Use of organic waste biomass for the design of an electric station

Colombia has a high potential for biomass. In rural areas its use is focused on firewood for water heating and food cooking; therefore, it is essential to adopt solutions derived from new technological advances and studies in the generation of energy from this resource so that it contributes to social, cultural and economic changes leading to quality of life improvement in these isolated areas. In the processes of agricultural modernization, the transport sector plays an important role, as in planting and harvesting its use optimizes times in the harvesting of fruits by means of their transport to collection centers, as well as it allows to minimize times in pruning work, irrigation and soil preparation. Besides, it generates good agricultural practices and contributes to consolidate a more productive and sustainable field. Nevertheless, the vehicles used are powered by internal combustion engines and, due to their technical characteristics, they do not adapt to the requirements of Colombian geography; thus, it is important to develop technologies that lead to a rational use of energy, taking advantage of the great biomass potential that many regions of the country have. Accordingly, this is proposed to develop an electric charging station; an initial part of a macro project that is being developed in SENA which looks for the incorporation of electric utility vehicles to be used in the planting and harvesting of cocoa. In this paper, a physical-chemical characterization of two types of organic substrates (manure of pigs and chickens) is carried out in order to acknowledge the methane energy potential for the design of an electric station that serves as a feeder for rechargeable batteries. As a relevant result, the sample obtained from the 1: 3 ratio of pig manure is highlighted since a better methane production is achieved in a retention time of approximately 30 days, achieving a daily charge of the batteries in an estimated time of 6 hours which contributes to a management of slow charge cycles according to its control algorithm and to a complete equalization of the 1.980 cells that make up the 6 modules of the batteries.Colombia cuenta con un alto potencial de biomasa, en zonas rurales su uso se centra en el empleo de leña para el calentamiento de agua y la cocción de alimentos, por tanto, es indispensable apropiar soluciones mediante los nuevos avances y estudios tecnológicos en la generación de energía a partir de este recurso que contribuya a generar cambios sociales, culturales y económicos para la mejora de la calidad de vida en estas zonas aisladas. En los procesos de tecnificación agrícola el sector transporte juega un papel importante, ya que en la siembra y la cosecha el uso de medios de transporte optimiza tiempos en el momento de llevar los frutos recolectados a sus respectivos centros de acopio, así como permite minimizar tiempos en labores de poda, riego y preparación del suelo; además, genera buenas prácticas agrícolas y aporta a consolidar un campo más productivo y sustentable. Sin embargo, los vehículos empleados son accionados por motores de combustión interna, y, además, debido a sus características técnicas de fábrica, no se adecuan a las exigencias de la geografía colombiana, por ello es importante desarrollar tecnologías que permitan hacer un uso racional de la energía aprovechando el gran potencial de biomasa con el que cuentan muchas regiones del país. En este sentido, se propone desarrollar una estación de carga eléctrica, que constituye la parte inicial de un macroproyecto que se está desarrollando en el Sena, cuyo objetivo es incorporar vehículos eléctricos utilitarios para su uso en la siembra y la recolección de cacao. En el presente trabajo se realiza una caracterización fisicoquímica de dos tipos de sustratos orgánicos (estiércol de cerdos y gallinas), a fin de conocer el potencial energético de metano para el diseño de una estación eléctrica que sirva como alimentador de baterías recargables. Como resultado relevante se destaca la muestra obtenida de la relación 1:3 de estiércol de cerdo, ya que se alcanza una mejor producción de metano en un tiempo de retención de 30 días aproximadamente, con lo cual se logra realizar una carga diaria de las baterías en un tiempo estimado de 6 horas. Esto contribuye a una gestión de ciclos de carga lenta de acuerdo con su algoritmo de control y a una ecualización completa de las 1.980 celdas que conforman los 6 módulos de las baterías

Prospects to Use Biogas of Refuse Dams of Dnipropetrovsk Region (Ukraine) as Alternative Energy Carrier

Prospects for recovery and use of biogas from solid domestic waste landfills in Dnipropetrovsk region have been considered. Scientific sources have been analyzed. The world practices to use biogas from solid domestic waste landfills have been estimated. Gas volume released has been studied. Methane released by solid domestic waste landfills may be used effectively as automobile fuel, electric powers and heat depending upon location of the landfills as for business infrastructure. Methane utilization will make it possible to solve a problem of improving the safety of solid domestic waste landfills in terms of environment. Scientific substantiation of technological solutions concerning recovery of methane from solid domestic waste landfills is impossible without involving dependences which determine total volume of landfill gas being released. That will help perform feasibility evaluation as for projects to use landfill gas. Practical proposals concerning the selection and substantiation of priorities to use methane released by solid domestic waste landfills have been made. In particular, operation schedule for specific conditions of Ihren landfill located in Dnipropetrovsk region has been proposed

