Harnessing Wastewater for Renewable Energy (2013-2)

This case study explores the options for using wastewater to produce renewable energy in the context of a public wastewater treatment plant. It provides an opportunity for students to synthesize knowledge from resource economics, engineering, environmental science, agriculture, and public policy to develop a transdisciplinary approach to a socio-environmental issue. The case is designed for upper division undergraduate courses in resource economics or environmental engineering, but several modifications are provided graduate course applications. Students assume the role of a newly hired analyst at a consulting firm in Washington, DC, that specializes in renewable energy solutions. They are charged with proposing a system that uses wastewater to produce energy, while accounting for multiple constraints across disciplines. Students are provided with economic, political, environmental, and engineering data on four different solid waste disposal options and work in small groups to develop a proposed solution that balances these factors. They present and justify their suggested solutions in small-group presentations, and the case concludes with an instructor-led discussion of the relevant considerations

OPTIMIZATION AND EQUILIBRIUM MODELING FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY: FOCUS ON WASTEWATER-TO-ENERGY APPLICATIONS

This dissertation presents three novel optimization models for sustainable wastewater management. The Blue Plains Advance Wastewater treatment plant (AWTP) operated by the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) is used as a case study. The application to the Blue Plains AWTP is presented to illustrate the usefulness of the model and how wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), solid waste disposal plants, community management groups can actively and positively participate in energy and agricultural markets. Besides the conversion of the solid end products into biogas and electricity via digesters, WWTP can also produce Class B biosolids for land application or Class A biosolids for use as fertilizer. Chapter 1 introduces the Blue Plains case study and other important aspects of wastewater management. The first problem, discussed in Chapter 2, is a multi-objective, mixed-integer optimization model with an application to wastewater-derived energy. The decisions involve converting the amount of solid end products into biogas, and/or electricity for internal or external purposes. Three objectives; maximizing total value, minimizing energy purchased from external sources and minimizing carbon dioxide equivalent (CDE) emissions were presented via an approximation to the Pareto optimal set of solutions. The second type of problem is a stochastic multi-objective, mixed-integer optimization model with an application to wastewater-derived energy and is presented in Chapter 3. This model considers operational and investment decisions under uncertainty. We also consider investments in solar power and processing waste from outside sources for revenue and other benefits. The tradeoff decision between operational and investment costs and CDE emissions are presented. The third type of optimization model is a stochastic mathematical program with equilibrium constraints (MPEC) for sustainable wastewater management and is presented in Chapter 4. This two-level optimization problem is a stochastic model with a strategic WWTP as the upper-level player. The lower-level players represent the fertilizer, natural gas, compressed natural gas (CNG) and electricity markets. All the lower-level players are price-takers. Chapter 5 considers a comparison of the three optimization models discussed above and highlights differences. Chapter 6 provides conclusions, contributions, and potential future directions

A Design and Construction of a Wind Tunnel for Engineering Laboratories

The propose of this research is to demonstrate a design and construction of a wind tunnel for engineering laboratories in order to study the principles and control wind speeds in the wind tunnel. In an experiment in aerodynamics and engineering, we found that diffuser must have a length equal to or more than twice the length of the test in order to prevent the turbulent flow in the test area. The wind speed control system uses Inverter to control a 3-phase frequency of electricity supplied to air blower. In the experiment, the frequency was adjusted in the range from 20.00 to 50.00 Hz. Experiment results show that wind speeds during the test area are in the range of 14.50 to 38.50 meters per second, and the relationship between frequency (Y) and wind speed (X) during the test is linear as follows: Y = (0.7945 × (X-20)) + 14.629. The maximum pressure is 90.31 kilograms per square meter. This wind tunnel can be used to design buildings with a maximum height of 20 meters according to the Bangkok Metropolis Building Control (2001)

A complementarity-based equilibrium model of biodiesel market, in Thailand

This paper presents a complementarity-based model making a decision for energy production in biodiesel market. This model has three strategic players complete against each other on the biodiesel productions. All three players make up biodiesel from agricultural products and they are price-takers. The first player represents producers who produce and sell biodiesel from palm oil. The second and third players produce and sell biodiesel from coconut oil and soybean oil, respectively. The strategic player’s decisions involve quantities of palm, coconut and soybean oil related with the market price. This paper uses operation research to optimize a decision maker’s objectives within the limits of available agricultural products and also provide results for sustainable energy production

Potential biodiesel production from palm oil, coconut oil and soybean oil for Thailand

