Day 1 :
Keynote Forum
Sven Erik Jørgensen
Copenhagen University, Denmark
Keynote: The Danish renewable energy island Samsø
Time : 10:00-10:30 a.m
Biography:
Sven Erik Jørgensen is professor emeritus in environmental chemistry at the University of Copenhagen. He has received a master of science in chemical engineering from the Danish Technical University (1958), a doctor of environmental engineering (Karlsruhe University) and a doctor of science in ecological modelling (Copenhagen University). He is honourable doctor at Coimbra University, Portugal and at Dar es Salaam University (Tanzania). He has received the Einstein Professorship of the Chinese Academy of Science. He has in 1975 founded the journal Ecological Modelling and in 1978 ISEM (International Society of Ecological Modelling). He has received several awards, The Ruder Boskovic Medal, The Prigogine Prize, The Pascal Medal, The Einstein professorship at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, The Santa Chiara Prize for multidisciplinary teaching and the very prestigious Stockholm Water Prize. The Encyclopedia of Environmental Management, edited by Sven Erik Jørgensen, received in 2013 the outstanding publishing achievement, “this year’s Outstanding Academic Title”.He has published 370 papers of which 256 were published in peer-reviewed international journals and he has edited or authored 79 books, of which several have been translated to other languages (Chinese, Russian, Spanish and Portuguese). He has authored a successful textbook in ecological modelling “Fundamentals of Ecological Modelling”, which was published as a fourth edition together with Brian Fath in 2011. It has been translated to Chinese and Russian (third edition). Recently he authored a well received textbook in system ecology entitled “Introduction to Systems Ecology”. It was published as English edition in 2012 and as Chinese edition in 2013. He was editor in chief of the Encyclopedia of Ecology, that was published in 2008, and of the Encyclopedia of Environmental Management, that was published in December 2012. The Encyclopedia of Environmental Management received the award “Outstanding Academic Title” for 2013. He has taught courses in ecological modelling and systems ecology in 33 different countries. He is the editorial board member of 20 international journals in the fields of ecology and environmental management. He is the president of ISEM and he has been elected member of the European Academy of Science’s, for which he is the chairman of the Section for Environmental Sciences.
Abstract:
The presented sustainability analysis of the island Samsø uses the concept work energy as basis for the assessment of the sustainability. Both the energy flows and material flows can be expressed as renewable or nonrenewable work energy and based on energy units. By the developed method it is possible to assess whether the development in a given area – in this case the island Samsø – is sustainable and furthermore to identify what is needed to make the development sustainable. The method can also be applied to express how much a project proposal – for instance to introduce electrical car on the island – will bring the development closer to complete sustainability.In addition is developed an analysis of the carbon cycling, which summarizes all the main carbon processes in a carbon cycling model to be able to assess the total net emission of carbon dioxide and methane on the island and the input-output balance of carbon for the island. Samsø has introduced renewable energy but it is not ensuring that the carbon dioxide emission is zero, because carbon participates in many processes like photosynthesis, decomposition of organic matter, consumption of food by humans and domestic animals and so on. Therefore is the erection of a model that includes all the main carbon processes necessary to reveal the net emission of carbon dioxide and methane and the total carbon balance. The carbon cycling model can be applied to quantify the emissions and the carbon balance at a given time point, and how much they may be changed due to a project proposal, for instance introduction and electrical cars on the island. The carbon model demonstrates how the carbon dioxide emission has changed from year 1997 where it was 5000 t C per year to 2011 where the uptake was 26 000 t C per year. By proposed projects it will be possible to take up almost 40 000 t C per year in year 2020.
Keynote Forum
Jagannadh Satyavolu
University of Louisville, USA
Keynote: Integrated C5-based biorefinery for the production of high energy density biofuels and biochemicals
Time : 11:20-11:50
Biography:
Jagannadh Satyavolu works as Theme Leader, Biomass conversion and Biofuels, Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY.Dr. Satyavolu earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the Ohio State University, Columbus, OH and has 30 years of experience in commercial business leadership roles, operations and capital project management, intellectual asset development and management, product and process technology development, industrial application research, and academia. He holds 20 US and international patents and has steered multiple projects from concept to commercialization. Prior to joining Conn Center, he worked at Cargill, Georgia Institute of Technology, Battelle Labs, and the Ohio State University.
Abstract:
Hemicellulose based sugars (e.g., xylose and arabinose) can be a platform for synthesis of a variety of high energy density fuels currently derived from petroleum. Pentoses were identified by the US Department of Energy in 2004 among the top candidates of valuable chemical precursors that could be produced from biomass. University of Louisville has developed and demonstrated an integrated C5-based biorefinery concept. In this concept, we start with a hemicellulose rich “captive” agricultural biomass and selectively extract C5 sugars. Some examples of such hemicellulose rich biomass are: soy hulls from soybean processing, rice hulls from rice milling, corn fiber from wet milling or dry milling, bagasse from sugarcane processing, etc. One of the key process steps of this biorefining concept is a precipitation protocol that delivers D-xylose in pyranose form to obtain a pure starting monosaccharide. The C5 sugars derived from these co-products can be converted via chemical synthesis routes to higher-value bio-jet fuels and high energy density components of bio-jet fuels.
Keynote Forum
Chris Castro
IDEAS For Us, USA
Keynote: Boosting energy efficiency in buildings: How cities are leading the way on climate action through the city energy project
Time : 11:50-12:20 p.m
Biography:
Chris Castro is an emerging social entrepreneur, community organizer, and sustainability professional with a passion for accelerating the transition to a clean energy economy. Chris is currently a Sustainability Program Manager and Senior Energy Adviser for the City of Orlando, working on implementing the Green Works Community Action Plan and developing policies and programs to advance clean energy and sustainability initiatives throughout Central Florida. In 2008, Chris co-founded IDEAS For Us, an award-winning international 501c3 nonprofit and UN-accredited NGO that’s building a movement of people working to accelerate environmental solutions on campuses and communities in more than 20+ countries around the World. In 2012, Chris also helped create Citizen Energy, a clean energy consulting and development firm working to implement energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions in commercial buildings throughout Washington DC. In previous roles, he has also held sustainability & energy-related positions with University of Central Florida, Orange County Government, and the US Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE) in Washington DC. Finally, Chris was recently designated as Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum and a delegate for the Clinton Global Initiative. In his spare time, Chris enjoys urban farming and surfing the east coast of Florida.
Abstract:
In every major American city, buildings account for the majority of energy use and carbon pollution–even more than the transportation or industrial sectors. If cities want to be more competitive and more resilient against energy-related crises, they must boost the energy efficiency of their building stock. In the City of Orlando, 6% of the number of buildings contributes to 57% of the impacts regarding energy use and carbon pollutions, showing that improving the energy performance of these buildings will yield significant, rapid results to reaching our energy and climate action goals. However, in order to achieve significant energy savings, cities must know how much energy their large buildings are using in the first place. As a participant of the City Energy Project, the City of Orlando is developing an integrated framework of policies and programs that will increase energy efficiency investments in commercial, multifamily, and industrial buildings. This multi-faceted approach will work on improving the city’s municipal building portfolio, enabling actionable information about energy use, creating new financial instruments, developing custom incentive programs for improve performance, crafting new workforce development programs that educate building operators, exploring new energy codes and green building standards (for new construction), and launching creative ways to spur investments through city-wide competitions. This presentation will unveil the overview of City Energy Project initiatives, and disclose what the City of Orlando is working on to drive economic growth and improved competitiveness, enable smarter markets and governments, improve our environment, and become a national leader in energy efficiency for new and existing buildings.
- Track 1: Renewable Energy Sources and Industrial Applications
Track 6: Energy and Environment
Track 9: Energy Solutions and Facts
Session Introduction
Tobias Richards
University of Borås, Sweden
Title: Opportunities for thermal waste treatment
Biography:
Tobias Richards is a professor in energy recovery at University of Borås since 2010. He has a PhD in chemical engineering from Chalmers University of Technology and made his postdoctoral studies at University of Maine within the college of Engineering. He has published more than 30 papers in reputed journals and is the editor of a new book in the area of waste treatment (Resource Recovery to Approach Zero Municipal Waste). During the fall 2014 he was a visiting professor at University of California, Berkeley.
Abstract:
Waste is constantly increasing in the world and has been tightly associated with growth; both in terms of number of people and in terms of industrial and economic growth. However, waste can be regarded as a resource and as depletion of natural resources and higher demand on energy utilization is a reality several opportunities arise. Among those are of course the traditional sorting and recycling options but also options regarding energy recovery. Waste combustion (incineration) has been a practice for more than a century. It faces difficulties with low efficiency for waste to power processes due the inhomogeneity of the feedstock and the corrosiveness. This has led to improvements in the technology including: new materials, combination with gas turbines, advanced superheating and better presorting. Apart from the energy efficiency improvements, other options exist to reach a more sustainable handling regarding the inorganic fraction. Today, this fraction is mainly put on landfills but by utilizing the increased concentrations of key elements in the ashes it is possible to start new processes mainly by leaching and separation Gasification is a new opportunity that can lead to better efficiencies for both these aspects. The power production can be improved by utilization of gas boilers with higher steam temperatures and pressures or by gas turbines. Besides, the condition in the gasifier prevents the inorganic material to oxidize and might even reduce already formed oxides which make the materials more attractive. Several new commercial plants are now erected or under construction.
Ana Rosu
University of Agronomical Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Romania
Title: Camelina sativa: A promising cost-effective crop for biofuel feedstock; testing the optimization of Camelina farming in Romania
Biography:
Ana Rosu is a Graduate of the faculty of biology, University of Bucharest and scientific researcher in the field of cell biology and plant biotechnology at the Institute of Biology, Romanian Academy of Sciences. She completed her PhD in Biology in 1987. She is a scientific research coordinator and is responsible for professional formation of young specialists as professor of plant biology and biotechnology of the faculty of biotechnology at University of Agronomical Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest. She has published more than 70 articles in scientific journals; 24 scientific presentations at international and national scientific events.
