Journal Description
Energies
Energies
is a peer-reviewed, open access journal of related scientific research, technology development, engineering policy, and management studies related to the general field of energy, from technologies of energy supply, conversion, dispatch, and final use to the physical and chemical processes behind such technologies. Energies is published semimonthly online by MDPI. The European Biomass Industry Association (EUBIA), Association of European Renewable Energy Research Centres (EUREC), Institute of Energy and Fuel Processing Technology (ITPE), International Society for Porous Media (InterPore), CYTED and others are affiliated with Energies and their members receive a discount on the article processing charges.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), Ei Compendex, RePEc, Inspec, CAPlus / SciFinder, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: CiteScore - Q1 (Engineering (miscellaneous))
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 16.1 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 3.3 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
- Sections: published in 41 topical sections.
- Testimonials: See what our editors and authors say about Energies.
- Companion journals for Energies include: Fuels, Gases, Nanoenergy Advances and Solar.
Impact Factor:
3.2 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
3.3 (2022)
Latest Articles
Performance Improvement of a Limaçon Gas Expander Using an Inlet Control Valve: Two Case Studies
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2427; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102427 (registering DOI) - 18 May 2024
Abstract
Renewable energy-based compact energy-generation systems based on the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) can be employed to meet the ever-growing thirst for affordable and clean energy. The overall performance and effectiveness of ORC systems are constrained by the low efficiency of the gas expander,
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Renewable energy-based compact energy-generation systems based on the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) can be employed to meet the ever-growing thirst for affordable and clean energy. The overall performance and effectiveness of ORC systems are constrained by the low efficiency of the gas expander, specifically the positive displacement expander, which is responsible for energy conversion from the working fluid. This low-efficiency scenario can be significantly improved by employing a control valve to regulate and restrict the flow of the working fluid into the expander. A control valve can effectively curve the loss of costly compressed and energized working fluids by allowing them to expand in the expander chamber before discharging through the outlet port. They can thus be used to regulate the amount of energy yield and output power. In this work, two direct drive rotary valves (DDRVs) operated by a stepper motor (SM-DDRV) and rotary solenoid (RS-DDRV) are suggested, and the behavior of the valves is examined. The effect of friction and temperature on the valve response is also studied. Additionally, the effect of inlet control valves on the overall system performance of the limaçon expander is assessed. Thermodynamic properties such as the isentropic efficiency and filling factor are also computed. The effect of leakage due to valve response delay is analyzed at different inlet pressures. The performance indices are compared to the expander performance without any inlet valve. The SM-DDRV setup results in a 14.86% increase in isentropic efficiency and a 220% increase in the filling factor, whereas the RS-DDRV performs moderately with a 2.58% increase in isentropic efficiency and an 80% increase in the filling factor compared to a ported expander. The SM-DDRV provides better performance indices compared to the RS-DDRV and without valve setups. However, the performance of the limaçon expander with the SM-DDRV is sensitive to the inlet pressure and degrades at higher pressure. Overall, the valves proposed in this work present key insights into improving the performance characteristics of gas expanders of ORC systems.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section J: Thermal Management)
Open AccessArticle
An Efficient Shunt Modulated AC Green Plug–Switched Filter Compensation Scheme for Nonlinear Loads
by
Albe M. Bloul, Mohamad Abuhamdah, Adel M. Sharaf, Hamed H. Aly and Jason Gu
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2426; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102426 (registering DOI) - 18 May 2024
Abstract
Nonlinear loads, crucial components of power system grids, pose a challenge due to harmonics injection. This work tackles this issue with a novel modified green plug–switched filter compensation scheme using fuzzy logic controllers. This innovative scheme presented in this paper utilizes dual action
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Nonlinear loads, crucial components of power system grids, pose a challenge due to harmonics injection. This work tackles this issue with a novel modified green plug–switched filter compensation scheme using fuzzy logic controllers. This innovative scheme presented in this paper utilizes dual action pulse width modulation to ensure switching functions from harmonics reduction and capacitive compensation for inrush nonlinear-type AC loads. The scheme’s multi-loop regulations and online switching effectively handle dynamic-type slow-acting inrush, motorized- and other rectifier-type nonlinear loads, enhancing the power factor, power quality at source and load buses, and reducing the total harmonics distortion at the key source and sensitive nonlinear load buses. A simulation model in the MATLAB/SIMULINK-2023b software environment demonstrates the efficiency of the proposed FACTS technique. The modulated dual mode switched filter-capacitive compensation scheme controlled by a fuzzy logic controller ensures less harmonics distortion and improved voltage stabilization. The results show that voltage, current, active power, reactive power, power factor regulation, and effective energy utilization are achievable with the designed Flexible AC Transmission System-Modulated Filter Capacitor Compensation–Switched Filter Compensator (FACTS-MFCC-SFC). The switched modulated AC green plug filter significantly improves power quality and enhances power factor in cases of inrush and nonlinear loads.
