No description available.

Final report to Office of Energy Research and Development Policy, National Science Foundation, Contract NSF C-1030

No description available.

This study examines the advocacy coalitions in Russia. Using the Advocacy Coalition Framework, it looks at the power resource distribution amongst the coalitions, and how this distribution affects Russian foreign policy. The power resources examined are: Formal Legal Authority; Public Opinion; Information; Mobilizable Troops; and Financial Resources. In addition to this, the study used quantitative and qualitative methods to identify these resources. There are a couple of conclusions we may draw from this study. The method is useful in identifying power resources. It is not enough to use only the distribution of resources amongst coalitions in order to explain policy changes. It is found that the distribution of resources, coupled with coalition interaction, is enough to explain changes in Russian foreign policy.

O aumento global da utilização de combustíveis tem por consequência maior demanda energética, seja ela renovável ou não. Posto que nossa matriz energética ainda é baseada em combustíveis fosseis, isso significa que há um aumento no impacto ambiental causado pela queima de fontes derivadas de petróleo e carvão. Neste contexto, destaca-se hidrogênio, um gás que pode desempenhar papel significativo na redução das emissões de gases de efeito estufa (GEE) e produção energética limpa, pois a síntese de hidrogênio pode ser realizada a partir de resíduos orgânicos aplicando o processo de digestão anaeróbia. Em nível nacional, dois resíduos se destacam nesse contexto: glicerol e vinhoto. O primeiro é o principal subproduto da indústria do biodiesel, o segundo é o principal resíduo da indústria sucroalcooleira. Assim, essa pesquisa se focou em estabelecer os melhores parâmetros influência no processo de produção de hidrogênio utilizando vinhoto e glicerol em reatores de modo de operação de batelada. Concluiu-se que a produção de hidrogênio somente utilizando vinhoto tem seus melhores resultados usando pH 6,0 e pH 6,5, sendo que o primeiro estudo obteve maior produção total acumulada (7.585 mL H2) e o segundo obteve maior taxa de produção (0,88 mmol H2.gSSV-1.h-1). Os estudos com mistura dos substratos mostram que a produção de H2 pode ser ainda mais eficiente em comparação com vinhoto bruto, sendo que a melhor razão de mistura foi com 80% de DQO decorrente do glicerol e 20% de vinhoto em que houve produção total acumulada de 10.070 mL H2 e 0,85 mmol H2.gSSV-1.h-1. / Submitted by Ana Guimarães Pereira (agpereir@ucs.br) on 2017-03-06T18:39:54Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Eduardo Ribeiro Lovatel.pdf: 2004975 bytes, checksum: fde05a04d0c4b0bbb9d5809c2370476d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-06T18:39:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Eduardo Ribeiro Lovatel.pdf: 2004975 bytes, checksum: fde05a04d0c4b0bbb9d5809c2370476d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-06 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, CAPES. / The fuel use increase in a global scale have caused rising energy demand, whether it's renewable or not. Since our energy matrix is still based on fossil fuels, it also means an increase in the environmental impact caused by burning sources derived from oil and coal. In this context, hydrogen is highlighted, as a gas that could play a significant role in the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and clean energy production, since hydrogen synthesis can be performed from organic waste using the anaerobic digestion process. At the national level, two residues stand out: glycerol and sugarcane vinasse. The first is the main by-product of the biodiesel industry, the second is the main residue of the sugar and ethanol industry. Thus, this research focused on establishing the best influence parameters in the hydrogen production process using vinasse and glycerol in batch mode operation reactors. It was concluded that the production of hydrogen only using vinasse had better results using pH 6.0 and pH 6.5, and the first study obtained higher accumulated total production (7,585 mL H2) and the second obtained a higher specific production rate (0.88 mmol H2.gSSV-1.h-1). The studies with mixture of the substrates shown that H2 production can be even more efficient in comparison with crude vinasse, and the best mixing ratio was with 80% of COD due to glycerol and 20% to vinhoto, in which there was total accumulated production 10.070 mL H2 and 0.85 mmol H2.gSSV-1.h-1.