Abstract:
Global energy insecurity in the face of diminishing fossil oil reserves revitalized the interest to identify alternative renewable sources of energy feedstock with an emphasis on plants. There is increased interest in Camelina sativa due to the exquisite quality of its seed oil as a source of green energy namely of bio-based petroleum substitutes especially aircraft biofuel. A top priority on the EU environmental agenda is the use of alternative aviation fuels aiming to achieve an annual production of two million tons of sustainably produced biofuels for the European civil aviation by 2020 (European Advanced Biofuels Flightpath). Though Camelina seed oil has been used on Romanian territory since the Bronze Age for food, medicinal purposes and as lamp oil, after the Second World War it was replaced by higher yielding crops. It is now obvious that in order to provide sufficient Camelina seed oil to be used as a bio-based petroleum substitute, it is imperative to develop new varieties characterized by high and stable yield, higher oil content and increased adaptability to the environmental conditions. Another basic requirement for having enough available feedstock is to develop reliable and cost-effective agro-technology for the cultivation of this species. Answering these challenges was the aim of two European research projects with Romanian participation (ITAKA and NICAVA). The trials of Camelina production in different Romanian locations proved that this crop has a good production potential even on polluted soils and the production variables which affect the seed yield and the oil quality are discussed.
André Pedral Sampaio
APOLLO Research Group of Sustainable Technology,Brazil
Title: Prometheus project: Using a plasma reactor for reforming gas of bio digesters with carbon sequestration and hydrogen use for treatment of sewage and cogeneration of energy
Biography:
Andra Pedral Sampaioin holds Phd in Industrial Engineering - Organizational Intelligence from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (2008), Master in Industrial Engineering - Business Management from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (2002), Computer Specialist at Educational Center for Education Graduate Olga Metting (1999), Degree in Electrical Engineering from the Federal University of Bahia (1986). He has extensive experience in the areas of Information Technology, Process Engineering, Hydrogen, Bioenergy, Energy Generated, Process Automation, Sustainable Development, Audit and Judicial Skill. Winner of the South Regional – Santander and Winner of 4th Prize Santander Science and Innovation with the project OPTIMUS: Creating a method for assessing the strategic management informed by MCDA-C; Coordinates of the APOLLO research group, developing research projects in the areas of technology, robotics, organizational strategies, clean energy and sustainable development. Creator, researcher and coordinator of the Engineering courses of the Faculty of Technology of Valença / Ba – FACTIVA. Founder of FACTIVA's Technology Center. Professor and researcher at the Federal University of Bahia – UFBA. Coordinator and researcher of the research groups: NDTA – FACTIVA: Advanced Technology Development Center Factiva; And GPAPOLLO – UFBA: Apollo Research Group – UFBA.
Abstract:
Global warming derived from burning fossil fuels, lance in the atmosphere, billions of tons of CO, CO2, NO2, NO, CH4 and other greenhouse gases . Altering the climate of the planet and compromising the Rivers and Sea’s due the melting ice caps, severe droughts and big storms. Thus, because of these climate changes and impacts of greenhouse gases associated with the instability of fossil fuel prices, reduced reserves and the reduction of areas for the creation of large hydroelectric plants have contributed with an increased concern with the environment, energy and production. Therefore, becomes a premise in current projects developing new sources of clean energy without generating greenhouse gases. These conditions remind also that the global climate is changing with a general warming trend which may cause problems of famine, drought and floods in various parts of the globe. Such phenomena predicted in climate projections, a decade ago and were considering such critical changes in the global climate for the next fifty years have shown that these are happening right now. Changes in environmental policies are being implemented in haste in the world and those who are not yet alarmed by the magnitude of this problem tend to suffer the consequences of his later efforts. Seasonal effects resulting from Global warming and ice ages are common on the planet but do not occur in human scale, however, humanity provides the necessary formula for changes that would occur over hundreds of years in one century. It is no longer a matter of "if" and "when" is the question of how one can reverse or ameliorate the effects of human intervention in order to slow down Earth’s climate changes and disasters that potentially represent that affect us as a whole. With these bases Prometheus Project is builder for building completely carbon free plants without producing waste to the environment and bothering to retrieve it. Based on this principle is that the project was based on a systematic use of wastewater in order to recover the degraded water, avoiding the generation of methane into the atmosphere and offset the emission of gases. The Prometheus Project proposes generating energy and treat contaminated water thus reducing the constant strain on the environment and allowing this to recover from human interference by providing a rational and intelligent use of sewage coming from the anaerobic treatment basins which may or may not a have high content of other dissolved solutes for the purpose of energy production through a plasma reactor for pyrolysis of methane obtained from anaerobic bio-digesters of the chamber using an interchangeable modular structure for generation of colloidal carbon and hydrogen which feeds the pyrolysis reactor to treatment of wastewater, addition of power generation without affecting the environment and having as byproducts of the process generating clean energy, the production of pure H2 and C, rock wool and water.
Boe-Shong Hong
National Chung Cheng University,Taiwan
Title: Design of thermal boost chopper for power-amplification control of thermoacoustic engines via thermal-inertia materials
Biography:
Boe-Shong Hong has completed his PhD from The PennState University at University Park, USA and Postdoctoral study therefrom. He is currently a Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of National Chung Cheng University in Taiwan. He has published more than 50 papers in reputed journals and served as one of Associate Editors in some journals.
Abstract:
With the advent of thermally inductive materials, it becomes possible to design a thermal boost chopper for thermoacoustic engines as an electrical analogy to a boost converter. In the design, a thermal relay is chosen as the switching device and the thermally inductive material is to store-deliver heat-flux along with the on-off of thermal relay in a cycle. According to the principle of step-up choppers, the temperature gradients from the thermal storage to the resonator at their interface is impulsively large by which a vigorous stream of heat-flux will then be pumped into the resonator at the frequency of thermal-relay switching. This prodigiously drives up the power rating of thermoacoustic engines. Meanwhile, the switching of thermal-relay will be kept at resonance all the time for the maximum power factor in the thermal-to-acoustic conversion. The thermal boost chopper not only increases power-ratings but also enlarges application scope as stated in the following: When it is applied to a stand-alone AC solar-power generator, its power-rating is at least several times of the prior designs of active thermoacoustic engines. For an ideal matching with the resonator and the AC current generator, the power amplification can even be hundreds of times. It can also be employed to recycle dissipated heat out of manufacture processes to electricity which greatly widens the application scope. Moreover, it makes possible to replace the passive thermoacoustic engines dependent down from photovoltaic panels by active ones.
Vincent Okudoh
Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa
Title: Sustainable waste conversion to biogas through anaerobic digestion of cassava biomass in South Africa
Biography:
Vincent Okudoh has completed his Ph.D from University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2011 and postdoctoral studies from the same University School of Engineering. He is a Biotechnology lecturer and researcher with BioERG at Cape Peninsula University of Technology Cape Town Campus, South Africa. He published many papers in reputed journals and serves as an Advisory Editorial Board member with Scholars Academic Journal of Pharmacy.
Abstract:
About 70% of the countries in Africa rely on imported energy and are faced with major challenges such as energy security for the future and better use of natural resources. This situation is aggravated by huge unemployment and low gross domestic product (GDP). A huge chunk of African countries’ national budget which could have gone into development is spent on energy import. This leads to in-fighting (wars), poor infrastructural development and spread of lethal diseases. The exploration of other natural sustainable sources of energy such as biogas is of great importance because of the excessive demand from both the rural and urban population on fossil energy. Conversion of biomass to energy will help reduce this dependence as well as mitigate the negative social and environmental impacts such as rural unemployment and global warming. Cassava biomass offers multiple benefits such as high yields of starch ((80.6% dry weight) and total dry matter (38.6%). Using a locally fabricated laboratory batch fermenter (25 L), anaerobic digestion was carried out under mesophillic conditions. Pre- treatment of the cassava biomass with spoilage fungi, Aspergillus niger and Penicillium species yielded large amounts of fermentable sugars required for digestion. Fresh Zebra droppings (2:1 v/v) were used as inoculum. Theoretical biogas yields were between 0.71 and 0.75 Nm3 per kg VS while the total biogas yields of between 250 and 300 L/kg VS fed into the digester was obtained after 20 days retention time. Cassava is not yet a staple food in some BRICS countries like South Africa and the peels and other by-products of its processing are equally suitable for energy production. The use of cassava will be an alternative feedstock strategy for several rural biogas projects running with cow dung inside South Africa. In addition, opportunities exist for decentralized, cheaper and socially advantageous bioenergy production from cassava considering that fuel and electricity needs are not satisfied in many rural areas. Finally, the incorporation of cassava anaerobic digestion facility at different scales will deliver additional benefits like the incorporation of nutrients and residual carbon into the land as fertilizer.
Ailton de Silveira Junior
APOLLO Research Group of Sustainable Technology,Brazil
Title: Chiron project: Reform of methane from a cold plasma reactor with hydrogen production for desalination and energy cogeneration
Biography:
Ailton de Silveira Junior, holds Master’s in Industrial Engineering - Business Management from the Federal University of Bahia (2005);Degree in Mechanic Engineering from the Federal University of Bahia (1990). He has extensive experience in the areas of Mechanic Engineering, Hydrogen, Bioenergy, Energy generated, Process automation, Sustainable developmentand Construction of mechanical machines and automobiles. He is the Deputy Coordinator of the APOLLO research group, developing research projects in the areas of technology, robotics, organizational strategies, clean energy and sustainable development.
