Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-05Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:00:01Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 rodriguez_cjc_me_guara.pdf: 4550695 bytes, checksum: 39fdcc0a3d1ecf7ac3bdba90c51c9d49 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Após as crises do petróleo de 1973 e de 1979, notou-se um efeito nocivo dos elevados custos e contínuo aumento dos preços do petróleo, razão pela qual aumentou o interesse pelas fontes de energias renováveis, amplamente disponíveis nos países em desenvolvimento. Em todo o mundo, tornaram-se objetivos prioritários de se economizar energia e buscar tecnologias racionais, levando-se sempre em consideração os efeitos relacionados ao meio ambiente. Por outro lado, a escassez iminente dos combustíveis fósseis tem exigido da humanidade o uso racional de energia primária e como conseqüência, novas plantas em versões tecnológicas mais desenvolvidas têm sido concebidas visando sempre o aumento da eficiência energética. Neste contexto, destacam-se as tecnologias de gaseificação de madeira, que consistem em técnicas de conversão da biomassa em gás combustível. O objetivo principal deste trabalho é o desenvolvimento e a demonstração de uma metodologia de dimensionamento de um gaseificador de leito fixo tipo Downdraft para uma alimentação de 100 kg/h de biomassa lignocelulósica. Avalia-se e escolhe-se os diversos equipamentos e acessórios necessários para a limpeza e acondicionamento do gás combustível para a alimentação de um motor de combustão interna. A análise técnica inclui além dos parâmetros construtivos específicos do gaseificador, o balanço de massa, de energia, e a determinação das eficiências, tanto para a eficiência a frio como para a eficiência a quente do gaseificador. A análise econômica inclui uma avaliação e obtenção dos custos tanto do gaseificador como do Motor de Combustão Interna acoplado, os custos dos equipamentos e acessórios da zona de gaseificação, os custos operacionais e os custos da instalação e amortização do projeto. / After the oil crisis of 1973 and 1979, an effect of the increase costs and continuously increment of the oil prices was noted. For this reason, the interest for renewable energies sources widely available in developing countries was increased. The governments have formulated main objectives for energy savings and search for friendly technologies, taking into account the effects related with the environment. The new plants with improved technology have been conceived always taking into account energy savings and efficiency improvement. In this context, biomass gasification technologies are important, since they consist in techniques of parallel production of electricity and heat from just one fuel. The main objective of this work is to develop and to demonstrate a scale up methodology for the construction of a bed fix downdraft gasifier with a 100 kg/h supply using as raw material lignocelulosic biomass. It will be evaluated and analytically chosen the necessary accessories and equipments for the cleaning and preparation of the biomass fuel gas, then this gas will be used in a internal combustion engine. The technical analysis includes in addition to the constructive specifics parameters, the balance of mass, balance of energy and determination of the efficiencies for thermal generation and power generation (hot efficiencies or cold efficiencies, respectively. The economic analysis includes cost evaluation of the gasifier, internal combustion engine, equipment and accessories of the gasification zone, operational and installation and amortization of the project.

In this work, a MFC fabrication procedure including two non-conventional techniques (partial baking and cap-sealing) were employed for the development of an up-scaled microfluidic fuel cell (MFC). Novel carbon-based electrode materials were employed, including carbon foam, fibre, and cloth, the results from which were compared with traditionally-employed carbon paper. The utilization of carbon cloth led to 15% of the maximum power that resulted from carbon paper; however, carbon fibre led to a 24.6% higher power density than carbon paper (normalized by electrode volume). When normalized by projected electrode area, the utilization of carbon foams resulted in power densities up to 42.5% higher than that from carbon paper. The impact of catalyst loading on MFC performance was also investigated, with an increase from 10.9 to 48.3 mgPt cm-2 resulting in a 195% increase in power density.

In this work, a MFC fabrication procedure including two non-conventional techniques (partial baking and cap-sealing) were employed for the development of an up-scaled microfluidic fuel cell (MFC). Novel carbon-based electrode materials were employed, including carbon foam, fibre, and cloth, the results from which were compared with traditionally-employed carbon paper. The utilization of carbon cloth led to 15% of the maximum power that resulted from carbon paper; however, carbon fibre led to a 24.6% higher power density than carbon paper (normalized by electrode volume). When normalized by projected electrode area, the utilization of carbon foams resulted in power densities up to 42.5% higher than that from carbon paper. The impact of catalyst loading on MFC performance was also investigated, with an increase from 10.9 to 48.3 mgPt cm-2 resulting in a 195% increase in power density.

