Effect of port injection of ethanol on engine performance, exhaust emissions and environmental factors in a dual-fuel diesel engine

This paper investigates the effect of ethanol addition and hot exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) on engine performance, exhaust emissions, and air-pollution damage-cost in a dual-fuel diesel engine. The ethanol is injected at low pressure into the intake manifold using a port-fuel injector while diesel fuel is injected directly into the cylinder. Only the duration of the ethanol injection is changed in the dual-fuel injection system while the diesel injection parameters are not changed. Ethanol fuel is added by port injection in such amounts as to provide additional heat energy in the range of 0–40% to the heat energy of the diesel fuel taken to the engine for any engine operating conditions. Moreover, 5%, 10%, and 15% rates exhaust gas recirculation (hot EGR) for each engine operating conditions are applied. The engine is operated at 1400, 1600, 1800 and 2000 rpm engine speeds at full load (≈40 Nm). In this paper, the highest improvement in engine performance and environmental factors is obtained with ethanol addition of 40% without the hot EGR at 1400 rpm. Under these conditions, the brake engine power ( BEP) and brake engine torque ( BET) increase of 6.9% and 8.1% while NOx emission and air-pollution damage-cost decreased of 32% and 23.9%, respectively. However, CO, HC, and smoke ( FSN number) emissions increased significantly. On the other hand, the brake thermal efficiency ( BTE) and brake specific energy consumption ( BSEC) are negatively affected by the ethanol addition and hot EGR.

Considering Local Air Pollution in the Benefit Assessment and Cost Allocation of Cross Border Transmission Projects

Developing a regional power system to achieve a high level of integration of national systems requires sufficient development of the regional transmission grid. This is possible only with appropriate schemes for the complete cost–benefit analyses, and cost allocation of these transmission investments, which plays a critical role in the selection of the most efficient network investment and the proper assignment of their cost to the national systems. Network reinforcements affect the operation of power systems and, therefore, the externalities of power generation. This paper examines the impacts of integrating local air pollution damage from power production within the benefit assessment and cost allocation of transmission investments. The paper describes the methodology followed and illustrates its application in a real-life case study where a simplified version of a European network is considered. Within this case study, we have assessed the impact of considering the reduction in air pollution damage achieved through a particular HVDC project between France and Spain on the benefits, and benefit-driven cost allocation, computed for this project. In this case study, local pollution related benefits are a relevant fraction of the overall benefits of the considered transmission project. However, considering the local air pollution benefits of the project does not affect the net positive benefits of each country significantly, resulting in a limited change in the cost allocation of the project.

On the Methods for Calculating the Size of Harm to the Environment, Сaused by Аir Рollution

The analysis of the Method developed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation for calculating the amount of damage to the environment caused by air pollution. In accordance with the calculation tools proposed in the method, the damage caused to the environment by excessive emissions of stationary sources of atmospheric air pollution, as well as from agricultural fires and from combustion at waste disposal sites, including landfills, temporary waste accumulation sites and unauthorized landfills, has been estimated. It is shown that, on the one hand, the adoption of a methods for assessing air pollution damage is strategically important, since there is currently a significant gap in this field of methodic support for harm assessment. On the other hand, the required Methods needs to be corrected.

Conifer epicuticular wax as a biomarker of air pollution: an overview

Epicuticular wax covering the conifer tree species surface has been used, mainly in conifers, as a biomarker of air pollution damage. Using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) various alterations in wax structure and chemistry caused by natural and anthropogenic factors have been noticed. SEM enables to evaluate wax deterioration at a very early stage, before visible symptoms occur. Symptoms of wax injury are, in general, not specific to the air pollutant type. Most common alterations in wax were the following: an undeveloped structure, various type of wax tubes fusion or erosion (deformed and disfunctioned stomatal complexes, a decrease in wax tube distribution, increased enrichment of completely amorphous stage), shifted annual wax erosion rate, chemical and needle wettability changes. To use SEM as an accurate tool for evaluating wax alteration, it is essential to distinguish air pollution and natural factors from artefacts caused by inappropriate usage of technique.

Current possibilities of using Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) in forest regeneration in the air-polluted region of the northeastern Krušné hory Mts.

The paper analyses possibilities of repeated use of Norway spruce (<I>Picea abies</I> [L.] Karst.) in the regeneration of existing Norway spruce stands, in the regeneration of large-area clearcuts, and in the reconstruction of the stands of substitute tree species (European white birch [<I>Betula verrucosa</I> Ehrh.]) after a change in the emission situation in the northeastern Krušné hory Mts., comparing the prosperity of these plantations with plantations in the unpolluted Bohemian-Moravian Upland. The survey included 26 research plots aged 1–12 years, situated predominantly on acidic sites in Forest Altitudinal Vegetation Zones (FAVZ) 6 and 7 in the northeastern Krušné hory Mts. (air pollution damage zones A and B) and 6 control plots aged 4–11 years on acidic sites of FAVZ 6 in the Bohemian-Moravian Upland (air pollution damage zone C). Total number of parameters and traits assessed in each tree was up to 14. Research results indicate that the current pollution and climatic situation in the Krušné hory Mts. allow a switch to the classical spruce management system of higher elevations. The best method of regeneration is seen in small-size regeneration elements – clearcuts of up to 1 ha. The spruce can also be used on large-area clearcuts, but it suffers from a long transplanting shock and frost injuries there. All plantations must be protected against game damage.

Current use of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) for artificial regeneration of forests in the air-polluted areas

The paper deals with the use of European beech in the reconstruction of substitute species stands and in the regeneration of existing spruce stands in the air-polluted region of the north-eastern Krušné hory Mts. (air-pollution damage zones A, B, forest altitudinal vegetation zones 6 and 7, acidophilic sites). Twenty stand situations were analyzed during the study. The study objective was to compare the growth of European beech plantations in the Krušné hory Mts. with the growth of plantations of the same age in similar sites in the unpolluted region of the Bohemian-Moravian Upland (air-pollution damage zones C, D, forest altitudinal vegetation zone 6, acidophilic site). Each plant was assessed for eight growth and visually classified parameters and traits. Results of the survey showed that in the existing air-pollution and climatic situation, it is possible to switch to normal (shelterwood) beech management of higher elevations in the north-eastern Krušné hory Mts. The stands of substitute species and the current stands of Norway spruce may effectively eliminate injuries caused by late frost.