Abstract:
The increasing exploitation of water resources in recent decades has resulted in situations of water stress worldwide. Thus, the phenomena of reduced water availability in Brazil have caused a reduction of hydroelectric resources, which presents itself as one of the main problems for power generation in Brazil. Moreover, the Brazilian electric system is not warranted against shortages, even if the principles of the new energy model are followed. To get an idea of the problem, if the production of thermal energy is removed, the risk of rationing could rise from 10 % to 27 % in 2013, according to IBGE. The situation may actually get worse if reducing the supply of Bolivian gas happens, which would be especially worrisome for the South and Southeast regions. In order to reduce the risks of a general power outage, the CHIRON Project emerged, supported by two social projects, one of Brazilian's federal government and the other of Bahia state's government, both aiming the rational and intelligent use of saline wastewater from treatment of artesian well water by reverse osmosis, which may or may not have a high content of other dissolved solutes, and also with the purpose of generating energy through of a cold plasma reactor for pyrolysis of methane and / or any other hydrocarbon, using a modular and interchangeable framework for generating black carbon and hydrogen, which feed the reactor of water desalination and the turbo- generator of energy, without affecting the environment and having as byproducts of the process the generation of clean energy and the production of H2 and C, rock salt and water in two ways: drinking water suitable for human consumption; and demineralized, deionized, industrial water.
Biography:
Wafik Noseir is an Environmental Engineering Consultant. He has been teaching since 1983 and has many papers in the sustainable development to his credit especially with the environment. He worked for solar energy corporation "Honeywell", petroleum sector planning & follow up manager at 3 major international companies “Arthur Anderson” consultant, Coca-Cola as a projects & Environmental manager. He is a Project manager of the National project of Egypt "Toshka" and has participated in many International Conferences especially the World Congress for the Environment 7 times which were held at Washington DC, California, Portland, Florida, France, Turkey, UK and Denmark. He is a founder & owner of Egyptian Modern Center; trying to find its way towards sustainability in polluted environment.
Abstract:
Are we as humans sustained? The simple answer to this complicated question would be; No. So, is our Earth sustained? The answer to this question can be divided to two approaches; one answer is the nature of the earth itself inside our solar system together with the nature of the sun & its lifetime and the second answer would be the nature of the humans themselves, who are the most “intelligent species” on this planet and are controlling its resources & other species on this planet too; of how they live, how they react with each other, what are their controls of the technologies that they come up with every day as evolving species. So what is sustainability? It is the process that we want to achieve for our development. So have we started? I guess not yet for the targets that we (the visionaries) hope to achieve. So we are writing here to start; by ideas and maybe actual examples to show that (taking into account considerations such as the increasing population and depleting resources) technology can be used for betterment, most essentially of using the green energy as our main source of energy such as solar, wind, waves, water hydrogen, methane & halophytes biofuels, compressed air and sand fuel cells.
Ndip Esaka Emmanuel
Environment and Rural Development Foundation, Cameroon
Title: The effect of fossil fuel on wildlife in Africa
Biography:
Ndip Esaka Emmanuel has completed his Bachelor’s degree in Zoology from the University of Dschang, Cameroon. He has been an Animal Keeper and an Educator at the Limbe Wildlife Centre, A Wildlife Bio-monitor at Wildlife Conservation Society in Cameroon and currently the Vice Coordinator for Wildlife Conservation Education and a Bio-monitor at ERuDeF, Cameroon.
Abstract:
Africa the world’s hotspot for terrestrial wildlife, home of the elephant, gorilla, chimpanzee, ostrich, etc is been destroyed each day by heavy pollutants from fossil fuel. About 70% of the rural population in Africa depend heavily on the forest for food, medicine, shelter etc. But sadly, when fossil fuel pollutants such as sulphuric acid in the air combines with rain water droplets, the water droplets become acidic forming acid rain which can kill trees, medicinal plants, contaminate water supply and harm animals. Due to the increasing worldwide demand for fossil fuels, extraction is going to be an unstoppable force which directly or indirectly is a great threat to biodiversity. In Cameroon, large amount of fossil fuel pollutants from SONARA refinery station is a great threat to marine ecosystems, the environment and the population. Th is has lead to the killing of many aquatic animals, water pollution and forest fragmentations for new extraction sites as well as the extinction of many plants and animal species due to habitats lost. Wildlife are the main building blocks of the world we live in, humans depend directly or indirectly on them to make life easy. Therefore it is our responsibility to protect wildlife by applying the use of a more secure and environmental friendly energy source like the Green energy.
Supiah Shamsudin
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia
Title: Rainfall parameters and distribution using analytical probabilistic method for Klang Valley, Malaysia
Biography:
Supiah Shamsudin is a professor at Razak School of Engineering and Advanced Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Kuala Lumpur (UTMKL).Her research interests include hydraulics and hydrology, water resources engineering and management and environmental management.
Abstract:
The Analytical Probabilistic Method (APM) for flood analysis has been applied as an alternative to design storm and continuous simulation method because of its computational efficiency. The objective of this study is to determine the statistical analysis of rainfall at selected catchment area and to determine the analytical probabilistic method parameter at 6 hours of Inter Event Time Definition (IETD). Four catchment areas at Klang Valley were chosen for this study and hourly rainfall and stream flow data for at least 10 years were used to develop the APM parameter. The APM results from goodness-of-fit test indicated that all the rainfall characteristics (i.e., rainfall duration, rainfall depth, rainfall intensity and inter event time) fitted the exponential distribution and the value of APM parameters were presented. APM parameters for catchment area at Klang Valley are presented in a table. The parameters were average duration of rainfall event, t (hr) whereby λ (hr-1) is the parameter for exponential PDF of rainfall duration, average volume of rainfall event, v (mm) whereby ζ (mm-1) is the parameter for exponential PDF of rainfall volume, average intensity of rainfall event, i (mm/hr) whereby β (hr/mm) is the parameter for exponential PDF of rainfall intensity, average inter-event time, b (hr) whereby ψ (hr-1) is the parameter for exponential PDF of inter-event time and average annual number of rainfall events, θ (yr-1). The APM parameter of rainfall duration values range from 0.099 0-0160 hr-1. The exponential PDFs of rainfall depth were range from 0.035-0.077 mm-1 while APM parameter for rainfall intensity were range from 0.017-0.433 hr/mm. Lastly, the parameter of exponential PDF of inter-event time range from 0.023-0.077 hr-1. Other related parameters and their distributions were also discussed in the paper.
F. Murilo T. Luna
Universidade Federal do Ceará,Brazil
Title: Studies on engine performance and emissions of high viscosity biodiesel oils
Biography:
F. Murilo T. Luna is a graduate in Chemical Engineering from Universidade Federal do Ceará (2004) and PhD in Chemical Engineering from Universidade Federal do Ceará (2012). His research interests focus on industrial chemical processes and applications, particularly on the following subjects: adsorption fundamentals, modeling of adsorption processes, and assessment of bioproducts (biodiesel and biolubricants).
Abstract:
Environmental benefits and significant economical impact on global oil requirements could be obtained through gradual worldwide replacement of mineral diesel by biodiesel. For this reason, studies on biodiesel performance and emissions from diesel engines have been receiving increasing interest. However, most of the current research effort has been concentrated on methyl esters with low viscosities, usually obtained from refined vegetable oils such as soya, canola, palm, sunflower and linseed. The operational impacts of biodiesel produced from other alternative raw materials such as beef tallow or castor oil have not been thoroughly evaluated, probably due to their high viscosity values that impose important modifications to spray breakup, evaporation and combustion processes within the diesel engines. This study aims to contribute in further understanding the effects of using beef tallow or castor oil biodiesels in diesel engines combustion. Additionaly, the effects of the high viscosity of these biofuels were addressed in attempting to evaluate its importance on combustion and pollutant emissions. Thus steady state experiments were performed in a turbocharged DI diesel engine coupled to an automated test bed equipped with an alternate current dynamometer and pollutant emissions analysers. Blends with bio/mineral oil ratios between 5 and 20% vol were evaluated. The engine tests were carried out in three load conditions corresponding to 33, 66 and 100 % of the maximum value reported for the engine brake mean effective pressure (BMEP). Furthermore, a detailed study on the response in exhaust gas recirculation and injection timing was also performed for each biodiesel sample.
M.A. Kalam
University of Malaya, Malaysia
Title: Experimental investigation of the effect of antioxidant into biodiesel in a compression ignition engine
Biography:
Md Abul Kalam (M.A. Kalam) is working as a Senior Lecturer, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Malaya (UM), Malaysia. He has obtained undergraduate degree from KUET (Bangladesh), Master and PhD from UM. His research areas are broad like fuel combustion, biolubricant and biofuels testing in IC engines. He has published many ISI journals and his H-index is 21.
Abstract:
Biodiesel has been a promising clean alternative fuel due to its better physicochemical properties. However, previous studies found that biodiesel can greatly reduce HC, CO and PM emissions except NOx emissions as compared to diesel fuels. The fuel bound oxygen in biodiesel is one of the reasons to produce higher NOx emission. Currently, B20 is being used in several countries as short term operation. The long term operation may not be suitable due to its material compatibility in respect to changing weather conditions and costs effectiveness. In this study, the effect of antioxidant additives on fuel properties, engine performance and emission characteristics of an engine fuelled with biodiesel were investigated and compared with conventional diesel fuel. For this study, four fuel samples, including pure diesel, B30, B30 + 2-Ethylexyl nitrate, B30 + Butylated hydroxytoluene, B30 + 2, 2’-methylenebis (4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol) were used in a four stroke DI diesel engine. The engine was tested in different load-speed operating conditions as according to SAE engine test method. Among all the additives 2, 2’-methylenebis (4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol) with B30 shows the best results in terms of lower NOx emissions, higher brake power, lower CO etc. The average reduction of NOX emission for 2-Ethylexyl nitrate, Butylated hydroxytoluene and 2, 2’-methylenebis (4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol) blend are 5%, 7.3% and 8.4% respectively compared to B30 without additives. All the additives blend showed significant reduction in CO and smoke emissions due to better fuel properties as well as better combustion as compared to diesel and additive free B30.
