scholarly journals Dynamic LCA of a single-family house, equipped with a micro-cogeneration unit, using a variable share of biomethane

2021 ◽  
Vol 2042 (1) ◽  
pp. 012105
Author(s):  
Pierryves Padey ◽  
Marten Fesefeldt ◽  
Kyriaki Goulouti ◽  
Sébastien Lasvaux ◽  
Massimiliano Capezzali
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Single Family ◽  
Cell Systems ◽  
Dynamic Lca ◽  
Operational Energy ◽  
Electricity Mix ◽  
Family House

Abstract The current study presents the CO2-eq emissions of the operational energy use of a single-family house, equipped with a micro-cogeneration unit. A back-up boiler and electricity from the grid cover the remaining energy demand, not covered by the micro-CHP. Two different technologies are evaluated, i.e. ICE and fuel cell systems, operating with a variable share of biomethane, while two different substrates were considered for the biomethane generation. A dynamic LCA was applied for the electricity mix, coming from the grid, using different time steps. The results show that producing biomethane from biowaste compared to conventional natural gas is beneficial, in terms of CO2-eq emissions, independently of the micro-CHP technology, while the total CO2-eq emissions of the fuel cell technology are higher than those of the ICE, independently of the substrate and the biomethane share.

scholarly journals Stochastic energy-demand analyses with random input parameters for the single-family house

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcin Koniorczyk ◽  
Witold Grymin ◽  
Marcin Zygmunt ◽  
Dalia Bednarska ◽  
Alicja Wieczorek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monte Carlo ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Monte Carlo Method ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Stochastic Perturbation ◽  
Random Variable ◽  
Single Family ◽  
The Monte Carlo Method ◽  
Stochastic Perturbation Method ◽  
Family House

AbstractIn the analyses of the uncertainty propagation of buildings’ energy-demand, the Monte Carlo method is commonly used. In this study we present two alternative approaches: the stochastic perturbation method and the transformed random variable method. The energy-demand analysis is performed for the representative single-family house in Poland. The investigation is focused on two independent variables, considered as uncertain, the expanded polystyrene thermal conductivity and external temperature; however the generalization on any countable number of parameters is possible. Afterwards, the propagation of the uncertainty in the calculations of the energy consumption has been investigated using two aforementioned approaches. The stochastic perturbation method is used to determine the expected value and central moments of the energy consumption, while the transformed random variable method allows to obtain the explicit form of energy consumption probability density function and further characteristic parameters like quantiles of energy consumption. The calculated data evinces a high accordance with the results obtained by means of the Monte Carlo method. The most important conclusions are related to the computational cost reduction, simplicity of the application and the appropriateness of the proposed approaches for the buildings’ energy-demand calculations.

Residential Experience with Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Systems for Combined Heat and Power

2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 263-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darrell D. Massie ◽  
Daisie D. Boettner ◽  
Cheryl A. Massie
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Heat Recovery ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Waste Heat ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Fuel Cell System ◽  
Cell Systems ◽  
Exchange Membrane

As part of a one-year Department of Defense demonstration project, proton exchange membrane fuel cell systems have been installed at three residences to provide electrical power and waste heat for domestic hot water and space heating. The 5kW capacity fuel cells operate on reformed natural gas. These systems operate at preset levels providing power to the residence and to the utility grid. During grid outages, the residential power source is disconnected from the grid and the fuel cell system operates in standby mode to provide power to critical loads in the residence. This paper describes lessons learned from installation and operation of these fuel cell systems in existing residences. Issues associated with installation of a fuel cell system for combined heat and power focus primarily on fuel cell siting, plumbing external to the fuel cell unit required to support heat recovery, and line connections between the fuel cell unit and the home interior for natural gas, water, electricity, and communications. Operational considerations of the fuel cell system are linked to heat recovery system design and conditions required for adequate flow of natural gas, air, water, and system communications. Based on actual experience with these systems in a residential setting, proper system design, component installation, and sustainment of required flows are essential for the fuel cell system to provide reliable power and waste heat.

scholarly journals Influence of Atlantic Microclimates in Northern Spain on the Environmental Performance of Lightweight Concrete Single-Family Houses

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 4337
Author(s):  
Daniel González-Prieto ◽  
Yolanda Fernández-Nava ◽  
Elena Marañón ◽  
Maria Manuela Prieto
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Global Warming Potential ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Lightweight Concrete ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Single Family ◽  
Northern Spain

The use of lightweight concrete for the construction of single-family houses has become increasingly popular in Spain. In this paper, single-family houses with different shape factors and window-to-wall ratios are analysed from both a thermal and environmental perspective using Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) software to calculate the energy demand. The study has been carried out for different Atlantic microclimates (coastal, inland, and mountain) in northern Spain. What most affects the thermal energy used for air conditioning is the variation of the microclimates, so the study focuses mainly on this aspect. Operational energy for heating has decreased greatly via the use of high degree of insulation and hence the next task is to decrease the total energy consumed taking into account the embodied energy. Impacts on Primary Energy and Global Warming Potential are calculated using a cradle-to-grave approach. The energy use for heating and domestic hot water is analysed for different thicknesses of insulation under three energy supply scenarios: electricity only (for 2018 and with the Spanish decarbonisation plan for 2030); heat pump plus electricity; and natural gas boiler. Even for houses with a good level of insulation, the ratio of operational-to-total impacts varies significantly: from 46% to 87% for primary energy and from 31% to 75% for global warming potential, depending on the shape factor of the house, the microclimate and the heat supply scenario. By applying future environmental policies, electricity can become a more environmentally friendly option than natural gas.

scholarly journals Two-Stage Lifecycle Energy Optimization of Mid-Rise Residential Buildings with Building-Integrated Photovoltaic and Alternative Composite Façade Materials

Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 642
Author(s):  
Mark Kyeredey Ansah ◽  
Xi Chen ◽  
Hongxing Yang
Keyword(s):  
Energy Demand ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Building Energy ◽  
Optimal Configuration ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Multi Objective ◽  
Operational Energy ◽  
Sub Saharan

Reducing the lifecycle energy use of buildings with renewable energy applications has become critical given the urgent need to decarbonize the building sector. Multi-objective optimizations have been widely applied to reduce the operational energy use of buildings, but limited studies concern the embodied or whole lifecycle energy use. Consequently, there are issues such as sub-optimal design solutions and unclear correlation between embodied and operational energy in the current building energy assessment. To address these gaps, this study integrates a multi-objective optimization method with building energy simulation and lifecycle assessment (LCA) to explore the optimal configuration of different building envelopes from a lifecycle perspective. Major contributions of the study include the integrated optimization which reflects the dynamics of the whole lifecycle energy use. Insights from the study reveal the optimal configuration of PV and composite building façades for different regions in sub-Saharan Africa. The lifecycle energy use for the optimized building design resulted in 24.59, 33.33, and 36.93% energy savings in Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria, respectively. Additionally, PV power generation can efficiently cover over 90% of the total building energy demand. This study provides valuable insights for building designers in sub-Saharan Africa and similar areas that minimize lifecycle energy demand.

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