Journal of Energy最新文献

{"title":"Current Status and Future Prospects of Small-Scale Household Biodigesters in Sub-Saharan Africa","authors":"A. Tolessa","doi":"10.1155/2024/5596028","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/5596028","url":null,"abstract":"Despite the age of the technology, sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries have numerous challenges that hinder biogas from being widely adopted. This review investigates the current gap between holistic use and the need for small-scale household biodigester adoption and effectiveness in rural and semiurban households of SSA. It reviews the present situation and potential of small-scale household digesters for sustainable future energy and biofertilizer use, with a focus on SSA. A literature survey was performed on small-scale household biogas digesters, and issues relating to the distribution, use, and implementation status with their implications on the future of small-scale household digesters in SSA were briefly reviewed. In recent years, the overall number of domestic biogas digesters installed across SSA countries has shown a significant increase due to the efforts of the National Domestic Biogas Programs such as the African Biogas Partnership Program with the Netherlands Development Organization and the Humanist Institute for Development Cooperation. However, based on an extensive literature review on small-scale household biodigesters in SSA, the study highlights that the success of biogas technology as a clean domestic cooking fuel has been relatively low. The findings of this review show that SSA countries still face a number of hurdles, the most significant of which can be boiled down to the need for technological advancement according to local context, social acceptance, and large initial investment costs. In order to overcome these obstacles and advance technological capability, social acceptance, financial benefits, and environmental impacts in order to improve its use and widespread dissemination as a renewable energy source, a highly effective organic fertilizer, and economic benefits for the betterment of SSA communities, more well-organized work and adequate research activities should be initiated and supported. The findings may be useful to researchers, practitioners, and policymakers who support/promote sustainable energy and waste management strategies in low-resource settings.","PeriodicalId":30572,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy","volume":"16 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140377508","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Strategic Sizing and Placement of Distributed Generation in Radial Distributed Networks Using Multiobjective PSO","authors":"Tom Wanjekeche, Andreas A. Ndapuka, Lupembe Nicksen Mukena","doi":"10.1155/2023/6678491","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/6678491","url":null,"abstract":"Distributed generators (DGs) offer significant advantages to electric power systems, including improved system losses, stability, and reduced losses. However, realizing these benefits necessitates optimal DG site selection and sizing. This study proposes a traditional multiobjective particle swarm optimization (PSO) approach to determine the optimal location and size of renewable energy-based DGs (wind and solar) on the Namibian distribution system. The aim is to enhance voltage profiles and minimize power losses and total DG cost. Probabilistic models are employed to account for the random nature of wind speeds and solar irradiances. This is used in an algorithm which eventually optimizes the siting and sizing of DGs using the nearest main substation as reference. The proposed method is tested on the Vhungu-Vhungu 11 kV distribution network in Namibia. Four cases were considered: base case with no DG, solar power, wind power, and a hybrid of both wind and solar. Optimal values for each case are determined and analyzed: 0.69.93 kW at 26 km for solar PV-based DG and 100 kW at 42 km for wind-based DG. These findings will serve as a valuable blueprint for future DG connections on the Namibian distribution network, providing guidance for optimizing system performance.","PeriodicalId":30572,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy","volume":"59 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135644901","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Catalytic Pyrolysis of Plastic Waste to Liquid Fuel Using Local Clay Catalyst","authors":"Zeddy C. Mibei, Ajay Kumar, S. Talai","doi":"10.1155/2023/7862293","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/7862293","url":null,"abstract":"Plastics are nonbiodegradable, and safe disposal of this waste poses an environmental challenge all over the world. Catalytic pyrolysis is superior to thermal pyrolysis as it uses lower temperatures and hence less energy. The main objective of this study was to produce liquid fuel from plastic waste using indigenous clay as a catalyst through catalytic pyrolysis. The clay from Kisumu County was characterized through an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRFS) and an X-ray diffractometer (XRD). The reaction setup consisted of a round-bottom flask reactor through which plastic feed and catalyst were heated in a temperature-controlled furnace. Vapor product