scholarly journals Improving Energy Efficiency of Flexible Pneumatic Systems

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 1819
Author(s):  
Slobodan Dudić ◽  
Vule Reljić ◽  
Dragan Šešlija ◽  
Nikolina Dakić ◽  
Vladislav Blagojević

During pneumatic control system design, the critical value for choosing the appropriate pneumatic actuator is the weight of the workpiece. In the case of flexible production systems, which are the core part of the Industry 4.0 (I4.0) concept, the weight of the workpieces is often variable, since the crucial feature of this kind of production is its ability to deal with variable parts. Therefore, in order to deal with the variable weight of parts, a pneumatic actuator is chosen according to the heaviest part. However, according to another I4.0 principle, energy efficient operation of machines, the previous criteria for choosing a pneumatic actuator is energy efficient only when handling the heaviest part. In all other cases, operation of the pneumatic actuator is suboptimal in terms of energy efficiency. Aiming to solve this problem, this paper considers the possibility of using a new pressure regulator instead of traditional manually adjusted pressure regulators. This regulator provides operating pressure modification in real-time in accordance with the weight of the workpieces. In this way, the optimal compressed air consumption is ensured for each workpiece. Implementation of this device has yielded significant energy savings; however, the value is variable and depends on working task characteristics.

Energies ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 286
Author(s):  
Ryszard Zwierzchowski ◽  
Olgierd Niemyjski ◽  
Marcin Wołowicz

The paper presents an analytical discussion of how to improve the energy efficiency of the steam cushion system operation for a Thermal Energy Storage (TES) tank. The EU’s green deal 2050 target policy requires an increase in the energy efficiency of energy production and use, as well as an increase in the share of renewable energy in the overall energy production balance. The use of energy-efficient TES is considered as one of the most important technologies to achieve the objectives of this EU policy. The analyses presented in the paper of energy-efficient operation of steam cushion (SC) systems were carried out by using operational data received from three District Heating Systems (DHSs) that supply heat and electricity to one of the largest cities in Poland and are equipped with the TES systems. These three analyzed TESs differ in capacities from 12,800 to 30,400 m3, tank diameters from 21 to 30 m and shell height from 37 to 48.2 m. The main purpose of using a steam cushion system in the TES tank is to protect the water stored in it against the absorption of oxygen from the surrounding atmospheric air through the surge chamber and safety valves located on the roof of the tank. The technical solutions presented here for the upper orifice for charging and discharging hot water into/from the tank and the suction pipe for circulating water allow to us achieve significant energy savings in the steam cushion systems. Both the upper orifice and the end of suction pipe are movable through the use of pontoons. Thanks to the use of this technical solution, a stable insulating water layer is created above the upper orifice in the upper part of the TES tank, where convective and turbulent transport of heat from the steam cushion space to the hot water stored in the tank is significantly limited. Ultimately, this reduces the heat flux by approximately 90% when compared to the classic technical solutions of steam cushion systems in TES tanks, i.e., for the upper orifice and circulation water pipe. The simplified analysis presented in the paper and comparison of its results with experimental data for heat flow from the steam cushion space to hot water stored in the upper part of the TES tank fully confirms the usefulness of the heat-flow models used.


Author(s):  
Alexander D. Pisarev

This article studies the implementation of some well-known principles of information work of biological systems in the input unit of the neuroprocessor, including spike coding of information used in models of neural networks of the latest generation.<br> The development of modern neural network IT gives rise to a number of urgent tasks at the junction of several scientific disciplines. One of them is to create a hardware platform&nbsp;— a neuroprocessor for energy-efficient operation of neural networks. Recently, the development of nanotechnology of the main units of the neuroprocessor relies on combined memristor super-large logical and storage matrices. The matrix topology is built on the principle of maximum integration of programmable links between nodes. This article describes a method for implementing biomorphic neural functionality based on programmable links of a highly integrated 3D logic matrix.<br> This paper focuses on the problem of achieving energy efficiency of the hardware used to model neural networks. The main part analyzes the known facts of the principles of information transfer and processing in biological systems from the point of view of their implementation in the input unit of the neuroprocessor. The author deals with the scheme of an electronic neuron implemented based on elements of a 3D logical matrix. A pulsed method of encoding input information is presented, which most realistically reflects the principle of operation of a sensory biological neural system. The model of an electronic neuron for selecting ranges of technological parameters in a real 3D logic matrix scheme is analyzed. The implementation of disjunctively normal forms is shown, using the logic function in the input unit of a neuroprocessor as an example. The results of modeling fragments of electric circuits with memristors of a 3D logical matrix in programming mode are presented.<br> The author concludes that biomorphic pulse coding of standard digital signals allows achieving a high degree of energy efficiency of the logic elements of the neuroprocessor by reducing the number of valve operations. Energy efficiency makes it possible to overcome the thermal limitation of the scalable technology of three-dimensional layout of elements in memristor crossbars.


