A computer simulation program, Controlled Atmosphere Simulation (CAS), was written in Microsoft Visual Basic 3.0, Professional Edition to evaluate energy use by three type of atmosphere generators used in fruit storage warehouses. The program consists of pulldown time and energy use models for a membrane air separator, an ammonia fractionating burner, and a catalytic oxygen burner. Predicted results subsequently became input to an interactive computer program, Fruit Storage Refrigeration Energy Simulation (FruSTRES), which was developed to simulate energy use by cold storage ammonia refrigeration systems. The resulting model package was then used to predict overall annual energy use in fruit storages, based on number and size of rooms, building construction, equipment operation (both refrigeration and CA), commodity stored, storage period(s), and weather conditions. The CAS accurately predicted the pulldown time of each type of equipment under normal operation. The resulting model package (CAS and FruSTRES), will be an invaluable tool in design and analyses of ammonia refrigeration and atmosphere generation systems used in common and controlled atmosphere fruit storages. / Graduation date: 1998

No description available.

Flexible carbon capture and storage (CCS) has the potential to play a significant part in the decarbonisation of electricity generation portfolios which have significant penetration from intermittent renewable sources. Post-combustion capture (PCC) with amine solvents is a mature technology and is currently the state-of-the-art for CO2 emissions reduction from power stations. However, knowledge of the dynamic capture process is currently limited due to a dearth of dynamic datasets which reflect real plant operation, lack of a robust in-situ solvent analysis method for plant control and uncertainty about how changing plant design affects the response to dynamic operations. In addition, the nature of interfacial gas-liquid dynamics inside the absorber column are not well known and rely on correlations for effective mass transfer area and liquid holdup which may have uncertainties of up to +/- 13%. This could result in absorption columns being improperly sized for CCS operations. Two pilot-scale test campaigns are implemented in order to gain an understanding of how the capture plant responds to dynamic operations, the first on natural gas combined cycle (NGCC)-equivalent flue gas, the second on pulverised coal (PC)-equivalent. Changes in flue gas flow rates and steam supply which are designed to be representative of PCC operation on real NGCC and PC plant are implemented, using 30%wt monoethanolamine (MEA) as absorbent in both cases. Dynamic datasets are obtained for 5 scenarios with NGCC and 8 with PC flue gas. The test campaigns are carried out using two separate pilot-scale facilities and highlight the effect of plant design on hydrodynamics and hence, the response of the capture plant to dynamic operations. Finally, a novel solvent sensor is used to demonstrate, for the first time, control of the capture facility using in-situ measurements of solvent composition, combined with knowledge of test facility hydrodynamics and response times. Results from the pilot-scale test campaign are then used along with a mathematical NGCC capture plant scale up to investigate the potential effects of dynamic operations on total yearly CO2 emissions and the associated environmental penalties, depending on CO2 price. Manufacturers of column internals for CCS often rely on computational fluid dynamic (CFD) software tools for design, but existing commercial codes are unable to handle complex two-phase flows such as those encountered in the absorber column of a CO2 capture plant. An open-source direct numerical simulation (DNS) tool which will be capable of rigorously modelling two-phase flow with turbulence and mass transfer has been developed and could eventually replace the empirical methods currently used in packing design. The DNS code requires validation by experiment. For the purpose of validation a dual-purpose wetted-wall column is constructed, which in addition to mass transfer measurements can be used to determine liquid film thickness using an optical method. Measurements of average film thickness, wave amplitude, frequency, velocity and growth rate are provided for three liquid flow rates of fresh 30%wt MEA solution. Wave measurements are made with quiescent, laminar and turbulent gas flow, with and without mass transfer. These measurements can be used to validate the DNS code at its existing level of complexity, and in the future when turbulence and mass transfer are added.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:24:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2004-08-22Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:47:19Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 pentagna_rpp_me_bauru_prot.pdf: 1054031 bytes, checksum: c2f515f7ab29cf3aa3f199133c8d8d15 (MD5) / outros - empresas / Foi desenvolvido um modelo matemático para descrever o processo de estocagem de energia via estratificação térmica de líquido em um tanque. Neste modelo foi considerado um balanço de energia para o sistema de estocagem e proposto um modelo matemático unidimensional e transiente capaz de descrever o histórico dos perfis de temperatura do líquido e da parede do reservatório durante a operação de carregamento dinâmico. O modelo matemático foi discretizado através da técnica de diferença finitas e sua solução foi obtida numericamente através de um código computacional desenvolvido em linguagem de programação FORTRAN. Os resultados teóricos foram comparados com resultados experimentais, e estudada também a influência da relação altura/diâmetro e velocidade de carregamento no processo de estocagem de energia. / A mathematical model is developed to describe the energy storage process by thermal stratification of a liquid in a storage tank. Considering a balance of energy for the storage system, is proposed a transient and unidimensional mathematical model capable to describe the history of the liquid temperatures profile and the wall of the storage during the charging dynamic operations. The mathematical model was discretizided using a finite differences technic and its solution got numerically through a computational code developed in a FORTRAN programming language. The theorical results were compared with experimental results, and it was also studied the influence of aspect ratio and the charging velocity in an energy storage process.