Thesis (MTech (Electrical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2015. / From the electric power generation perspective, the last three decades have been characterized by sustained growth in the amount of Distributed Power Generation (DPG) systems integrated into the electric grid. This trend is anticipated to continue, especially in light of the widespread acceptance of the many benefits envisaged in the increase of renewable-based power generation. The potential for grid-integrated DPG systems to significantly contribute to electric power supply reliability has consistently attracted extensive research in recent times, although concerns continue to be raised over their adverse impact on the normal grid operation at high penetration levels. These concerns largely stem from the limited controllability of most DPG systems, which tend to exhibit large output impedance variation, and non-deterministic power output characteristics. There has therefore also been a growing need to develop effective control strategies that can enhance the overall impact of the DPG systems on the grid operation, thus improving their synergistic properties, and probably also enabling an even higher penetration level into the utility grid. In line with this identified need, this thesis discusses the modeling and controller design for an inverter-based DPG system with the capability to effectively operate both in grid-connected and autonomous (i.e. independent of the utility grid) operational modes. The dual-mode operation of the DPG is made possible by incorporating into the inverter interface control scheme the means to ensure seamless transition of the DPG between the grid-connected and autonomous modes of operation. The intention is to have a grid-integrated inverter-based DPG system whose operation approximates that of an online Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system, in that it is able to sustain power supply to the local load in the absence of the grid supply, which would be desirable for critical loads, for which the level of power supply reliability guaranteed by the grid often falls short of the requirements. The work developed in this thesis considers three of the aspects associated with grid-integrated DPG systems that are equipped with autonomous-mode operation capability.

O aumento global da utilização de combustíveis tem por consequência maior demanda energética, seja ela renovável ou não. Posto que nossa matriz energética ainda é baseada em combustíveis fosseis, isso significa que há um aumento no impacto ambiental causado pela queima de fontes derivadas de petróleo e carvão. Neste contexto, destaca-se hidrogênio, um gás que pode desempenhar papel significativo na redução das emissões de gases de efeito estufa (GEE) e produção energética limpa, pois a síntese de hidrogênio pode ser realizada a partir de resíduos orgânicos aplicando o processo de digestão anaeróbia. Em nível nacional, dois resíduos se destacam nesse contexto: glicerol e vinhoto. O primeiro é o principal subproduto da indústria do biodiesel, o segundo é o principal resíduo da indústria sucroalcooleira. Assim, essa pesquisa se focou em estabelecer os melhores parâmetros influência no processo de produção de hidrogênio utilizando vinhoto e glicerol em reatores de modo de operação de batelada. Concluiu-se que a produção de hidrogênio somente utilizando vinhoto tem seus melhores resultados usando pH 6,0 e pH 6,5, sendo que o primeiro estudo obteve maior produção total acumulada (7.585 mL H2) e o segundo obteve maior taxa de produção (0,88 mmol H2.gSSV-1.h-1). Os estudos com mistura dos substratos mostram que a produção de H2 pode ser ainda mais eficiente em comparação com vinhoto bruto, sendo que a melhor razão de mistura foi com 80% de DQO decorrente do glicerol e 20% de vinhoto em que houve produção total acumulada de 10.070 mL H2 e 0,85 mmol H2.gSSV-1.h-1. / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, CAPES. / The fuel use increase in a global scale have caused rising energy demand, whether it's renewable or not. Since our energy matrix is still based on fossil fuels, it also means an increase in the environmental impact caused by burning sources derived from oil and coal. In this context, hydrogen is highlighted, as a gas that could play a significant role in the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and clean energy production, since hydrogen synthesis can be performed from organic waste using the anaerobic digestion process. At the national level, two residues stand out: glycerol and sugarcane vinasse. The first is the main by-product of the biodiesel industry, the second is the main residue of the sugar and ethanol industry. Thus, this research focused on establishing the best influence parameters in the hydrogen production process using vinasse and glycerol in batch mode operation reactors. It was concluded that the production of hydrogen only using vinasse had better results using pH 6.0 and pH 6.5, and the first study obtained higher accumulated total production (7,585 mL H2) and the second obtained a higher specific production rate (0.88 mmol H2.gSSV-1.h-1). The studies with mixture of the substrates shown that H2 production can be even more efficient in comparison with crude vinasse, and the best mixing ratio was with 80% of COD due to glycerol and 20% to vinhoto, in which there was total accumulated production 10.070 mL H2 and 0.85 mmol H2.gSSV-1.h-1.

