scholarly journals Adaptable Reactors for Resource- and Energy-Efficient Methane Valorisation (ADREM)

Author(s):  
Emmanouela Korkakaki ◽  
Stéphane Walspurger ◽  
Koos Overwater ◽  
Hakan Nigar ◽  
Ignacio Julian ◽  
...  

Following the global trend towards increased energy demand together with requirements for low greenhouse gas emissions, Adaptable Reactors for Resource- and Energy-Efficient Methane Valorisation (ADREM) focused on the development of modular reactors that can upgrade methane‐rich sources to chemicals. Herein we summarise the main findings of the project, excluding in‐depth technical analysis. The ADREM reactors include microwave technology for conversion of methane to benzene, toluene and xylenes (BTX) and ethylene; plasma for methane to ethylene; plasma dry methane reforming to syngas; and the gas solid vortex reactor (GSVR) for methane to ethylene. Two of the reactors (microwave to BTX and plasma to ethylene) have been tested at technology readiness level 5 (TRL 5). Compared to flaring, all the concepts have a clear environmental benefit, reducing significantly the direct carbon dioxide emissions. Their energy efficiency is still relatively low compared to conventional processes, and the costly and energy-demanding downstream processing should be replaced by scalable energy efficient alternatives. However, considering the changing market conditions with electrification becoming more relevant and the growing need to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, the ADREM technologies, utilising mostly electricity to achieve methane conversion, are promising candidates in the field of gas monetisation.

2018 ◽  
Vol 173 ◽  
pp. 443-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio Nägeli ◽  
Clara Camarasa ◽  
Martin Jakob ◽  
Giacomo Catenazzi ◽  
York Ostermeyer

Author(s):  
Lisa Kemmerer

Cheap meat, dairy, and eggs are an illusion—we pay for each with depleted forests, polluted freshwater, soil degradation, and climate change. Diet is the most critical decision we make with regard to our environmental footprint—and what we eat is a choice that most of us make every day, several times a day. Dietary choice contributes powerfully to greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) and water pollution. Animal agriculture is responsible for an unnerving quantity of greenhouse gas emissions. Eating animal products—yogurt, ice cream, bacon, chicken salad, beef stroganoff, or cheese omelets—greatly increases an individual’s contribution to carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide emissions. Collectively, dietary choice contributes to a classic “tragedy of the commons.” Much of the atmosphere’s carbon dioxide (CO2) is absorbed by the earth’s oceans and plants, but a large proportion lingers in the atmosphere—unable to be absorbed by plants or oceans (“Effects”). Plants are not harmed by this process, but the current overabundance of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causes acidification of the earth’s oceans. As a result of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions, the “acidity of the world’s ocean may increase by around 170% by the end of the century,” altering ocean ecosystems, and likely creating an ocean environment that is inhospitable for many life forms (“Expert Assessment”). Burning petroleum also leads to wars that devastate human communities and annihilate landscapes and wildlife—including endangered species and their vital habitats. Additionally, our consumption of petroleum is linked with oil spills that ravage landscapes, shorelines, and ocean habitat. Oil pipelines run through remote, fragile areas—every oil tanker represents not just the possibility but the probability of an oil spill. As reserves diminish, our quest for fossil fuels is increasingly environmentally devastating: Canada’s vast reserves of tar sands oil—though extracted, transported, and burned only with enormous costs to the environment—are next in line for extraction. Consuming animal products creates ten times more fossil fuel emission per calorie than does consuming plant foods directly (Oppenlander 18). (This is the most remarkable given that plant foods are not generally as calorically dense as animal foods.) Ranching is the greatest GHGE offender.


Author(s):  
Brendan T Higgins ◽  
Matthew B. Paddock ◽  
Simon Staley ◽  
Shannon J. Ceballos ◽  
Jean S. VanderGheynst

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. 138-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anaëlle Rabès ◽  
Louise Seconda ◽  
Brigitte Langevin ◽  
Benjamin Allès ◽  
Mathilde Touvier ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 152 ◽  
pp. 67-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christiane Peter ◽  
Xenia Specka ◽  
Joachim Aurbacher ◽  
Peter Kornatz ◽  
Christiane Herrmann ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
pp. 62-79
Author(s):  
A. Moskvitina ◽  
M.  Shyshyna ◽  
M. Korchminskyi

The main factor contributing to greenhouse gas emissions is the building up of the surrounding area. Studies have shown that buildings globally consume 30-40 % of energy use and release 40-50 % of global carbon dioxide emissions. Among all systems in houses, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are by far the most energy intensive. They consume approximately 50 % of the total energy demand of buildings. However, the systems are some of the most important systems in today's buildings. The number of these systems that are being installed has increased dramatically over the past few years. This is mainly due to the increasing demands for thermal energy, comfort and climate change. This paper presents a feasibility and ecology study between two ventilation or air-conditioning systems: constant air volume (CAV) and variable air volume (VAV). One of the purposes of this work is to determine the energy costs for each of the systems. An air conditioning system that saves operating costs usually requires a large initial investment. In this case, engineers must decide whether it is worth paying the additional upfront costs for a system that has lower operating costs. Despite the low attractiveness from the point of view of the investor, the VAV systems reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions and the amount of energy resources for servicing the commercial sector. Such system have less metal consumption. Thus, the cost of metal processing is also reduced. The results of this study can contribute to the future selection of ventilation systems, as well as contribute to the design and improvement of the systems under study. Energy saving is one of the main reasons why VAV systems are very popular today for the design of ventilation and air conditioning systems for office buildings and in many industries abroad. With these systems, the volume of transported air is reduced as soon as the operating load falls below the maximum projected load. The calculation of emissions of harmful substances into the environment was made while ensuring the operation of CAV and VAV systems.


2021 ◽  
pp. 9-16
Author(s):  
E. Maysyuk

Decrease in greenhouse gas emissions is a current trend in solving the climate change problems. The concept of low-carbon cities is extensively discussed nowadays. It aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through integrated mechanisms and measures, which comply with socio-economic development and city management. Since a considerable part of the population lives in cities, the utmost goal of the study is to analyze the situation with emissions of the main greenhouse gas, i.e., carbon dioxide, in the urban environment. The major sources of carbon dioxide emissions are stationary energy facilities of different capacities burning fuel. The paper considers the city of Irkutsk as an example of the populated area included in the study on low carbon cities under the auspices of the Social and Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific of the UN - UNESCAP. The first stage of the studies involved assessing the current carbon dioxide emissions from energy facilities of the city through the calculation of carbon dioxide emissions from boiler houses and the city cogeneration plant for 1990. The findings revealed the potential of reducing carbon dioxide emissions from energy facilities in Irkutsk. The paper suggests the basic directions and measures to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from the urban energy facilities.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Ritsma

Building energy models are an effective tool for evaluating energy reduction opportunities in both design phase and post-occupancy scenarios. By merging building energy models with city scale building stock data, it is possible to analyze energy performance at a greater breadth, providing more informed policy decisions and solutions to energy demand asymmetries in urban metropolises. This study examines the energy reduction potential for office buildings in the Toronto 2030 District, by testing individual and bundled energy conservation measures and greenhouse gas reduction strategies using a reference building energy model. When extrapolated across Toronto’s urban core, simulation results determined that standard interventions on the existing office building stock have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 91.5%, in line with 2030 District initiatives.


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