Mônica C. G. Albuquerque
Federal University of Ceará, Brazil
Title: Esterification of fatty acids from Babassu oil to produce aviation biofuel
Biography:
Mônica Albuquerque has completed her PhD from Universidad Federal do Ceará-BR (2008) in collaboration with Universidad de Malaga-ES. She is Professor in the mechanical engineering department of Universidad Federal do Ceará. Her research expertise and experience includes biofuels, biodiesel, bio-lubricant, catalysis, and mesoporous materials.
Abstract:
In this work aviation biofuel production was studied by fatty acids (C6 to C16) esterification. The process variables in heterogeneous catalysis were evaluated using an experimental design. Temperature and reaction time were the studied parameters, and the methyl esters content was response of the experimental design. An ion exchange resin was used as a heterogeneous catalyst. The process optimization was carried out using response surface methodology (RSM) and polynomial model of second order. Results show that the most influential variables on the linear coefficient of each effect studied were temperature and reaction time. The best result of methyl esters conversion in the experimental design was under the conditions: 10% wt of catalyst; 100 °C and 4 hours of reaction. The best achieved conversion was 96.5% wt of biofuel.
P. Somasundaran
Columbia Earth and Environmental Engineering, USA
Title: Enhancing enzyme activity via surfactant interactions for improved bio-fuel production
Biography:
P.Somasundaran received his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley and his Bachelor of Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science in 1961. Before joining Columbia University, he worked for the International Minerals and Chemical Corporation and Reynolds Industries. He was appointed the first La von Duddleson Krumb Professor in the Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the first Director of the Langmuir Center for Colloids & Interfaces and founding director of the National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Center for Advanced Studies in Novel Surfactants. He was also elected Chairman of the Henry Krumb School at Columbia University, as Chair of Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Material Science & Mineral Engineering in 1992 and 1995.
Abstract:
The central goal of this work is to improve the liberation of free sugars from cellulosic bio-feed stock through interactions with colloid surfaces. Through this project we propose and test one such mechanism of enhancement that is not commonly explored in the past literature: the manipulation of structural dynamics as one pathway through which colloids - such as non-ionic surfactants aggregates and inorganic particles - may influence protein function, i.e enzyme activity. This novel view of protein/environment interaction is potentially transformative and will heavily influence how protein based technologies are designed. This project is divided into three major objectives. 1) Select a system where enzyme activity / kinetics parameters are enhanced by surfactant interactions. 2) Determine link between active site flexibility and enhancement relative to surfactant concentration. 3) Determine surfactant / enzyme conditions that effectively enhance free sugar generation from cellulose. Fluorescence and UV spectroscopy will be used to enzyme kinetics. Anisotropic fluorescence decay, NMR, Raman will be used to measure both the dynamic and static changes to enzyme structure as well as measure surfactant/protein interactions. Initial results have clearly demonstrated a link between enzyme flexibility and function as a function of surfactant. Furthermore, initial tests strongly indicate that enzyme hyper activity is influenced by surfactant aggregates rather than free monomers.
Chiranjibi Bhattarai
Alternative Energy Promotion Center (AEPC), Nepal
Title: Environmental and health impacts of micro-hydro in a rural area of Nepal: A case study of a Nepalese village
Biography:
Chiranjibi Bhattarai is working as an energy engineer since 2006 at District Development Committee on behalf of Alternative Energy Promotion Center, Nepal. Currently he is working in DDC Gulmi, Nepal. He has completed his Bachelor of Engineering from Pokhara University in 2005 and holds M.A in Sociology from T.U. Nepal. He has over 8 years of experience in renewal energy sector working in the rural community.
Abstract:
Nepal one of the developing countries, having lowest per capita income in the world, has only 15% of rural people access to electricity. Rural people satisfy their energy needs by burning biomass, damaging both environment and human health. Connecting to national power grid is quite expensive, which seems to beyond the current government capacity. Rural electrification through Micro hydro has proved to be a very successful form. Community participation MH seems to be greater intervention in energy sector in rural Nepal in order to satisfy energy needs. The Alternative energy promotion center (AEPC) and District development committee has used a holistic approach to launch an alternative energy initiative in rural Nepal.\"Wami-taxar\" is one of the Village developments Committee in Gulmi district where people will have to wait a several years for access to electricity through national grid. So, micro hydro has become a credible option for alternative source to electrify this area. More than 3000 HH has been electrified through 200 KW power, generated from 3 Micro hydro Plants. The promotion of Micro hydro in this VDC is not only used for rural electrification but also used for improving the quality of life. Micro hydro (MH) system has energized sustainable development by creating jobs, protecting the environment and change in gendered division of labor and socio-economic status. Both male and female they work together in milling, schools, nursing homes etc. People as well as students of this area have access to modern communication era and telemedicine. Similarly MH canal is used for Irrigation Purpose. With the global pressure to reduce GHG emissions, MH in this area is gaining Popularity. The MH of this area have significant potentiality of carbon mitigation, which potentially reduce GHG emission through replacement of Kerosene or and diesel. Finally, MH electricity is much welcomed by local people of this area. Establishing the Co-operative of MH user, it has changed their economic as well as social status.MH plants of this area has helped the people to be Socialized, active participation in decision making and gender equity. So MH power system is an \"alternate Solution for the growing energy demand in this area\"
Chandrasekar Srinivasakannan
The Petroleum Institute, UAE
Title: Recent developments in mercury removal technologies in gas processsing
Biography:
Dr. C. Srinivasakannan has completed his PhD from Indian Institue of Technology, Madras, India at the age 28. He is currenlty a Professor in the Chemical Engineering Department of the Petroluem Institute, Abu Dhabi. He has published over 130 papers in internatinal journals of repute. His research interest includes gas processing, fluidization, porous material, gasification, pyrolysis, waste to energy, waste water treatment.
Abstract:
Presence of mercury in the natural gas and crude oil is of serious environmental, health and processing concern to gas processing as well as refining industries. The concentration of mercury in the gas could vary from nano to micro grams depending on the location on the gas wells. Mercury could be present in elemental, organic or inorganic forms, all which are of serious concern as it would seriously enhance the corrossion rate of the aluminium exchangers leading to catastropic failiure. Hence mercury removal is one of the separation processess in gas and crude processing involving differnt kinds of adsorbents. These separation process are normally coupled with moisture removal operations of the gas processing utilizing carbon based adsorbents either with regeneral type utilizing silver impregnated carbons or non regenerable type involving sulfur, iodide, bromide etc. The most popular and cheaper being the sulfur loaded carbons, however the performance and the cost of which is found to vary in orders of magnitude depending upon its performance. A relative comparison of the various the forms of popularly avaialble and laboratory developed carbons indicate the importance of efficient incorporation of the sulfur in the carbon matrix rather than the high amounts of sulfur being loaded. Even the best of materials available have utilized far less amouts of sulfur for binding with mercury as compared to the amount of sulfur present in the material. The recent developments include sulfonated carbons with relatively much higher mercury removal capacity although they had relatively low surface area and sulfur content as compared with the popularly utilized UOP catalyst in the industry. The second generation development with better performance is reported with metal sulfide impregated carbon material which overcome some of the disadvantages of sulfur impregnated carbons. The recent focus on these lines of development concentrate on utilization of ionic and deep utectic solvents in carbon matrix with compatively better performances.
Ishenny Mohd Noor
Biopro Petrol Global Marketing, Indonesia
Title: Case study of effect of BFS additive biocatalyst fuel to enhance efficiency of MTU electric generator diesel engine with capacity of 1 MWatt at power plant of PT. PLN Aceh, Indonesia
Biography:
Ishenny Mohd Noor is the founder and the current Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Biopro Petrol Global Marketing Sdn Bhd and Managing Board Director PT. Noor Amalindo in Jakarta, Indonesia. He has many years of experience working in alternative fuel research and development. He has been inclined towards this field of research since his postgraduate studies in University of Malaya and Biopro Diesel™ (first invention fuel from POME, Patent No 2011700182) is the culmination of his efforts in his 15 year research in biochemical process technology which has been touted as biocatalyst fuel for petrol and diesel engines also coals and biomass. He graduated from University of Malaya (Doctor of Philosophy in Biofuel and Biochemical Engineering) in 2007 and holds Master’s Degree (M.Eng Biochemical Engineering) from the same university, while his Bachelor’s degree of Engineering in Chemical Engineering (1990) is from Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Acheh Indonesia. Previously he was an academic lecturer in Chemical Engineering Department, Terenggano Advanced Technical Institute in Kemaman, Terengganu Darul Iman, Visiting Lecturer in Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering at University of Malaya. He was then engaged as Consultant for Biodiesel Plant in the same department. As a testament to his credibility, he was given responsibility to hold many positions throughout his service as an academician and a businessman. He is also one of the members of Chemical Engineers of Indonesia (PII) and panel members of Malaysian Advanced Biofuel Process Technology. His present research is in renewable energy, biofuel, and material product development.
Abstract:
The new government of Indonesia will activate policy for cutting down of the fuel subsidies. The fuel diesel shortly will increase up to $0.85 per liter for industry. This policy will have high impact on the industries such as PT. PLN to supply electricity to the public. PT. PLN depends a lot on the fuel diesel; which will affect the electricity price upon increase. PT. Noor Amalindo Indonesia would like provide a solution with the Biopro Fuel Saver (BFS) Additive Biocatalyst Fuel. BFS Biocatalyst Fuel is produced by converting waste from used cooking oil (UCO) by biochemical technique. It is an attractive alternative for blending with fossil fuel for any application in which commercial diesel or petrol is used such as transportation, industrial applications and power electric generator. Case study using BFS Additive Biocatalyst Fuel compared to diesel fuel with electric generator, PT. PLN Power Plant at PLTD Setia, BlangPidie, Aceh, Indonesia shows that fuel consumption reduce from 0.286 L/kWh to 0.22 L/kWh, while power loaded increased from 600 kW to 800 kW. Temperature radiator of engine reduce from 82o C to 88o C, oil lubricant pressure 5.2 bar constant, resonance noise response (RNR) engine reduce shows that fluctuated high resonance response to lower flat resonance response and the emission shows that reducing of carbon monoxide (CO) on the chimney from 300.2 mg/m3 to 249,2 mg/m3, respectively. Biopro fuel saver is biocatalyst fuel additive are increase engine power capacity, sustain condition operation and environmental friendly and saving of budget to produce energy up to 17% and break event point at 700 kW load of power. Power plant at Setia, BlangPidie will save budget of fuel of diesel per year of $ 1.72 Millions.
