Decarbonising universities: Case study of the University of Exeter’s green strategy plans based on analysing its energy demand in 2012–2020

This is the final version. Available on open access from MDPI via the DOI in this record. This study investigates the carbon footprint of the University of Exeter by analysing its energy consumption between 2012 and 2020 to assess its current standing in the process of achieving carbon neutrality. The study then explores the possible methods of reaching this target in line with the University of Exeter’s Environment & Climate Emergency Policy Statement. The leading part of the statement is as follows: “All Campus activities/operations shall have a carbon net zero impact and or result in environmental gain by 2030 and aims to be carbon net zero by 2050 (accounting for all associated activities and Scope 3 footprint)”. Using methods of energy consumption reduction, a new carbon footprint for Scope 1 and 2 emissions was calculated for the year 2030, which included phasing out oil and gas and swapping out inefficient systems, such as old heating or lighting. This reduced the emissions from 17.24 ktCO2e to 3.34 ktCO2e also greatly helped by the reduction in electricity grid conversion factors. The remaining emissions would be reduced further to net zero by on site solar and offsite wind investment

Smart energy solution for an optimised sustainable hospital in the green city of NEOM

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordHybrid optimisation of multiple energy resources has been performed on a micro grid model of a hospital to investigate the capability of a standalone energy system and simultaneous mitigation of hospital waste. The main objectives of this study were to collect renewable energy resource data of a hybrid hospital, use the average amount of hospital waste from the literature and NASA surface meteorology in addition to the solar energy database from HOMER Pro software to construct a hybrid model for a conceptual hospital in the new green city in Saudi Arabia, NEOM. The hybrid model consisted of biogas cofire and diesel generators, PV solar array and batteries. Simulations were performed to analyse the load requirements of a standalone hospital. The mechanism of energy storage was designed based on Tesla batteries. Then, the hybrid hospital model was tested with NEOM’s natural resources, load demand of 250 kWh/day and the average amount of daily hospital waste of 0.6 tons based on the literature data. This condition allows the smart hospital to be tested with real features. The outcome of the COE, NPC and the amount of reduction of carbon dioxide in the hybrid hospital were analysed. Many of the hybrid properties and constraints that define the hospital were adopted from previous literature concentrating on similar domains. The optimal solution of a hybrid micro grid consisted of biogas cofire, PV array, and batteries. Of the total load demand, 32.3% and 67.6% were produced by PV array and biogas cofire generators, respectively, together with eight Tesla PowerWall2.0 batteries. The cost of energy was 0.21 USD/kWh and the net present cost was 243,699.17 USD. In this study, we compared renewable energy with conventional energy and found that the optimal solution would be able to reduce carbon emission and diesel consumption by almost 84% and 81%, respectively. The results were verified through a sensitivity study and compared with other studies

A three-dimensional finite element analysis of the human hip

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Taylor & Francis (Routledge) via the DOI in this record.Athree-dimensional hip model was created from the MRI scans of one human subject based on constructing the entire pelvis and femur. The ball and socket joint was modelled between the hip’s acetabulum and the femoral head to analysethe multiaxial loads applied in the hip joint. The three key ligaments that reinforce the external surface of the hip to help to stabilisethe joint were also modelledwhich are the iliofemoral , the pubofemoral andischiofemoral ligaments. Each of these ligaments wraps around the joint connection to form a seal over the synovial membrane, a line of attachment around the head of the femur. This model was tested for different loading and boundary conditions to analysetheir sensitivitieson the cortical andcancellous tissues of the human hip bones. The outcomes of a one-legged stance finite element analysis revealed that the maximum of 0.056 mm displacement occurred. The stress distribution varied across the model which the majority occurring in the cortical femurand dissipating through the cartilage. The maximum stress value occurring in the joint was 110.1 MPa, which appeared at thefree end of the proximal femur.This developed finite element model was validated againstthe literature data to be used as anasset for further research in investigating new methods of total hip arthroplasty, to minimisethe recurrence of dislocations and discomfort in the hip joint, as well as increasing the range of movement available to a patient after surgery

Optimisation of a conceptual aircraft model using a genetic algorithm and 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from UKACM via the link in this recordAircraft design is fundamentally a multidisciplinary design activity which involves different models and tools for various aspects of the design. This paper uses a Multidisciplinary Design Optimisation (MDO) for design of a simplified commercial aircraft, aiming to optimise the objectives of cost, weight and drag. NSGA-II is used to optimise the weight and cost by changing the geometry to introduce lightweight airframe materials and composites with lower density. Reducing weight of the structure is one of the major ways to improve the performance of aircraft. Lighter, stronger material will allow a higher speed and greater range which may contribute to reducing operational costs. Drag reduction is also a major factor in aircraft design. Reduction of drag in an aircraft means that it can have a lower fuel consumption or travel at higher speed, both of which are beneficial to plane performance. A smart structural optimisation algorithm helps to optimise the cost, weight and drag, while drag is analysed based on CFD modelling results. The results are validated against some wind tunnel tests

Scenarios, Financial Viability and Pathways of Localized Hybrid Energy Generation Systems around the United Kingdom

