scholarly journals System Perspective on Biogas Use for Transport and Electricity Production

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 4159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tommy Rosén ◽  
Louise Ödlund

Linköping municipality has managed biogas driven buses in the regional transport system since 1997 and all buses in the municipality have run on biogas since 2015. Biogas is a renewable fuel and by replacing fossil fuels it can help to lower net CO2 emissions. However, Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) in buses still have a rather low effciency, in the range of 15–30%. If the combustion of biogas instead takes place in a combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) effciency could be higher and heat losses reduced. This could be a feasible solution if the transport system instead used electric buses charged with electricity generated by the CCGT. This article has a top-down perspective on the regional transport system and the regional district heating system (DHS) in Linköping municipality. Two alternative systems are compared regarding CO2 emissions, electricity production and component effciencies. The first system that is studied is in operation today and uses locally produced biogas in the ICE buses. In parallel the combined heat and power (CHP) system delivers electricity and heat to households in the region. The second system that is studied is a system with electric buses and a CHP system that uses biogas in the CCGT to deliver electricity and heat to the regional power grid and DHS. The study shows that emissions would be reduced if biogas use is changed from use in ICE buses to use in the CCGT in the CHP-DHS. Improved biogas use could lower CO2-eq emissions by 2.4 million kg annually by using a better fuel-energy pathway.

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 996
Author(s):  
Venera Giurcan ◽  
Codina Movileanu ◽  
Adina Magdalena Musuc ◽  
Maria Mitu

Currently, the use of fossil fuels is very high and existing nature reserves are rapidly depleted. Therefore, researchers are turning their attention to find renewable fuels that have a low impact on the environment, to replace these fossil fuels. Biogas is a low-cost alternative, sustainable, renewable fuel existing worldwide. It can be produced by decomposition of vegetation or waste products of human and animal biological activity. This process is performed by microorganisms (such as methanogens and sulfate-reducing bacteria) by anaerobic digestion. Biogas can serve as a basis for heat and electricity production used for domestic heating and cooking. It can be also used to feed internal combustion engines, gas turbines, fuel cells, or cogeneration systems. In this paper, a comprehensive literature study regarding the laminar burning velocity of biogas-containing mixtures is presented. This study aims to characterize the use of biogas as IC (internal combustion) engine fuel, and to develop efficient safety recommendations and to predict and reduce the risk of fires and accidental explosions caused by biogas.


Author(s):  
Gurbakhash Bhander ◽  
Chun Wai Lee ◽  
Matthew Hakos

Abstract The growing worldwide interest in low carbon electric generation technologies has renewed interest in natural gas because it is considered a cleaner burning and more flexible alternative to other fossil fuels. Recent shale gas developments have increased natural gas production and availability while lowering cost, allowing a shift to natural gas for electricity production to be a cost-effective option. Natural gas generation in the U.S. electricity sector has grown substantially in recent years (over 31 percent in 2012, up from 17 percent in 1990), while carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of the sector have generally declined. Natural gas-fired electrical generation offers several advantages over other fossil (e. g. coal, oil) fuel-fired generation. The combination of the lower carbon-to-hydrogen ratio in natural gas (compared to other fossil fuels) and the higher efficiency of natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) power plants (using two thermodynamic cycles) than traditional fossil-fueled electric power generation (using a single cycle) results in less CO2 emissions per unit of electricity produced. Furthermore, natural gas combustion results in considerably fewer emissions of air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and particulate matter (PM). Natural gas is not the main option for deep de-carbonization. If deep reduction is prioritized, whether of the electricity sector or of the entire economy, there are four primary technologies that would be assumed to play a prominent role: energy efficiency equipment, nuclear power, renewable energy, and carbon capture and storage (CCS). However, natural gas with low carbon generation technologies can be considered a “bridge” to transition to these deep decarbonization options. This paper discusses the economics and environmental impacts, focusing on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, associated with alternative electricity production options using natural gas as the fuel source. We also explore pairing NGCC with carbon capture, explicitly examining the costs and emissions of amine absorption, cryogenic carbon capture, carbonate fuel cells, and oxy-combustion.


Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1061 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia Boysen ◽  
Cord Kaldemeyer ◽  
Simon Hilpert ◽  
Ilja Tuschy

The transformation of heat supply structures towards 4th generation district heating (4GDH) involves lower supply temperatures and a shift in technology. In order to assess the economic viability of the respective systems, adequate unit commitment models are needed. However, maintaining the formal requirements, while reducing the computational efforts of these models, often includes simplifications such as the assumption of constant supply temperatures. This study investigates the effect of introducing varying supply temperatures in mixed-integer linear programming models. Based on a case study of a municipal district heating system, how the temperature integration approach affects unit commitment and technology assessment for different temperature levels and scenarios is analyzed. In particular, three supply temperature levels are investigated with both variable and constant temperatures in two scenarios. Results indicate that lower flow temperature levels in the heating network tend to favor internal combustion engines, combined cycle power plants, and heat pumps; while back pressure steam turbines, peak loads, and electric boilers show declining operating hours. Furthermore, the effect of varying versus constant temperatures at the same temperature level is rather small, at least as long as technical restrictions do not come into play. Finally, it is found that the effect of changing temperature on a technology assessment is comparably small as opposed to adaptions in the regulatory framework.


