This thesis analyzes Russia’s geopolitical objectives in Southeast Europe by focusing on natural gas pipelines and energy security. Natural gas is a crucial soft power asset that Russia utilizes to maintain its sphere of influence in the region. When defining Southeast Europe, this thesis focuses on the following countries of the region: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, and Serbia. The empirically driven research explores Russia’s role as the main natural gas supplier in Southeast Europe and the geostrategic implications of the region’s potential to become a vital entry point into Europe for Russian natural gas. This thesis applies the theory of defensive realism to the study of gas-infrastructure developments and to the impact of new pipelines on Russia’s dominant energy role within the region. Further on, Russia faces various challenges to its control of the regional gas market, including European Union’s energy policies, LNG from the United States, natural gas from Azerbaijan, and other complex factors that play into the regional geopolitical and energy arena.   With the analysis of the empirical data, this thesis assesses how each of the Southeast European countries respond to new gas-infrastructure projects and to Russia’s effort to leverage its gas assets. These developments, including Russia’s gas projects, could provide opportunities for positive, regional cooperation, while creating commercial value by transforming this region into an important natural gas hub.

No description available.

The muffle furnace main purpose is to anneal the rough sponge iron powder transported through it, which is done by burning natural gas. Heat is absorbed by the muffle and is transferred to the bed of sponge iron powder. In order to reduce the consumptions of fossil fuel, some companies of the industry aims to exchange the natural gas in their muffle furnace’s burners to syngas, produced from biomass. This will however affect the performance of the furnace in the heating aspect. For this work, it is assumed that the effect will be negative. Thus the aim of this study is to investigate how to compensate the loss of effect from the burners, by examining which other parameters have influence on the furnace heating performance of the sponge iron powder transported through the furnace. The investigation is executed by simulating a 1 meter of the furnace in COMSOL multiphysics for 10 min, not including the combustion chambers. The investigated parameters are the packing degree of the powder, surface emissivity of the muffle, process gas velocity, conveyor belt velocity and the heat transfer rate coefficient to muffle from the combustion chambers. Alas, the process gas velocity and conveyor belt velocity only have minor influence on the final result, according to this simulation. However, the simulation exhibited that the surface emissivity of the muffle and the packing degree of the powder has great impact on the heating of the powder and could compensate some of the lost effect from the burners. This could be obtained by using an unpolished and oxidized muffle surface, and use densely packed powder sample.

No description available.

<div>The commercial vehicle sector is an important enabler of the economy and is heavily dependent on fossil fuels. In the fight against climate change, reduction of emissions by improving fuel economy is a key step for the commercial vehicle sector. Improving fuel economy deals with reducing energy losses from fuel to the wheels. This study aims to analyze efficiency improvements for two systems that are important in reducing CO2 emissions - hybrid powertrains and natural gas engines. At first, a prototype series hybrid powertrain was analyzed based on on-highway data collected from its powertrain components. Work done per mile by the electrical components of the powertrain showed inefficient battery operation. The net energy delivery of the battery was close to zero at the end of the runs. This indicated battery was majorly used as an energy storage device. Roughly 15% of losses were observed in the power electronics to supply power from battery and generator to the motor. Ability of the hybrid system to capture regenerative energy and utilize it to propel the vehicle is a primary cause for fuel savings. The ability of this system to capture the regenerative energy was studied by modeling the system. The vehicle model demonstrated that