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(This article belongs to the Section A: Sustainable Energy)
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A Comprehensive Review of Existing and Pending University Campus Microgrids
by
Edrees Yahya Alhawsawi, Khaled Salhein and Mohamed A. Zohdy
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2425; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102425 (registering DOI) - 18 May 2024
Abstract
Over the past few decades, many universities have turned to using microgrid systems because of their dependability, security, flexibility, and less reliance on the primary grid. Microgrids on campuses face challenges in the instability of power production due to meteorological conditions, as the
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Over the past few decades, many universities have turned to using microgrid systems because of their dependability, security, flexibility, and less reliance on the primary grid. Microgrids on campuses face challenges in the instability of power production due to meteorological conditions, as the output of renewable sources such as solar and wind power relies entirely on the weather and determining the optimal size of microgrids. Therefore, this paper comprehensively reviews the university campuses’ microgrids. Some renewable energy sources, such as geothermal (GE), wind turbine (WT), and photovoltaic (PV), are compared in terms of installation costs, availability, weather conditions, efficiency, environmental impact, and maintenance. Furthermore, a description of microgrid systems and their components, including distributed generation (DG), energy storage system (ESS), and microgrid load, is presented. As a result, the most common optimization models for analyzing the performance of campus microgrids are discussed. Hybrid microgrid system configurations are introduced and compared to find the optimal configuration in terms of energy production and flexibility. Therefore, configuration A (Hybrid PV- grid-connected) is the most common configuration compared to the others due to its simplicity and free-charge operation.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section A1: Smart Grids and Microgrids)
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Open AccessArticle
Feature Selection by Binary Differential Evolution for Predicting the Energy Production of a Wind Plant
by
Sameer Al-Dahidi, Piero Baraldi, Miriam Fresc, Enrico Zio and Lorenzo Montelatici
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2424; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102424 (registering DOI) - 18 May 2024
Abstract
We propose a method for selecting the optimal set of weather features for wind energy prediction. This problem is tackled by developing a wrapper approach that employs binary differential evolution to search for the best feature subset, and an ensemble of artificial neural
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We propose a method for selecting the optimal set of weather features for wind energy prediction. This problem is tackled by developing a wrapper approach that employs binary differential evolution to search for the best feature subset, and an ensemble of artificial neural networks to predict the energy production from a wind plant. The main novelties of the approach are the use of features provided by different weather forecast providers and the use of an ensemble composed of a reduced number of models for the wrapper search. Its effectiveness is verified using weather and energy production data collected from a 34 MW real wind plant. The model is built using the selected optimal subset of weather features and allows for (i) a 1% reduction in the mean absolute error compared with a model that considers all available features and a 4.4% reduction compared with the model currently employed by the plant owners, and (ii) a reduction in the number of selected features by 85% and 50%, respectively. Reducing the number of features boosts the prediction accuracy. The implication of this finding is significant as it allows plant owners to create profitable offers in the energy market and efficiently manage their power unit commitment, maintenance scheduling, and energy storage optimization.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Machine Learning Approaches to Power System Flexibility, Stability and Control for Renewable Energy Penetration)
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Open AccessArticle
Analysis of Ferroresonance Mitigation Effectiveness in Auxiliary Power Systems of High-Voltage Substations
by
Rafał Tarko, Wiesław Nowak, Jakub Gajdzica and Stanislaw Czapp
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2423; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102423 (registering DOI) - 18 May 2024
Abstract
Ferroresonance in power networks is a dangerous phenomenon, which may result in overcurrents and overvoltages, causing damage to power equipment and the faulty operation of protection systems. For this reason, the possibility of the occurrence of ferroresonance has to be identified, and adequate
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Ferroresonance in power networks is a dangerous phenomenon, which may result in overcurrents and overvoltages, causing damage to power equipment and the faulty operation of protection systems. For this reason, the possibility of the occurrence of ferroresonance has to be identified, and adequate methods need to be incorporated to eliminate or reduce its effects. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of ferroresonance damping in auxiliary power systems of high-voltage substations by selected damping devices. Laboratory experiments, the results of which created bases for the development of models of selected damping devices, are presented. These models were used to simulate the effectiveness of ferroresonance damping in an auxiliary power system of a 220/110 kV substation in the EMTP-ATP program. The analyses showed that control systems with different algorithms of operation are used in damping devices. This knowledge is important when selecting parameters and settings of the applied damping devices for a given network and the disturbances in it. The presented research results have proved the effectiveness of commercially available damping devices, provided their parameters are correctly coordinated with the settings of the power system protection.