José MarÃn-Batista
Universidad Industrial de Santander, Colombia
Title: Feasibility of sugarcane molasses as co-substrate for chicken manure anaerobic digestion
Biography:
Mr. José Daniel MarÃn Batista is MS candidate on chemical engineering from industrial university of Santander (Colombia). He is graduate research assistant at the biotechnology laboratory at industrial university of Santander and research member of Center for Environmental Studies and Research. His first publication was “Effect of chicken manure organic load on biomethane potential†and he is expecting his second publication to be published at the end of year.
Abstract:
Anaerobic digestion is mature technology to convert organic waste in biogas, a mixture between CH4 and CO2. Chicken manure (CM) is an attractive substrate for anaerobic digestion due to high available organic matter mainly composed by proteins. When proteins degrade anaerobically, they produce ammonia, that in excess decrees yield of the process. Process inhibition is mitigated by co digestion of CM with carbon-rich organic waste. Anaerobic co digestion (AcoD) improves nutrient balance represented in better C/N ratio. Thus, it is important to choose a blend ration with synergisms effect since improvements in methane production is mainly a result of increasing in organic loading rate [2]. This study evaluated the feasibility of sugarcane molasses (SCM) as a co-substrate for anaerobic digestion (AD) of chicken manure (CM). Different CM to SCM ratios (1:0, 3:1, 1:1, 1:3 and 0:1 on volatile solid basis) were evaluated through biomethane potential assays (BMP) (39°C). 95% confidence regions (biodegradability vs. hydrolysis kinetic) were determined for a statistical comparison between BMPs. Total reducing sugar, total volatile fatty acids, total ammonia nitrogen, pH and alkalinity were also analyzed as response variables of process performance. Interactions between substrates were evaluated by increment on degradation extent and rate of the both substrates. According to results, all mixtures showed a synergistic effect. The highest methane yield of 0.54 m3 CH4/kg VS was observed with CM to SCM ratio of 1:3. It is concluded SCM is a promising co-substrate to foster CM anaerobic digestion.
P. Das
The Science Foundation for Tribal & Rural Resource Development, India
Title: Olax scandens Roxb: A new and potentially rich source of bioethanol and biodiesel
Biography:
Premananda Das earned his BSc (Ag), MSc (Ag), and PhD degrees from Orissa University of Agriculture, Calcutta University, and Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Nadia (West Bengal), respectively. He was trained at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Delhi University; Melbourne, Australia; Dusseldorf, Germany; University of Liverpool and Royal Botanic Gardens, UK. He visited a number of Botanic Gardens in countries like Australia, Thailand, Singapore and Sri Lanka to study the diversity of Araceous plants and tropical and sub-tropical trees. In 1985, Das moved to Regional Plant Resource Centre (RPRC), Bhubaneswar, as Founding Director. As INSA Senior Scientist, he worked on medicinal plants in the Department of Biotechnology, IIT, Kharagpur, West Bengal. He established Mangrove Research Centre, Biomass Research Centre, National Institute for Biodiversity Conservation and Research, Bhubaneswar, and Biju Patnaik Medicinal Plants Garden and Research Centre, Jeypore. For rural development, he established Venkateswar Institute for Sustainable, Innovative and Objective Nurture at Bhubaneswar. He was member of Executive Council of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi (2001-03).
Abstract:
Diminishing petroleum reserves, deleterious effects of exhaust gases on the environment, ever increasing demand and rise in prices have created interests for alternative, eco-friendly and renewable sources of fuels. In recent years, research has been directed to explore plant sources for oils and fats to be used as biofuels. Olax scandens Roxb (family Olacaceae), a scandent shrub found often in ravines, stream banks in the sub-Himalayan tract in Kumaun, upper Gangetic plains, Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, the Eastern and the Western Ghats of India with bisexual flowers assured fruit set and high productive potential was found as a promising source for biofuels. The Seed: Pulp ratio was 1:4; hexane mediated extraction of seed (kernel) produced 59% oil and the pulp fermented with Sachharomyces cerevisiae yielded 24.01% ethanol at pH 3.5 and 48.8o C. The physico-chemical properties and fatty acid profiles of the crude and transesterified oils were characterized. Both static and running engines showed significantly enhanced performance in terms of run time and load which may be due to improved lubrication and burning efficiency at B10 and B20 (10% and 20% biodiesel) and E10 (10% bio-ethanol) derived from Olax. Engine emissions i.e., CO, CO2, NOx and other parameters i.e., engine noise and temperature were highly favorable as compared to that of petroleum diesel which might enhance engine longevity.
Roxana Javid
Texas Tech University, USA
Title: The effect of biodiesel production on the CO2 emissions and area harvested for oilseeds
Biography:
Roxana Javid is a Graduate Research Assistant Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, Texas Tech University, USA.
Abstract:
This study investigated the impacts of biodiesel produced from oilseeds on global CO2 emissions as well as the United States oilseeds area harvested and yields. Oilseeds mainly include soybean, maize, sunflower seed, rapeseeds, and sugarcane. Three scenarios were defined: first scenario evaluated the effect of percent changes in the U.S. biodiesel production by 2011 based on 2001. The second one addressed the same impacts when both the U.S. and the EU produce biodiesel and the third one reported historical changes in U.S. biodiesel production. GATP-BIO model was utilized to develop the scenarios and analyze the results. The model divided each country’s land endowment into 18 Argo Ecological Zones (AEZs), and the whole world into 18 trading regions and 21 industries. Findings showed that as a result of the U.S. and the EU biodiesel production, CO2 emissions were decreased in the U.S. and the EU. Additionally the world’s total CO2 emissions were reduced by 0.13% mainly due to reduction in household diesel consumption. It was found that considering AEZs is critical for the economic and land coverage analysis. Finally, the U.S. tax credit policy was found to be efficient in biodiesel productions.
Nasir Al-Lagtah
Newcastle University International Singapore, Singapore
Title: Economizing bioethanol production process through value-added utilization of lignin residue
Biography:
Nasir Al-Lagtah joined Newcastle University International Singapore (NUIS) on January 2014 as a lecturer in chemical engineering. Before that, he was a lecturer (teaching focused) at Manchester University UK. He obtained his PhD in chemical engineering from Queen’s University of Belfast in 2008. His research interests include further utilization of lignin residue (biorefinery by-product), production of biodiesel using heterogeneous catalysts, modelling and simulation of bioenergy processes using Aspen Plus (thermal conversion of lignin, biodiesel production, glycerol (biodiesel by-product) utilization to produce value-added products.
Abstract:
Recently, energy crisis has become a main issue as the global energy demand is increasing while the crude oil reserves are depleting as the time passes. Therefore it is necessary to find alternative and renewable energy sources. Biofuels are very promising renewable energy source. Bioethanol is a biofuel which is mostly used as an automobile fuel. During the production of bioethanol, large amount of lignin is produced as a by-product. Lignin has a great potential to produce valuable products to increase the overall revenue. In this research, lignin has been utilized for methanol production and power generation through gasification process or for producing activated carbon, methanol and power through pyrolysis process. Both processes were simulated using Aspen Plus software. Lignin gasification process converted about 51% of lignin into methanol. On the other hand, lignin pyrolysis process converted about 9% of lignin into methanol and 20.5% into activated carbon. Heat integration of both processes resulted into producing surplus of steam which was utilized to meet some of the processes utility requirements along with power generation using steam turbines. Economic analysis of two processes showed that capital investment and payback period of lignin pyrolysis process was significantly higher. Therefore, lignin gasification process was considered to be more economically feasible.
Biography:
Rich Snow has obtained his PhD in Physical Geography from Indiana State University in 1999 and he is a tenured full Professor of Meteorology in the Department of Applied Aviation Sciences at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. He has written and presented numerous papers on climate change and co-authored the text “Climatology: An Atmospheric Science†published by Pearson Education.
Abstract:
Sustainability is often promoted as a noble environmental objective but remains a goal that is unattainable for most Americans due to our dependence on a non-renewable, fossil fuel based infrastructure. The first step in achieving a sustainable lifestyle is to realize the need to downsize, which is a notion that can be difficult to embrace. However, once one realizes that less is more, the goal of sustainability is well within reach. For those who are content to stay in one place, a small house or cabin can fill the bill and can be designed for living off the grid. Others who are more adventurous can look to the sea for energy independence. Sailing vessel September Sea is a 36 foot ultralight sloop designed by sailboat racing legends Bill Lee and Bruce Farr and built by Lancer Yachts. While the engine is diesel powered, it burns just 0.5 gallons per hour and is only necessary for manuvering in marinas. The rest of the time, the sails serve as the main means of transportation. The boat is equipped with solar panels, a wind generator, a bank of four AGM batteries, an inverter to transform 12 volts into 120 volts, a water maker, a 12 volt refrigerator and a 4000 watt diesel generator to backup the systems and power the air conditioner on those rare hot nights at anchor. This poster depicts the transformation of a simple sailboat into a model of mobile sustainability.
Sidikat Kuye
Federal University of Agriculture, Nigeria
Title: Production and evaluation of alternative fuels from cassava peels
Biography:
Sidikat Kuye graduated from Federal University of Technology in 1992 with Second Class (Upper) Division in Mechanical Engineering. She obtained two M.Sc degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Metallurgy and Materials Engineering and also Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from University of Lagos, Akoka. She started her professional career in the industry and joined the academic community as a Lecturer in 2004. She is a corporate member of Nigeria Society of Engineers and a registered member of COREN. She has supervised about 5 undergraduate students. Her research interests include offshore mechanics, human mechanics, corrosion engineering and modelling and simulation.