Chemical looping combustion (CLC) is a technique for separating pure carbon dioxide from the combustion of fuels. The oxygen to burn the fuel comes from the lattice oxygen contained in solid particles of an inorganic oxide (the 'oxygen carrier'), instead of from oxygen in the air. Thus only CO2 and water leave the combustor, or fuel reactor. Next, the water is condensed, leaving pure CO2. The oxygen carrier is regenerated by oxidising it in air in a second reactor, called the air reactor. Accordingly, a stream of pure carbon dioxide can be produced, uncontaminated with gases such as nitrogen, normally present when the fuel burns in air. This intrinsic separation with CLC enables CO2 to be separated more efficiently than with other techniques, such as post-combustion scrubbing of carbon dioxide from stack gases with amine-based solvents. The design of a CLC system and its performance within an electricity system represents a multi-scale problem, ranging from the behaviour of single particles of oxygen carrier within a reactor to how a CLC-based power plant would perform in an electricity grid. To date, these scales have been studied in isolation, with little regard for the vital interactions and dependences amongst them. This Dissertation addresses this problem by considering CLC holistically for the first time, using a multi-scale approach. A stochastic model was developed, combining the particle-and reactor-scales of CLC. It included an appropriate particle model and can be coupled to a detailed reactor model. The combination represented a significant change from existing approaches, uniquely accounting for all the important factors affecting the assemblage of particles performing in the CLC reactors. It was used to determine the regimes of operation in which CLC is sensitive to factors such as the manner in which the particles are reacting, the residence time distribution of particles in the two reactors, the particle size distribution and the reaction history of particles. To demonstrate that the approach could simulate specific configurations of CLC, as well as a general system, the model was compared with results from experiments in which CLC with methane was conducted in a laboratory-scale circulating fluidised bed. The long-term performance of oxygen carrier materials is important, because, in an industrial process, they would be expected to function satisfactorily for many thousands of hours of operation. Long-term experiments were conducted to evaluate the resistance of different oxygen carrier materials to physical and chemical attrition. The evolution of their chemical kinetics was also determined. The results were used to evaluate the impact of different oxygen carrier materials in a fuel reactor at industrial-scale. Finally, a theoretical approach was developed to simulate how a fleet of CLC-based power plants would perform within the UK's national grid. By understanding how different parameters such as capital cost, operating cost and measures of efficiency, compared with other methods of generation offering carbon reduction, desirable design modifications and needs for improvement for CLC were identified by utilising the theoretical and experimental work conducted at the particle- and reactor-scales.

A two year experiment demonstrated electrical energy savings through evaporator fan cycling in part of a full-sized refrigerated controlled atmosphere apple storage facility in Yakima, Washington. Room cooling demand and evaporator fan operation was controlled by the bulk fruit temperature. Refrigerant temperature was regulated by a computer controlled ramping sequence and a weighted average of three thermistors rather than a room thermostat. Evaporator fans remained off 60-65% of the time during periods of fan cycling operation. Seasonal average fan energy savings approached 50-55% when the product remained in storage for a typical length of time. Room environment conditions, product mass loss, and fruit quality were not compromised. Bulk fruit temperature was exceptionally stable as compared to fruit stored in non-fan cycled rooms controlled by traditional means. Less fan motor heat input in the fruit storage space also results in compressor energy savings. Total electrical energy savings were projected to an 18 room fruit storage facility implementing computer controlled evaporator fan cycling. Projected electrical energy savings achievable through evaporator fan cycling for the state of Washington were made based on reported apple storage capacity. / Graduation date: 1993

Orientador: Alcides Padilha / Banca: Ricardo Fortes de Miranda / Banca: Vicente Luiz Scalon / Resumo: Foi desenvolvido um modelo matemático para descrever o processo de estocagem de energia via estratificação térmica de líquido em um tanque. Neste modelo foi considerado um balanço de energia para o sistema de estocagem e proposto um modelo matemático unidimensional e transiente capaz de descrever o histórico dos perfis de temperatura do líquido e da parede do reservatório durante a operação de carregamento dinâmico. O modelo matemático foi discretizado através da técnica de diferença finitas e sua solução foi obtida numericamente através de um código computacional desenvolvido em linguagem de programação FORTRAN. Os resultados teóricos foram comparados com resultados experimentais, e estudada também a influência da relação altura/diâmetro e velocidade de carregamento no processo de estocagem de energia. / Abstract: A mathematical model is developed to describe the energy storage process by thermal stratification of a liquid in a storage tank. Considering a balance of energy for the storage system, is proposed a transient and unidimensional mathematical model capable to describe the history of the liquid temperatures profile and the wall of the storage during the charging dynamic operations. The mathematical model was discretizided using a finite differences technic and its solution got numerically through a computational code developed in a FORTRAN programming language. The theorical results were compared with experimental results, and it was also studied the influence of aspect ratio and the charging velocity in an energy storage process. / Mestre