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(This article belongs to the Section F1: Electrical Power System)
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The Resilience of Electrical Support in UAV Swarms in Special Missions
by
Igor Kabashkin
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2422; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102422 (registering DOI) - 18 May 2024
Abstract
Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarms serve as a dynamic platform for diverse missions, including communication relays, search and rescue operations, and environmental monitoring. The success of these operations crucially depends on the resilience of their electrical support systems, especially in terms of battery
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Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarms serve as a dynamic platform for diverse missions, including communication relays, search and rescue operations, and environmental monitoring. The success of these operations crucially depends on the resilience of their electrical support systems, especially in terms of battery management. This paper examines the reliability of electrical support for UAV swarms engaged in missions that require prioritization into high and low categories. The paper proposes a dynamic resource allocation strategy that permits the flexible reassignment of drones across different-priority tasks, ensuring continuous operation while optimizing resource use. By leveraging the Markov chain theory, an analytical model for the evaluation of the resilience of the battery management system under different operational scenarios was developed. The paper quantitatively assesses the impact of different operational strategies and battery management approaches on the overall system resilience and mission efficacy. This approach aims to ensure uninterrupted service delivery for critical tasks while optimizing the overall utilization of available electrical resources. Through modeling and analytical evaluations, the paper quantifies the impact of various parameters and operating strategies on overall system resilience and mission availability, considering the utilization strategies of batteries and their reliability and maintenance metrics. The developed models and strategies can inform the development of robust battery management protocols, resource allocation algorithms, and mission planning frameworks, ultimately enhancing the operational availability and effectiveness of UAV swarms in critical special missions.
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(This article belongs to the Section F: Electrical Engineering)
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Evaluation of the Activity of a Municipal Waste Landfill Site in the Operational and Non-Operational Sectors Based on Landfill Gas Productivity
by
Grzegorz Przydatek, Agnieszka Generowicz and Włodzimierz Kanownik
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2421; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102421 (registering DOI) - 18 May 2024
Abstract
This research identifies the productivity of landfill gas actively captured at a municipal waste landfill site with a waste mass exceeding 1 million Mg from sectors in the operational and non-operational phases, considering meteorological conditions. Based on the analysis of landfill gas, including
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This research identifies the productivity of landfill gas actively captured at a municipal waste landfill site with a waste mass exceeding 1 million Mg from sectors in the operational and non-operational phases, considering meteorological conditions. Based on the analysis of landfill gas, including emissions and composition (CH4, CO2, O2, and other gases), the processes occurring demonstrate the impact of the decomposition of deposited waste on the activity of the deposit. With average monthly gas emissions exceeding 960,000 m3, the average content of CH4 (30–63%) and CO2 (18–42%) and the varied content of O2 (0.3–9.8%) in individual sectors of the landfill site were significant. The statistically significant relationship between CH4, CO2, and landfill gas emissions exhibited a noticeable decrease in methane content. Despite the abandonment of waste storage, a high correlation is present between the emission level and methane content (0.59) and carbon dioxide (0.50). In the operational part of the landfill, this relationship is also statistically significant but to a lesser extent; Spearman’s R-value was 0.42 for methane and 0.36 for carbon dioxide. The operational and post-operational phases of the municipal waste landfill demonstrated a noticeable impact from the amount of precipitation, relative humidity, and air temperature, on landfill gas productivity. The generally progressive decline in the activity of the waste deposit, which reflects a decreasing trend in the methane content of approximately 2% annually in the total composition of landfill gas, as well as the share below 50%, indicates the need only to utilise landfill without producing energy.