Abstract:
Fuel is any material that is capable of releasing energy on altering its chemical or physical structure. Cassava peels generated during processing of cassava tuber is a potential source for biofuel if properly harnessed. This work produced and evaluated alternative fuels from cassava peels. Dried milled cassava peel with particle size passing through size No. 10 mesh was used as feedstock for biofuels production. Percentage starch contained in the milled peels was evaluated by hydrolytic and spectrophotometric methods. Biogas was generated from anaerobic digestion of neutralized 25% w/w solid content cassava slurry using 0.1 M sodium hydroxide in a bio-digester for 30 days retention period. Its methane content was analyzed with ASTN2188 biogas analyser. Dilute hydrochloric acid of 0.1 M was used for the acid hydrolysis while alpha-amylase (Termamyle 170) and gluco-amylase were used for the enzyme hydrolysis. The hydrolysates from both processes were fermented with ethanol tolerant yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). The results revealed that the percentage starch in the peels was 9.84%. The volume, methane content and Carbon IV Oxide content of the biogas were 0.588 L/kg, 57.72% and 30.97% respectively. The volume and ethanol content of the bioethanol produced from enzyme hydrolysis process were 1560 mL/kg, 68.93%, 68.20% and those of acid hydrolysis were 1400 mL/kg, 67.64% respectively. This work showed the viability of biofuels production from cassava peels.
Eriisa Yiga Paddy
Edinburgh Napier University, UK
Title: Research analysis into an appropriate biogas technology for a farming community: Case study Uganda
Biography:
Eriisa Yiga Paddy is at the verge of accomplishing his MSc in Renewable Energy at the age of 28 years from Edinburgh Napier University and a holder of Bachelors of Science Technology Physics from Kyambogo University. He is a former technician at Uganda National Bureau of Standards and laboratory technician at Lakeside College Luzira Kampala Uganda for the last five years. He is a graduate member of the Energy Institute in UK and a member of the Renewable Energy Association of Uganda. He is a former teacher of mathematics and physics subjects at different secondary schools and colleges in Uganda.
Abstract:
Biogas is a source of renewable, alternative and sustainable energy produced from the anaerobic digestion of organic material by bacteria. Uganda’s energy matrix is dominated by biomass as a source of energy contributing about 95% of the total primary energy consumption. This is in form of firewood and charcoal, this has caused rapid depletion of forests in rural areas and an increase in price levels of charcoal and firewood in urban areas of Uganda. This project will give an overview of the biomass energy in Uganda, literature review on biogas technology, biogas technologies available in the world market, the success and limitations of this renewable technology in meeting the energy needs of Uganda, a Sub-Saharan African country whose main economic activity being predominantly agriculture. The research is necessary, as it will avail awareness to the government, agricultural farmers, readers and other stakeholders about the different biogas digester designs and the appropriate type that can be adopted in Uganda. The huge amount of waste produced by the agriculture industry in Uganda can be converted into biogas thus eliminating harmful micro-organisms. Furthermore, it will be possible to tap the variety of biogas technology benefits. The project will recommend the appropriate type of biogas digester that can be adopted by the rural farming community in Uganda whose economy is agricultural based. Different methods of attaining data amongst which include review of academic research journals, interviewing, reading of biogas books will be applied.
El khchine Younes
Polydisciplinary faculty of Taza,Moracco
Title: Performance prediction of wind using aerodynamic BEM with data extracted from CFD
Biography:
Y El Khchine is a state engineer in mechanical engineering, PhD student in mechanical engineering at energy laboratory of engineering sciences, FP- Taza and works in the team numerical modeling in applied mechanics at Polydisciplinary faculty of Taza, Moracco
Abstract:
In this study, a mixed CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) and BEM (Blade Element Momentum Method) analysis is implemented for simulating the flow field around a wind turbine rotor to predict its aerodynamic performance such as the Power Curve diagram and the forces and moments imposed on the rotor blades that are essential in structure design of wind turbine. The present approach requires considerable less computational time and memory than three-dimensional simulation of a wind turbine rotor by merely CFD methods. This work consists of two parts: 1Calculating 2D aerodynamic coefficients of the blades by CFD methods, using Fluent commercial software. 2-Simulating 3D flow field through the wind turbine rotor using BEM technique. To validate the current approach, the numerical results is compared with experimental. The numerical results indicate good accuracy with those of experiments.
Zeineb Abdmouleh
Qatar University,Qatar
Title: Review of policies encouraging renewable energy integration & best practices
Biography:
Zeineb Abdmouleh has completed her MSc in Industrial Engineering at the age of 23 years from National Engineering School of Tunis. She is currently working as a Research Assistant Engineer in Qatar University in the field of power system and renewable energy integration and has previous experience as solar project developer with the British company Nur Energie. She has published 2 papers in reputed journals and received the DESERTEC Best Paper Award 2012 for her Diploma Thesis Paper “Technical and Economic Analysis of the Tunisian Transmission Grid with respect to Renewable Energiesâ€.
Abstract:
This paper provides policy-makers and renewable energy project developers with background information and analysis into the successful penetration of renewable energy policies. The analysis emphasizes on the different mechanisms to establish an encouraging regulatory framework for renewable energies and examines examples of both successful and failed experiences, through case studies and analysis of various countries. This analytic survey attempts to shed light on the factors which led to successful implementation of renewable energy depending not only on different countries experience, but also on the different sources and technologies for renewable electricity. The main objectives through the provision of this overview are to help policy implementers learn from each other’s experiences and contribute to the efforts to meet indicative renewable energy targets. The methodology applied in this document is to collect all applied mechanisms helping deploying renewable energy projects with a reviewing of study cases analysis for some specific experiences. Then the information are classified and discussed from the financial, fiscal, legislative, political, technological and environmental points of view in order to make it a reference and a guideline for other renewable energy policies studies.
Jagannadh Satyavolu
University of Louisville, USA
Title: Integrated C5-based biorefinery for the production of high energy density biofuels and biochemicals
Biography:
Jagannadh Satyavolu works as Theme Leader, Biomass conversion and Biofuels, Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY.Dr. Satyavolu earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the Ohio State University, Columbus, OH and has 30 years of experience in commercial business leadership roles, operations and capital project management, intellectual asset development and management, product and process technology development, industrial application research, and academia. He holds 20 US and international patents and has steered multiple projects from concept to commercialization. Prior to joining Conn Center, he worked at Cargill, Georgia Institute of Technology, Battelle Labs, and the Ohio State University.
Abstract:
Hemicellulose based sugars (e.g., xylose and arabinose) can be a platform for synthesis of a variety of high energy density fuels currently derived from petroleum. Pentoses were identified by the US Department of Energy in 2004 among the top candidates of valuable chemical precursors that could be produced from biomass. University of Louisville has developed and demonstrated an integrated C5-based biorefinery concept. In this concept, we start with a hemicellulose rich “captive†agricultural biomass and selectively extract C5 sugars. Some examples of such hemicellulose rich biomass are: soy hulls from soybean processing, rice hulls from rice milling, corn fiber from wet milling or dry milling, bagasse from sugarcane processing, etc. One of the key process steps of this biorefining concept is a precipitation protocol that delivers D-xylose in pyranose form to obtain a pure starting monosaccharide. The C5 sugars derived from these co-products can be converted via chemical synthesis routes to higher-value bio-jet fuels and high energy density components of bio-jet fuels.
Aurore Richel
University of Liege – Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Belgium
Title: Production of biofuels and biobased compounds in urban biorefineries
Biography:
Aurore Richel is professor and head of the Laboratory of Biological and Industrial Chemistry at the University of Liege – Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech. The laboratory is engaged in research and education in the fields of biological chemistry, biorefining and industrial technologies. A. Richel and her team are involved in numerous projects and industrial collaborations, specializing in the following areas: optimized use of vegetal biomass for biofuels and fine chemicals, pretreatments and cracking of lignocellulosic biomass and development of new methodologies with low environmental footprints.
Abstract:
“Urban biorefining†is an original concept aiming at using urban wastes (household wastes, municipal wastes, industrial liquid and/or solid residues and side-products, etc.), mainly of vegetal origin, for the production of an array of biofuels and bioproducts. This “urban biorefining†concept fits particularly with the economic, geographic and politic contexts and constraints of the Walloon Region (south part of Belgium). Indeed, Walloon Region is a very small territory (area of about 6,504 sq mi) with a temperate climate. Supply feedstock, mainly arising from forestry and agriculture, are thus rather restricted, submitted to importation, and subjected to non-standardized quality. Several examples of our regional strategy, still available on an industrial scale, are herein proposed and detailed.
Biography:
Chiranjibi Bhattarai is working as an energy engineer since 2006 at District Development Committee on behalf of Alternative Energy Promotion Center, Nepal. Currently he is working in DDC Gulmi, Nepal. He has completed his Bachelor of Engineering from Pokhara University in 2005 and holds M.A in Sociology from T.U. Nepal. He has over 8 years of experience in renewal energy sector working in the rural community.