the system was capturing most of the theoretically available regenerative energy. The thesis also demonstrates the possibility of reduction of vehicular level losses for the prototype truck. Drag and rolling resistance coefficients were estimated based on two coast down tests conducted. The ratio of captured regenerative to the drive energy energy for estimated drag and rolling resistant coefficients showed that the current system utilizes 4%-9% of its drive energy from the captured regenerative energy. Whereas a low mileage Peterbilt 579 truck could increase the energy capture ratio to 8%-18% for the same drive profile and route. Decrease in the truck’s aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance can potentially improve the fuel benefits.</div><div>The second study aimed to reduce the engine level pumping losses for a natural gas spark ignition engine by cylinder deactivation (CDA). Spark ignited stoichiometric engines with an intake throttle valve encounter pumping/throttling losses at low speed, low loads due to the restriction of intake air by the throttle body. A simulation study for CDA on a six cylinder natural gas engine model was performed in GT- Power. The simulations were ran for steady state operating points with a torque range 25-560 ftlbs and 1600 rpm. Two , three and four cylinders were deactivated in the simulation study. CDA showed significant fuel benefits with increase in brake thermal efficiency and reduction in brake specific fuel consumption depending on the number of deactivated cylinders. The fuel benefits tend to decrease with increase in torque. Engine cycle efficiencies were analyzed to investigate the efficiency improvements. The open cycle efficiency is the main contributor to the overall increase in the brake thermal efficiency. The work done by the engine to overcome the gas exchange during the intake and exhaust stroke is referred to the pumping losses. The reduction in pumping losses cause an improvement in the open cycle efficiency. By deactivating cylinders, the engine meets its low torque requirements by increase in the intake manifold pressure. Increased intake manifold pressure also resulted in reduction of the pumping loop indicating reduced pumping losses. A major limitation of the CDA strategy was ability to meet EGR fraction requirements. The increase in intake manifold pressure also caused a reduction in the delta pressure across the EGR valve. At higher torques with high EGR requirements CDA strategy was unable to meet the required EGR fraction targets. This limited the benefits of CDA to a specific torque range based on the number of deactivated cylinders. Some variable valve actuation strategies were suggested to overcome this challenge and extend the benefits of CDA for a greater torque range.</div><div><br></div>

[pt] A crescente demanda energética verificada ao redor do mundo e a conscientização pública acerca dos efeitos deletérios do excesso de gases estufa na atmosfera vem colaborando para a articulação de compromissos de grande alcance em nome da adaptação das matrizes energéticas a formas ambiental e economicamente sustentáveis. A adesão à energias renováveis (como solar e eólica) e a descentralização da matriz energética por meio de tecnologias de geração distribuída (visando a melhoria da eficiência do uso da energia) são alguns dos movimentos mais relevantes realizados para fazer frente a essas demandas. Neste ínterim, o presente trabalho é dedicado à simulação numérica mediante o conceito 4E (Energy, Exergy, Environmental and Economic) de um sistema híbrido CHP (Combined Heat and Power) on-grid para atendimento de pequenas demandas residenciais ou industriais, tendo gás natural e energia solar como vetores energéticos preferenciais. O sistema inclui um reformador de gás natural para produção de gás de síntese rico em hidrogênio, uma célula a combustível com membrana de troca de prótons (PEM), painéis fotovoltaicos, baterias conectadas à rede elétrica por um inversor bidirecional, trocadores de calor e componentes auxiliares como compressores e boilers. Os componentes do sistema foram modelados separadamente com base em equações de conservação e seus modelos devidamente validados. Uma análise energética e exergética do reformador de gás natural foi conduzida mediante a metodologia de planejamento de experimentos a fim de avaliar a necessidade de considerar uma formulação complexa do combustível em vez