Orientador: José Luz Silveira / Banca: Celso Eduardo Tuna / Banca: Diovana Aparecida dos Santos Napoleão / Resumo: Após as crises do petróleo de 1973 e de 1979, notou-se um efeito nocivo dos elevados custos e contínuo aumento dos preços do petróleo, razão pela qual aumentou o interesse pelas fontes de energias renováveis, amplamente disponíveis nos países em desenvolvimento. Em todo o mundo, tornaram-se objetivos prioritários de se economizar energia e buscar tecnologias racionais, levando-se sempre em consideração os efeitos relacionados ao meio ambiente. Por outro lado, a escassez iminente dos combustíveis fósseis tem exigido da humanidade o uso racional de energia primária e como conseqüência, novas plantas em versões tecnológicas mais desenvolvidas têm sido concebidas visando sempre o aumento da eficiência energética. Neste contexto, destacam-se as tecnologias de gaseificação de madeira, que consistem em técnicas de conversão da biomassa em gás combustível. O objetivo principal deste trabalho é o desenvolvimento e a demonstração de uma metodologia de dimensionamento de um gaseificador de leito fixo tipo Downdraft para uma alimentação de 100 kg/h de biomassa lignocelulósica. Avalia-se e escolhe-se os diversos equipamentos e acessórios necessários para a limpeza e acondicionamento do gás combustível para a alimentação de um motor de combustão interna. A análise técnica inclui além dos parâmetros construtivos específicos do gaseificador, o balanço de massa, de energia, e a determinação das eficiências, tanto para a eficiência a frio como para a eficiência a quente do gaseificador. A análise econômica inclui uma avaliação e obtenção dos custos tanto do gaseificador como do Motor de Combustão Interna acoplado, os custos dos equipamentos e acessórios da zona de gaseificação, os custos operacionais e os custos da instalação e amortização do projeto. / Abstract: After the oil crisis of 1973 and 1979, an effect of the increase costs and continuously increment of the oil prices was noted. For this reason, the interest for renewable energies sources widely available in developing countries was increased. The governments have formulated main objectives for energy savings and search for friendly technologies, taking into account the effects related with the environment. The new plants with improved technology have been conceived always taking into account energy savings and efficiency improvement. In this context, biomass gasification technologies are important, since they consist in techniques of parallel production of electricity and heat from just one fuel. The main objective of this work is to develop and to demonstrate a scale up methodology for the construction of a bed fix downdraft gasifier with a 100 kg/h supply using as raw material lignocelulosic biomass. It will be evaluated and analytically chosen the necessary accessories and equipments for the cleaning and preparation of the biomass fuel gas, then this gas will be used in a internal combustion engine. The technical analysis includes in addition to the constructive specifics parameters, the balance of mass, balance of energy and determination of the efficiencies for thermal generation and power generation (hot efficiencies or cold efficiencies, respectively. The economic analysis includes cost evaluation of the gasifier, internal combustion engine, equipment and accessories of the gasification zone, operational and installation and amortization of the project. / Mestre

This research is concerned with the drivers to utilize Renewable Energy in Gulf Cooperation Council countries with a focus on Kuwait. Such countries show high rates of electricity subsidies with high rate of emissions. At present, there is a continuous need to build new power stations to increase the electrical capacities, in order to cover the high peak loads that occurs in summers to avoid blackouts. The aim of this research is to create a combination of approaches to assess the adoption (economic and environmental) of Photovoltaic for electricity generation in Kuwait, which can be used to assist policy makers to compare various energy mixes and hence determine whether their current and future strategies are appropriate. Kuwait is in this research representative of an exemplar of oil-based economy in Gulf Cooperation Council region since they share similar energy policies and geographic location. The research provides an insight into the adoption of renewables in the region and the impact that particular energy mixes may have. Nine future potential scenarios are created showing different levels of PV deployment within Kuwait. The combination of approaches in this research estimates the economic and environmental impacts using Levelized Cost of Electricity and Life Cycle Assessment respectively of differing RE mixes. The findings show that energy storage increases the cost of electricity and the emissions from the photovoltaic sector. However, for the energy mix (PV and conventional), assuming oil price greater than 10.1$/Bbl. (when no storage required) and 15.2$/Bbl. (when using storage), PV generally lowers the cost of electricity, CO2 and SO2 emissions. Whilst, human toxicity is increased when storage is used. Taking all these factors into account, PV deployment is generally beneficial. However, if different combinations of impacts are considered, environmental and economic impacts may take different patterns. This led to a multi-objective problem to be solved. Using Pareto Front analysis, scenarios without storage requirement (i.e. 13% or less of photovoltaic) are preferable if only cost and human toxicity are considered. The contribution to knowledge from this research is that the deployment of large scale PV technology is beneficial in Kuwait economically and environmentally at least until 30% of the maximum peak load of electricity. The results have implications for other GCC countries with similar geographical, political and energy drivers; the methodology used in this research would be appropriate for these contexts.

