{"title":"Production of Synthetic Gasoline and Diesel Fuels by Alternative Processes Using Natural Gas, Coal and Biomass: Process Simulation and Economic Analysis","authors":"M. Sudiro, A. Bertucco","doi":"10.1504/IJAP.2008.019690","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJAP.2008.019690","url":null,"abstract":"The problem of producing synthetic liquid fuels by alternative routes is addressed. Industrial processes known as Gas To Liquid (GTL), Coal To Liquid (CTL) and Biomass To Liquid (BTL) are considered: they use natural gas, coal and biomass as feedstocks, respectively. By means of process simulation, it is shown that the fuel produced on a weight basis per unit of feedstock (natural gas, coal and wood) are 66.7, 32.5 and 16.8%, respectively; in addition, the CO2 emitted per unit mass of liquid fuel is 0.90 kg CO2/kg for GTL, 4.79 kg CO2/kg for CTL and 6.08 kg CO2/kg for BTL process. In this last case, carbon dioxide is not an issue because it derives from a renewable source. The evaluation of production costs of synthetic fuel for a GTL process is carried out under two different scenaries: a plant localised where natural gas is readily available, and another one built far from the country where the gas is produced. A comparison between the costs of synthetic fuels from a GTL process and conventional fuel from oil refining is carried out to show the competitiveness of this alternative fuel. A financial analysis permits to conclude that, if a GTL plant is localised where the natural gas is extracted, the return of investment is after 2.4 years, whereas it changes to 6.9 years if the plant is located in western industrialised countries.","PeriodicalId":425490,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Alternative Propulsion","volume":"50 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123395834","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":"Time and scale in Life Cycle Assessment: the case of fuel choice in the transport sector","authors":"K. Hillman, B. Sandén","doi":"10.1504/IJAP.2008.019689","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJAP.2008.019689","url":null,"abstract":"Life Cycle Assessments (LCA, including Well-to-Wheel studies) that are to support decisions that strive to change large technical systems need to consider time and scale related factors, which are given little attention in standard LCA procedures. In this paper, the authors address 3 issues and provide examples from the case of alternate fuels. First, shifting time frame gives room for technical development that should affect not only the choice of performance data, but perhaps also the functional unit and selection of technologies under study. Secondly, background systems, such as heat and power production, change over time and increased production volumes of the alternative fuel change the transport system that is used to produce transport fuel. It is shown that such changes have consequences not only for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from each fuel-chain, but also for the ranking order of Rapeseed Methyl Esther (RME) and ethanol in terms of GHG emissions. Lastly, different types of feedstock are available in different quantities and different byproduct markets vary in size. Key markets for RME byproducts in the EU correspond to an RME production that covers about 3% of transport fuel demand. Consequently, GHG emissions allocated to the fuel should change with the scale of adoption.","PeriodicalId":425490,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Alternative Propulsion","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131348470","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}
G. Karimi, Farshid Jafarpour, M. Binazadeh, Xianguo Li
{"title":"Characterisation of two-phase flow and its impact on the performance of a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane fuel cell stack","authors":"G. Karimi, Farshid Jafarpour, M. Binazadeh, Xianguo Li","doi":"10.1504/IJAP.2008.019691","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJAP.2008.019691","url":null,"abstract":"Water management is one of the most critical issues for high-performance Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cells. A flow network model was developed to study the possibility of two-phase flow inception along the gas flow channels in the cathode side of a PEM fuel cell stack. The conventional Darcy-Weisbach equation and homogeneous flow model are used to estimate the pressure distributions in the network. The corresponding species concentrations as well as the thermodynamic quality distributions are also calculated. The simulation results have revealed that under certain operating conditions, the quality is lower than one for parts of the stack. However, the amount of the liquified water in the stack is not significant to cause a major pressure drop or an appreciable change in the O2 concentration. Effects of current density and channel diameter on the system quality are also investigated.","PeriodicalId":425490,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Alternative Propulsion","volume":"10 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127969127","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":"Alternative fuels and sustainable mobility: is the future road paved by biofuels, electricity or hydrogen?","authors":"K. Høyer, E. Holden","doi":"10.1504/IJAP.2007.013329","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJAP.2007.013329","url":null,"abstract":"This paper compares 16 alternative energy chains in a Well-to-Wheel analysis including three indicators: energy use, emissions of climate gases and emissions of local/regional pollutants. The analysis includes a private car which uses natural gas, biological fuels, electricity and hydrogen, respectively. The analysis shows that an alternative witch scores favourably on one indicator often scores unfavourably on other indicators. Sustainable mobility, however, requires favourable scores on all indicators. Thus, sustainable mobility must combine three different approaches: the efficiency approach - which includes the use of alternative energy - the substitution approach and the reduction approach.","PeriodicalId":425490,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Alternative Propulsion","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130062884","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":"Modelling and simulation with experimental verification of hydrogen-diesel dual-fuel premixed combustion and emission analysis","authors":"M. Masood","doi":"10.1504/IJAP.2007.013331","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJAP.2007.013331","url":null,"abstract":"This paper deals with an application of advanced simulation methods to the modelling of Duel-Fuelled engines (Hydrogen/Diesel) in which the premixed Hydrogen gas is ignited by the combustion flame initiated by a diesel spray. The model consists of a diesel auto-ignition model and a modified combustion model. The influence of main engine parameters i.e., injection advance, and various percentages of mixing of hydrogen with diesel on rate of heat release, flame propagation and NOx formation has been investigated. Experimental results were compared with modelled values. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis was carried out and limitations of the model were studied.","PeriodicalId":425490,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Alternative Propulsion","volume":"234-235 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134121021","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":"Automobile technology, hydrogen and climate change: a long term modelling analysis","authors":"H. Turton, L. Barreto","doi":"10.1504/IJAP.2007.013332","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJAP.2007.013332","url":null,"abstract":"The transitions in the global automobile sector in the 21st century are uncertain both in terms of technologies and energy carriers. A key driving force of technological change in the long term could be the need to mitigate GHG emissions. This paper examines the role of the passenger car sector in a GHG mitigation strategy and presents a scenario of the automobile technology choices when a price on greenhouse gas emissions is imposed on the global energy system. The analysis has been conducted with ERIS, a multiregional energy systems, 'bottom up' optimisation model that endogenises technology learning and allows a detailed technology representation, in addition to capturing competing demands for transportation fuels, including hydrogen. Our results provide some policy insights by illustrating the potential for hydrogen to contribute to climate change mitigation, but show that fuel cell cars are an option for climate policy only over the very long term.","PeriodicalId":425490,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Alternative Propulsion","volume":"23 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125238703","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 battle of batteries: a history of innovation in alternative energy cars","authors":"K. Høyer","doi":"10.1504/IJAP.2007.013330","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJAP.2007.013330","url":null,"abstract":"The paper gives a global view on the historical development of electrical cars. It is a history described in five major waves; the first one starting about 1835 and the last one ending about 2000. With two cases, important aspects of the two last waves are described in detail. The cases are the French VEL car and the Norwegian Think car. They have had their more specific setbacks. Problems in electrochemistry have caused important limitations, as they have through the whole history of electrical cars. This is the background for the paper title: The Battle of Batteries.","PeriodicalId":425490,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Alternative Propulsion","volume":"65 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123169293","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":"Hydrogen as transport fuel in Iceland. The political, technological and commercial story of ECTOS","authors":"O. Andersen","doi":"10.1504/IJAP.2007.013328","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJAP.2007.013328","url":null,"abstract":"Through the political, the technological and the commercial story of the early phases of the ECTOS project and its background, the implementation of hydrogen as transport fuel in Iceland is analysed. The presence of large amounts of geothermal energy is the resource basis for the governmental plans for converting Iceland into a hydrogen economy. Strong political commitment has established the framework for this transition. The goal of replacing the import of fossil fuels by 20302040 has provided motivation and support for hydrogen R&D projects. The early public scepticism turned into general support when large multinational companies entered the scene.","PeriodicalId":425490,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Alternative Propulsion","volume":"72 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131949341","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}
S. Prakash, Adrian D. Armijo, R. Masel, M. Shannon
{"title":"Flame dynamics in sub-millimetre combustors","authors":"S. Prakash, Adrian D. Armijo, R. Masel, M. Shannon","doi":"10.1504/IJAP.2007.013023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJAP.2007.013023","url":null,"abstract":"This paper describes experimental observations of flame dynamics within an alumina non-premixed combustor with a sub-millimetre (0.75 mm) minimum size. These flame dynamics occur within a total combustor volume of 130 mm 3 and are imaged through a sapphire window. The confined flames are surveyed using visual still-frames, high-speed flame imaging, measurement of external wall temperatures, and recordings of acoustic emissions from the combustor. The observed flame dynamics are characterised by an oscillating edge-flame that is anchored at the combustor inlet and is accompanied by ignition/extinction events leading to the eventual formation of a stable edge- flame and distinct cellular structures along the reaction channel. This paper investigates the unstable and unsteady flame dynamics within the non- premixed sub-millimetre combustors from ignition to the formation of stable flame structures.","PeriodicalId":425490,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Alternative Propulsion","volume":"46 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124439216","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":"A computational study of compressor surge during transient operation of turbocharged diesel engines","authors":"C. Rakopoulos, C. N. Michos, E. G. Giakoumis","doi":"10.1504/IJAP.2007.013024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJAP.2007.013024","url":null,"abstract":"The transient response of turbocharged diesel engines is of great importance, especially when compressor surge is likely to occur. Turbocharger compressor surge is a dynamic instability mode that can generate air mass flow rate and pressure rise oscillations of large amplitude, and may also induce severe torsional loading to the turbocharger shaft. In this paper, an effort is made to study by simulation the effect of various parameters on the compressor surge behaviour. By varying these parameters, it can be revealed how compressor surge is affected and how surge intensity is influenced. To this aim, a simulation program developed is used for transient operation runs, which are critical for surge appearance. This has been applied on a six-cylinder, diesel engine of marine duty. The model has a control-design oriented philosophy and is capable of identifying the impact of each parameter on compressor surge. Thus, it can prove a useful tool to the engine designer.","PeriodicalId":425490,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Alternative Propulsion","volume":"173 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121323229","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}