de um substituto (metano puro). Posteriormente, estes modelos foram inseridos como módulos de uma rotina mais ampla destinada a simular o desempenho econômico do sistema integrado num intervalo de tempo de até 20 anos. Tal rotina, implementada no MATLAB, permite a flexibilização de critérios operacionais importantes como número de consumidores, configuração do sistema híbrido (armazenamento e participação de painéis fotovoltaicos), diferentes tipos de tarifa (convencional ou branca) e o possível uso de rejeito térmico para cogeração, enriquecendo o escopo de resultados obtidos. Paybacks entre 7 e 20 anos de operação do sistema foram alcançados para diferentes combinações dos parâmetros examinados considerando-se a adesão no ano de 2020, onde consumidores residenciais obtiveram resultados predominantemente melhores do que os industriais em virtude da demanda menos exigente dos primeiros. Foram também previstas reduções de até 50% no custo cumulativo total para consumidores residenciais referente a adesão ao sistema proposto por 20 anos, levando-se em conta a queda prevista nos custos de aquisição dos componentes para as próximas décadas. A avaliação do sistema em termos ambientais foi feita através da quantidade equivalente de CO2 por unidade de energia. Concluiu-se que a configuração completa, mesmo auxiliada por cogeração, supera a média de emissões da matriz energética brasileira (devido à alta participação das fontes renováveis nessa matriz), permanecendo, ainda assim, como uma opção melhor do que a combustão pura do gás natural, especialmente no que diz respeito ao atendimento de demanda térmica. / [en] The growing energy demand verified around the world and public awareness about the harmful effects of greenhouse gases excess in the atmosphere have been contributing to the articulation of far-reaching commitments in the name of adapt energy matrices to environmentally and economically sustainable ways. The adherence to renewable energy (such as solar and eolic) and descentralization of energy matrix through distributed generation technologies (aiming at the improvment of efficiency of energy use) are some of the more relevant movements done in order to deal with these demands. In the meantime, the present work is dedicated to numerical simulation using the 4E (Energy, Exergy, Environmental and Economic) concept of an on-grid hybrid CHP system to meet small residential or industrial demands, using natural gas and solar energy as preferred energy vectors. The system includes a natural gas reformer for the production of hydrogen-rich synthesis gas, a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEM), photovoltaic panels, batteries connected to the grid by a bidirectional inverter, heat exchanger and auxiliary componentes, such as compressors and boilers. The system components were modeled separately based on conservation equations and their models duly validated. An energy and exergy analysis of the natural gas reformer was conducted using design of experiment methodology in order to assess the necessity to consider a complex formulation of the fuel instead of a surrogate (pure methane). Subsequently, these models were inserted as modules of a broader routine designed to simulate the economic performance of the integrated system in a time interval of up to 20 years. This routine implemented in MATLAB allows for the flexibility of important operational criteria such as the number of consumers, configuration of the hybrid system (storage and participation of solar energy), different types of tariff (conventional or white) and the posible use of reject heat for cogeneration, enriching the scope of the results obtained. Paybacks between 7 and 20 years of system operation were achieved for different combinations of the examined parameters considering adherence in the year 2020, where residential consumers have predominantly obtained better results than industrial ones due to the less intense demand of the first ones. Reductions of up to 50% in the total cumulative cost related to adherence to the proposed system for 20 years for residential users were also foreseen, taking into account the expected drop in component acquisition costs over the next few decades. The evaluation of the system in environmental terms was assessed through equivalent amount of CO2 by energy unit. It was concluded that the complete configuration, even supported by cogeneration, exceeds the average of the brazilian energy matrix emissions (due to the high share of renewable sources in this matrix), nevertheless remaining as a better option than pure combustion of natural gas, specially for meeting thermal demand.

