Modelling and Calculation of Raw Material Industry

The raw materials industry is widely considered to be too environmentally costly, and causing more losses than benefits. The responsible solving of the problems caused by this industry is not “exporting” its operations to less developed countries, but addressing all recognized hazards with dedicated technological developments. Such an approach is presented by the authors of this book. The contributions deal with the optimization of processes in the raw materials industry, obtaining energy from alternative fuels, researching the environmental aspects of industrial activities. This book determines some guidelines for the sustainable raw materials industry, describing methods of the optimized use of mined deposits and the recovery of materials, reductions in energy consumption and the recuperation of energy, minimizations in the emissions of pollutants, the perfection of quieter and safer processes, and the facilitation of modern materials-, water-, and energy-related techniques and technologies

Additives to Mitigate against Slagging and Fouling in Biomass Combustion

A crucial part of current and future energy strategy involves the replacement of coal with biomass. However, the composition of biomass creates operational issues in large scale combustion, potentially creating severe slagging and fouling deposition and in worst case scenarios boiler shutdown. Additives have shown promise in improving the deposition of biomass ashes, by altering the composition of the ash and subsequently improving the melting behaviour and deposit properties. However, the effect of additives upon the performance of large scale combustion boilers is not fully understood. This research focuses on the impact of two promising aluminosilicate-based (Al-Si) additives, coal pulverised fuel ash (PFA) and Kaolin powder (KAO), upon the ash properties of different biomass types (olive cake, white wood, bagasse and a power station fly ash). The first area of research was to determine the effect of Al-Si additives upon the electrical resistivity of the ashes across a range of temperatures, which can have a significant impact upon electrostatic precipitator (ESP) performance. A bespoke resistivity test was designed and built for this purpose, based on existing standards. Results showed that biomass ash resistivity is typically lower than that of coal ash by an order of magnitude or more. In some cases, the resistivity may be low enough to cause operational problems and increased particle emissions. The use of additives resulted in increased resistivities, thereby reducing the risk of lower ESP collection efficiencies. Although ESP loads would be increased, this would not be expected to negatively impact emissions. Analysis of the ash compositions indicated that, contrary to previous experience with coal ashes, potassium concentration is an important factor in biomass ash resistivity, meaning that current predictive models are inadequate for biomass and biomass-additive compositions. Therefore, an existing model has been modified using the experimental data and taking into account potassium concentration; this produced reasonable predictions, and showed promise in predicting the resistivity of both biomass and coal ashes. The second area of research was focused upon ash melting behaviour. High temperature viscosity was used to determine ash flow behaviour at temperatures encountered in and around the combustion zone of large scale boilers. Results showed that KAO use with high potassium, high chlorine olive cake (OCA) would significantly improve the flow properties of the ash at combustion temperatures, resulting in ideal viscosities and significantly improved slagging deposition. Thermodynamic modelling data indicated that this was due to the decreased concentrations of magnesium and phosphorus and increased alumina concentrations within the ash, resulting in the formation of high melting temperature minerals and compounds. Ash fusion testing further indicated that KAO can significantly increase flow temperatures of biomass: however, PFA was observed to be less effective. In the case of high silica biomass, PFA was found to have a significant adverse effect upon flow temperature, which would lead to significantly worse slagging. Sinter strength testing was investigated across a temperature range of 800-950°C. Both additives were found to improve the properties of OCA by binding potassium as silicates and aluminosilicates. This eliminates severe sintering caused by KCl sublimation and fluxing at 850°C by binding potassium as silicates and aluminosilicates. However, for the other biomass sinter strengths were increased with additive use. Although most results were below the strengths required for soot blower removal, high additive concentrations produced problematic sinter strengths. It was determined that kaolin has the greatest potential as an additive to reduce deposition issues from biomass combustion, due to its high kaolinite content. Coal PFA was determined to be less effective due to its high mullite and iron concentration. Finally, results indicated that Al-Si additive use is unsuitable for biomass containing high levels of SiO2, and should be used only on biomass with either low SiO2 or high KCl concentrations. However, lower additive rates need to be investigated in future