This report studies the importance of solar cooking when moving towards a more sustainable and egalitarian future. The problems regarding its implementation, in fact, technological, social and economic problems, are presented. A historic overview is offered as well as the theory behind the technology. After studying the current situation concerning cooking, different devices have been analysed and considered, from small ones suitable for households to bigger ones for institutions. Furthermore, several backup systems are also proposed aiming to obtain an ideal Integrated Solar Cooker (ISC). Possible hybrid systems have also been evaluated during the work. Furthermore, state-of-the-art technology in Thermal Energy Storage (TES) is also commented and taken into account for the most efficient combination of technologies. Several photovoltaic kitchens are mentioned in this report as well. Two main conclusions have been drawn: trying to solely rely on the sun is a mistake and the ideal and universal ISC does not exist. Other factors besides the income are determinant when choosing an energy source, therefore, a thorough investigation in every particular case is completely necessary for a successful implementation of an ISC. However, the countless devices available make the adoption of solar technology possible in every situation, helping to achieve some of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Several CO2 transcritical booster systems in supermarkets use the potential of integrating geothermal storage, enabling subcooling during warm climate conditions as well as being a heat source during cold climate conditions. First of all, field measurements of one of these systems located in Sweden were analysed with particular focus on the heat-recovery performance. The best theoretical operational strategy was compared to the one really implemented and the differences in the annual energy usage were assessed through modelling. The results show that an alternative to the best theoretical operational strategy exists; heat can be extracted from the ground while low-temperature heat is rejected by the gas cooler. Such an alternative strategy has important technical advantages with a negligible increment of the energy usage. In the second part of this work, the benefits of geothermal subcooling were evaluated. Applying the BIN hours method, it was demonstrated that this system is expected to save on average roughly 5% of the total power consumption, in Stockholm’s climate. The models utilized for the winter and summer season were combined to find the relationship between geothermal storage size and annual energy savings. In this way, it was possible to calculate the present value of the operational savings for the study case. Furthermore, a general methodology for assessing the economic feasibility of this system solution is presented. Finally, several scenarios were investigated to produce parametric curves and to perform a sensitivity analysis. Comparing the results with the typical Swedish prices for boreholes, the cases where this system solution is economically justified were identified. These are supermarkets with a Heat Recovery Ratio (HRR) higher than the average. For examples, supermarkets supplying heat to the neighbouring buildings (considering the Stockholm’s climate, systems with an annual average HRR of at least 70%). Relying only on savings from subcooling was found to be not enough to justify a geothermal storage, a not-negligible amount of heat must be extracted in winter. Finally, some interesting concepts and alternatives to a geothermal integration are presented to point out relevant future work.

Currently, renewable energy sources are the main driver for future electricity generation. This trend is growing faster in the developed countries in order to reduce the green house effect and also in response to the limited supply of oil, gas and coal which are currently the major sources for electric generation. For example, the main renewable energy sources are from wind energy and solar energy but these energies are only available to those countries that are exposed to these resources. In this thesis an alternative energy source is investigated where it can be generated from the moving objects or in form of kinetic energy. The idea is to convert the kinetic energy during landing aircraft into electrical energy which it can also be stored and transferred to the existing electrical network. To convert this kinetic energy to electrical energy, the linear generator (LG) and uncontrolled rectifier have been used for energy conversion. The LG have been modelled in 3-phase model or in dq model and combined with the diode rectifier that is used to generate the dc signal outputs. Due to the uncontrolled rectifier the electrical outputs will have decaying amplitude along the landing time. This condition also happen to the LG outputs such as the force and the power output. In order to control these outputs the cascaded buck-boost converter has been used. This converter is responsible to control the output current at the rectifier and also the LG output power during landing to more controllable power output. Here, the H∞ current control strategy has been used as it offers a very good performance for current tracking and to increase the robustness of the controller. During landing, huge power is produced at the beginning and when the landing time is increased, the generated input power from LG is reduced to zero. Due to this, the energy storage that consists of ultracapacitor, bidirectional converter and boost converter are used in order to store and to release the energy depends on the input power source and load grid power. The voltage proportional-integral (PI) control strategy has been used for both the converters. The last part is to transfer the energy from the source and at the ultracapacitor to the load by using the inverter as the processing device. The power controller and current controller are used at the inverter in order to control the power ?ow between the inverter and the grid. This is when the reference power is determined by the load power in order to generate the reference currents by using the voltage oriented controller (VOC), while the H∞ current controller is used to regulate the inverter currents in order to inject the suitable amount of current that refer to the load power. Finally, a complete energy recovery system for landing aircraft with the grid connection have been put together to make the whole system to be as a new renewable energy source for the future electricity generation.