was condensed using a Liebig type water condenser to give pyrolysis liquid product. Solid char was recovered from the flask at the end of the reaction. Optimization studies using central composite design (CCD) and response surface methodology (RSM) were performed in design expert software to predict optimal conditions of the operating variables for maximum yield of the liquid fuel. Results show that clay has a composition of silica and alumina at 64.5 wt% and 16.3 wt%, respectively, indicating high acidity of the clay, being a requirement for a good pyrolysis catalyst. For high-density polyethylene and polypropylene, the highest liquid yield of 87.23 wt% and 60.36 wt%, respectively, was at 300°C and a catalyst concentration of 10 wt%. Indigenous clay was established to be a suitable catalyst for catalytic pyrolysis of plastic waste, with the potential to replace imported catalysts since high yields of liquid fuel were obtained at lower reaction temperatures of 300-450°C, as compared to the 600°C required for thermal pyrolysis. In conclusion, waste plastics can be used to generate alternative fuel for industrial use. The liquid fuel can be used in diesel engines as a transport fuel, in turbines for electricity generation, and as a heating source in boilers and furnaces. Further studies on the modification of the surface and structure of clay are suggested to enhance its catalytic performance in the pyrolysis process for a better fuel yield.","PeriodicalId":30572,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90679579","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimization of Syngas Quality for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis","authors":"A. A. Rabah","doi":"10.1155/2023/1842187","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/1842187","url":null,"abstract":"<jats:p>While fossil oil reserves have been receding, the demand for diesel and gasoline has been growing. In recent years, syngas of biomass origin has been emerging as a viable feedstock for Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis, a process for manufacturing synthetic gasoline and diesel. This paper reports the optimization of syngas quality to match the FT synthesis requirement. The optimization model maximizes the thermal efficiency under the constraint of <jats:inline-formula>\u0000 <math xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML\" id=\"M1\">\u0000 <msub>\u0000 <mrow>\u0000 <mi>H</mi>\u0000 </mrow>\u0000 <mrow>\u0000 <mn>2</mn>\u0000 </mrow>\u0000 </msub>\u0000 <mo>/</mo>\u0000 <mi>C</mi>\u0000 <mi>O</mi>\u0000 <mo>≥</mo>\u0000 <mn>2.15</mn>\u0000 </math>\u0000 </jats:inline-formula> and operating conditions of equivalent ratio (<jats:inline-formula>\u0000 <math xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML\" id=\"M2\">\u0000 <mi>E</mi>\u0000 <mi>R</mi>\u0000 <mo>=</mo>\u0000 <mn>0.0</mn>\u0000 </math>\u0000 </jats:inline-formula>-1.0), steam to biomass ratio (<jats:inline-formula>\u0000 <math xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML\" id=\"M3\">\u0000 <mi>S</mi>\u0000 <mi>B</mi>\u0000 <mo>=</mo>\u0000 <mn>0.0</mn>\u0000 </math>\u0000 </jats:inline-formula>-5.0), and gasification temperature (<jats:inline-formula>\u0000 <math xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML\" id=\"M4\">\u0000 <msub>\u0000 <mrow>\u0000 <mi>T</mi>\u0000 </mrow>\u0000 <mrow>\u0000 <mi>g</mi>\u0000 </mrow>\u0000 </msub>\u0000 <mo>=</mo>\u0000 <mn>500</mn>\u0000 </math>\u0000 </jats:inline-formula>°C-1300°C). The optimization model is executed using the optimization section of the Model Analysis Tools of the Aspen Plus simulator. The model is tested using eleven (11) types of municipal solid waste (MSW). The optimum operating conditions under which the objective function and the constraint are satisfied are <jats:inline-formula>\u0000 <math xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML\" id=\"M5\">\u0000 <mi>E</mi>\u0000 <mi>R</mi>\u0000 <mo>=</mo>\u0000 <mn>0</mn>\u0000 </math>\u0000 </jats:inline-formula>, <jats:inline-formula","PeriodicalId":30572,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy","volume":"115 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84605504","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Review and Design Overview of Plastic Waste-to-Pyrolysis Oil Conversion with Implications on the Energy Transition","authors":"M. J. B. Kabeyi, O. Olanrewaju","doi":"10.1155/2023/1821129","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/1821129","url":null,"abstract":"Plastics are cheap, lightweight, and durable and can be easily molded into many different products, shapes, and sizes, hence their wide applications globally, leading to increased production and use. Plastic consumption and production have been growing since its first production in the 1950s. About 4% of global oil and gas production is being used as feedstock for plastics, and 3–4% is used to provide energy for their manufacture. Plastics have a wide range of applications because they are versatile and relatively cheap. This study presents an in-depth analysis of plastic solid waste (PSW). Plastic wastes can be technically used for oil production because the calorific value of the plastics is quite comparable to that of oil, making this option an attractive alternative. Oil can be produced