In einer zukünftig nachhaltigen Gesellschaft wird Wasserstoff eine bedeutende Rolle als Energieträger spielen. Der Übergangspfad von reinem Erdgas zur Verwendung von Gemischen bis 50 % Wasserstoff muss eingehender untersucht werden. Die in dieser Arbeit durchgeführte Forschung konzentriert sich auf die Sicherheitsaspekte, Schadstoffentwicklung und Stabilitätsfelder von laminaren Flammen. Ein entscheidender Parameter für die Sicherheit von Brenneranlagen ist die laminare Brenngeschwindigkeit. In dieser Arbeit wurden Methan-Wasserstoff-Gemische experimentell vermessen und mit numerischen Daten unter Verwendung verschiedener Reaktionsmechanismen verglichen. Zur hochgenauen Messung der laminaren Brenngeschwindigkeit wurde der Heat Flux Brenner verwendet. In der vorliegenden Untersuchung wurden die laminaren adiabaten Brenngeschwindigkeiten für Methan-Wasserstoff-Sauerstoff-Stickstoff-Gemische bei verschiedenen Äquivalenzverhältnissen und variierten Sauerstoffanteilen untersucht. Die experimentellen Daten bis 20 % Wasserstoff bei reduziertem Sauerstoffgehalt konnten durch zehn ausgewählte detaillierte Reaktionsmechanismen nur teilweise wiedergegeben werden. Weiterführende Messungen befassen sich mit Methan-Wasserstoff-Luft Gemischen bei verschiedenen Äquivalenzverhältnissen, Temperaturen und Wasserstoffgehalten bis zu 50 %. Für diese Parameter wurde anschließend in Abhängigkeit der Höhe über dem Brenner eine Abgasanalyse mit dem Ziel der lokalen Stickstoffoxidkonzentration durchgeführt. Dabei zeigte sich im laminaren adiabaten Zustand eine Verringerung der Stickstoffoxide, insbesondere im brennstoffreichen Bereich. Eine Überlagerung von erhöhter Brenngeschwindigkeit und einhergehender kürzerer Verweilzeit wurde in Wasserstoff-Methan-Flammen im Vergleich zu reinen Methan-Flammen als Ursache ermittelt und numerisch nachvollzogen. Die experimentellen Daten konnten durch ausgewählte Reaktionsmechanismen nur teilweise wiedergegeben werden. Final wurden für vergleichbare Bedingungen an einem Gegenstrombrenner auch nicht vorgemischte Flammen bis zu einem Wasserstoffanteil von 50 % detaillierter untersucht. Dabei lag das Hauptaugenmerk der Ermittlung der Verlöschungsstreckungsgrenzen. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass sich diese im Fall der Wasserstoffbeimischung deutlich iivergrößern, was auch von den numerischen Modellen vorhergesagt wurde. Im Fall einer Sauerstoffreduktion kommt es hingegen zu einer deutlichen Verkleinerung des stabilen Flammenbereiches. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass sich dieser Zusammenhang nichtlinear zwischen der Sauerstoff- und Brennstoffkonzentration verhält. Abschließend konnte ein umfassender Datensatz zu laminaren Brenngeschwindigkeiten, Erlöschungsstreckungsraten und Schadstoffen für Methan-Wasserstoff-Flammen bis zu einem Anteil von 50 % Wasserstoff erstellt werden. Dieser dient der Verbesserung bestehender Reaktionsmechanismen und liefert grundlegende Erkenntnisse zur Auslegung von Brennern.:1 Einleitung, Motivation und Aufgabenstellung der Arbeit 2 Stand der Wissenschaft und Technik 3 Versuchsaufbau, verwendete Messmethoden und experimentelle Versuchsdurchführung 4 Numerische Methoden 5 Experimentelle und numerische Ergebnisse zur laminaren Brenngeschwindigkeit 6 Experimentelle und numerische Ergebnisse zur Erlöschungsstreckungsrate 7 Einfluss der Wasserstoffbeimischung in Methan-Flammen auf die Schadstoffbildung 8 Zusammenfassung und Ausblick 9 Literatur 10 Anhang / In a future sustainable society, hydrogen is expected to play an important role as an energy carrier. The transition path from pure natural gas to the use of mixtures, up to 50 % hydrogen, has to be investigated in more detail. The research that has been conducted focuses on the safety, pollutant emission and the stability areas of laminar flames. A significant parameter for the safety of burner systems is the laminar burning velocity. In this work, methane-hydrogen mixtures were measured experimentally and compared with numerical approaches using different reaction mechanisms. The Heat Flux Burner was used to measure the laminar burning velocity with high accuracy. In the present study, the laminar adiabatic burning velocities