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(This article belongs to the Section A4: Bio-Energy)
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Open AccessArticle
Passive Shunted Piezoelectric Systems for Vibration Control of Wind Turbine Towers: A Feasibility Study
by
Maria-Styliani Daraki, Konstantinos Marakakis, Panagiotis Alevras, Georgia A. Foutsitzi and Georgios E. Stavroulakis
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2420; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102420 - 17 May 2024
Abstract
Many countries have a variety of offshore and onshore wind turbines that face extreme aging challenges. Issues with harmful vibrations that must be minimized are addressed in this paper. A new method of wind turbine tower vibration control using piezoelectricity and shunt circuits
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Many countries have a variety of offshore and onshore wind turbines that face extreme aging challenges. Issues with harmful vibrations that must be minimized are addressed in this paper. A new method of wind turbine tower vibration control using piezoelectricity and shunt circuits is proposed in this paper. The passive vibration control method is shown to improve the tower’s structural performance under various environmental loads, like wind and seismic excitations. To examine the effectiveness of the suggested shunted piezoelectric system, a simple surrogate finite element model of a wind turbine tower is considered, and various investigations at the second eigenfrequency are carried out. An alternative way of modeling the studied structure is considered and the results demonstrate better performance. The advantages of setting up structural damping systems for decreasing tower vibrational loads and boosting their structural stability and resilience against extreme events are highlighted throughout this work.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy Artificial Islands)
Open AccessArticle
A Stochastic Decision-Making Tool Suite for Distributed Energy Resources Integration in Energy Markets
by
Sergio Cantillo-Luna, Ricardo Moreno-Chuquen, David Celeita and George J. Anders
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2419; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102419 - 17 May 2024
Abstract
Energy markets are crucial for integrating Distributed Energy Resources (DER) into modern power grids. However, this integration presents challenges due to the inherent variability and decentralized nature of DERs, as well as poorly adapted regulatory environments. This paper proposes a medium-term decision-making approach
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Energy markets are crucial for integrating Distributed Energy Resources (DER) into modern power grids. However, this integration presents challenges due to the inherent variability and decentralized nature of DERs, as well as poorly adapted regulatory environments. This paper proposes a medium-term decision-making approach based on a comprehensive suite of computational tools for integrating DERs into Colombian energy markets. The proposed framework consists of modular tools that are aligned with the operation of a Commercial Virtual Power Plant (CVPP). The tools aim to optimize participation in bilateral contracts and short-term energy markets. They use forecasting, uncertainty management, and decision-making modules to create an optimal portfolio of DER assets. The suite’s effectiveness and applicability are demonstrated and analyzed through its implementation with heterogeneous DER assets across various operational scenarios.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section C: Energy Economics and Policy)
Open AccessArticle
Lithium-Ion Batteries (LIBs) Immersed in Fire Prevention Material for Fire Safety and Heat Management
by
Junho Bae, Yunseok Choi and Youngsik Kim
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2418; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102418 - 17 May 2024
Abstract
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have emerged as the most commercialized rechargeable battery technology. However, their inherent property, called thermal runaway, poses a high risk of fire. This article introduces the “Battery Immersed in Fire Prevention Material (BIF)”, the immersion-type battery in which all of
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Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have emerged as the most commercialized rechargeable battery technology. However, their inherent property, called thermal runaway, poses a high risk of fire. This article introduces the “Battery Immersed in Fire Prevention Material (BIF)”, the immersion-type battery in which all of the LIB cells are surrounded by a liquid agent. This structure and the agent enable active battery fire suppression under abusive conditions while facilitating improved thermal management during normal operation. Abuse tests involving a battery revealed that the LIB module experienced fire, explosions, and burnouts with the target cell reaching temperatures of 1405 °C and the side reaching 796 °C. Conversely, the BIF module exhibited a complete lack of fire propagation, with temperatures lower than those of LIBs, particularly 285 and 17 °C, respectively. Under normal operating conditions, the BIF module exhibited an average temperature rise ~8.6 times lower than that of a normal LIB. Furthermore, it reduced the uneven thermal deviation between the cells by ~5.3 times more than LIB. This study provides a detailed exploration of the BIF and covers everything from components to practical applications. With further improvements, this technology can significantly enhance fire safety and prevent the thermal degradation of batteries in the real world.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Battery Energy Storage Systems)
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An Overview of the Thermochemical Valorization of Sewage Sludge: Principles and Current Challenges
by
Bruna Rijo, Catarina Nobre, Paulo Brito and Paulo Ferreira
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2417; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102417 - 17 May 2024
Abstract
With the increase in the world population and economic activity, the production of sewage sludge has grown, and its management has become an environmental problem. The most traditional method of managing sewage sludge is to dispose of it in landfills and on farmland.