Abstract:
Nepal one of the developing countries, having lowest per capita income in the world, has only 15% of rural people access to electricity. Rural people satisfy their energy needs by burning biomass, damaging both environment and human health. Connecting to national power grid is quite expensive, which seems to beyond the current government capacity. Rural electrification through Micro hydro has proved to be a very successful form. Community participation MH seems to be greater intervention in energy sector in rural Nepal in order to satisfy energy needs. The Alternative energy promotion center (AEPC) and District development committee has used a holistic approach to launch an alternative energy initiative in rural Nepal.\"Wami-taxar\" is one of the Village developments Committee in Gulmi district where people will have to wait a several years for access to electricity through national grid. So, micro hydro has become a credible option for alternative source to electrify this area. More than 3000 HH has been electrified through 200 KW power, generated from 3 Micro hydro Plants. The promotion of Micro hydro in this VDC is not only used for rural electrification but also used for improving the quality of life. Micro hydro (MH) system has energized sustainable development by creating jobs, protecting the environment and change in gendered division of labor and socio-economic status. Both male and female they work together in milling, schools, nursing homes etc. People as well as students of this area have access to modern communication era and telemedicine. Similarly MH canal is used for Irrigation Purpose. With the global pressure to reduce GHG emissions, MH in this area is gaining Popularity. The MH of this area have significant potentiality of carbon mitigation, which potentially reduce GHG emission through replacement of Kerosene or and diesel. Finally, MH electricity is much welcomed by local people of this area. Establishing the Co-operative of MH user, it has changed their economic as well as social status.MH plants of this area has helped the people to be Socialized, active participation in decision making and gender equity. So MH power system is an \"alternate Solution for the growing energy demand in this area\"
M. Habibullah
University of Malaya, Malaysia
Title: Study the tribological characteristics of combined blend of Palm-Coconut biodiesel in four ball tribometer
Biography:
M. Habibullah works at Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. His research interests include renewable energy,biofuels and biodiesel.
Abstract:
Due to increasing environmental pollution concerns and diminishing petroleum reserves, the use of biodiesel alternative to petroleum diesel is increasing. Therefore, this is creating the tribology of biodiesel related new issues. The purpose of this research is to investigate the tribological characteristics of combined blend of palm-coconut biodiesel by using four ball tribometer. The biodiesel was produced using transesterification process and measured their major physical-chemical properties. Experiment was conducted during 300s with constant temperature at 27° C and constant sliding speed of 1200 rpm at different load of 40 kg, 50 kg, 63 kg and 80 kg for all tested fuels. The elemental analysis for tested fuel was done using multi element oil analyzer (MOA) and worn surfaces of the ball were examined by SEM/EDX analysis. Result reveals that diesel fuel shows the higher unsteady state friction coefficient with longer time duration along with higher wear scar diameter (WSD) and decreases with increasing biodiesel percentage. From the elemental analysis, it is found that more metal element is added for Palm Biodiesel (PB) and highest amount of metal elements were decreased for diesel fuel. The formation of oxide and addition of metal elements are extremely low for Coconut Biodiesel (CB). Surface morphology showed that CB20 shows the smaller worn surfaces compared to other diesel-biodiesel blend except CB100. A further increase in the concentration of biodiesel (PB30, PB50), the extrusion of metal is quite higher than PB20 and thus PB20 showed auspicious lubricating performance and highest possibility to form lubricating film without breaking down.
Adewale Adewuyi
Redeemer’s University, Nigeria
Title: Biodieself from Gliricidia sepium and Baphia nitida: A renewable source of energy for sustainable development in rural Africa
Biography:
Adewale Adewuyi holds BSc (Chemistry), MSc and PhD in Industrial Chemistry from the University of Ibadan. Over the years, his research activities has been on the industrial applications of underutilized seeds and seed oils which cuts across primary health service, synthesis of surfactants, biofuel, oleochemicals and their use in environment, medicine and food. Dr Adewuyi is a recipient of several awards such as: University of Ibadan Postgraduate School Scholarship, The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) Postgraduate Fellowship, University of Ibadan Postgraduate School Publication Award, PAN Africa Chemistry network, Research Training Fellowship for Developing Country Scientists, Coimbra Group Scholarship, TWAS/DFG Fellowship, AAS-icipe-TWAS-ROSSA travel grant, TWASBiovisionNext, Schlumberger excellence in education development, Royal Society of Chemistry travel grant, Bioversity International Travel Grant and IFS Water Research Grant (No W/5401-1). Dr Adewuyi has given several presentations in both local and international conferences, workshops and seminar which have served as platforms for the transfer of ideas and his research findings. Currently, he is lecturing and doing research at the Redeemer’s University, Nigeria, his dreams and goals are to contribute and play active role in the development and sustenance of Science and Technology in Africa and other developing nations of the world.
Abstract:
With the depletion of oil resources as well as the negative environmental impact associated with the use of fossil fuels; self-sufficiency in energy requirement is critical to the success of any developing economy. Biodiesel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics. Presently, over 70% of the population of the people in Africa lives in rural areas where there are resources for agriculture. Gliricidia sepium and Baphia nitida are two underutilized plants in Nigeria; they are planted as a shade tree. Their seeds are discarded as waste in Nigeria creating a waste disposal problem. Biodiesel was produced from the oils of these underutilized seeds using a two step reaction system. The first step is a pretreatment which involved the use of 2% sulphuric acid in methanol and secondly, transesterification reaction using KOH as catalyst. The result of the method applied showed a conversion of ester content above 98% with phosphorus content below 1 ppm while the copper strip corrosion test was 1A in both biodiesel. The oil of Gliricidia sepium and Baphia nitida with high free fatty acid can be reduced in a one-step pretreatment of esterification using H2SO4 as catalyst. This one-step pre-treatment reduced the problem of soap formation normally encountered when using oil with free fatty acid for the production of biodiesel, thus reducing the production cost of the Gliricidia sepium and Baphia nitida biodiesel. The biodiesel produced from the oil of Gliricidia sepium and Baphia nitida exhibited properties that are in agreement with the recommended European standard (EN 14214).
Hanifa Taher
Masdar Institute of Science and Technology,UAE
Title: Green production of biodiesel from microalgae lipids
Biography:
Hanifa Taher earned her PhD in Chemical Engineering from the UAE University in June 2014. Her PhD and MSc research work both focused on the enzymatic production of biodiesel from lipids extracted from different feedstock using supercritical carbon dioxide, and developing and integrated production process. In March 2014, Dr. Taher joined Masdar Institute of Science and Technology as an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering. Her research interests are in green extraction of valuable compounds, biodiesel production, microalgae biomass production, processes intensification, optimization, and scale–up, which resulted in more than 10 journal publications and 1 patent. Recently, she submitted her first scientific book discussing the cutting edge technologies in enzymatic biodiesel production.
Abstract:
Biodiesel production from lipids-rich feedstocks is potentially an acceptable and suitable substitute to petroleum diesel. The re-shaping of the available technologies to greener alternatives is needed for fuel production. To produce a sustainable fuel that reduces dependency on fossil fuels, and utilize a feedstock that does not compete with food stock, and, at same time, contributes to the reduction of CO2 emissions, microalgae lipids were suggested. Utilization of microalgae as a feedstock for biodiesel production is well known worldwide, but the production process is not yet economical, where the biodiesel cost from microalgae is still high compared to petroleum diesel, which is associated from the down-streaming cost. The green extraction and reaction processes could be viable and utilization of the proteins in the leftover biomass pharmaceutical and food applications could justify such high costly processes. Extraction of microalgae lipids using green solvents; such as supercritical CO2 and ionic liquids eliminates the need for using toxic organic chemicals. Moreover, integrating microalgae lipids extraction with enzymatic transesterification in one unit renders the use of such expensive process. However, these still needs extensive studies and developments before being commercialized. Such researches could lead to a major development in sustainable biodiesel production, especially if the leftover biomass can be used for pharmaceutical applications.
Vidya P. Kafle
Indian Institute of Technology, India
Title: Development of hybrid energy system by steady state energy balance simulation approach for Phungling Bazar in Taplejung, Nepal
Biography:
Vidya P. Kafle works at the Alternate Hydro Energy Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India. His research interests include development of hybrid renewable energy systems.
Abstract:
Dilute and random nature of renewable energy resources forms the basis of hybridization. A hybrid renewable energy system serves its best when optimized with appropriate dispatch strategy. This paper presents the optimization of hybrid renewable energy system based on steady state energy balance simulation approach with a combined dispatch strategy that results in an optimum combination of components guaranteeing the minimum levelized cost of energy for a given maximum allowable annual capacity shortage. The proposed approach of optimization is written in the Java programming language that allows easy handling of the data and constraints and also supports multithreading. It implicitly determines the penetration of the resources based on the annualized life cycle cost of net energy contributed, hence there is no worry regarding the feasibility of a particular resource. Also, demand constraint considered for battery, genset and other components of the system aims at reduction of unnecessary energy generation and conversion thereby reducing the components’ size, O&M cost and human involvement and finally the cost of energy. A build-lease-transfer model of community bio-digester is also proposed which is found to drastically cut down the fuel cost and hence cost of energy along with the cost of waste management, finally benefiting the community.
Mohammad Ashraful Alam
University of Malaya, Malaysia
Title: Nanoparticles characterization for biodiesel in internal combustion engine
Biography:
Mohammad Ashraful Alam works at Centre for energy science, department of mechanical engineering, University of Malaya, Malaysia. His areas of interest include combustion and fuel engineering(Internal combustion engine), Biofuel, Biolubricant, NGV, Exhaust Emission, and HCCI and EGR system.
Abstract:
A comparative morphological analysis was performed on the exhaust particles emitted from a DI diesel engine using different blending-ratios of palm biodiesel. In this study, several operating condition modes have been set under two constant loads 25% and 50% and constant speed of 2420 rpm. Biodiesel has selected due to its properties to reduce the amount of particulate matter from the exhaust emission of the engine. It has been observed by this experiment that particulate matter & particulate matter concentration are reduced with respect to diesel fuel at 25% load condition. The particle size for each fuel blends increased with an increasing the engine load. Palm biodiesel are less effective for formation of soot precursors than the diesel fuel combustion. The amount of volatile material produced from the biodiesel samples is slightly less than the volatile material produce from the diesel fuel sample. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) showed that the amount of volatile material in the soot from biodiesel fuels was slightly lower (10.8%) than that of diesel fuel. On the other hand, the amount of fixed carbon from the biodiesel samples was slightly higher than that of diesel fuel. Similarly, Ash content increased with the increasing biodiesel content in the fuel blends. The amount of carbon percentage emitted from the diesel engine exhaust using bodiesel increased (by 0.85% to 10% respectively) with an increasing ratio of biodiesel to diesel fuel, while the metal composition of the exhaust gases was increasing at between 4.8% to 26.5% respectively. Finally, comparing between SEM images of diesel, B20 and B40, was found more particles in diesel exhaust and it was gradually decreased with an increasing biodiesel concentration in the diesel fuel.