for methane-hydrogen-oxygen-nitrogen mixtures at different equivalence ratios and varied oxygen contents was investigated. The experimental data up to 20 % hydrogen at reduced oxygen content could only be partially reproduced by ten selected detailed reaction mechanisms. Further measurements are concerned with methane-hydrogen-air mixtures at different equivalence ratios, temperatures and hydrogen contents up to 50 %. For these parameters, an exhaust gas analysis was carried out as a function of the height above the burner with the aim of nitrogen oxide detections. A reduction in nitrogen oxides in the laminar adiabatic state was observed, especially in the fuel-rich range. A superposition of increased burning velocity and accompanying shorter residence time in the hydrogen-methane mixtures compared to pure methane flames was determined as the cause which could also be shown numerically. The experimental results could only be partially reproduced by selected reaction mechanisms. Furthermore, for comparable conditions, non-premixed flames up to a hydrogen content of 50 % were investigated in more detail. The main focus was the determination of the extinction strain rate limits. It could be shown that these increase significantly in the case of hydrogen admixture, which could also be predicted by the numerical models. In the case of oxygen reduction, on contrary, there is a significant reduction of the stable flame area. It could be demonstrated that this relationship is non-linear between the oxygen and fuel concentration. Finally, a comprehensive data set on laminar burning rates, extinction stretching rates and pollutants for methane-hydrogen flames up to a proportion of 50 % hydrogen could be generated. This can contribute to the improvement of existing reaction mechanisms and provide fundamental knowledge for the design of burners.:1 Einleitung, Motivation und Aufgabenstellung der Arbeit 2 Stand der Wissenschaft und Technik 3 Versuchsaufbau, verwendete Messmethoden und experimentelle Versuchsdurchführung 4 Numerische Methoden 5 Experimentelle und numerische Ergebnisse zur laminaren Brenngeschwindigkeit 6 Experimentelle und numerische Ergebnisse zur Erlöschungsstreckungsrate 7 Einfluss der Wasserstoffbeimischung in Methan-Flammen auf die Schadstoffbildung 8 Zusammenfassung und Ausblick 9 Literatur 10 Anhang / 在未来的可持续发展社会中，氢气将作为一种能源载体发挥重要作用。从纯天然气到使用高达50 %的氢气混合物的过渡需要进行更详细的科研调查。本论文的研究重点集中于安全角度，污染物的演变以及层流火焰的稳定性领域。作为燃烧系统安全的一个关键参数文章使用层状燃烧率。本文献通过实验测量了甲烷-氢气混合物，并对在不同反应机制的形成的数字数据进行了比较。 热流量燃烧器被用来高精度地测量层状燃烧速度。本研究针对不同当量比和不同氧含量的甲烷-氢-氧-氮混合物进行了层流绝热燃烧速度的分析。在氧气减少的情况下，至20 % 的氢气实验数据只能由10个选定的详细反应机制部分地重现。进一步的测量针对不同当量比、温度和氢含量至50 %的甲烷-氢-空气混合物。然后对这些参数依赖于燃烧器上方的高度，进行了废气分析，目的是确定局部的氮氧化物浓度。结果表明在层状绝热条件下，特别是在燃料丰富的区域，氮氧化物有所减少。与纯甲烷火焰相比，氢-甲烷火焰的高燃烧速度和短暂的停留时间两者叠加被确定为其原因，文章对此并进行了数值重建。实验数据只能被选定的反应机理部分重现。最后，文章在逆流燃烧器上的可比条件下，也对氢气含量至50 %的非预混火焰进行了更详细的研究。研究在此特别进行了熄灭应变率的测定。 结果表明，如同数值模型所预测，在氢气掺入的情况下，以上数值都明显增加。 而在氧气减少的情况下，稳定的火焰面积明显减少。由此可以证明氧气和燃料浓度之间的非线性关系。最后，文章结果可以用于建立一个关于甲烷-氢气 （其氢气比例最高至50 %）火焰的层流燃烧速度、熄灭应变率和污染物的综合数据集。这有助于优化现有的反应机制，并为燃烧器的设计提供基本知识。:1 Einleitung, Motivation und Aufgabenstellung der Arbeit 2 Stand der Wissenschaft und Technik 3 Versuchsaufbau, verwendete Messmethoden und experimentelle Versuchsdurchführung 4 Numerische Methoden 5 Experimentelle und numerische Ergebnisse zur laminaren Brenngeschwindigkeit 6 Experimentelle und numerische Ergebnisse zur Erlöschungsstreckungsrate 7 Einfluss der Wasserstoffbeimischung in Methan-Flammen auf die Schadstoffbildung 8 Zusammenfassung und Ausblick 9 Literatur 10 Anhang

Sweden has recently increased its efforts to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emission by 2045.The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility for Bollnäs municipality to meet itsenvironmental goals through the conversion of its current fleet to a Natural Gas Vehicle basedfleet. A CO2 emission-based comparison has been used to estimate from an environmentalstandpoint the viability of biogas as the main fuel for the Bollnäs municipality fleet. Theresults have shown how a compressed natural gas (CNG) based fleet would lower by morethan five times the estimated CO2 emission of the current fleet. The viability of a biogas fleethas been proven and further results have shown how if the CNG fuel was produced from100% renewable resources the environmental impact would be even lower. The results havealso shown how Electric Vehicles (EV) and Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO) from 100%renewable resources could be viable environmental alternatives but it requires furtherinvestigation from an infrastructure and economic standpoint. / <p>2021-06-04</p>