Controlled Ecological Life Support Systems (CELSS) conceptual design option study

Results are given of a study to explore options for the development of a Controlled Ecological Life Support System (CELSS) for a future Space Station. In addition, study results will benefit the design of other facilities such as the Life Sciences Research Facility, a ground-based CELSS demonstrator, and will be useful in planning longer range missions such as a lunar base or manned Mars mission. The objectives were to develop weight and cost estimates for one CELSS module selected from a set of preliminary plant growth unit (PGU) design options. Eleven Space Station CELSS module conceptual PGU designs were reviewed, components and subsystems identified and a sensitivity analysis performed. Areas where insufficient data is available were identified and divided into the categories of biological research, engineering research, and technology development. Topics which receive significant attention are lighting systems for the PGU, the use of automation within the CELSS system, and electric power requirements. Other areas examined include plant harvesting and processing, crop mix analysis, air circulation and atmosphere contaminant flow subsystems, thermal control considerations, utility routing including accessibility and maintenance, and nutrient subsystem design

Biomass Production and Carbon Sequestration by Cultivation of Trees under Hyperarid Conditions using Desalinated Seawater (Sewage Water)

As growing economies – in particular in the Gulf region – use extreme and growing amounts of desalinated seawater for municipal purposes the use of produced waste waters is in the focus of science. The fixation of atmospheric carbon-dioxide by a safe cultivation of trees using this slightly salty water sources is of increased importance in times of ongoing climate change. Unfortunately, existing research relies on irrigation of trees in arid lands using ground water, any kind of precipitation, seasonal events like river flooding or a mix of them. To date no data support the biomass or tree production in total absence of natural precipitation and complete lack of ground water. In this study, seven timber and fuelwood tree species, namely, Eucalyptus occidentalis En., Eucalyptus tereticornis Smith, Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., Eucalyptus gomphocephala DC., Eucalyptus grandis Hybr. Hill ex Maid, Tamarix aphylla (L.) Karst., Tamarix nilotica (Ehrenb.) Bunge were tested for carbon sequestration and biomass-production. Above-soil and sub-soil parts were determined under two levels of drip-irrigation water supply: 25% and 50% of Evapotranspiration (ETo) over a period of two years and four months from planting to harvest. The trees were cultivated under hyper-arid climatic conditions using brackish irrigation water (3.5 dS m-1) on a research and development station in Arava, Israel. Purified waste water from a seawater desalination plant (reverse osmosis) was applied after municipal use. Eucalyptus gomphocephala DC. delivered the highest yields and had the highest water use efficiency, producing 70 t of Dry Matter (DM) /ha/a under the higher irrigation level. Compared with the other species, E. gomphocephala DC. showed a 32% to 65% superior performance . Whereas, lower amounts of saline irrigation water were favoured by E. camaldulensis and T. aphylla – both producing more than 50 t of DM/ha/a. Nevertheless, Tamarix, as a halophyte specialist plant, needed 30 % less water for this growth. Both Eucalyptus varieties mentioned before form a closed tree stand and reached a height of almost 10 m, two years after planting. Regardless of the particular use of the produced timber, about 15 – 25% of the trees’ total DM, approximately equal to the carbon-content, remains in the soil as long-term carbon-storage after harvesting the above ground biomass. Fast growing fuelwood tree species ensure a safe long-term biological fixation of carbon Irrigated with small amounts of saline waste water

Is Sustainable Development of Deserts Feasible?

Hot deserts that presently cover about one-fifth of the land area of our planet are rapidly devouring more and more arable lands mostly due to anthropogenic causes. We propose an interdisciplinary approach to revitalizing and commercializing hot deserts, which is based on systems thinking and Russian and NASA space technology experience in designing life-support systems for long-duration flights. We formulate ten principles for the design of sustainable life support systems in deserts, which can make the development of the deserts feasible. It is discussed how the principles can be employed to design and operate desert’s eco-industrial parks with greenhouses in which the transpired and evaporated moisture is collected and condensed. The potential benefits of setting up the eco-industrial parks in deserts include the slowdown and eventual reversal of the desertification trend, the migration of many industrial production facilities from mild-climate regions to deserts, the increased availability of potable water and food in deserts, the development of poor African countries, and the emergence of new investment markets

Electrodialytic processes in solid matrices. New insights into batteries recycling. A review.

