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This work analyzes the synergy between two complementary unit operations - adsorbent dehumidification and drying - and presents a mixed integer nonlinear programming approach to optimize energy performance in a two-stage system. Combined with active constraint analysis, the adsorbent properties that promote energy performance are derived. Microporous adsorbents with higher sorption capacities at low vapor pressures and requiring higher regeneration temperatures are preferred for ambient air dehumidification in the first stage. For exhaust air dehumidification, mesoporous adsorbents with lower regeneration temperatures are preferred such that the exhaust air from the first regeneration stage can sufficiently regenerate them. For drying below 50 C, energy consumption reductions of about 70% are achieved compared to conventional dryers without adsorbent dehumidification depending on adsorbent properties. The results demonstrate the usefulness of superstructure optimization in matching the drying process with the capabilities of the adsorbents to enhance process synergy for improved energy efficiency. © 2013 American Chemical Society.

Ethylene oxide production process is one of the highest energy consumers in chemical industry, and therefore even a slight improvement in its overall efficiency can have a significant impact on the sustainability of the process. Efficiency improvement can be carried out using the exergy-aided pinch analysis outlined in this paper. The overall exergy loss distribution in different unit operations of an ethylene oxide process was first evaluated and mapped out in the form of “visualized exergetic process flowsheet”. An initial analysis of the four main functional blocks of the process showed that the exothermic reaction block contained the largest exergy loss (6043 and 428 kJ/kg of internal and external losses, respectively) which can be reduced by isothermal mixing, as well as increasing reaction temperature and reduction in pressure drop. The absorption block was also estimated to have the second highest contribution with total exergy losses of 3640 kJ/kg which were mainly due to the cooling column. These losses were then recommended to be reduced by improvements in the concentration and temperature gradients along the tower. Following the block-wise analysis, exergy analysis was then carried out for individual unit operations in each block to pinpoint the main sources of thermal exergetic inefficiency. Thermal solutions to reduce losses were also proposed in accordance with the identified sources of inefficiency, leading to a comprehensive list of cold and hot process streams that could be introduced to reduce losses. Finally, pinch analysis was brought into action to estimate the minimum energy requirements, to select utilities, and to design heat exchanger network. Thus, the methodology used in this work took advantage of both exergy and pinch analyses. The combined thermal-exergy-based pinch approach helped to set energy targets so that all the thermal possible solutions supported by exergy analysis were considered, preventing exclusion of any hot or cold process stream with high potential for heat integration during pinch analysis. Results indicated that the minimum cold utility requirement could be reduced from 601.64 MW (obtained via conventional pinch analysis) to 577.82 MW through screening of streams by the combined methodology.

This paper aims at reviewing the life cycle assessment (LCA) literature on second generation bioethanol based on lignocellulosic biomass and at identifying issues to be resolved for good LCA practice. Reviews are carried out on respective LCA studies published over the last six years. We use the classification of lignocellulosic biomass to define system boundaries, so that the comparison among LCA results can be thoroughly assessed based on identified system components. A basis for attributing environmental burden for different biomass feedstocks is also suggested. Despite the non-homogeneous systems, we conclude that second generation bioethanol performs better than fossil fuel at least for the two most studied impact categories, net energy output and global warming. For the latter category, carbon sequestration at the biomass generation stage can even consistently offset the GHG emissions from all parts of the life cycle chains at high ethanol percentage (≥85%). The aspect of biogenic carbon and agrochemical input for energy crops and biomass residues, and the effect of removal of the latter from soil have not been treated consistently. In contrast, the exclusion of upstream chain of biomass waste feedstocks is observed in practice. The bioethanol conversion process is mostly based on simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation, characterized by high yield and low energy input. In this regard, the LCA results tend to under estimate the real impacts of the current technology. The choice of allocation methods strongly influences the final results, particularly when economic value is used as a reference. Substitution of avoided burden seems to be the most popular allocation method in practice, followed by partition based on mass, energy, and economic values.

