Enhancing Engine Operations in Off-Grid Renewable Energy Applications Through the Additional Use of Hydrogen

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Curtis Robbins ◽  
Roger Jacobson ◽  
Rick Purcell ◽  
Kirk Collier ◽  
Ralph Wagner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Power System ◽  
Hydrogen Storage ◽  
Internal Combustion Engine ◽  
Hydrogen Generation ◽  
Combustion Engine ◽  
Current System ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Internal Combustion ◽  
Integrated System

The current renewable energy transformation taking place around the world has led to drastic advances in technology that relates to the issue of climate change. Although many solutions have been found and/or created, there has yet to be one that can, on its own, solve the problem of finding an environmentally friendly energy source. This leads to the challenge of creating an integrated system which relies on several components with different types of energy. It has been the goal of this study to further enhance an off-grid renewable energy power system to supply economical, secure, and continuous electrical power, in an environmentally conscious way, for various types of loads. The previous power system consisted of a mobile unit with inverters, batteries, hydrogen generator, hydrogen storage, propane storage and an internal combustion engine generator that was connected to photovoltaics and wind turbines while being controlled and monitored by a single computer unit. The only pollutants emitted from this power system were the result of the use of propane as a backup fuel, when renewable energy was insufficient. Even though propane is a fossil fuel, its use in this study allowed the system to be simpler and more cost effective. With the assistance of Southwest Gas Corporation, a more efficient and reliable internal combustion engine was acquired. The three cylinder engine, with a 10,000 hour maintenance interval, was converted from natural gas to combust either hydrogen or propane. The engine provides mechanical power to a belt driven alternator supplying electricity to the load and other components of the system. Initial testing of the engine achieved engine dynamometer efficiency of over 40% using propane at wide open throttle and 45% using hydrogen at wide open throttle. The output under these conditions was roughly 20 HP using propane and 10 HP using hydrogen. The current system is not mobile but has the potential to be mobile by using an existing KOH electrolyzer for hydrogen generation with a larger output and hydrogen storage capacity.

scholarly journals Dynamic Simulation and Control of a New Parallel Hybrid Power System

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (16) ◽  
pp. 5467
Author(s):  
Po-Tuan Chen ◽  
Cheng-Jung Yang ◽  
Kuohsiu David Huang
Keyword(s):  
Fuzzy Logic ◽  
Power System ◽  
Internal Combustion Engine ◽  
Dynamic Simulation ◽  
Electric Motor ◽  
Fuzzy Logic Controller ◽  
Simulation Analysis ◽  
Combustion Engine ◽  
Internal Combustion ◽  
Power Sources

To avoid unnecessary power loss during switching between the various power sources of a composite electric vehicle while achieving smooth operation, this study focuses on the development and dynamic simulation analysis of a control system for the power of a parallel composite vehicle. This system includes a power integration and distribution mechanism, which enables the two power sources of the internal combustion engine and electric motor to operate independently or in coordination to meet the different power-output requirements. The integration of the electric motor and battery-charging engine reduces the system complexity. To verify the working efficiency of the energy control strategy for the power system, the NEDC2000 cycle is used for the vehicle driving test, a fuzzy logic controller is established using Matlab/Simulink, and the speed and torque analysis of the components related to power system performance are conducted. Through a dynamic simulation, it is revealed that this fuzzy logic controller can adjust the two power sources (the motor and internal combustion engine) appropriately. The internal combustion engine can be maintained in the optimal operating region with low, medium, and high driving speeds.

Integrated Anaerobic Digester and Fuel Cell Power Generation System for Community Use

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Falkenstein-Smith ◽  
Kang Wang ◽  
Ryan Milcarek ◽  
Jeongmin Ahn
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
Power System ◽  
Internal Combustion Engine ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Combustion Engine ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
New York State ◽  
Internal Combustion ◽  
Optimal Performance

New York State is expected to experience future population growth that is increasingly concentrated in urban areas, where there is already a heavy burden on the existing energy, water and waste management infrastructure. To meet aggressive environmental standards (such as that established by the State’s “80x50” goal), future electrical power capacity must produce substantially fewer greenhouse gas emissions than currently generated by coal- or natural gas-fired power plants. Currently, biogas is combusted to produce heat and electricity via an internal combustion engine generator set. A conventional internal combustion engine generator set is 22–45 % efficient in converting methane to electricity, thus wasting 65–78 % of the biogas energy content unless the lower temperature heat can be recovered. Fuel cells, on the other hand, are 40–60 % efficient in converting methane to electrical energy, and 80–90 % efficient for cogeneration if heat (> 400 °C) is recovered and utilized for heating and cooling in the community power system. This current research studies the feasibility of a community biomass-to-electricity power system which offers significant environmental, economic and resilience improvements over centrally-generated energy, with the additional benefit of reducing or eliminating disposal costs associated with landfills and publicly-owned treatment works (POTWs). Flame Fuel Cell (FFC) performance was investigated while modifying biogas content and fuel flow rate. A maximum power density peak at 748 mWcm-2 and an OCV of 0.856 V was achieved. It should be noted that the performance obtained with the model biofuel is comparable to the performances of direct methane fueled DC-SOFC and SC-SOFC. The common trends also concluded an acceptable range for optimal performance. Although the methane to CO2 ratios of 3:7 and 2:8 produced power, they are not the strongest ratios to have optimal performance, meaning that operation should stay between the 6:4/4:6 ratio range. Lastly, the amount of air added to the biogas mixture is crucial to achieving the optimal performance of the cell. The data obtained confirmed the feasibility of a biofuel driven fuel cell CHP device capable of achieving higher efficiency than existing technologies. The significant power output produced from the sustainable biogas composition is competitive with current hydrocarbon fuel sources. This idea can be expanded for a community waste management infrastructure.