Extending BIM for air quality monitoring

As we spend more than 90% of our time inside buildings, indoor environmental quality is a major concern for healthy living. Recent studies show that almost 80% of people in European countries and the United States suffer from SBS (Sick Building Syndrome), which affects physical health, productivity and psychological well-being. In this context, environmental quality monitoring provides stakeholders with crucial information about indoor living conditions, thus facilitating building management along its lifecycle, from design, construction and commissioning to usage, maintenance and end-of-life. However, currently available modelling tools for building management remain limited to static models and lack integration capacities to efficiently exploit environmental quality monitoring data. In order to overcome these limitations, we designed and implemented a generic software architecture that relies on accessible Building Information Model (BIM) attributes to add a dynamic layer that integrates environmental quality data coming from deployed sensors. Merging sensor data with BIM allows creation of a digital twin for the monitored building where live information about environmental quality enables evaluation through numerical simulation. Our solution allows accessing and displaying live sensor data, thus providing advanced functionality to the end-user and other systems in the building. In order to preserve genericity and separation of concerns, our solution stores sensor data in a separate database available through an application programming interface (API), which decouples BIM models from sensor data. Our proof-of-concept experiments were conducted with a cultural heritage building located in Bled, Slovenia. We demonstrated that it is possible to display live information regarding environmental quality (temperature, relative humidity, CO2, particle matter, light) using Revit as an example, thus enabling end-users to follow the conditions of their living environment and take appropriate measures to improve its quality.Pages 244-250

XVIII International Coal Preparation Congress

Changes in economic and market conditions of mineral raw materials in recent years have greatly increased demands on the ef fi ciency of mining production. This is certainly true of the coal industry. World coal consumption is growing faster than other types of fuel and in the past year it exceeded 7.6 billion tons. Coal extraction and processing technology are continuously evolving, becoming more economical and environmentally friendly. “ Clean coal ” technology is becoming increasingly popular. Coal chemistry, production of new materials and pharmacology are now added to the traditional use areas — power industry and metallurgy. The leading role in the development of new areas of coal use belongs to preparation technology and advanced coal processing. Hi-tech modern technology and the increasing interna- tional demand for its effectiveness and ef fi ciency put completely new goals for the University. Our main task is to develop a new generation of workforce capacity and research in line with global trends in the development of science and technology to address critical industry issues. Today Russia, like the rest of the world faces rapid and profound changes affecting all spheres of life. The de fi ning feature of modern era has been a rapid development of high technology, intellectual capital being its main asset and resource. The dynamics of scienti fi c and technological development requires acti- vation of University research activities. The University must be a generator of ideas to meet the needs of the economy and national development. Due to the high intellectual potential, University expert mission becomes more and more called for and is capable of providing professional assessment and building science-based predictions in various fi elds. Coal industry, as well as the whole fuel and energy sector of the global economy is growing fast. Global multinational energy companies are less likely to be under state in fl uence and will soon become the main mechanism for the rapid spread of technologies based on new knowledge. Mineral resources will have an even greater impact on the stability of the economies of many countries. Current progress in the technology of coal-based gas synthesis is not just a change in the traditional energy markets, but the emergence of new products of direct consumption, obtained from coal, such as synthetic fuels, chemicals and agrochemical products. All this requires a revision of the value of coal in the modern world economy

ALIPHATIC SILICA‐EPOXY SYSTEMS CONTAINING DOPO‐BASED FLAME RETARDANTS, BIO‐WASTES, AND OTHER SYNERGISTS

Most industrial applications require polymer‐based materials showing excellent fire performances to satisfy stringent requirements. No‐dripping and self‐extinguishing hybrid silica‐epoxy composites can be prepared by combining tailored sol‐gel synthesis strategies with DOPO‐based flame retardants, bio‐wastes, and other synergists. This approach allows for achieving V‐0 rating in UL‐94 vertical flame spread tests, even using a sustainable route, aliphatic amine as hardener, and low P loadings