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With the increase in the world population and economic activity, the production of sewage sludge has grown, and its management has become an environmental problem. The most traditional method of managing sewage sludge is to dispose of it in landfills and on farmland. One way to valorize sewage sludge is to use thermochemical conversion processes to produce added-value products such as biochar, biofuels, and renewable gases. However, due to the high moisture content, thermochemical conversion using processes such as pyrolysis and traditional gasification involves multiple pre-treatment processes such as material drying. Hydrothermal thermochemical processes usually require high pressures, which pose many challenges to their application on a large scale. In this work, the advantages and disadvantages of the different existing thermochemical processes for the recovery of sewage sludge were analyzed, as well as the resulting industrial and environmental challenges. A SWOT analysis was carried out to assess the different thermochemical processes in terms of technical feasibility, economic viability, and broader market considerations.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Technologies for Decarbonising the Energy Sector)
Open AccessArticle
Numerical Investigation of Rotor and Stator Matching Mode on the Complex Flow Field and Pressure Pulsation of a Vaned Centrifugal Pump
by
Leilei Du, Fankun Zheng, Bo Gao, Mona Gad, Delin Li and Ning Zhang
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2416; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102416 - 17 May 2024
Abstract
The match of rotor and stator blades significantly affects the flow field structure and flow-induced pressure pulsation characteristics inside the pump. In order to study the effects of the rotor and stator matching mode on the complex flow field and pressure pulsation of
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The match of rotor and stator blades significantly affects the flow field structure and flow-induced pressure pulsation characteristics inside the pump. In order to study the effects of the rotor and stator matching mode on the complex flow field and pressure pulsation of a centrifugal pump with a vaned diffuser, this paper designs three different vaned diffusers (DY5, DY8 and DY9) and uses the DDES (Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation) numerical method combined with structured grids to simulate the unsteady flow phenomena of the model pump under rated conditions. The results show that, under different rotor and stator matching modes, the pressure pulsation spectrum is dominated by the blade passing frequency and its harmonics. The matching mode of the rotor and stator significantly affects the time–frequency domain characteristics of the pressure pulsation inside the pump, and it is observed that the pressure pulsation energy of vaned diffusers with more blades is significantly smaller than that of fewer-blade vaned diffusers in comparison to the energy of the pressure pulsation at the blade passing frequency and within the 10–1500 Hz frequency band. Combined with the distribution characteristics of the complex flow field inside the pump, it can be found that increasing the number of vaned diffuser blades can reduce the energy of flow-induced pressure pulsation, improve the distribution of high-energy vortices in the interaction zone and stabilize the flow inside the centrifugal pump effectively.