Abstract The east German energy system is in a process of being completely rebuilt. Unfortunately, the huge investments are not used for implementing a technical and institutional restructuring, which is needed in order to achieve energy efficiency. The energy system will, among others, maintain its inefficient structure with separate production of heat and power. The ongoing changes are limited to improvements of power plant efficiency in combination with a change from a system based on brown coal for both heat and power into a system in which the electricity production is still based on brown coal and heating is produced on oil and natural gas. This rebuilding will bring the CO 2 -emission down from 20 t/inhabitant in 1989 to 13 t/inhabitant in year 2010, which is still much higher than the EU average on 8 t/inhabitant. This article describes how a restructuring could bring the figure below 7 t/inhabitant. The lack of ability to implement this restructuring of the energy system is, among others, due to an ownership structure, where networks of companies own the entire production and distribution chain from oil and coal to electricity. In this ownership structure, energy restructuring strategies which decrease the consumption of oil and coal will reduce the profits. At the same time the potential regulator, the parliamentary system, is politically and economically interlinked with and dependent upon the established energy companies. Consequently, it is difficult to establish the regulation reforms which are necessary for restructuring of the energy sector. There is still a lot to be gained from a restructuring of the east German energy sector. This restructuring requires institutional reforms, where the public regulation processes become independent of the industry which should be regulated.

Abstract From the sustainable perspective, the optimum thickness calculations of the buildings envelope insulation materials published in scientific journals suffer a number of notable shortcomings. The most relevant are the short amortization time periods and the prevalence of economic criterion. The work presented shows that an increase from 20 to 50 years in the amortization time period involves, in some cases, to double the value of the optimum thickness. Moreover, the thicknesses calculated applying energetic or environmental criteria for the optimization give, in some cases, results 10 times higher than the ones obtained using the economic argument. The type of insulation materials (especially their different characteristics at the manufacturing stage) and the calculation conditions (e.g. Degree-Days zone) also affect optimum thicknesses determination.

In this communication, pretreatment of the anaerobically digested (AD) manure and the application of the pretreated AD manure as liquid medium for the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) were described. Furthermore, fermentation of pretreated maize silage and wheat straw was investigated using 2l bioreactors. Wet oxidation performed for 20 min at 121 degrees C was found as the most suitable pretreatment conditions for AD manure. High ammonia concentration and significant amount of macro- and micro-nutrients in the AD manure had a positive influence on the ethanol fermentation. No extra nitrogen source was needed in the fermentation broth. It was shown that the AD manure could successfully substitute process water in SSF of pretreated lignocellulosic fibres. Theoretical ethanol yields of 82% were achieved, giving 30.8 kg ethanol per 100 kg dry mass of maize silage.

The modern Common Rail Diesel engine are, normally, optimised for being fuelled with the commercial Diesel fuel. The ECU calibrations are, consequently, defined to obtain the correct compromise between performances and emissions. It is, so, clear that if the engine is fuelled with an alternative bio-fuel with different characteristics (net heating value, stoichiometric A/F ratio, density, viscosity, etc.) the calibration must be modify. Interest in fuels from renewable sources and their use in transport has grown over the last decade. This is because of their biodegradability, potential improvements in exhaust emissions and benefits on the virtuous CO2 cycle of the earth. This paper demonstrates that it is possible to optimise the emissions and the performances of a light duty diesel C.R. engine fuelled with a vegetable derived fuel (Rapeseed Methyl-Ester) pure or blended with commercial Diesel fuel. Particularly in this paper the experimental results and the ECU control solutions referring to different fuel compositions are shown.

This paper is focused on the measurement issues and procedures for the characterization of medium voltage grids for narrowband power line communications (NB-PLCs), in the perspective of the use and integration of such technology into smart grids communication networks. The fundamentals are given for the characterization of the PLC channel, by means of noise and attenuation measurements. Suitable procedures are also developed for the characterization and modeling of the power system components in the frequency range of interest. Furthermore, the complete model of the PLC system is experimentally validated in a real case study.