The global electricity generation industry is very reliant on the use of fossil fuels, particularly natural gas and coal. However, it is quickly becoming a reality that the over-consumption of these resources will continue to lead to significant global damage via global warming, ecosystem destruction, and the depletion of these so-called non-renewable re-sources. To combat this issue, renewable sources such as wind, biofuels and solar are be-coming much more prevalent in the power generation industry, but significant economic, reliability and availability barriers to entry will prevent these sources from being major contributors to the power industry for decades. To this end, this thesis focuses on the design, operation, optimization and life cycle analysis of an integrated solid-oxide fuel (SOFC) cell power plant integrated with com-pressed air energy storage (CAES). This plant, fueled by either natural gas or coal, can make much more efficient use of their limited non-renewable fuel sources, and are capable of achieving nearly 100% carbon capture at the plant boundary. This plant is intended to serve as a more efficient and environmentally responsible alternative to current power generation methods while still exploiting remaining fossil fuels to their fullest extent. This thesis details the design, sizing and simulation of integrated SOFC/CAES plants in Aspen Plus so that full feasibility and techno-economic analyses may be performed, the results of which are then compared to the current state-of-the-art (SOTA) options. In order to compare the plants on an environmental level, full cradle-to-grave life-cycle analyses using the ReCiPe 2008 method are completed for each SOFC-based plant and all comparable SOTA options under a wide range of assumptions and plant configurations, such as the use of carbon capture strategies. Furthermore, detailed reduced-order dynamic models of the integrated SOFC/CAES plants are developed and simulated with a newly developed rolling-horizon optimization method to assess the load-following capabilities of the integrated plant. Real scaled demand data for the market of Ontario, Canada for the years 2013 and 2014 are used as the demand data for the simulations. This thesis takes strides in proving the feasibility of an integrated SOFC/CAES power plant for providing clean, efficient, reliable and cost-effective power using fossil fuels. The next steps for this project involve the development of a lab-scale pilot plant, which would be used to validate simulation results and provide an opportunity for the real-time application and assessment of the potential of this plant design. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The thesis is devoted to the development of software for the system of optimal distribution of fuel and energy resources in the group of blast furnaces. In the course of work, the main stages of software development are considered: analysis of the subject area; creation of software architecture, user interface, database structure; development of algorithmic support and reference documentation; preparation of the distribution. The result of the work is a software product intended for the engineering and technological personnel of the blast furnace shop of the metallurgical plant. The results of the work can also be used in the educational process for training bachelors and undergraduates in the areas of "Metallurgy" and "Information Systems and Technologies". / Диссертационная работа посвящена разработке программного обеспечения системы оптимального распределения топливно-энергетических ресурсов в группе доменных печей. В ходе работы рассмотрены основные этапы разработки программного обеспечения: анализ предметной области; создание архитектуры программного обеспечения, пользовательского интерфейса, структуры базы данных; разработка алгоритмического обеспечения и справочной документации; подготовка дистрибутива. Результатом работы является программный продукт, предназначенный для инженерно-технологического персонала доменного цеха металлургического комбината. Результаты работы могут быть использованы также в учебном процессе для обучения бакалавров и магистрантов по направлениям «Металлургия» и «Информационные системы и технологии».