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(This article belongs to the Section F: Electrical Engineering)
Open AccessArticle
Nanofluidic Study of Multiscale Phase Transitions and Wax Precipitation in Shale Oil Reservoirs
by
Zhiyong Lu, Yunqiang Wan, Lilong Xu, Dongliang Fang, Hua Wu and Junjie Zhong
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2415; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102415 - 17 May 2024
Abstract
During hydraulic fracturing of waxy shale oil reservoirs, the presence of fracturing fluid can influence the phase behavior of the fluid within the reservoir, and heat exchange between the fluids causes wax precipitation that impacts reservoir development. To investigate multiscale fluid phase transition
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During hydraulic fracturing of waxy shale oil reservoirs, the presence of fracturing fluid can influence the phase behavior of the fluid within the reservoir, and heat exchange between the fluids causes wax precipitation that impacts reservoir development. To investigate multiscale fluid phase transition and microscale flow impacted by fracturing fluid injection, this study conducted no-water phase behavior experiments, water injection wax precipitation experiments, and water-condition phase behavior experiments using a nanofluidic chip model. The results show that in the no-water phase experiment, the gasification occurred first in the large cracks, while the matrix throat was the last, and the bubble point pressure difference between the two was 12.1 MPa. The wax precipitation phenomena during fracturing fluid injection can be divided into granular wax in cracks, flake wax in cracks, and wax precipitation in the matrix throat, and the wax mainly accumulated in the microcracks and remained in the form of particles. Compared with the no-water conditions, the large cracks and matrix throat bubble point in the water conditions decreased by 6.1 MPa and 3.5 MPa, respectively, and the presence of the water phase reduced the material occupancy ratio at each pore scale. For the smallest matrix throat, the final gas occupancy ratio under the water conditions decreased from 32% to 24% in the experiment without water. This study provides valuable insight into reservoir fracture modification and guidance for the efficient development of similar reservoirs.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section H: Geo-Energy)
Open AccessArticle
Large-Eddy vs. Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes Simulations of Flow and Heat Transfer in a U-Duct with Unsteady Flow Separation
by
Kenny S. Hu and Tom I-P. Shih
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2414; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102414 - 17 May 2024
Abstract
Large-eddy simulation (LES) and Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations were used to study incompressible flow and heat transfer in a U-duct with a high-aspect-ratio trapezoidal cross section. For the LES, the WALE subgrid-scale model was employed, and its inflow boundary condition was provided by
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Large-eddy simulation (LES) and Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations were used to study incompressible flow and heat transfer in a U-duct with a high-aspect-ratio trapezoidal cross section. For the LES, the WALE subgrid-scale model was employed, and its inflow boundary condition was provided by a concurrent LES of incompressible fully-developed flow in a straight duct with the same cross section and flow conditions as the U-duct. LES results are presented for turbulent kinetic energy, Reynolds stresses, pressure–strain rate, turbulent diffusion, turbulent transport, and velocity–temperature correlations, with a focus on how they are affected by the U-turn region of the U-duct. The LES results were also used to assess three commonly used RANS models: the realizable k-ε with the two-layer model in the near-wall region, the two-equation shear-stress transport model, and the seven-equation stress-omega Reynolds stress model. Results obtained show steady and unsteady RANS to incorrectly predict the effects of unsteady flow separation. The results obtained also identified the terms in the RANS models that need to be modified and suggested how turbulent diffusion should be modeled when there is unsteady flow separation.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue High-Performance Numerical Simulation in Heat Transfer)
Open AccessArticle
Enhancing a Deep Learning Model for the Steam Reforming Process Using Data Augmentation Techniques
by
Zofia Pizoń, Shinji Kimijima and Grzegorz Brus
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2413; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102413 - 17 May 2024
Abstract
Methane steam reforming is the foremost method for hydrogen production, and it has been studied through experiments and diverse computational models to enhance its energy efficiency. This study focuses on employing an artificial neural network as a model of the methane steam reforming
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Methane steam reforming is the foremost method for hydrogen production, and it has been studied through experiments and diverse computational models to enhance its energy efficiency. This study focuses on employing an artificial neural network as a model of the methane steam reforming process. The proposed data-driven model predicts the output mixture’s composition based on reactor operating conditions, such as the temperature, steam-to-methane ratio, nitrogen-to-methane ratio, methane flow, and nickel catalyst mass. The network, a feedforward type, underwent training with a comprehensive dataset augmentation strategy that augments the primary experimental dataset through interpolation and theoretical simulations of the process, ensuring a robust model training phase. Additionally, it introduces weights to evaluate the relative significance of different data categories (experimental, interpolated, and theoretical) within the dataset. The optimal artificial neural network architecture was determined by evaluating various configurations, with the aim of minimizing the mean squared error (0.00022) and maximizing the Pearson correlation coefficient (0.97) and Spearman correlation coefficient (1.00).