from plastic wastes via thermal degradation and catalytic degradation, while gasification can be used to produce syngas. Plastic pyrolysis can be used to address the twin problem of plastic waste disposal and depletion of fossil fuel reserves. The demand for plastics has continued to rise since their first production in the 1950s due to their multipurpose, lightness, inexpensiveness, and durable nature. There are four main avenues available for plastic solid waste treatment, namely, reextrusion as a primary treatment, mechanical treatment as secondary measures, chemical treatment as a tertiary measure, and energy recovery as a quaternary measure. The pyrolysis oil has properties that are close to clean fuel and is, therefore, a substitute to fresh fossil fuel for power generation, transport, and other applications. The study showed that plastic wastes pyrolysis offers an alternative avenue for plastic waste disposal and an alternative source of fossil fuel to reduce the total demand of virgin oil. Through plastic pyrolysis, plastic wastes are thermally converted to fuel by degrading long-chain polymers into small complex molecules in the absence of oxygen, making it a technically and economically feasible process for waste plastic recycling. The process is advantageous because presorting is not required, and the plastic waste can be directly fed without pretreatment prior to the process. Products of plastic pyrolysis are pyrolysis oil, a hydrocarbon-rich gas, with a heating value of 25–45 MJ/kg, which makes it ideal for process energy recovery. Hence, the pyrolysis gas can be fed back to the process to extract the energy for the process-heating purpose, which substantially reduces the reliance on external heating sources.","PeriodicalId":30572,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy","volume":"23 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72403928","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bagasse Electricity Potential of Conventional Sugarcane Factories","authors":"M. J. B. Kabeyi, O. Olanrewaju","doi":"10.1155/2023/5749122","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/5749122","url":null,"abstract":"Sugar industries have huge potential to contribute to the sustainable energy transition through electricity generation and production of biofuels. Sugar-producing countries generate huge volumes of sugarcane bagasse as a byproduct of sugarcane production. In this study, the performance of an operating traditional sugar factory is analyzed for electricity generation and export potential. The study presents characteristics and energy potential of modern and traditional sugar factories. The challenges facing a traditional sugar mill are inefficient boilers, less efficient and back pressure steam turbines, and wasteful and inefficient use of steam turbine drives as prime movers instead of modern electric drives for the mills and cane knives. Others are the use of inefficient and energy intensive cane mill rollers instead of the diffusers which have low energy requirements. It was demonstrated that the cogeneration potential of sugar factory is quite significant but currently underutilized. Sugar factories can make significant contribution towards mitigation of greenhouse gas emission mitigation through supply of green electricity to the public grid. The study showed that the factory uses very old and inefficient boilers aged over 39 years which contributes to poor performance and low electricity generation capacity. Modernization is required to increase the generation and electricity export capacity through investment in new and modern high-pressure boilers, replacement of inefficient back pressure boilers (BPSB) with more efficient condensing extraction turbines (CEST), and reduction of factory steam consumption by electrification of mills and cane knife turbine drives among other measures. This study showed that the 3,000 TCD factory can invest in a 15 MW power plant based on current average factory performance indicators and more if the throughput and overall performance is close to design parameters.","PeriodicalId":30572,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy","volume":"73 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77897868","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Asymmetric Effects of Oil Price Shocks on Aggregate Demand for Goods and Services in Ghana","authors":"E. F. Oteng-Abayie, John Bosco Dramani, Mahawiya Sulemana, Frank Adusah-Poku","doi":"10.1155/2023/1692552","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/1692552","url":null,"abstract":"Procyclicality has been discovered in crude oil price shocks on aggregate demand. Most studies have used linear estimation techniques, resulting in the loss of asymmetric correlations. We disaggregate the impact of changes in oil prices into positive and negative shocks on aggregate demand and its components from 1970 to 2015 using the nonlinear ARDL framework. The results show that oil price shocks in Ghana have a long-term beneficial asymmetric impact on aggregate demand and its components. Specifically, a positive change in oil price (0.230) has a greater positive effect on the aggregate demand than a negative effect (-0.009) emanating from a negative change in the oil price shock. Further, the same result was