This is the final version. Available on open access from MDPI via the DOI in this recordDecarbonisation is becoming a central aim of countries around the globe, ensuring the effects of climate change do not increase exponentially in the coming years. Renewable energy generation is at the core of this decarbonisation process, enabling economies to divorce themselves from a reliance on oil and coal. Hybrid energy systems can utilise multiple generation methods to supply electrical demand best. This paper investigates the use of localised hybrid energy systems around the UK, comparing the financial viability of solar, wind and hydrokinetic generation methods both as a hybrid system and individually in different scenarios. The significance of having localised hybrid energy systems is that they address two large problems within renewable energy generation, that of storage issues and also generating the electricity far away from where it is actually used, requiring extensive infrastructure. The microgrid optimisation software HOMER was used to simulate each of the generation methods alongside the national grid, including lithium ion batteries and converters to create a comprehensive hybrid system. Net Present Cost, which is the current value of all the costs of installing and operating the system over the project lifetime, was considered as the metric. The analysis finds that for each modelled location, wind turbines in combination with lithium ion batteries and a converter is the system with the lowest Net Present Cost, with the exception of Bristol, which also uses hydrokinetic turbines within the system. The findings indicate the extensive wind resources available within the UK, along with identifying that certain locations around the country also have very high potential for tidal power generatio

Analysing the cost-effectiveness of charging stations for electric vehicles in the UK's rural areas

This is the final version. Available from MDPI via the DOI in this record. While U.K. authorities have attempted to tailor measures to boost sales of electric vehicles (EVs) and support citizens through different schemes, the size and geographic coverage of the existing charging network are insufficient, which undermines electromobility promotion. There are 15,853 public charging points installed in the U.K. as of 3 August 2021, and the demands for public EV charging are rising. For rural areas, there is little support from local authorities or private companies. To identify how a charging station can be installed and work, this study researches existing charging stations nationwide. Generally, most Public Charging Stations (PCS) in rural areas have unsatisfactory cost-effectiveness due to their long payback period. This paper presents how many rural PCS are able to afford the cost in the first eight years. Based on the ever-increasing demands of the market, EV producers are switching their business strategies. Meanwhile, the rural areas may become urban with the same definition. When it comes to the analysis of cost-effectiveness, it is possible for the PCS to bring more elements into the calculation. For Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) and Operation Expenditure (OPEX), the unnecessary cost leaves more profit space, like the possibility of unplanned maintenance costs

Decarbonisation using hybrid energy solution: case study of Zagazig, Egypt

This is the final version. Available on open access from the publisher via the DOI in this record.In this study, an analysis is carried out to determine the optimal application of multiple renewable energy resources, namely wind and solar, to provide electricity requirements for green smart cities and environments. This was done to determine the potential of renewable energy to provide clean, economically viable energy for the case study of Zagazig, located at 30◦340 N 31◦300 E in the North East of Egypt. The relevant data surrounding the production of energy were collected, including the meteorological data from NASA, and specifications regarding renewable resources including solar panels, wind turbines, and storage batteries. Then a hybrid model was constructed consisting of Photovoltaics (PV) panels, wind turbines, a converter, and storage batteries. Once the model was constructed, meteorological data were added alongside average daily demand and cost of electricity per kWh. The optimal solution for Zagazig consisted of 181,000 kW of solar panels feeding directly into the grid. This system had the lowest Net Present Cost (NPC) of the simulations run of US$1,361,029,000 and a net reduction of 156,355 tonnes of CO2 per year.British CouncilScience, Technology, and Innovation Funding Authority (STIFA) of Egyp

Integrated model for flood forecasting and river inundation in Taiwan

This is the author accepted manuscriptRoyal Societ

The feasibility study, exergy, and exergoeconomic analyses of a novel flare gas recovery system

This is the final version. Available from MDPI via the DOI in this record. One of the challenging issues that has always attracted the attention of the experts is how to control and reduce greenhouse gas emissions because of their overwhelming negative environmental impacts. Although burning the hazardous gaseous products in the flare systems boosts the safety of gas and oil fields and diminishes the internal pressure of the extraction systems, it has a catastrophic impact on the surrounding environment. In this study, a new system was designed to recover flare gas. In this system, ejectors and compressors are used in parallel to compress flare gas. One of the aims of this system is to minimize environmental disadvantages and prevent the waste of national capital. The described system is firstly simulated using the HYSYS software based on Peng–Robinson state equations. The efficiency and exergy destruction can be calculated through exergy analysis, which is the second step in the process. Finally, by considering investment and fuel cost to each exergy flow, exergoeconomic analysis was evaluated. From the exergy analysis results, it can be concluded that the ejectors have the highest exergy efficiency (99.87%) compared with other devices in the process, and their total exergy destruction rate is 8458.35 kW. Findings from exergoeconomic analysis suggest that the highest exergy destruction cost for flare system is associated with EJ-3 ejector which is 89.01 USD/h. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was applied to specify the dependency of the exergy and exergoeconomic results of this process on the flow rate of recovered gas and flare gas pressure as important input plant feed parameters. By this study, we aim to evaluate the feasibility of the implementation of this system in an industrial plant

Using sustainable energy technologies for desalination in the Middle East and North African (MENA) countries

This is the author accepted manuscript.This is the abstract of the paper to be presented at the Advances in Sustainable Energy and Fuels conference, 23-24 April 2020, New York, USABritish CouncilScience & Technology Development Fund (STDF), Egyp