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Abstract Coal gasification is accompanied with formation of tars that cause equipment problems and have to be removed from the raw gas. Our previous studies proved that nickel supported ceria-zirconia catalyst (Ni/CZ) reveals high activity towards decomposition of toluene and 1-methylnaphthalene (1-MN) via steam reforming reaction (SR). However, the components of the raw gas from coal gasification (i.e. H2, CO, CO2 and CH4) may influence the performance of Ni/CZ catalyst. The influence of particular components of the raw gas on catalyst performance during SR of model tar compounds have been studied and discussed in this paper. It has been found that H2 and CO addition to the steam reforming feed drastically decreases the activity of Ni/CZ catalyst, whereas CO2 presence enhances conversion of toluene and 1-MN mixture owing to the occurrence of dry reforming reaction (DR). It has also been observed that methane, which is present in the raw gas from coal gasification consumes partly both the H2O and CO2, causing some decrease in conversion of model tar compounds. The influence of contact time (tc) on hydrocarbons conversion and the participation of (DR) have been examined. As was observed, lower contact times lead to decrease in hydrocarbons conversion in SR, making the same participation of DR more pronounced than for higher tc values. This work proves that Ni/CZ catalyst can be used for removal of tarry compounds via the catalytic hot gas cleaning of the raw gas form coal gasification.

The concept and a new method for the shielded development of bottom gas hydrates have been proposed, the technological phases and constructive elements of their implementation have been substantiated. The research provides for the realization of the idea suggesting the simultaneous dissociation of the vast areas of a gas hydrate deposit, management of the targeted process of the penetration of methane recovered from gas hydrates into water space and its accumulation under the extensive gas-collecting shield wherefrom it is removed by bottom pipe transportation facilities. To do hydraulic fracturing, a well is drilled into the plane of the junction of the surface of a gas hydrate deposit and the rocks of a roof, the open system of fissures in the rocks of a roof is made through which produced gas is released to a gas-collecting blanket in a water.

Theoretical and experimental data on the concentrations of methane in different phase states in the porous structure of coals from the Donets Basin are reported. On the saturation of coal samples with methane, the natural conditions of the occurrence of methane in coal beds were simulated for the equilibrium coal–gas system. The amounts of methane dissolved in a solid matrix and adsorbed on the pore surfaces of coal matter were measured by broad-band NMR spectroscopy. The values obtained did not exceed 20% of the total methane absorbed by the sample in an equilibrium state at a pressure of 10 MPa. Sorbed methane was the predominant phase state only upon the opening of a high-pressure chamber after the emission of methane from filtration channels.

Abstract Biomass integrated gasification cogeneration is nowadays considered as one of the most attractive technologies for CO 2 emission reduction and non-renewable fuel savings. The paper presents application of the Thermo-Ecological Cost (TEC), which expresses the cumulative consumption of non-renewable exergy, for examination of energy and environmental benefits of biomass energy conversion plant based on gasification technology and medium scale recuperative gas turbine. To express the total effect of considered energy conversion systems the TEC is supplemented with the data resulting from Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). Different available gasification technologies and configurations of a cogeneration plant are investigated. Atmospheric fluidized bed gasification (AFB), pressurized fluidized bed gasification (PFB) and allothermal gasification using pure steam as gasification agent (FICFB) are taken into account as well as simple and combined power cycles with the Mercury 50 Solar gas turbine. The results reveal that simple cycle with gas turbine and waste heat recovery water boiler offers better effects than combined cycle configuration. The best performance has been reported for pressurized gasification technology.