obtained for the components of the aggregate demand with the impact on investment expenditures (0.662) being the greatest. Policymakers should diversify energy demand according to our recommendations. Instead of exporting crude oil, officials should encourage its refinement and consumption. Lastly, we suggest that policymakers hedge and use price-smoothing strategies to reduce oil price volatility.","PeriodicalId":30572,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy","volume":"85 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-05-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83284487","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Green Energy: An Ideal Energy Solution for Sustainable Development of Afar Region, Ethiopia","authors":"Getachew Alemu Anshebo, Ataklti Abraha Gebreyohanes, Bizuayehu Bogale Dessie","doi":"10.1155/2023/8849321","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/8849321","url":null,"abstract":"Green energy is the primary concern for the sustainable development of Ethiopia’s Afar region. The study’s goals are to present scientific evidence of the Afar region’s energy potential to researchers and industry sectors. We used solar shortwave, radiation transfer model, miniscale meteorological model for the Weather Research Forecast (WRF), and spatial and temporal simulation as research techniques. The data show that the Afar region has an energy potential of 239.9 W/m2 average solar radiation flux, 2.102 MW·h/m2 average annual solar density, 131.18 W/m2 average wind power density at \u0000 \u0000 h\u0000 =\u0000 10\u0000  \u0000 m\u0000 \u0000 , and 204.5 W/m2 average wind power density at \u0000 \u0000 h\u0000 =\u0000 50\u0000  \u0000 m\u0000 \u0000 . We discovered that solar energy and wind energy are potential energy sources in the Afar region for energy consumption such as solar cooking, solar lighting, and small DC applications.","PeriodicalId":30572,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy","volume":"36 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75419508","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An Overview of Scientific Production of Renewable Energies in Ghana","authors":"M. Takase, Rogers Kipkoech","doi":"10.1155/2023/7414771","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/7414771","url":null,"abstract":"Ghana is experiencing an increase in energy demand as a result of increased industrialization activities. Nonrenewable energy sources, such as combustible fuels like petroleum, are the primary source of energy. Nonrenewable energy resources are associated with a number of issues, including environmental pollution. Renewable energy is a sustainable source of energy that is critical to the energy sector and the economy’s progress. Hydropower, biomass, solar energy, and wind energy are among the renewable energy resources available in Ghana. In Ghana, key institutions are responsible for the management and development of energy sources in the renewable energy sector. Among these institutions is the Ministry of Energy, which is responsible for the formulation and implementation of laws and policies, for instance, the Renewable Energy Act of 2011. Volta River Authority (VRA), Ghana Grid Company (GGC), and Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) are among the institutions under the Ministry of Energy. There are also regulatory agencies established by parliamentary act to ensure that all actors in the sector are working properly. Among these are the Energy Commission, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PUR), and the National Petroleum Authority. Active nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), research institutes and universities, and industry are also involved in renewable energy activities.","PeriodicalId":30572,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy","volume":"34 10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82780773","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Study of Vertical-Axis Wind Farm Layouts Using a 2D Actuator-Cylinder RANS Model","authors":"Edgar Martinez-Ojeda, Francisco Javier Solorio Ordaz, M. Sen","doi":"10.1155/2022/7497795","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/7497795","url":null,"abstract":"The actuator-cylinder RANS (Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations) model was used to study the performance of two different arrays of wind turbines. The staggered array proved to be more efficient than the fish-school array (grouped in pairs) in most directions; however, the fish-school array outperformed the conventional staggered array when the pairs of turbines were facing the wind. Increases in global power coefficient up to 16% were found when the wind speed was 8 ms-1 and up to 10% when the wind speed was 10 ms-1. Despite the fish-school array being slightly less efficient, this array yielded almost twice as much power density as the staggered array in almost all directions. The current methodology proves to be a fast tool for the estimation of vertical-axis wind turbine farms compared to full RANS simulations.","PeriodicalId":30572,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Energy","volume":"5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87678760","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}