Author(s):  
Marco Gambini ◽  
Michela Vellini

In this paper two methodologies, able to avoid CO2 dispersion in atmosphere, have been analyzed: • treating exhaust gases in order to remove, liquefy and store the produced carbon dioxide; • de-carbonizing fossil fuels before using them in the combustion in order to inhibit completely carbon dioxide production. These methodologies have been implemented in advanced power plants based on gas turbine: a combined cycle power plant (CC), fed by natural gas, and an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC), fed by coal. The exhaust gas treatment is based on a chemical process of absorption, while the fossil fuel decarbonization is based on partial oxidation of methane, steam methane reforming and coal gasification. These systems require material and energetic integrations with the power sections and so the best interconnections must be investigated in order to obtain good overall performance. With reference to thermodynamic and economic performance, significant comparisons have been made between the above mentioned reference plants. An efficiency decrease and an increase in the cost of electricity have been obtained when power plants are equipped with systems able to reduce CO2 emissions. However, in order to obtain low CO2 emissions when coal is used, the coal decarbonization must be implemented: in this case it is possible to attain a global efficiency of about 38%, a specific emission of 0.1117 kg/kWh and an increase of kWh cost of about 32%. Vice versa, in order to obtain low CO2 emissions when natural gas is used, the exhaust gas treatment must be implemented: in this case it is possible to attain a global efficiency of about 50.7%, a specific emission of 0.0391 kg/kWh and an increase of kWh cost of about 15%. The clean use of coal seems to have good potential because it allows low energy penalizations (about 7.5 percentage points) and economic increases of about 32%. Because of the great availability, the homogeneous distribution and the low cost of this fuel, these results seem to be very interesting especially in the viewpoint of a transition towards the “hydrogen economy”, based, at least in the medium term, on fossil fuels.


2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 849-864 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcos Escudero ◽  
Ángel Jiménez ◽  
Celina González ◽  
Rafael Nieto ◽  
Ignacio López

The utilisation of biofuels in gas turbines is a promising alternative to fossil fuels for power generation. It would lead to a significant reduction of CO2 emissions using an existing combustion technology, although considerable changes appear to be required and further technological development is necessary. The goal of this work is to conduct energy and exergy analyses of the behaviour of gas turbines fired with biogas, ethanol and synthesis gas (bio-syngas), compared with natural gas. The global energy transformation process (i.e., from biomass to electricity) also has been studied. Furthermore, the potential reduction of CO2 emissions attained by the use of biofuels has been determined, after considering the restrictions regarding biomass availability. Two different simulation tools have been used to accomplish this work. The results suggest a high interest in, and the technical viability of, the use of Biomass Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (BioIGCC) systems for large scale power generation.


Author(s):  
Parakram Pyakurel ◽  
Filipe Quintal ◽  
James Auger ◽  
Julian Hanna

One method of reducing atmospheric CO2 emissions in the transportation sector is the replacement of conventional fossil fuel-based vehicles with Electric Vehicles (EVs). However, fossil fuels are still the primary source of electricity production in many regions and the utilization of EVs in such regions increases the electricity demand because of battery charging. This results in increased burning of fossil fuels by thermal power plants and therefore can offset savings in CO2 emissions resulting from the adoption of EVs. In this paper, we consider a scenario where all fossil fuel-based conventional vehicles are replaced by EVs and then estimate the net CO2 emission savings resulting from the adoption of EVs in a region where electricity is primarily supplied by thermal plants. Only emissions generated during the operational phase of vehicle use are considered; emissions during the production phase are not considered. The region under consideration is Madeira, Portugal where thermal plants account for 80% of the total electricity produced. Our findings suggest that although EVs have huge potential to save CO2 emissions, a substantial amount of the savings can be offset due to the increased burning of fossil fuels by thermal plants to meet the electrical demand of charging batteries.


