The Combustion Characteristics of Biomass Stove with Preheated-Air by Porous Medium

This study aims to characterize the combustion of the biomass stove filled with a porous medium for air pre-heating to enhance the biomass decomposition. An equivalence ratio, one of the important parameters for the combustion, was investigated to evaluate the completeness of the combustion process. Thermal efficiency was used as the indicator to reflect the performance of the biomass stove. Which was divided into two parts namely the pre-combustion (PCC) and the combustion chamber (CC). The CC volume was 28 liters for fuel storage, and it was insulated for reducing heat loss. The stove was made of 2 mm steel plate and the porous medium was a round-shape ceramic with a diameter of 10 mm. The boiling test was performed using corn cobs as a single solid fuel to boil water in the vessel. The temperature of the stove was measured using a thermocouple Type-K and a data recorder was used to collect the experimental data. The airflow rate was determined using an airflow meter and the fuel consumption rate was calculated using the aforementioned experimental data. Finally, the designed biomass stove will be demonstrated at the community to simultaneously enhance the community-scale energy and reduce the environmental issues.</jats:p

Determinants of Chinese SMEs’ Entry to ASEAN Renewable Energy Market

ASEAN communities seek such resources as technologies and products from other countries to develop solar energy for sustainable development. In response to that, major renewable-utilization advanced countries including China has introduced funds, technology, and products into ASEAN. Despite the fact that China SMEs have a strong willingness to enter ASEAN solar energy market and ASEAN has demanded to develop the solar energy industry, only a few of them have succeeded in operation in the long-run. Introducing renewable energy technology and products from one place to another or bringing them from laboratory into community is not just a process of capital equipment supply from one firm to another but also includes the transfer of skills and know-how for operating and maintaining technology hardware, and knowledge for understanding this technology so that further independent innovation is possible by recipient. The purpose of this research was to determine the dynamic elements for China SMEs entering into the solar energy market of middle-income ASEAN member states. This participatory research collects data from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data sources include a questionnaire for 408 respondents of whom background across government officials, research personnel and industry, and interviews for 24 of them. Secondary data include reports from the Asian Development Bank, ASEAN Centre for Energy and other related documents from ASEAN governments. Data collected from the questionnaire were firstly analyzed through quantitative way: the value of Mean, Standard Error of Mean, Median, Standard Deviation (Std.) and Variance of each element were calculated. Information collected from interviews were then analyzed through the qualitative way. The results showed that policy environment, level of industrial and economic development, people’s willingness to cooperate, correct policy interpretation, capacity building and the presence of a third-party intermediary agency are the determinants of Chinese SME's successful entry to ASEAN renewable energy market. The mature policy environment of the ASEAN, need of industrial upgrading and sound economic development would facilitate the development of renewable energy industry, meanwhile, the strong willingness to cooperate, correct policy interpretation on preferential policies, well capacity building of both cooperative sides and the presence of a third-party intermediary agency would promote the cooperation between Chinese SMEs and relevant partners of ASEAN and the sustainable operation of Chinese SMEs in ASEAN.</jats:p

Appropriate guidelines of Waste Management for Keudchang Sub-district, Maetang District, Chiangmai province, Thailand

Waste management is one of the major problems around the world. Governments and global organizations are starting to pay attention to the amount of waste left behind. Thai government drafted the National policies of waste management to manage waste in sustainable ways. Keudchang Sub-district confronts waste management problems due to the increase in the amount of waste, insufficient area for disposal, roadside and riverside litters, an illegal dump of rubbish in forests, and air pollution from waste incineration. The purposes of this research were to study the amount of waste and waste composition in 8 villages of Keudchang Community (KC), and develop appropriate guidelines of waste management. This participatory research collects data from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data sources include interviews and set up a public hearing stage with stakeholders in KC. Secondary data include a documentary of community context, meeting minutes, and other related documents. Qualitative data were analyzed with the content analysis method.  The results showed that the KC produce an average of waste to 4,062.02 kg/day. These wastes could be classified into 4 types including organic waste (45.83%), recycle waste (28.01%), general waste (15.55%), and hazardous waste (10.60%) respectively. An individual person at KC produces an average of waste at 0.98 kg/day. Additionally, the results from conducting a public hearing stage of 8 villages revealed community awareness and solutions for waste management. All people in KC need to sort their wastes properly before disposal in 4 ways.  First, organic waste.  Each household needs to dig a hole and dump the organic wastes into it.  The organic wastes should be managed and separated from other wastes. Second, recycle waste. Various approaches to recycle waste include waste credit bank (WCB), waste volunteer, monthly fee, and self-management. The WCB would be a hub for the communities to make profits and reduce landfill wastes.  A waste volunteer would be a volunteer person who buys community wastes and sell them to outsiders. The monthly fee would be an approach where each household pays 70 baht/month to a garbage collector. Self-management would be another approach where households sort out, eliminate, sell, and manage wastes by themselves.  Third, general waste.  General waste could be divided into 2 groups as profitable waste and community dumping ground. Profitable waste could be sold to WCB or waste stores by each household.  Community dumping ground would be an area allocated to all households for waste disposal.  All households would not allow to throw garbage or wastes into other areas, but community dumping ground.  Finally, hazardous waste.  Hazardous waste would need to dispose of carefully in the trash can located at the office of the village headman.  The findings from this study suggested setting up a waste management committee (WMC), as well as defining their roles and responsibilities. Local administrative organizations and community leaders also need to support, supervise, and control community waste management for resource-efficient and sustainable societies</jats:p

Herramientas de medición inteligente para la reducción de energía de las habitaciones de los hoteles 4 estrellas de Tailandia

This research aimed to develop smart meter tools for energy reduction of the 4-star hotel guest rooms in Thailand. The Smart Meter Hotel (HSM) was designed to measure electricity usage and transmit data via the “Internet of Things” to the cloud network. The data was also sent to the hotel front office department to inform the actual amount and cost of electricity consumption from the guests. Thus, the applied tool provided electricity usage in real-time to reduce the electrical peak load and to manage the energy efficiency.Esta investigación tiene como objetivo desarrollar herramientas de medición inteligente para la reducción de energía de las habitaciones de los hoteles 4 estrellas en Tailandia. El Hotel Smart Meter (HSM) fue diseñado para medir el uso de electricidad y transmitir datos a través del "Internet de las cosas" a la red en la nube. Los datos también se enviaron al departamento de recepción del hotel para informar la cantidad real y el costo del consumo de electricidad de los huéspedes. Por lo tanto, la herramienta aplicada proporcionó el uso de electricidad en tiempo real para reducir el pico de la carga eléctrica y administrar la eficiencia energética

The effect of space utilization under the ground-mounted solar farm on power generation

The ground-mounted solar farms are the most common type of Thailand solar power plant. Presently, the area under the solar panels in Thailand had not been utilized. This work was to investigate a suitable configuration for space utilization under the PV panels which could promote power production. The effect of space utilization was investigated for 3 configurations: a water pond, chili cultivation, and a grass plantation. Under the first PV string, the pond sizing 2.4 × 15 meter was created. Under the 2nd PV string, 60 chilies samples were planted. Moreover, the grass was planted under the third string. The intensity of solar radiation (W/m2), temperature, voltage and current of solar panels were also monitoring. The impact of all configurations on the power generation was evaluated and compared with a control.  Results indicated that the space utilization of the first string (the pond) and of the second string (the chili cultivation) generated electricity at 1.6 kW. Both configurations could generate more power than control. The pond and the vegetable plantation were suitable configurations for promoting power production.</jats:p