<p>The Renewable Energies play a rather small role so far in the overall mixture for power generation, but they increasingly gain in importance. Nevertheless an independent marketability is not given yet. To reach the development goals which are requested by the European Commission, a monetary sponsorship at the expense of electricity consumers is required. Can this governmental interference be justified? Which problems arise with the subvention?</p>

The Renewable Energies play a rather small role so far in the overall mixture for power generation, but they increasingly gain in importance. Nevertheless an independent marketability is not given yet. To reach the development goals which are requested by the European Commission, a monetary sponsorship at the expense of electricity consumers is required. Can this governmental interference be justified? Which problems arise with the subvention?

The objective of this dissertation is to carry out dynamic modeling, analysis and control for Voltage-Source Converters (VSC). Two major applications of VSC will be investigated in this dissertation: microgrid application and High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) application. In microgrid applications, VSC is used to integrate distributed energy sources such as battery and provide system functions: such as real and reactive power regulation, voltage and frequency support during islanding condition, and abnormal system condition mitigation. In HVDC applications, VSC is used to interconnect dc systems with ac systems. The functions supplied by VSC are similar to that in microgrids. However, the transfer capability and stability in such kind of system are of major interests. Therefore, Part I of this dissertation focuses on VSC's applications in microgrids. A battery's inverter can be operated in both grid-connected PQ regulation mode and voltage and frequency support mode during islanding condition. Transition scheme between these two control modes is firstly investigated to guarantee a smooth dynamic performance. Secondly, a coordinated control strategy between battery's and PV station's VSCs is developed to improve microgrid's power flow. Thirdly, power quality improvement through the battery's inverter is investigated. VSC's control and capability for microgrid operation at normal, transient, and abnormal conditions will be modeled and analyzed. Part II of this dissertation focuses on VSC's applications in HVDC. The following topics are investigated in this dissertation: (i) how to design VSC-HVDC's controller using system identification method? (ii) How to coordinate VSCs in multi-terminal HVDC scenarios? And (iii) how to determine VSC-HVDC system's transfer capability based on stability limits? High-fidelity simulation technology is employed to tackle control validation while frequency domain impedance modeling technique is employed to develop analytical models for the systems. With linear system analysis tools such as Nyquist plots and Bode plots, stability limits and impacting factors of VSC-HVDC systems can be identified. This dissertation led to four journal papers (two accepted, one request of revision, one to submit) and five conference papers. The major contributions of this dissertation include: 1) Developed VSC and microgrid models in high-fidelity simulation environment. Developed and validated VSC control schemes for variety of microgrid operations: normal, abnormal, and transient. The developed technologies can facilitate a battery to make up solar power, improve system dynamic performance during transients, and improve power quality. 2) Developed VSC-HVDC simulation models, including two-terminal HVDC and multi-terminal HVDC. Developed VSC-HVDC control schemes for two-terminal and multi-terminal systems. Developed analytical impedance models for VSC-HVDC systems and successfully carried out stability limit identification.