Electric vehicles (EV’s) were invented and had been a part of transportation industry before 1900’s. Being popular, they had good turn outs in the market till 1918. As the inventions of internal combustion engines grew in the transportation industry, EV’s usage started to die. The usage of EV’s was totally zero by 1933, due to slow response and high expenses. The shortcomings faced by EV’s then, are not overcome totally till date. Advancement in the field of Microelectronics and power electronics have made EV power trains competitive with ICE power trains. The developments in the materials and manufacturing technologies provide optimistic battery. The vital factors that revive EV’s: cost of energy, energy independency, pollution free operation. The upcoming shortage of fossil fuels, shortage of supply, growing demands and their cost have made people look around for an alternative mode of transportation. As electricity production can be made from different energy resources, EV’s promise to be a future of vehicles. However the recharging can be done when there is excess energy in power utilities. The biggest reason of interest towards EV’s is environmental factors such as reduction in air pollution in congested traffics thereby meeting national energy strategy policies


Author(s):  
Vittorio Verda ◽  
Serena Fausone

District heating is a rational way to use fossil fuels for domestic heating (and cooling) in towns, especially if it is joined to a cogenerative production of electricity. The aim of this paper is to propose the use of exergoeconomic procedures for the design and analysis of district heating systems. Network design basically involves the selection of the areas to be connected to the network as well as the selection of some design variables as the pipe diameters, the location of pumps etc. This choice is operated assuming primary energy consumption as the objective function to be minimized. The application of these concepts is operated through a probabilistic approach derived from Simulated Annealing. An application to the Turin district heating system is presented here. The system is composed of a cogenerative combined cycle, some auxiliary boilers and the pipe network. An exergetic cost is associated to each user or potential user. This information is used to evaluate the opportunities for future expansions of the served area as well as the variation in some of the operating parameters.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (17) ◽  
pp. 5358
Author(s):  
Vladimir Kindra ◽  
Andrey Rogalev ◽  
Evgeny Lisin ◽  
Sergey Osipov ◽  
Olga Zlyvko

This paper is devoted to improvement of environmental safety in hydrocarbon-firing TPPs. Despite the development of renewable power sources, the number of traditional power production facilities continues its growth. The toxic emission mitigation in traditional TPPs has been deeply investigated, but the problem of greenhouse gas atmospheric emissions is of topical interest. Oxy-fuel technology reduces CO2 emissions and is highly efficient and environmentally safe. Also, it requires relatively low capital investments. Thermal efficiency analysis shows that the Allam cycle facilities have the best efficiency. Their thermodynamic parameters can be optimized with minimal primary costs and capital investments. This newly developed analysis was used to compare the investment efficiency of projects for the buildup of oxy-fuel and combined cycle facilities. Without emission quote payments, the NPV of combined cycle projects is 16% higher, as well as having a lower DPP. The electricity production primary costs in oxy-fuel and combined cycle facilities are similar, which reflects the technologies’ similarity and similar fuel costs. Implementation of carbon dioxide emission quote marketing makes oxy-fuel facilities more investment-attractive. Parametric studies show that when Russia implements CO2 emission quotes compatible with the current EU level, an oxy-fuel facility erection project will be financially reasonable. Thus, it can be concluded that the construction of oxy-fuel power plants is one of the most promising and investment-attractive solutions to reduce CO2 emissions in the energy sector for large industrialized countries. The managerial consequences of their implementation will include the stabilization of greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring the financial stability of the energy industry.


2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (11) ◽  
pp. 2676-2681
Author(s):  
Mihaela Gabriela Dumitru ◽  
Dragos Tutunea

The purpose of this work was to investigate the physicochemical properties of watermelon seeds and oil and to find out if this oil is suitable and compatible with diesel engines. The results showed that the watermelon seeds had the maximum length (9.08 mm), width (5.71mm), thickness (2.0 mm), arithmetic mean diameter (5.59 mm), geometrical mean diameter (4.69 mm), sphericity (51.6%), surface area (69.07), volume 0.17 cm3 and moisture content 5.4%. The oil was liquid at room temperature, with a density and refractive index of 0.945 and 1.4731 respectively acidity value (1.9 mgNaOH/g), free fatty acid (0.95 mgNaOH), iodine value (120 mgI2/100g), saponification value (180 mgKOH/g), antiradical activity (46%), peroxide value (7.5 mEqO2/Kg), induction period (6.2 h), fatty acid: palmitic acid (13.1%), stearic acid (9.5 %), oleic acid (15.2 %) and linoleic acid (61.3%). Straight non food vegetable oils can offer a solution to fossil fuels by a cleaner burning with minimal adaptation of the engine. A single cylinder air cooled diesel engine Ruggerini RY 50 was used to measure emissions of various blends of watermelon oil (WO) and diesel fuel (WO10D90, WO20D80, WO30D70 and WO75D25). The physic-chemical properties of the oil influence the combustion process and emissions leading to the reduction of NOX and the increase in CO, CO2 and HC.


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