Pyrolysis of municipal green waste: a modelling, simulation and experimental analysis

Pyrolysis is the thermo-chemical conversion of carbonaceous feedstock in the absence of oxygen to produce bio-fuel (bio-oil, bio-char and syn-gas). Bio-fuel production from municipal green waste (MGW) through the pyrolysis process has attracted considerable attention recently in the renewable energy sector because it can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to energy security. This study analyses properties of MGW feedstock available in Rockhampton city of Central Queensland, Australia, and presents an experimental investigation of producing bio-fuel from that MGW through the pyrolysis process using a short sealed rotary furnace. It was found from the experiment that about 19.97% bio-oil, 40.83% bio-char and 29.77% syn-gas can be produced from the MGW. Then, a four-stage steady state simulation model is developed for pyrolysis process performance simulation using Aspen Plus software. In the first stage, the moisture content of the MGW feed is reduced. In the second stage, the MGW is decomposed according to its elemental constituents. In the third stage, condensate material is separated and, finally, the pyrolysis reactions are modelled using the Gibbs free energy minimisation approach. The MGW\u27s ultimate and proximate analysis data were used in the Aspen Plus simulation as input parameters. The model is validated with experimentally measured data. A good agreement between simulation and experimental results was found. More specifically, the variation of modelling and experimental elemental compositions of the MGW was found to be 7.3% for carbon, 15.82% for hydrogen, 7.04% for nitrogen and 5.56% for sulphur. The validated model is used to optimise the biofuel production from the MGW as a function of operating variables such as temperature, moisture content, particle size and process heat air-fuel ratio. The modelling and optimisation results are presented, analysed and discussed

Simulation of building thermal performance in an institutional building in subtropical climate

Paper presented at the 5th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, South Africa, 1-4 July, 2007.Simulation of building thermal performance is important in predicting comfort of the occupants in buildings. An analysis and prediction of thermal comfort using DesignBuilder based on EnergyPlus, state of the art building performance simulation software, is presented in this study for an air conditioned multistoried building in Rockhampton city of Central Queensland, Australia. Rockhampton is located in a hot humid region; therefore, indoor thermal comfort is strongly affected by the outdoor climate. The actual thermal condition of the Information Technology Division (ITD) Building at Central Queensland University during winter and summer seasons is evaluated and the possibilities of energy conservation without compromising thermal comfort of the occupants are explored. The Fanger comfort model, Pierce two-node model and KSU two-node model were used to predict thermal performance of the building. A sophisticated building analysis tool was integrated with thermal comfort models which allow for the determination of appropriate cooling technologies for the occupants to be thermally comfortable with sufficient energy savings. This study will also compare predicted mean vote (PMV) and thermal sensation vote (TSV) on a seven point thermal sensation scale calculated using the effective temperature, relative humidity, discomfort hours for alternative cooling and ventilation techniques.cs201

Recent advances in the solar thermochemical splitting of carbon dioxide into synthetic fuels

Recent years have seen a sharp rise in CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, which has contributed to the issue of global warming. In response to this several technologies have been developed to convert CO2 into fuel. It is discovered that the employment of a solar-driven thermochemical process (S-DTCP) that transforms CO2 into fuels can increase the efficiency of the production of sustainable fuels. The process involves the reduction of metal oxide (MO) and oxidizing it with CO2 in a two-step process using concentrated solar power (CSP) at higher and lower temperatures, respectively. This study summarizes current advancements in CO2 conversion methods based on MO thermochemical cycles (ThCy), including their operating parameters, types of cycles, and working principles. It was revealed that the efficiency of the solar conversion of CO2 to fuel is not only influenced by the composition of the MO, but also by its morphology as well as the available surface area for solid/gas reactions and the diffusion length. The conversion mechanism is governed by surface reaction, which is influenced by these two parameters (diffusion length and specific surface area). Solar energy contributes to the reduction and oxidation steps by promoting reaction kinetics and heat and mass transport in the material. The information on recent advances in metal oxide-based carbon dioxide conversion into fuels will be beneficial to both the industrial and academic sectors of the economy.Scopu

Regional sustainabaility : local solutions to global issues : proceedings of Central Region Engineering Conference 2009, 14-15 August, 2009, Rockhampton, Queensland /

"This conference is organised every three years in Rockhampton. The theme of this year’s conference is “Regional Sustainability: Local Solutions to Global Issues” is proposed to persuade the participants to discuss about the strength of local solution to address the global engineering problems. The conference programme incorporated 30 presentations including 4 keynote contributions from leading intellectual within the engineering community."--p. 7

Sustainable solution to the green waste management by thermo-chemical converison processes