Ayodeji Oluleye
Federal University of Technology, Nigeria
Title: Wind energy density in Nigeria as estimated from the ERA interim reanalysed data set
Biography:
Ayodeji Oluleye is a lecturer at the Department of Meteorology, School of Earth and Mineral Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Nigeria. His areas of interest include Industrial pollution modelling and climate change detection.
Abstract:
Inadequate power generation from hydro and fossil fuel electrical power stations in Nigeria demands seeking additional sources of power generation. This study focuses on wind source with the aim to determine suitable locations for commercial wind farms. Using reanalysed wind speeds data from European Reanalysis project (ERA interim), wind speeds at the turbine height of 70 m have been estimated for 39 stations over Nigeria. Because local surface features of each station have strong effect on wind speeds, profile of wind has been estimated by taking into account the surface albedo, cloud cover and atmospheric stability functions. By using the two - parameter Weibull function, this study has delineated area (stations) characterised by persistent wind flows adequate for commercial electrical power generation. Calculated usable electrical output from General Electric 1.5xle type turbine in the identified potential areas ranges between 2.5 and 11.3 MW in southern station of Lagos, whereas in the northern windy stations usable electrical power ranges between 4.79 and 11.04 MW.
Ahmad Mardi
International Vision for Energy and Recycling/ University of Surrey,UK
Title: Optimization of the fischer tropsch process for the Gasification of MSW
Biography:
Ahmad Mardi is a Holder and Shareholder in International Vision for Energy and Recycling (IVER). He holds a Master’s degree in Renewable Energy Systems Engineering from the University of Surrey in England, he specializes in the production of fuels from wastes and he is currently pursuing PhD at the Technical University of Berlin. He is a Renewable Energy Entrepaneur who lead the development and operation of several of IVER’s renewable energy projects inclusive of a pyrolysis plant, a biodiesel production facility and a 50 MW wind farm. He has extensive international experience in the industry through strategic partnerships with Canadian, British, American, Chinese and European companies.
Abstract:
The gasification of waste to produce biofuels through the Fischer Tropsch method is a technology with significant potential. The advantages of this technology is that it can accommodate a variety of waste materials to produce syngas. This syngas is then converted into fuels via the Fischer Tropsch method through reactions involving. The aim of this work is to optimize the gasification process to accommodate a feedstock variable in composition such as municipal solid waste to produce biofuels. Syngas composition will vary when processing MSW since the composition is inclusive of food wastes, paper, plastics, etc., at variables percentages. Therefore a reforming process to optimize the H2: CO ratio is required to maximize the efficiency of the process. The cost or method of reforming or reacting the syngas will play a crucial role on the economic viability of the process. The syngas is then passed to the Fischer Tropsch reactor in which reactions take place over a catalyst of either iron, cobalt or ruthenium depending on the H2: CO ratio and the desired end product.
Wombo N.P
Federal University Lafia, Nigeria
Title: Comparative characterization of biomass-refuse derived composite briquettes for energy generation
Biography:
Wombo N Patience works in Department of Chemistry at Federal University Lafia, Nigeria. Her research interests include biomass derived energy.
Abstract:
Establishing a sustainable renewable energy system is a challenge to most developing countries. There has been a consistent budgetary and policy initiatives to boost power generation but without significant outcomes. Various kinds of energy generation systems exist but for a viable approach, it has to be renewable and sustainable. Proven technology has shown that for most developing countries, hydrothermal, solar, wind and biomass alternatives are the best options while geothermal, tidal and nuclear alternatives are feasible options for the technologically developed countries. Emerging technologies options to power generation is the establishment of pockets of steam driven turbine electricity generators using co-firing i.e., involving combustion of coal and biomass as fuel. In this work, briquettes made as composites from the combination of waste materials (cocoa pod, palm kernel shell, rice husk, kola nut pod, castor seed shells and refuse derived fuel (RDF) materials like waste paper, discarded textile materials and waste plastic bags and containers) and tar sand are used as fuel in a locally designed and fabricated electricity generator housing a turbine system. The briquettes are characterized by determining the ultimate analysis, ash fusion temperature, volatile matter, fixed carbon, heavy metal composition, calorific value, bulk density, moisture content and Chlorine and Alkali contents. Compressive strength, particle size of component materials as well as combustion and ignition temperatures was also determined. Using Design of Experiment (DOE) software, optimal material composition ratio for optimization of the production of briquette was carried out. The results present to the scientific and industrial world an optimized composite material for use in cottage/pocket turbine driven energy generating systems. This is expected to boost the supply of electrical energy to the rural populace and the excess power can be fed into the national grid.
Noboru Yoshida
Wakayama University, Japan
Title: Biomass energy recovery by linkage of waste incinerators and sewage treatment plants
Biography:
Noboru Yoshida is a professor at Department of Environmental Systems in Faculty of Systems Engineering, Wakayama University. He received his PhD degree in Environmental Engineering at Osaka University in 1997. He served as a specially appointed professor of the Research Institute for Sustainability Science, Osaka University in 2007-2009. His research interests include industrial ecology, energy and material flow analysis, etc.
Abstract:
Waste-related biomass is one of stably procurable renewable energy resources. Energy recovery from environmental infrastructure, such as waste incinerator and sewage system, is one of key issues for considering eco-industrial development. Therefore, this study aims at maximization of biomass energy recovery from the waste by collaboration of sewage sludge treatment plants and municipal waste incinerators under future society constraints, such as low-carbon society and population decline in Japan. In this study, nationwide nearly 1800 sewage sludge plants and nearly 900 municipal waste incinerators were firstly categorized in the context of location, scale, construction year, installed energy recovery equipment, etc. Secondly, available technological and societal inventories were extracted, including combustion of sewage sludge with municipal waste incinerator and newly developed dry-type methane fermentation, with respect to material and energy exchanges, mutual exploitation of equipment, integration of processes and sectors, etc. Finally possible energy recovery amount and carbon dioxide reduction were examined through various collaboration scenarios in consideration of difficulty of alternative technology and social systems, with short-term, mid-term, and long-term scales. As a result of the analysis, we clarified that strategic expansion of surrounding intensive energy demand as well as technology innovation were effective to improve efficiency of energy recovery both in urban and rural areas with respect to dynamics of target population for environmental infrastructures, especially in Japan, where significant population decline were concerned in the long term.
Nima Moazami
University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
Title: Modelling and optimization study of fischer-tropsch synthesis for diesel production
Biography:
Nima Moazami has completed his MEng in July 2011 at the age of 22 years in Mechanical Engineering by achieving First-Class Honours from The University of Birmingham in UK. He has been awarded ‘The University of Birmingham School Scholarship’ to fund his Ph.D. research with supervision from Prof. Miroslaw L Wyszynski since November 2011. Now, he is in Ph.D. writing up stage and is working partly as a postgraduate teaching associate in different subjects such as thermodynamics, heat transfer, biofuel and combustion. He is editorial assistant in Biofuels Engineering journal (De Gruyter) and holding a responsibility of tutoring in mathematics support centre at The University of Birmingham.
Abstract:
Biofuel is considered as a relevant technology for both developing and industrialized countries due to the sustainability and environmental issues, impacts on energy security, and socioeconomic concerns related to the rural sector. Diesel produced from biomass by Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis shows a great potential for the production of environment friendly high-quality transportation fuels. Fischer-Tropsch synthesis’ products are excellent high-performance, clean diesel fuels; due to the absence of sulphur, NOx and their aromatic compounds. The Fischer-Tropsch synthesis consists of a three-phase phenomenon: gaseous phase (syngas, water vapor, carbon dioxide and light hydrocarbons); liquid phase (heavy hydrocarbons); solid phase (catalyst). A two-phase heterogeneous gas-liquid flow model was developed to simulate a fixed bed Fischer-Tropsch reactor. In this study, the main objective was to optimize the process conditions to achieve the maximum yield of desired products (i.e. diesel fuels) and to reduce the rate of production of unwanted CO2 and CH4. A mathematical modeling and chemical kinetics study were carried out for both gaseous and liquid production using simulated N2-rich syngas (17% CO, 33% H2 and 50% N2). The experiments were conducted over an in-house 37% Co-based catalyst on a SiO2 support over a wide range of operating conditions (i.e. temperature of 503-543 K, total pressure of 10-25 bar and WHSV of 1.8-3.6 NL gcat-1 h-1). The chemical reaction kinetics were developed for the total paraffins and olefins’ production of each carbon number in both gaseous and liquid phase with a comprehensive product distribution scheme. The model was based on a carbon number dependent chain growth concept and stoichiometric relationship between the hydrocarbons produced and the syngas converted. The product distribution obtained from the model includes the light hydrocarbons CH4, ethene (C2H4) and ethane (C2H6), LPG (C3-C4), gasoline (C5-C12), diesel fuel (C12-C22), and waxes (C23+). The rate of syngas conversion (i.e. CO and H2¬) was developed by using a Langmuir-Hinshelwood-Hougen-Watson (LHHW) rate expression. The water gas shift reaction was also taken into account in order to simulate the rate of change of CO2 species along the reactor bed length. The kinetic parameters and the physical properties were estimated by fitting the experimental data under a variety of operating conditions using advance Global Optimization technique. The accuracy of model relative to the experimental results was determined by the statistical analyses, quantitatively (i.e. using a mean absolute relative residual (MARR) and F-test method) and qualitatively (i.e. using a party diagram). The simulated values of the reactants’ conversion and products’ selectivity were in good agreement with the experimental data. It was found that the temperature, gas flow rate (per unit mass of catalyst) and H2/CO ratio are the significant operating conditions that affect the syngas conversion and the entire product distribution, specially the liquid production rate.