Electrodialytic Remediation has been widely applied to the recovery of different contaminants from numerous solid matrices solving emerging issues of environmental concern. Results and conclusions reported in studies about real contaminated matrices are summarizes in this work. The influence of the pH value on the treatment effectiveness has been widely proved highlighting the phenomenon “water splitting” in the membrane surface. This dissociation of water molecules is related to the “limiting current” which is desirable to be exceed at the Anion Exchange Membrane in order to produce the entering of protons toward solid matrix. Other important parameters for the optimization of the technique, such as the current density and the liquid to solid ratio, are also discussed through the revision of studies using real solid matrices. This work also focusses on the pioneer proposal of electrokinetic technologies for the recycling of lithium ion batteries considering the relevance of waste properties in the design and optimization of the technique. From a thorough literature revision, it could be concluded that further experimental results are needed to allow an optimal application of the technique to the rising problem of residues from batteries. The main aim of this work is to take the first steps in the recovery of valuable metals from spent batteries, such as Li and Co, incorporating principles of green chemistry.The authors acknowledge the financial support from the “Plan Propio de Investigación de la Universidad de Málaga with Project numbers: PPIT.UMA.B1.2017/20 and PPIT.UMA.B5.2018/17 and the European project THROUGH H2020-MSCA-RISE- 2017-778045. The first author also acknowledge the postdoctoral contract obtained from University of Malaga

L1 libration point manned space habitat

Second generation stations or Manned Space Habitats (MSHs) are discussed for an Earth-Moon libration point and in lunar orbit. The conceptual design of such a station is outlined. Systems and subsystems described reflect anticipation of moderate technology growth. The evolution of the L1 environments is discussed, several selected subsystems are outlined, and how the L1 MSH will complete some of its activities is described

System integration of hydrogen energy technologies using renewable energy resources

The objective of this work has two major tasks that investigation the use of CHHP system at the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) campus and studying solid waste as renewable source of energy: current and future possibility in Libya. Task one has three major topics. In Topic I, Design of Combined Hydrogen, Heat and Power (CHHP) system for the campus using local resources and treated biogas can be used to generate CHHP using a Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC). In Topic II, hydrogen recovery and cleaning system, Heat recovery and electric power usage, hydrogen compression, storage, and dispensing/distribution system, electricity use and economic benefits of the system in operation, and thermal use. In Topic III, utilization of hydrogen production, hydrogen end-uses, CHHP hydrogen output, and hydrogen application consider but not used in the design. In task 2, generation of solid waste in Libya, overview of Waste-to-energy (WTE) conversions, solid waste management, WTE benefits and challenges in Libya. Results for Tasks I and II have been presented. --Abstract, page iv

Carbon Free Boston: Energy Technical Report

Part of a series of reports that includes: Carbon Free Boston: Summary Report; Carbon Free Boston: Social Equity Report; Carbon Free Boston: Technical Summary; Carbon Free Boston: Buildings Technical Report; Carbon Free Boston: Transportation Technical Report; Carbon Free Boston: Waste Technical Report; Carbon Free Boston: Offsets Technical Report; Available at http://sites.bu.edu/cfb/INTRODUCTION: The adoption of clean energy in Boston’s buildings and transportation systems will produce sweeping changes in the quantity and composition of the city’s demand for fuel and electricity. The demand for electricity is expected to increase by 2050, while the demand for petroleum-based liquid fuels and natural gas within the city is projected to decline significantly. The city must meet future energy demand with clean energy sources in order to meet its carbon mitigation targets. That clean energy must be procured in a way that supports the City’s goals for economic development, social equity, environmental sustainability, and overall quality of life. This chapter examines the strategies to accomplish these goals. Improved energy efficiency, district energy, and in-boundary generation of clean energy (rooftop PV) will reduce net electric power and natural gas demand substantially, but these measures will not eliminate the need for electricity and gas (or its replacement fuel) delivered into Boston. Broadly speaking, to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the city must therefore (1) reduce its use of fossil fuels to heat and cool buildings through cost-effective energy efficiency measures and electrification of building thermal services where feasible; and (2) over time, increase the amount of carbon-free electricity delivered to the city. Reducing energy demand though cost effective energy conservation measures will be necessary to reduce the challenges associated with expanding the electricity delivery system and sustainably sourcing renewable fuels.Published versio

Preliminary assessment of systems for deriving liquid and gaseous fuels from waste or grown organics

The overall feasibility of the chemical conversion of waste or grown organic matter to fuel is examined from the technical, economic, and social viewpoints. The energy contribution from a system that uses waste and grown organic feedstocks is estimated as 4 to 12 percent of our current energy consumption. Estimates of today's market prices for these fuels are included. Economic and social issues are as important as technology in determining the feasibility of such a proposal. An orderly program of development and demonstration is recommended to provide reliable data for an assessment of the viability of the proposal