• Energy Research
• 2016-2025close
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AbstractDecarbonising the energy system requires high shares of variable renewable generation and sector coupling like power to heat. In addition to heat supply, heat pumps can be used in future energy systems to provide flexibility to the electricity system by using the thermal storage potential of the building stock and buffer tanks to shift electricity demand to hours of high renewable electricity production. Bridging the gap between two methodological approaches, we coupled a detailed building technology operation model and the open-source energy system model Balmorel to evaluate the flexibility potential that decentral heat pumps can provide to the electricity system. Austria in the year 2030 serves as an example of a 100% renewable-based electricity system (at an annual national balance). Results show that system benefits from heat pump flexibility are relatively limited in extent and concentrated on short-term flexibility. Flexible heat pumps reduce system cost, CO2 emissions, and photovoltaics and wind curtailment in all scenarios. The amount of electricity shifted in the assessed standard flexibility scenario is 194 GWhel and accounts for about 20% of the available flexible heat pump electricity demand. A comparison of different modelling approaches and a deterministic sensitivity analysis of key input parameters complement the modelling. The most important input parameters impacting heat pump flexibility are the flexible capacity (determined by installed capacity and share of control), shifting time limitations, and cost assumptions for the flexibility provided. Heat pump flexibility contributes more to increasing low residual loads (up to 22% in the assessed scenarios) than decreasing residual load peaks. Wind power integration benefits more from heat pump flexibility than photovoltaics because of the temporal correlation between heat demand and wind generation.

Currently used analytical tools and indicators of macroeconomic development of the country do not adequately reflect environmental concerns. We need to improve the methodological basis of macroeconomic statistics of the natural environment and its relationships with agriculture to obtain more reliable information about the condition of a particular region. The paper proposes the formulation of macroeconomic accounts from the municipal level to aggregated information at the level of region and country. For example, the assets accounts for land cover and soil resources are developed according to cartographic survey of the Borovsk district of Kaluga region. In general, the developed base map is enough to make most accounts (balance sheet) assets land and soil resources. However, for a more complete and comprehensive reflection of soil resources in physical terms it is recommended to add indicators of soil properties that represent the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of soil, like porosity, structure, pH level and microbial biomass.

The paper presents an experimental study on the formation process of burden surface texture on the blast furnace throat and its influence on the radial distribution of gas flow. The study was performed with the application of blast furnaces equipped with a bell-type charging device using radio-isotope means for the control of burden surface texture (profile) and burden surface level, i.e., gamma locators for burden surface texture. The study was carried out under the conditions of an operating blast furnace in an iron and steel plant using a unique GEOTAPS system for automated control of geometric and temperature parameters of burden material surface on the blast furnace throat. The influence of the surface texture on the gas flow distribution was also investigated. The possibility of a self-stabilization effect for burden surface texture and gas flow in an operating blast furnace under suitable conditions was experimentally proven. As a result of the experimental study performed, four ways of energy-saving technology implementation were determined for the control of blast furnace melting based on the data on the burden surface texture and previously unknown regularities of surface layer formation of burden material on the throat of an operating blast furnace with a bell-type charging device. The main idea of the paper is the development of automated control for the radial distribution of burden material and gas flow using actual or predicted surface texture parameters as important intermediate factors that both describe the process and have a significant simultaneous influence on it.

Abstract Socio-technical transformations towards low-carbon energy systems are on the way in developed countries. Conversely, developing countries tend to be locked in fossil fuels and foster coal-based energy structures, emphasizing reliable and cost-effective energy provision and sidelining environmental concerns. In this study, we identified and analysed the predominant factors related to coal-based power generation in Bangladesh. We applied a mixed-method approach, initially conducting a systematic literature review and, subsequently, semi-structured expert interviews to identify and validate relevant factors. We then assessed their relative importance using an Analytical Hierarchy Process based on expert judgments. The results of this assessment reveal that socio-economic aspects and environmental issues scored highest, while technological aspects and sector regulations were considered to be less relevant for large-scale coal power implementation. We conclude that future energy policies created in Bangladesh will need to use appropriate legal instruments and address issues such as human displacement and resettlement, low levels of public acceptance, health hazards and environmental pollution. Participative policy frameworks should be deployed in coal plant projects, and active monitoring systems are necessary to reduce the negative consequences associated with increased electrification and energy consumption. To address foreseeable structural challenges, it furthermore will be crucial to explore sustainable alternatives.

Progressive urban density affects city centers especially and results in growing congestion, lack of parking spaces, and increasing environmental costs of transportation, causing increased air pollutant emissions and noise. These phenomena reduce the attractiveness of the city and result in a degradation of the quality of life for its residents. In light of these phenomena, there is a clear need for intelligent management of urban space using new technologies that would be complementary to existing intelligent transportation systems. Expanding information resources obtained from mobile cameras will have a positive impact on increasing the efficiency of transportation management and use of limited space in city centers. It will also have an impact on reducing external transport costs and increasing the quality of logistics services provided in the city. The main aim of the paper is to develop a concept of a transport management system in cities using mobile vision systems mounted on unmanned aerial vehicles. The model will concern the cases of lane occupation by freight vehicles and the analysis of parking spaces in the city in order to improve their management. The results of the developed model will contribute to the automation of the parking space management process and increase the efficiency of the use of city parking space resources.

Abstract The objective of this work is to evaluate the surge characteristics of an axial compressor operating under surge conditions, by using a hybrid BDF/harmonic balance method. During a surge event, a large amount of backflow occurs in the compressor. Consequently, the airflow oscillates along the axial direction at a low frequency, which can considerably damage the compressor. In this paper, a numerical investigation is performed to examine the effects of the system volume and average mass flow on the surge characteristics of a transonic high speed single stage axial compressor (stage 35) designed and evaluated at the NASA Glenn Center. The results show that the oscillation frequency of the airflow in the compressor generally ranges from 14.32–26.04 Hz during surge conditions, and both the system volume and average mass flow considerably influence the surge characteristics. For a constant average mass flow, as the system volume decreases, the oscillation frequency of the airflow in the compressor increases slightly, while the oscillation amplitude of the exit static pressure decreases significantly, and the maximum static pressure at the outlet remains nearly constant. In the case of a constant system volume, with the decrease in the average mass flow, the oscillation frequency of the airflow in the compressor gradually decreases, and the oscillation amplitude of the exit pressure increases significantly. With a further decrease in the average mass flow, the oscillation frequency stabilizes at a certain point and does not change thenceforth. Furthermore, the surge frequency obtained using the numerical method shows a same tendency with the Helmholtz frequency, but there is a considerable difference between them.

This deliverable includes the methodology in EnergyPROSPECTS for an in-depth study of energy citizenship. It features the criteria used for selecting the cases for indepth study, the list of cases selected for in-depth study as well as key research foci and empirical research questions.

Facile sol–gel synthesis of Mo:BiVO4 thin films with optimized morphology results in reduced surface recombination and enhanced hole transfer efficiency.