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogen-Based Energy Systems for Sustainable Transportation)
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Open AccessArticle
Hierarchically Distributed Charge Control of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles in a Future Smart Grid
by
Hanyun Zhou, Wei Li and Jiekai Shi
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2412; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102412 - 17 May 2024
Abstract
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are becoming increasingly widespread due to their environmental benefits. However, PHEV penetration can overload distribution systems and increase operational costs. It is a major challenge to find an economically optimal solution under the condition of flattening load demand
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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are becoming increasingly widespread due to their environmental benefits. However, PHEV penetration can overload distribution systems and increase operational costs. It is a major challenge to find an economically optimal solution under the condition of flattening load demand for systems. To this end, we formulate this problem as a two-layer optimization problem, and propose a hierarchical algorithm to solve it. For the upper layer, we flatten the load demand curve by using the water-filling principle. For the lower layer, we minimize the total cost for all consumers through a consensus-like iterative method in a distributed manner. Technical constraints caused by consumer demand and power limitations are both taken into account. In addition, a moving horizon approach is used to handle the random arrival of PHEVs and the inaccuracy of the forecast base demand. This paper focuses on distributed solutions under a time-varying switching topology so that all PHEV chargers conduct local computation and merely communicate with their neighbors, which is substantially different from the existing works. The advantages of our algorithm include a reduction in computational burden and high adaptability, which clearly has its own significance for the future smart grid. Finally, we demonstrate the advantages of the proposed algorithm in both theory and simulation.
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(This article belongs to the Section A1: Smart Grids and Microgrids)
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Open AccessArticle
National Environmental Taxes and Industrial Waste in Countries across Europe
by
Eirini Stergiou, Nikos Rigas, Giancarlo Ferrara, Eleni Mantzari and Konstantinos Kounetas
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2411; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102411 - 17 May 2024
Abstract
The use of economic instruments within environmental policy has become a challenging topic for policymakers, governments and scholars. Environmental taxes have emerged as a prevailing preference in developed countries to promote sustainability. Recently, a particular focus has been given to waste generation and
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The use of economic instruments within environmental policy has become a challenging topic for policymakers, governments and scholars. Environmental taxes have emerged as a prevailing preference in developed countries to promote sustainability. Recently, a particular focus has been given to waste generation and disposal, shifting the attention from greenhouse gases to another important source of environmental pollution. This paper investigates the effect of national environmental taxes and policies on industrial waste. A fixed effects model is used for 34 countries across Europe from 2004 to 2022. The results suggest that environmental taxes and energy policies reduce industrial (hazardous and non-hazardous) waste. However, environmental tax reforms should take into consideration the deterioration in environmental quality, the increase in economic costs and undesirable social consequences.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy Economics and Prospects Research)
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Improved Design and Economic Estimation of Cold-End Systems for Inland Nuclear Power Plants
by
Wenjie Zhang, Yushan Li, Peiqi Liu and Huimin Wei
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2410; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102410 - 17 May 2024
Abstract
Reserve sites for coastal nuclear power plants are gradually being depleted, prompting a shift towards the development of inland nuclear power stations. A new cooling system based on the integration of multiple cooling sources using a hybrid dry–wet cycle is proposed to achieve
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Reserve sites for coastal nuclear power plants are gradually being depleted, prompting a shift towards the development of inland nuclear power stations. A new cooling system based on the integration of multiple cooling sources using a hybrid dry–wet cycle is proposed to achieve a balance between energy and water consumption for inland nuclear power stations. Comparative studies among all the available cooling systems were further conducted to analyze the cooling performance and economic viability. The case study results indicate that, in comparison to relative humidity, the cooling performance and circulating water consumption of cooling systems are more susceptible to changes in dry-bulb temperature. In arid and water-scarce regions, a Combined Natural Draft Hybrid Cooling System generally exhibits a monthly average circulating water consumption rate that is more than 270 kg/s lower than that of the natural draft wet cooling system, with an average monthly back pressure reduction of 0.11 kPa. When the dry-bulb temperature exceeds 13 °C, the net profit of wet cooling surpasses that of hybrid cooling. However, this scenario undergoes a reversal as the dry-bulb temperature decreases and local water prices rise. It is emphasized that hybrid cooling demonstrates minimal impact when subjected to changes in environmental conditions, offering extensive regional applicability.