The government began subsidizing the use of B20 in large trucks on a voluntary basis beginning in 2016 and intends to implement the B10 requirement in 2018 for all diesel sales. However, policy makers in both the MOE and the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC) recently agreed that the mandatory biodiesel consumption plan for 2036 may be unattainable (given the strategy does not permit reliance on imports) and is therefore being reexamined. Despite an increase in harvested area, crude palm oil (CPO) production, the only feedstock used for biodiesel in Thailand, stagnated at 1.8-2.0 million from 2014-2016 due to unfavourable weather conditions. Thailand experiences a great economic and industrial development and is the second largest energy consumer in South East Asia. Being a net oil importer, Thai government has declared a renewable energy development programme in order to secure sustainable development and energy security. Thailand spends more than 10% of GDP for energy imports and transport sector accounts for 36% of total final energy consumption of which 50% is diesel. Diesel marks a huge impact on Thai economy

Potential biodiesel production from palm oil, coconut oil and soybean oil for Thailand

The government began subsidizing the use of B20 in large trucks on a voluntary basis beginning in 2016 and intends to implement the B10 requirement in 2018 for all diesel sales. However, policy makers in both the MOE and the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC) recently agreed that the mandatory biodiesel consumption plan for 2036 may be unattainable (given the strategy does not permit reliance on imports) and is therefore being reexamined. Despite an increase in harvested area, crude palm oil (CPO) production, the only feedstock used for biodiesel in Thailand, stagnated at 1.8-2.0 million from 2014-2016 due to unfavourable weather conditions. Thailand experiences a great economic and industrial development and is the second largest energy consumer in South East Asia. Being a net oil importer, Thai government has declared a renewable energy development programme in order to secure sustainable development and energy security. Thailand spends more than 10% of GDP for energy imports and transport sector accounts for 36% of total final energy consumption of which 50% is diesel. Diesel marks a huge impact on Thai economy

A Design and Construction of a Wind Tunnel for Engineering Laboratories

The propose of this research is to demonstrate a design and construction of a wind tunnel for engineering laboratories in order to study the principles and control wind speeds in the wind tunnel. In an experiment in aerodynamics and engineering, we found that diffuser must have a length equal to or more than twice the length of the test in order to prevent the turbulent flow in the test area. The wind speed control system uses Inverter to control a 3-phase frequency of electricity supplied to air blower. In the experiment, the frequency was adjusted in the range from 20.00 to 50.00 Hz. Experiment results show that wind speeds during the test area are in the range of 14.50 to 38.50 meters per second, and the relationship between frequency (Y) and wind speed (X) during the test is linear as follows: Y = (0.7945 × (X-20)) + 14.629. The maximum pressure is 90.31 kilograms per square meter. This wind tunnel can be used to design buildings with a maximum height of 20 meters according to the Bangkok Metropolis Building Control (2001)

A Study of Real-Time System of Water Distribution Networks: Case study of Hat Yai Waterwork Plant, Songkhla Province, Thailand

This study aims to optimize water distribution in a water supply network. One of the most important objectives for every waterwork plants is to minimize water loss in supplying system. The water supply network in Thailand is underground work and most of them have used for many years. Leakages are normally met especially when high pressure are required from demand side. This research will classify 13,580 households living around Hat Yai waterwork plant of Provincial Waterworks Authority in Hat Yai branch in Songkhla province as a demand side and put 5 water sources of Hat Yai district as a supplied side. EPANET program is used to simulate water distribution networks and SCADA application is selected to design controlling system. The result shows that water supply at the Hat Yai waterwork plant should be at least 48 meters to upper Hat Yai zone, however, booster pump may help reducing original water head to 40 meters into high-level areas. Hat Yai waterwork plant decreases energy consumption from pumping processes and also reduce water loss in water distribution system

A complementarity-based equilibrium model of biodiesel market, in Thailand

This paper presents a complementarity-based model making a decision for energy production in biodiesel market. This model has three strategic players complete against each other on the biodiesel productions. All three players make up biodiesel from agricultural products and they are price-takers. The first player represents producers who produce and sell biodiesel from palm oil. The second and third players produce and sell biodiesel from coconut oil and soybean oil, respectively. The strategic player’s decisions involve quantities of palm, coconut and soybean oil related with the market price. This paper uses operation research to optimize a decision maker’s objectives within the limits of available agricultural products and also provide results for sustainable energy production

Trial to Determine Durability and Serviceability for Swine Farm in Thailand

In agricultural construction, the most frequently used construction material is concrete. In particular swine farm, traditional concrete flooring system in the business is conventional concrete. However, the conventional concrete floor has several key issues on its surface. They are easily to be spalled and cracked, pig scour, rough areas, and low wear resistance of acid from animal feed. This research involves study in the ratio between Portland cement and supplementary materials (fly ash and silica fume) that is the most resistant to abrasion. Concrete samples were cured in water for 28 days, then submersed in lactic acid solution at 30 °C (pH 2-3). After exposure to the acid solution, every 7, 14, 28, and 56 days, the samples will be test for attrition on the face of concrete in accordance with ASTM C944 to simulate the acceleration reaction refer to animal behaviour and corrosion from acid of feed. From experiment, it was found that increasing the volume of fly ash and silica fume can increase concrete resistance to corrosion due to acid derived from feed