing and inert atmospheres and the properties of the treated solids studied by different characterization techniques. The significant feature of the Co and V containing AlPO₄-5, CoAPO-5 and VAPO-5, is that they exhibit different colors depending on the treatment atmosphere. Evidence for cobalt contained in framework positions of CoAPO-5 is obtained by the change in its unit cell volume relative to AlPO₄-5, and by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. CoAPO-5 also contains an appreciable quantity of extra-framework cobalt occluded in the pores, and/or as balancing cations. Evidence for this was obtained from ion exchange, and from oxygen and argon adsorption. Pentavalent vanadium incorporation is inferred from the change in the unit cell volume of VAPO-5 relative to AlPO₄-5, from pH measurements of the reaction vessel contents before and after heating, from oxygen and argon adsorption, chemical analysis, SEM, XPS, NMR, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. A scheme for the substitution of V into AlPO₄-5 is postulated based on the acidity observed in VAPO-5 by ion exchange, and potentiometrlc titration. Only a very small amount of Mo was found in the molybdenum containing AlPO₄-5. Evidence for Mo incorporation into the framework was not obtained. The use of CoAPO-5 and VAPO-5 as redox catalysts for the partial oxidation of methane to methanol and formaldehyde lead mostly to oxides of carbon. / Ph. D.

Uppdragsgivaren Precer Group erbjuder tekniska lösningar för produktion av el genom ren förbränning av olika typer av fasta bränslen. Tekniken är anpassningsbar för att användas som återladdningskälla i olika typer av hybridfordon samt för produktion av el till bostäder och fritidshus. Arbetet har som syfte att presentera keramiska material till två olika zoner i Precers generation 2 drivlina där metallbränslen förbränns i en temperatur på 1800 °C. I Zon1 ska keramen klara en maximal temperatur på 2300°C och ha isolationsegenskaper. Till Zon2 önskas förmågan att motstå vidhäftning av heta partiklar och materialet ska kunna appliceras som ytbeläggning på befintligt rostfritt stål. Maximal temperatur i denna zon är 1100°C. Av de material som presenteras i arbetet är fullt stabiliserad Zirkoniumoxid (ZrO2) det enda materialet som klarar temperaturskravet i Zon1. ZrO2 har en låg värmeledningsförmåga på 2W/m*°C vilket resulterar i en god isolationsförmåga. Stora delar av arbetet är riktat till Zon2 där tester påvisar att keramiska material har en bättre förmåga att motstå vidhäftning av heta metallpartiklar än det befintliga rostfria stålet. De tre ytbeläggningar som testades var aluminiumoxid, zirkoniumoxid, och aluminia. Väljs istället att använda solida keramiska material ökar utbudet och material så som kiselkarbid( SiC), aluminiumtitanat(Al2TiO2), och kiselnitrid (Si3N4) är också tänkbara. Ett slutgiltigt materialval ansågs vara svårbedömt då konstruktionsunderlag saknades. / The Client Precer Group offers technical solutions for the production of electricity through clean combustion of various types of solid fuels. The technology is adaptable for use as a recharge source in different types of hybrid vehicles and for the production of electricity to homes. The aim of this exam paper is to examine the possibility to use ceramics in Precers new drivetrain where metal fuels are burned at a temperature of 1800 °C. There are two different zones to examine. In Zon1, the ceramic should withstand a maximum temperature of 2300°C and have insulation properties. The ability to resist adhesion of hot metall particles is desirable in Zone 2, where the maximum temperature is 1100°C. There is also a request that the ceramic is to be applied as a coating. Of the materials that where found, fully stabilized zirconia (ZrO2) is the only material that can withstand the demanding temperature in Zone1. The material has a low thermal conductivity at 2W/m°C that results in good insulation. The ability to withstand adhesion was estimated and the results indicate that ceramic materials have a higher capacity to withstand adhesion of hot metall particles than the existing stainless steel. The three coatings tested where pure Alumina, Zirconia, and Alumina 3% Titania. If solid ceramics are to be used instead, the range of materials is increased. Materials such as Silconcarbide (SiC), Aluminimtitanate (Al2TiO2) and siliconnitride (Si3N4) are also possible candidates. A final choice of materiel was considered to be hard because the lack of design documentation.

The metallic binary-alloy fuel Uranium-Zirconium is important for use in the new generation of advanced fast reactors. Uranium-Zirconium goes through a phase transition at higher temperatures to a (gamma) Body Centered Cubic (BCC) phase. The BCC high temperature phase is particularly important since it corresponds to the temperature range in which the fast reactors will operate. A semi-empirical Modified Embedded Atom Method (MEAM) potential is presented for Uranium-Zirconium. This is the first interatomic potential created for the U-Zr system. The bulk physical properties of the Uranium-Zirconium binary alloy were reproduced using Molecular Dynamics (MD) and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations with the MEAM potential. The simulation of bulk metallic alloy separation and ordering phenomena on the atomic scale using iterative MD and MC simulations with interatomic potentials has never been done before. These simulations will help the fundamental understanding of complex phenomena in the metallic fuels. This is a large step in making a computationally acceptable fuel performance code, able to replicate and predict fuel behavior.