Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2010. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xvi, 130 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 122-124).

Thesis (M.Sc.)--Aberdeen University, 2007. / Title from web page (viewed on July 29, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.) -- Worcester Polytechnic Institute. / Keywords: palladium composite membrane; leak formation. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-112).

Hydrogen could replace fossil fuels for power generation and transportation and contribute to a low carbon economy. However, current methods of producing hydrogen e.g. steam methane reformation of natural gas are not sustainable and also contribute to COi emissions. Dark fermentation of carbohydrate-rich waste organics and energy crops to hydrogen using mixed microflora could contribute to the mix of technologies for producing hydrogen sustainably. Naturally available mixed microflora can be enriched e.g. by heat treatment to select for hydrogen producers, typically clostridia. Fermentation endproducts from the hydrogen-producing stage could be fed to a second anaerobic digestion stage to recover more energy as methane and to stabilise the effluent. Although anaerobic digestion is well established, fermentative hydrogen production is not. This work evaluated the feasibility of hydrogen production from two energy crops, grass and fodder maize in batch culture without pretreatment; investigated the effect of increase in substrate (sucrose) concentration, attractive from an energy point of view, on the yield and stability of hydrogen production in continuous culture; examined the performance of a mesophilic high rate anaerobic digester treating effluent from a continuous hydrogen-producing bioreactor; demonstrated the possibility of changeover of substrate - sucrose, starch and xylose - during continuous hydrogen production and evaluated the effect of sparging with CO2 , a process gas, on hydrogen production. It was demonstrated for the first time that hydrogen production from grass and fodder maize by direct fermentation in batch culture (2.3 L reactor, 35°C, pH 5.2-5.3) is possible, with hydrogen yields of 75.6 ml/g dry matter wilted perennial rye grass and62.4 ml/g dry matter of fodder maize. In continuous culture (pH 5.2-5.3, 35°C, 12 hour hydraulic retention time (HRT)), stable hydrogen production was achieved up to 40 g/L sucrose concentration - with decreasing hydrogen yields, from 1.7±0.2 mol/mol hexose added at 10 g/L to 1.2±0.3 mol/mol hexose at 40 g/L - beyond which the system became unstable. The decrease in hydrogen yield and lack of stability at higher substrate concentrations was attributed to feedback inhibition by volatile fatty acids (VFAs). Effluent from the hydrogen reactor was readily degraded in an upflow anaerobic filter up to an organic loading rate of 10 gCOD/L/d (2 d HRT) and/or a sodium concentration of 1.87 g/L. Reduction of sodium levels in the methane reactor by using calcium hydroxide as alkali in the hydrogen reactor was found to extend the efficiency of degradation of VFAs; overall COD reduction for the two stage system fed with 20 g/L sucrose increased from 83% (with NaOH as alkali) to 91% with Ca(OH)2 . It was easier to switch from starch to sucrose and vice versa during continuous hydrogen production; however switching from sucrose or starch to xylose was slower, requiring operation for about 1 day in batch culture before continuous operation could commence. Sparging with CO2 improved hydrogen yield from sucrose by at least 71% and appeared to inhibit homoacetogenesis from starch. This work verifies the potential technical feasibility of generating hydrogen, a clean energy carrier, sustainably from carbohydrate-rich waste organics and energy crops.

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Mechanical Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

The combustion process of a fuel is a challenging subject when it comes to analyze its performance and resultant emissions. The main task of this study is to optimize the selection of a hydrogen-rich fuel based on its performance and emissions. Computational Fluid Dynamics analysis is performed to test the combustion performance and emissions from the vortex trapped combustor when natural gas fuel (methane) is replaced with renewable and alternative fuels such as hydrogen and synthesis gas. Correlation graphs for the trapped vortex combustor performance and NOx, CO, and CO2 emissions for various types of fuels with different compositions and heat of combustion values were established. Methane, Hydrogen and 10 different syngas fuels were analyzed in this study using computational fluid dynamics numerical method. The trapped vortex combustor that represents an efficient and compact combustor for flame stability was investigated. The TVC consists of a fore body and two after body disks . These components are all encircled with a Pyrex tube. The purpose of the after body disks is to create the vortex wakes that will enhance the combustion process and minimize the NOx emissions. The TVC CFD model was validated by comparing the CFD model results using propane fuel with existing experimental results that were established in Rome, Italy. The static temperature distribution and NOx, CO emissions, combustor efficiency and total pressure drop results of the three dimensional CFD model were similar to the experimental data. Effects of H2/CO and H2/CH4 ratios and the mass fraction of each constituent of syngas fuels and Hydrogen-Methane fuel mixture on the TVC performance and emissions were investigated. / Moreover, the fuel injector Reynolds number and Lower heating values for Methane, Hydrogen and 10 syngas fuels on the TVC performance and emissions were also investigated. Correlation plots for the NOx, CO and CO2 emissions versus the fuel injector Reynolds number and low heating value were established. These correlation curves can be used as a fair design diagram to optimize the fuel selection process for aerospace and electrical power plant applications. / by Khaled Zbeeb. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2011. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2011. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

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Thesis (M.S.Ch.E.)--University of Toledo, 2007. / Typescript. "Submitted as partial fulfillment of the requirements for The Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering." Bibliography: leaves 72-77.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Nevada, Reno, 2008. / "August 2008." Includes bibliographical references (leaf 81). Online version available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Nevada, Reno, 2008. / "August 2008." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 126-132). Online version available on the World Wide Web.