scholarly journals Comparison of the Overall Energy Efficiency for Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles and Electric Vehicles

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 669-680
Author(s):  
Aiman Albatayneh ◽  
Mohammad N. Assaf ◽  
Dariusz Alterman ◽  
Mustafa Jaradat
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Internal Combustion Engine ◽  
Electric Vehicles ◽  
Combustion Engine ◽  
Internal Combustion ◽  
Basic Question ◽  
Electric Cars

Abstract The tremendous growth in the transportation sector as a result of changes in our ways of transport and a rise in the level of prosperity was reflected directly by the intensification of energy needs. Thus, electric vehicles (EV) have been produced to minimise the energy consumption of conventional vehicles. Although the EV motor is more efficient than the internal combustion engine, the well to wheel (WTW) efficiency should be investigated in terms of determining the overall energy efficiency. In simple words, this study will try to answer the basic question – is the electric car really energy efficient compared with ICE-powered vehicles? This study investigates the WTW efficiency of conventional internal combustion engine vehicles ICEVs (gasoline, diesel), compressed natural gas vehicles (CNGV) and EVs. The results show that power plant efficiency has a significant consequence on WTW efficiency. The total WTW efficiency of gasoline ICEV ranges between 11–27 %, diesel ICEV ranges from 25 % to 37 % and CNGV ranges from 12 % to 22 %. The EV fed by a natural gas power plant shows the highest WTW efficiency which ranges from 13 % to 31 %. While the EV supplied by coal-fired and diesel power plants have approximately the same WTW efficiency ranging between 13 % to 27 % and 12 % to 25 %, respectively. If renewable energy is used, the losses will drop significantly and the overall efficiency for electric cars will be around 40–70% depending on the source and the location of the renewable energy systems.

Apex Seal Design for the MEMS Rotary Engine Power System

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabian C. Martinez ◽  
Aaron J. Knobloch ◽  
Albert P. Pisano
Keyword(s):  
Power System ◽  
Internal Combustion Engine ◽  
Combustion Engine ◽  
Combustion Process ◽  
Internal Combustion ◽  
Analytical Models ◽  
Planar Geometry ◽  
Rotary Engine ◽  
Seal Design ◽  
Engine Power

Design, modeling, and analysis of a novel in-plane cantilever apex seal for maintaining high compression ratios in a MEMS-based rotary internal combustion engine are presented. This work is part of an effort to create a portable, MEMS-based Rotary Engine Power System (MEMS REPS) capable of producing power on the order of tens of milliwatts and with an energy density better than that of a conventional battery. A Wankel-type rotary engine is advantageous for a MEMS-based internal combustion engine due to its planar geometry, self-valving operation, and few moving parts. Large scale rotary engines typically incorporate a complex apex and face sealing system composed of many parts and involved assembly. A MEMS-based apex seal system can be incorporated as part of the rotor in order to eliminate manual assembly. The seal system must also have a minimal footprint and closely follow the epitrochoid profile in order to effectively integrate with the other engine systems. Based on these objectives, an integrated in-plane cantilever apex seal system can be integrated into the rotor with a small footprint. The first step in the development of the MEMS REPS is an air-powered expander which can be used to demonstrate electrical generator operation, engine rotation, and apex seal operation. The apex seals discussed here are optimized for use in an air-powered expander. A performance analysis of this flexure apex seal design is performed which examines 4 major performance constraints: resonant frequency, strain, pressure, and power dissipation. In addition, the seal design also accounts for fabrication tolerances of thick deep reactive ion etching (DRIE). During operation, dynamic effects due to combustion process and mechanical translation may drive the flexures into resonance, leading to galloping of the cantilever tips. Galloping will result in large leakage paths, thereby, reducing the compression ratio. A 0.25% strain limit is imposed to minimize the effect of fatigue on seal performance. Pre-compressed apex seals are used to counteract forces generated on the apex seal due to a pressure differential. The apex seal is also designed to minimize the power dissipated due to frictional losses. To model the cantilever apex seal, two different loading conditions are examined. One condition is distinguished by point loading at the tip, when contact is made between the seal and housing wall. Another condition is characterized by a distributed loading, due to the changing pressure by both the compression and the combustion events. Analytical models in addition to a finite element analysis were performed.

Hybrid pneumatic-power system which recycles exhaust gas of an internal-combustion engine

2005 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. David Huang ◽  
Sheng-Chung Tzeng ◽  
Wei-Ping Ma ◽  
Wei-Chuan Chang
Keyword(s):  
Power System ◽  
Internal Combustion Engine ◽  
Combustion Engine ◽  
Internal Combustion ◽  
Exhaust Gas ◽  
Pneumatic Power
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