Analysis of Technology Improvement Opportunities for a 1.5MW Wind Turbine using a Hybrid Stochastic Approach in Life Cycle Assessment

This paper presents an analysis of potential technological advancements for a 1.5 MW wind turbine using a hybrid stochastic method to improve uncertainty estimates of embodied energy and embodied carbon. The analysis is specifically aimed at these two quantities due to the fact that LCA based design decision making is of utmost importance at the concept design stage. In the presented case studies, better results for the baseline turbine were observed compared to turbines with the proposed technological advancements. Embodied carbon and embodied energy results for the baseline turbine show that there is about 85% probability that the turbine manufacturers may have lost the chance to reduce carbon emissions, and 50% probability that they may have lost the chance to reduce the primary energy consumed during its manufacture. The paper also highlights that the adopted methodology can be used to support design decision making and hence is more feasible for LCA studies

Comparative LCA technology improvement opportunities for a 1.5 MW wind turbine in the context of an offshore wind farm

Wind energy is playing an increasingly important role in the development of cleaner and more efficient energy technologies leading to projections in reliability and performance of future wind turbine designs. This paper presents life cycle assessment (LCA) results of design variations for a 1.5 MW wind turbine due to the potential for advances in technology to improve the performance of a 1.5 MW wind turbine. Five LCAs have been conducted for design variants of a 1.5 MW wind turbine. The objective is to evaluate potential environmental impacts per kilowatt hour of electricity generated for a 114 MW onshore wind farm. Results for the baseline turbine show that higher contributions to impacts were obtained in the categories Ozone Depletion Potential, Marine Aquatic Eco-toxicity Potential, Human Toxicity Potential and Terrestrial Eco-toxicity Potential compared to Technology Improvement Opportunities (TIOs) 1 to 4. Compared to the baseline turbine, TIO 1 showed increased impact contributions to Abiotic Depletion Potential, Acidification Potential, Eutrophication Potential, Global Warming Potential and Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential, and TIO 2 showed an increase in contributions to Abiotic Depletion Potential, Acidification Potential and Global Warming Potential. Additionally, lower contributions to all the environmental categories were observed for TIO 3 while increased contributions towards Abiotic Depletion Potential and Global Warming Potential were noted for TIO 4. A comparative LCA study of wind turbine design variations for a particular power rating has not been explored in the literature. This study presents new insight into the environmental implications related with projected wind turbine design advancements

Valuing the manufacturing externalities of wind energy: assessing the environmental profit and loss of wind turbines in Northern Europe

This study draws from a concept from green accounting, lifecycle assessment, and industrial ecology known as 'environmental profit and loss” (EP&L) to determine the extent of externalities across the manufacturing lifecycle of wind energy. So far, no EP&Ls have involved energy companies and none have involved wind energy or wind turbines. We perform an EP&L for three types of wind turbines sited and built in Northern Europe (Denmark and Norway) by a major manufacturer: a 3.2 MW onshore turbine with a mixed concrete steel foundation, a 3.0 MW offshore turbine with a steel foundation, and a 3.0 MW offshore turbine with a concrete foundation. For each of these three turbine types, we identify and monetize externalities related to carbon dioxide emissions, air pollution, and waste. We find that total environmental losses range from €1.1 million for the offshore turbine with concrete foundation to €740,000 for onshore turbines and about €500,000 for an offshore turbine with steel foundation—equivalent to almost one-fifth of construction cost in some instances. We conclude that carbon dioxide emissions dominate the amount of environmental damages and that turbines need to work for 2.5 to 5.5 years to payback their carbon debts. Even though turbines are installed in Europe, China and South Korea accounted for about 80% of damages across each type of turbine. Lastly, two components, foundations and towers, account for about 90% of all damages. We conclude with six implications for wind energy analysts, suppliers, manufacturers, and planners. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Étude expérimentale et numérique des phénomènes thermomécaniques lors de la congélation de produits alimentaires. Application à des structures multicouches.

This PhD concerns the characterization of the thermal and mechanical properties for a model food : Tylose and a real food: chocolate; and a numercial simulation of the thermal and mechanical phenomena during freezing. The experimental study (static and dynamic tests) showed the influence of the ice's formation on the mechanical properties during freezing. The numerical study (finite element) was done for three cases: a layer of Tylose in Cartesian coordinates and two two-layers in Cartesian and cylindrical coordinates. Simulations show a stress, during freezing, in compression at the crystallization temperature and in tension after 90% ice formed. This complex stress can produce fractures. Futhermore, the global displacement of the sample during freezing is a new parameter for the optimization and the control of the process. Strong stresses at the interfaces can be also produce cracks at the surface of the product.Cette thèse s'articule autour de la caractérisation des propriétés thermophysiques et mécaniques d'un produit modèle : la Tylose et d'un produit alimentaire: le chocolat, ainsi qu'une modélisation du couplage thermique-mécanique en cours de congélation. L'étude expérimentale (en statique et en dynamique) a mis en évidence l'influence de la formation de glace sur la variation des propriétés mécaniques en fonction de la température. L'étude numérique a été réalisée sur une géométrie simple (plaque de Tylose) et sur deux géométries bicouches (plaque et cylindre), en éléments finis. Les simulations ont mis en évidence une contrainte parallèle au flux thermique qui engendre au sein de la structure une compression (proche de la température de cristallisation) suivi d'une tension (après l'apparition de 90% de glace). Cette contrainte complexe pourra engendrer l'apparition de fissures au sein du produit. De plus, le champ de déformation globale peut être utilisé comme un nouveau paramètre de contrôle et d'optimisation de la congélation. La présence de fortes contraintes aux interfaces peut également engendrer la création de fissures

Influences of confinement on subatmospheric water vaporization phenomena in a vertical rectangular channel

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Implementation of Adapted Black Box Models for the Performance Characterization of Commercial Sorption Chillers

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Pompe à chaleur : technologies et applications dans le résidentiel

La pompe à chaleur nécessite une bonne compréhension des composants technologiques ainsi que du besoin à satisfaire afin d’être correctement dimensionnée et ainsi optimiser sa consommation énergétique. Cet article traite du secteur résidentiel (le chauffage et/ou l’eau chaude sanitaire). Après une présentation du principe de fonctionnement, les composants technologiques sont décrits. Le dimensionnement de la pompe à chaleur est ensuite présenté en prenant en compte ou non la présence d’un appoint énergétique. Enfin, des règles d’installation sont proposées en mettant en avant les avantages et contraintes des solutions existantes