Afin de lutter contre le changement climatique et de préserver les ressources naturelles, de nombreux pays ont mis en place des politiques plus ou moins ambitieuses de développement des énergies renouvelables électriques à court et moyen terme, tandis que, en parallèle, des scénarii de prospective à long terme envisagent un approvisionnement électrique majoritairement d'origine renouvelable. Certaines de ces énergies sont intermittentes et non contrôlables et, du fait des faibles économies d'échelle dont elles bénéficient, peuvent être développées de manière décentralisée, intégrées au bâtiment et raccordées au réseau de distribution, à l'opposé des moyens de production actuels. Concomitamment, les pointes de consommation augmentent à un rythme soutenu et obligent les gestionnaires de réseaux et les producteurs/fournisseurs à toujours plus d'investissements dans des moyens de production et de transport qui ne seront utilisés que pendant un faible nombre d'heures par an.Les changements décrits ci-dessus vont avoir un impact sur les trois grands objectifs de la planification et de la gestion du système électrique : minimiser le coût global, assurer la sûreté de l'approvisionnement et garantir la qualité de la fourniture. Si on analyse le fonctionnement actuel du système, les transformations à venir et les possibilités offertes par l'intégration de solutions de contrôle et de gestion (compteurs électriques communicants, transformateurs régleur en charge, onduleurs PV avec gestion de réactif, stockages, etc.) au réseau de distribution, il est possible de mettre en évidence trois grands domaines d'application - et donc de valorisation - pour celles-ci. Il s'agit du déplacement temporel d'énergie, de la fourniture de services auxiliaires (régulation et suivi de charge, réserve ou gestion de tension, par exemple) et de l'optimisation de la planification et de la gestion du réseau (évitement et/ou retardement d'investissement).Cependant, l'ensemble des procédures et méthodes de planification et d'opération actuel est basé sur l'hypothèse d'une production centralisée et d'un réseau de distribution passif. Dans ce contexte, cette thèse contribue au développement d'une méthode de simulation d'un réseau de distribution actif en proposant trois avancées: une méthode de décomposition-coordination permettant la simulation intégrée du système centralisé et du réseau de distribution, un algorithme de résolution du problème des flux optimaux dans le réseau de distribution et un critère de criticité diminuant les besoins en capacité de calcul de la simulation si elle est employé dans un cadre de planification. / Many countries have set up mechanism support in favor of renewable energy development at a short or long term, while, in parallel, long-term scenarios of predominantly renewable energy provisioning are studied. Some of these energies are intermittent and non-dispatchable and, due to the low economies of scale they exhibit, can be deployed in a decentralized manner, integrated in buildings and connected to the distribution system.However, the methods and tools currently used to plan and operate the power system rely on hypothesis of centralized generation and passive distribution network. In this context, this thesis contributes to the development of a method aimed at simulated an active distribution network by proposing three novel approaches: a decomposition and coordination method allowing the integrated simulation of the centralized power system and the active distribution network, an algorithm to solve the single-stage optimal power flow in the distribution system as well as two criticality criteria allowing to decrease the computational burden of the simulation when it is used for planning purposes.

One of the Sustainable Development Goals set in 2015 by the United Nations aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all, increasing the global share of renewable energy to 32-35% by 2030. Moving towards this goal, the University of Trento funded the interdepartmental strategic project ERiCSol (Energie Rinnovabili e Combustibili Solari), in order to promote the research on renewable energy storage and solar fuels. The research activity presented in this thesis lies in the framework of this project, focusing on the development of new advanced simulation approaches to improve the estimation of the wind resource availability and the related power production for Italian wind farms in complex terrain. The wind farms, operated by the company AGSM S.p.A., are located in two different geographical contexts: Rivoli Veronese and Affi are at the inlet of the Adige Valley, while Casoni di Romagna and Carpinaccio Firenzuola, are on the crest of the Apennines close to the borders between the provinces of Bologna e Firenze. The analysis of data from year-long field measurements highlighted the different peculiarities of these areas. The wind farms at the mouth of the Adige Valley are influenced by a daily periodic thermally-driven circulation, characterised by a nocturnal intense down-valley wind alternating with a diurnal weaker up-valley wind, while the Apennines wind farms are primarily affected by synoptic-scale winds. Simulations, with the mesoscale Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, are performed and compared with field measurements in both cases, to highlight strengths and weaknesses. The results show that the model is able to capture with good accuracy wind speed and direction in the Apennines wind farms, while larger errors arise for Rivoli Veronese and Affi wind farms, where the intensity of the nocturnal down-valley wind is generally underestimated. Considering the former case, modelled and observed yearly wind speed density distributions are compared, in order to evaluate the impact of model errors in the estimation of the wind resource at these sites. Since reliable simulations of the wind resource are also essential to ensure the security in power transmission and to prevent penalties to energy operators, an analysis of the power production is also performed, to evaluate how errors in the estimate of the resource translate into errors in the estimate of the production. Considering the wind farms at the mouth of the Adige Valley, the research work mainly focuses on the evaluation of the impact of data assimilation by means of observational nudging on model results, in order to optimize the setup for operational forecasts. Different configurations are tested and compared, varying the temporal window for the assimilation of local data.