The paper will provide a review of the energy efficient and environmentally more acceptable technology to convert various types of green wastes to Bio-oil and compare Australian and Indian scenario of the green waste management. Particular emphasis is given to the production of Bio-oil from green waste pyrolysis, the performance of Bio-oil production system through pyrolysis, the sustainability of a Bio-oil generation through pyrolysis, the sustainability indicators for effective process management

Design of a Computer Vision Integrated Solid Handling System to Teach Manufacturing Automation to Third Year Undergraduate Students

Abstract: This paper gives an overview of a solid handling system for flexible manufacturing processes performed by the Department of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering at the Islamic University of Technology (IUT). The basic concept of the system architecture and the work performed towards the development of the automated manufacturing process at IUT are described. The aim with the research initiative is the development of relevant skills in automated monitoring and controlling of manufacturing processes among the third year undergraduate students who specialise in manufacturing technologies. The flexible systems help students to understand how to increase productivity as well as reduce the total cost of the operation in manufacturing process. The overall system consists of a conveyor system, a robot system, a vision system, and a multitasking/multiprocessor computer system. The understanding of such a system would capable students to perform the entire production cycle for a variety of products

Investigation of flow distribution in energy intensive aluminium production reduction cells: An exploratory study

The process of making aluminium often involves electrolytic cells, also known as reduction cells. The reduction cell exhaust manifolds must achieve a steady distribution of exhaust from each cell in the network. This will prevent fugitive pollutants, which are harmful to both human and environmental health. While ducts are adjusted to achieve appropriate flow rates, they become asymmetrical over time. A few case studies avaialble available in the literature that discuss the flow distribution in an electrolytic cell, and almost none provide insight into the operational flow distribution of reduction cells in service. As part of this study, the operating flow distribution in service reduction cells is examined, determined which factors contribute to poor gas patterns produced by reduction line cells and analysed the flow conditions that result in sediment deposition within the ducting that connects the reduction cells to the superstructure, which is the novelty of this case study. Various instruments were used to record the temperature and pressure of a smelting facility. Flow information for each cell was collected using Pitot traverses. Infrared thermography of the ducts was used to locate temperature anomalies and possible areas of particle build-up. These tests indicated a number of probable contributing causes that have contributed to the inadequate airflow pattern from each reduction cell

Integration of simulation-based energy management techniques in undergraduate engineering curriculum to enhance students' learning

The aim of teaching simulation-based energy conservation techniques to the undergraduate engineering students is to involve students with real-life engineering problems and to enhance the students' learning, discipline knowledge and problem-solving skills. A project-based learning course was designed so that the students receive a broad range of introductory exposure to the effective energy management techniques with relevant applications of the theory. This paper highlighted an overview of the course curriculum, simulation principles and assessment procedures for achieving scholarships in teaching, learning and research. It is understood that the students were competent to make use of the advanced knowledge earned in this course in their future career

Computer integrated manufacturing education to mechanical engineering students : teaching, research and practice

This paper details the research and development of Computer Integrated Design and Manufacturing at Islamic University of Technology (IUT), Bangladesh, a subsidiary organ of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). IUT is basically an educational and research institution offering undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the field of Engineering and Technology. The objectives of Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) education are to provide industry with a new generation of engineers having interdisciplinary skills necessary to deal with state of the art technology in designing, manufacturing, maintenance, selecting, and procuring manufacturing engineering systems. The research activities on CIM systems, the course coverage and laboratory facilities are discussed in the paper. The available programs are four-year Mechanical Engineering degree program specialising in production engineering, Masters Program, and PhD. There is a thirty-two-weeks research project at the undergraduate curricula of mechanical engineering. Areas of research topics include CAD (computer aided design), CAM (computer aided manufacturing), CAPP (computer aided process planning), CNC (computer numerical control) machine tools, DNC (direct numerical control machine tools), FMS (flexible manufacturing systems), ASRS (automated storage and retrieval systems), use of robotics and automated conveyance, computerized scheduling and production control, and a business system integrated by a common database in the Department of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering at IU

Design of a computer vision integrated solid handling system to teach manufacturing automation to third year undergraduate students

This paper gives an overview of a solid handling system for flexible manufacturing processes performed by the Department of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering at the Islamic University of Technology (IUT). The basic concept of the system architecture and the work performed towards the development of the automated manufacturing process at IUT are described. The aim with the research initiative is the development of relevant skills in automated monitoring and controlling of manufacturing processes among the third year undergraduate students who specialise in manufacturing technologies. The flexible systems help students to understand how to increase productivity as well as reduce the total cost of the operation in manufacturing process. The overall system consists of a conveyor system, a robot system, a vision system, and a multitasking/multiprocessor computer system. The understanding of such a system would (allow) [sic] capable students to perform the entire production cycle for a variety of products