© 2021 Elsevier LtdDespite extensive research to address the impact of environmental reforms under the Paris Climate Agreement, current literature has failed to provide sufficient insights into Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) countries. To this end, the current study attempts to address the impact of the economic complexity on environmental quality in the presence of renewable energy consumption, financial development, urbanization and energy innovation in RCEP countries from 1990 to 2019. Our empirical estimates confirm a significant association between environmental quality, economic complexity index, renewable energy consumption, financial development, urbanization and energy innovation in the short-run and long run. Based on extensive econometric analysis (CS-ARDL, AMG, PMG, FMOLS, and DOLS), we conclude that economic complexity, renewable energy, and energy innovation effectively mitigate environmental degradation. At the same time, financial development and urbanization have an adverse impact on the environment. These findings have extensive policy implications for policymakers and environmental stakeholders, who are aiming to achieve sustainable energy policy and economic growth to meet the environmental commitments under Paris Climate Agreement.

Abstract The paper presents a comprehensive approach to capturing the scale of exposure to hidden energy poverty at a household level in 11 Central and Eastern European countries. Despite constant refinements, the currently used energy poverty metrics remain highly controversial when it comes to inter-country comparisons. Scarce data and the lack of agreement on the energy poverty definition among the EU countries impedes operationalization of energy poverty measures on a global scale. Instead, we propose a reliable tool for tracking hidden energy poverty based on the existing micro-level data compiled by Eurostat. The paper assumes that the energy poor limit their energy consumption to the level below what is reasonably assumed a decent life. To estimate the expected energy costs, the paper introduces a new statistical approach. We consider multiple aspects of exposure to hidden energy poverty, including dwelling parameters and location, households’ structure, and regional specificity. Our findings confirm that on average 23.57% of the Central and Eastern European population is exposed to hidden energy poverty. The examined profiles are quite heterogeneous. In general, the affected are single-person households or living in detached houses and remote areas households with dependent children. The paper provides suggestions for targeted policy action.

Abstract This paper contains an analysis of the hard coal production process in Poland with selected indicators such as productivity, marginal productivity and the substitution of production factors. Current organization of the hard coal mining process is mainly characterized by the decreasing economies of scale, the loss of the average and marginal productivity. Static model of the production function indicates a 50% decrease in the average productivity in the years 2005–2013. This indicates the incorrect use of available production factors and poses a threat to further existence of mining companies. The reduction of production costs will be inevitable in this situation. The obtained results of the analysis led to creation of two innovative strategies of: flexible and stable coal mining production.

Abstract New analytical tools that enable analytical laboratories to quantitatively and qualitatively analyze alternative and renewable solid biofuels are needed. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was applied in combination with a two-step multivariate modelling procedure. In the first instance, a C&RT (classification and regression trees) model was developed and validated for use in distinguishing different biomass origins and possible sources of contamination. Once the solid fuels were correctly identified, the model was used to predict the concentrations of individual components using partial least squares regression (PLSR) models. The first C&RT model differentiated between the different classes of biofuel origins. Using the absorption intensity in the wavenumber range of 1800–400 cm−1, the prediction had a recovery of between 92% and 99%. The second C&RT model differentiated between the possible sources of contamination, which could be predicted with a recovery between 76% and 91% based on the FTIR results. Accuracy profiles based on the analysis results of validation samples were then calculated to prove the reliability of the developed regression models. The developed spectroscopic methods rapidly and adequately determined (qualitative analysis) the origin of the biofuels and indicated the possible source of contamination. The effects of two spectral data pre-processing methods (PQN & SNV) were also compared based on the accuracy of the developed models.

Abstract The growth of world aviation traffic leads to an increase of the impact on the environment that is now becoming one of the main factors determining the development of the aviation industry. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has become an attractive tool to predict pollutant concentration in the real environment. CFD software represents the most advanced mathematics that can be applied to simulation different physical process, including the transfer and dilution of fluid flow from aircraft, vehicle and other sources. This paper is an attempt to compare numerical simulation results of exhaust gases jet from aircraft near aerodrome surface by three CFD codes: Fluent 6.3, OpenFOAM and SolidWorks. The work is also focused on assessment of the aerodrome surface influence on jet’s parameters (height and longitudinal coordinate of buoyancy effect) and on providing of initial data for further dispersion modeling. The obtained results are also aimed to improve complex model PolEmiCa.