INTER-ENG 2020

These proceedings contain research papers that were accepted for presentation at the 14th International Conference Inter-Eng 2020 ,Interdisciplinarity in Engineering, which was held on 8–9 October 2020, in Târgu Mureș, Romania. It is a leading international professional and scientific forum for engineers and scientists to present research works, contributions, and recent developments, as well as current practices in engineering, which is falling into a tradition of important scientific events occurring at Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology in the George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy Science, and Technology of Târgu Mures, Romania. The Inter-Eng conference started from the observation that in the 21st century, the era of high technology, without new approaches in research, we cannot speak of a harmonious society. The theme of the conference, proposing a new approach related to Industry 4.0, was the development of a new generation of smart factories based on the manufacturing and assembly process digitalization, related to advanced manufacturing technology, lean manufacturing, sustainable manufacturing, additive manufacturing, and manufacturing tools and equipment. The conference slogan was “Europe’s future is digital: a broad vision of the Industry 4.0 concept beyond direct manufacturing in the company”

Renewable Energy

The demand for secure, affordable and clean energy is a priority call to humanity. Challenges associated with conventional energy resources, such as depletion of fossil fuels, high costs and associated greenhouse gas emissions, have stimulated interests in renewable energy resources. For instance, there have been clear gaps and rushed thoughts about replacing fossil-fuel driven engines with electric vehicles without long-term plans for energy security and recycling approaches. This book aims to provide a clear vision to scientists, industrialists and policy makers on renewable energy resources, predicted challenges and emerging applications. It can be used to help produce new technologies for sustainable, connected and harvested energy. A clear response to economic growth and clean environment demands is also illustrated

Advanced oxy-fuel combustion for carbon capture and sequestration

This dissertation assesses the contribution of CCS in mitigating climate change, investigates Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in aiding the development of CCS technology, and presents the results of air and oxy-fuel combustion experiments conducted in a 250 kW furnace. Coal combustion was investigated using non-preheated and preheated air. Preheating increased the heat input to the flame and the radiative heat transfer near the flame region, enhancing flame stability and burnout. Radiative and convective heat transfer measurements showed that the total heat transfer is mainly influenced by thermal radiation, data on which is essential in validating newly developed radiation models. Oxy-fuel experiments produced flue gas with over 90% CO2 concentration (allowing CCS without chemical scrubbing). Exit concentrations of NO and SO2 increased with reduced recycle ratio, largely due to the reduction in dilution. However, total NO emissions reduced by ~50% compared to air-firing, which was attributed to low levels of atmospheric N2 in the oxidiser and significant reductions in fuel NO formation. Air and oxy-fired peak radiative heat transfer corresponded to a range typical of coal-fired boilers. For the oxy-cases, in-furnace temperatures and heat flux increased with total O2 concentration. Radiative heat transfer increased with higher gas emissivity. The results indicated that the air-fired temperature profiles can be matched when retrofitting to oxy-firing by modifying the recycle ratio, and the optimum ratio lies between the investigated cases of 27% and 30% O2 concentrations (using a dry recycle). The radiative heat flux profiles can also be adjusted. Temperature and heat flux measurements indicated delayed combustion due to the higher heat capacity of CO2 and delayed mixing between the Primary and Secondary/Tertiary streams. CFD modelling was undertaken on 250 kW and 2.4 MW coal-fired furnaces under air-firing conditions, and a 500MWe utility boiler firing coal, a biomass blend, and 100% biomass under air and oxy-fuel conditions. Using wet recycle, the optimum total O2 concentration lies between 25 and 30%, where air-fired heat transfer characteristics can be matched without significant modifications when firing coal or the biomass blend, but not 100% biomass

Corrosion and Degradation of Materials

Studies on the corrosion and degradation of materials play a decisive role in the novel design and development of corrosion-resistant materials, the selection of materials used in harsh environments in designed lifespans, the invention of corrosion control methods and procedures (e.g., coatings, inhibitors), and the safety assessment and prediction of materials (i.e., modelling). These studies cover a wide range of research fields, including the calculation of thermodynamics, the characterization of microstructures, the investigation of mechanical and corrosion properties, the creation of corrosion coatings or inhibitors, and the establishment of corrosion modelling. This Special Issue is devoted to these types of studies, which facilitate the understanding of the corrosion fundamentals of materials in service, the development of corrosion coatings or methods, improving their durability, and eventually decreasing corrosion loss