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(This article belongs to the Section B4: Nuclear Energy)
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Open AccessArticle
Research on Quantitative Diagnosis of Dendrites Based on Titration Gas Chromatography Technology
by
Kai Yang, Hongchang Cai, Suran Li, Yu Wang, Xue Zhang, Zhenxuan Wu, Yilin Lai, Minella Bezha, Klara Bezha, Naoto Nagaoka, Yuejiu Zheng and Xuning Feng
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2409; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102409 - 17 May 2024
Abstract
Lithium plating can cause capacity fade and thermal runaway safety issues in lithium-ion batteries. Therefore, accurately detecting the amount of lithium plating on the surface of the battery’s negative electrode is crucial for battery safety. This is especially crucial in high-energy-density applications such
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Lithium plating can cause capacity fade and thermal runaway safety issues in lithium-ion batteries. Therefore, accurately detecting the amount of lithium plating on the surface of the battery’s negative electrode is crucial for battery safety. This is especially crucial in high-energy-density applications such as battery energy storage systems or in electric vehicles (EVs). Early detection of lithium plating is crucial for evaluation of reliability and longevity. It also serves as a method for early diagnostics in practical industrial applications or infrastructure, such as EV transportation. This can enhance its impact on customers. This study validates the effectiveness of titration gas chromatography (TGC) technology in quantitatively detecting lithium plating on graphite negative electrodes in lithium-ion batteries. The results show that it can detect a minimum of 2.4 μmol of metallic lithium. Compared with the heating direct current resistance and reference electrode methods, which can be used to perform only qualitative dendrite detection, TGC has a wider range of detection. Compared with the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method with higher quantitative detection accuracy, the maximum difference between the detection results of the two methods was only 7.2%, but the TGC method had lower cost and higher implementation convenience. In summary, among various dendrite detection methods, the TGC method can not only realize the effective quantitative detection of lithium plating, but also comprehensively consider its detection range, implementation convenience, cost, and detection accuracy, indicating that it is suitable for engineering applications and has the prospect of realizing large-scale quantitative detection of lithium plating in lithium-ion batteries.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Battery Technologies for Electric Vehicles)
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Infrastructure Diagnosed by Solar Power Supply in an Intelligent Diagnostic System in Five-Valued Logic
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Stanisław Duer, Marek Woźniak, Jacek Paś, Marek Stawowy, Krzysztof Rokosz, Dariusz Bernatowicz, Radosław Duer and Atif Iqbal
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2408; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102408 - 17 May 2024
Abstract
This article discusses the issue of diagnosing low-power solar power plants using the five-valued (5VL) state evaluation {4, 3, 2, 1, 0}. We address in depth how the 5VL diagnostics built upon 2VL, 3VL, and 4VL—two-valued diagnostics, three-valued logistics, and four-valued diagnostics. Logic
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This article discusses the issue of diagnosing low-power solar power plants using the five-valued (5VL) state evaluation {4, 3, 2, 1, 0}. We address in depth how the 5VL diagnostics built upon 2VL, 3VL, and 4VL—two-valued diagnostics, three-valued logistics, and four-valued diagnostics. Logic (5VL) assigns five state values to the range of signal value changes, and these states are completely operational ({4}), incomplete ({3}), critical efficiency ({2}), and pre-fault efficiency ({1}). For the identical ranges of diagnostic signal values, all three of the applied state valence logics interpret failure as changes outside of their permitted ranges. Diagnostic procedures made use of an AI-based DIAG 2 system. This article’s goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of the DIAG 2 intelligent diagnostic system, including its architecture, algorithm, and inference rules. Diagnosis with the DIAG 2 system is based on a well-established technique for comparing diagnostic signal vectors with reference signal vectors. A differential vector metric is born out of this examination of vectors. The input cells of the neural network implement the challenge of signal analysis and comparison. It is then possible to classify the object components’ states in the neural network’s output cells. Based on the condition of the object’s constituent parts, this approach can signal whether those parts are working, broken, or urgently require replacement.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intelligent Systems Supporting the Use of Energy Device and Other Complex Technical Objects, 2nd Edition)
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