Ph.D. (Energy Studies) / The underlying assumption of this thesis is that information is critical for effective energy policy support. The objectives set and attained for this study were to: • assess existing solutions to the problem of supplying energy information; • consider developments in integrated conceptual solutions to the problems; • identify and analyse data structures for providing a single integrated information system as a solution; • evaluate and identify local energy and economic data sources for input to the proposed system; • provide a framework for information outputs in such an integrated system; and • make recommendations on the practical implementation of the conceptual . solution. The concepts underlying the basic assumption, and other parameters were clarified in Chapter 1. In particular, the link between policy formulation, modeling, and data collection, management and dissemination was shown. A study and assessment of existing energy information systems was then carried out. This investigated national systems in South Africa and other countries, and the systems of three international organisations. The structure and management of these energy information systems was assessed, as was the degree to which each provided the necessary support for policy formulation. Legislation was, where applicable, also considered. It was determined from this study and assessment that there were no integrated information systems to provide adequate information for energy policy makers through a single access point. An integrated single access point system was postulated at the conceptual level in Chapter 3. The major contribution to this conceptualisation is the concept of a single standardised referential data set A single referential data set can be used to classify all data at every level of the proposed integrated national energy information system. This integrated approach supports policy formulation and allows for the most efficient use of national resources in maintaining information. The proposed system was considered as a data flow model, to provide an overview of the collection, processing and dissemination of data. Next, a system model was developed. This divided the system into two broad divisions: the central control functions, including the referential data set; and the data modules, which provide the structure for capturing and maintaining the collected data. The final stage in this chapter . was the development of a data model which shows the relationships between the elements of the system model, particularly the relationship between the referential data set and all other data. In Chapter 4, this data model was developed further to identify entity sets and their content descriptions. It indicates in tabular format the structure of the different system components, and then shows diagrammatically the high level linkages between these components; This analysis of the proposed system is the precursor to work by systems analysts who are responsible for the final design specifications for system software. In Chapter 5 the objective was to determine sources of data for input to the national system. The South African energy economy was briefly studied and assessed for both supply and demand side information. Finally in Chapter 6, a set of output templates was developed. Once fully implemented, these will provide system users with all the necessary information to support policy formulation. Desired outputs from a system must be known before the system is designed, and are therefor included.

M.Ing. (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) / The present Eskom procedure used for allocating harmonic current injection limits to large customers have been in use for the past three years. This thesis presents an international comparison of the Eskom procedure with other procedures. This comparison is used as a basis for development of recommendations that can lead to improvement of the present procedure ...

D.Phil. / Global society has evolved into a complex multi-dimensional system in which it has become increasingly difficult to construct and maintain a systemic model of cause and effect. Specialisation and abstraction in the various disciplines of scientific and societal complexity has led to divergent theories of sustainability. Failure to integrate real life problems across disciplines poses a threat to modern society because the causal links between disciplines are unattended in many instances and events in one dimension could lead to catastrophic unintended consequences in another. In light of the above, this thesis contributes towards the multi-disciplinary integration of some of the most important sustainability concerns of modern society, namely Energy Security, Economic Growth and Global Warming. Analysing these real-life sustainability issues in a multi-disciplinary context leads to conclusions that are controversial in terms of established philosophical worldviews and policy trends. Firstly, the thesis establishes deterministic expectations of an imminent era of declining Energy Security resulting from the exhaustion of non-renewable fossil fuel resources, despite optimistic expectations of technology improvements in alternative energy sources such as renewable and nuclear. Secondly, the exhaustion of non-renewable fossil fuel resources imposes limits to the potential sources of anthropogenic carbon emissions that render the more pessimistic emissions cases considered in the global warming debate irrelevant. The lower level of attainable carbon emissions challenges the merits of the conventional carbon feedback cycle with the result that the predicted global warming is within acceptance limits of the contemporary global warming debate. Thirdly, the consequences of declining Energy Security on socio-economic welfare is a severe divergence from historical trends and demands the reassertion of the role of energy in human development, including Economic Growth theory. The thesis develops a novel economic growth model that treats energy as an explicit and Autonomous Factor of Production, thereby facilitating plausible predictions of future Economic Growth potential. The results challenge the sustainability of the current free-market capitalist economic system and demand strong policy responses to avoid the collapse of modern society.