Author(s):  
Valerio De Martinis ◽  
Ambra Toletti ◽  
Francesco Corman ◽  
Ulrich A. Weidmann ◽  
Andrew Nash

The optimization of rail operation for improving energy efficiency plays an important role for the current and future market of rail freight services and helps rail compete with other transport modes. This paper presents a feedforward simulation-based model that performs speed profile optimization together with minor rescheduling actions. The model’s purpose is to provide railway operators and infrastructure managers with energy-efficient solutions that are tailored especially for freight trains. This work starts from the assumption that freight train characteristics are completely defined only a few hours before actual departure; therefore, small specific feedforward adjustments that do not affect the surrounding operation can still be considered. The model was tested in a numerical example. The example clearly shows how the optimized solutions can be evaluated with reference to energy saved and robustness within the rail traffic. The evaluation is based on real data from the North–South corridor crossing Switzerland from Germany to Italy.


1983 ◽  
Vol 105 (4) ◽  
pp. 681-685 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Freudenstein ◽  
M. Mayourian ◽  
E. R. Maki

The energy loss in cam-follower systems due to friction between moving parts can be a significant contributor to the power loss in machinery. Considering the total number of cam-operated machines in manufacturing and other operations, the energy savings obtainable by improving the efficiency of the average cam-follower system by even a small percentage would be significant. In this investigation a new rating factor—an energy-loss coefficient proportional to the energy loss at the cam-follower interface—has been defined and evaluated. The rating factor relates to energy efficiency in a manner analogous to the way in which the well-known rating factors for velocity, acceleration, and shock relate to the kinematic characteristics of the cam-follower system. Two cam-follower configurations have been considered: 1) a follower motion governed by both cam and return spring, and 2) a follower positively driven by the cam. In both cases it was found that cam curves with identical rise and rise times can differ substantially in energy efficiency thereby demonstrating the significance of an energy-optimization strategy in the design of cam-follower systems. The nature of the functional dependence of the energy loss on system parameters has been identified and a minimum energy-loss limit established.


2014 ◽  
Vol 548-549 ◽  
pp. 1815-1819 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Chun Qin ◽  
She Gang Shao ◽  
Yi Shen

Green lighting technology has the advantages of energy efficiency, friendly environment, safety and comfort. Based on the introduction of green lighting technology, taken the Mt. Lushan West Sea tourist highway service as the case study, we analyzed light guide illumination, the optimum use of natural light and energy efficient lighting respectively from the aspects of technical characteristics and the specific highway service application. We finally made the economic analysis in the energy savings of green lights in the highway service, and the result showed that through the use of green lighting systems Mt. Lushan West Sea tourist highway service could save electricity and reduce operating costs 134,700 Yuan per year.


2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Frijns ◽  
R. Middleton ◽  
C. Uijterlinde ◽  
G. Wheale

Energy costs and climate change challenges the water industry to improve their energy efficiency. The number of examples of energy measures in water production and treatment is growing rapidly. In this paper, best practices of energy efficiency from the European water industry are presented with the objective of learning from each other. The best practices are collected within the framework of the Global Water Research Coalition's attempt to devise a global compendium ‘Best practices in the energy efficient design and operation of water industry assets’. The case studies in the compendium show significant energy savings in all parts of the water cycle. Examples with potential include the improved operational set up of pumping design, on line aeration control, and energy-efficient bubble aerators and sludge belt thickeners. Next to optimising energy efficiency across the water cycle, there are also opportunities for energy generation. Promising practices include biogas production from sludge (co)digestion and hydraulic energy generation from micro-turbines.


2018 ◽  
pp. 5-15
Author(s):  
Lyudmila Swistun ◽  
Taina Zavora ◽  
Yuliia Khudolii

The main goal of the study is to analyse the residential real estate market in Ukraine from the point of view of the need and the possibility of increasing its energy efficiency. Also, it aims to justify effective financial and credit mechanisms for ensuring measures to improve the thermal protection properties of residential and non- residential real estate, in particular by introducing energy efficiency development projects. With this research we investigated Ukraine's housing stock and utility tariffs and concluded that a beneficial strategy to be applied in Ukraine is the energy-efficient retrofit of real estate. This is one of the most effective ways to re-profile unclaimed real estate units in the existing state or to reconstruct inefficiently used buildings. Also, we reviewed selected methods of energy efficient residential real estate development and mechanisms of financing energy- efficient renovation of real estate used in the EU. And, in our view, the next step of the Ukraine in the direction of improving the energy efficiency of housing should be the effective operation of a dedicated/specific energy efficiency fund to ensure stable financing of housing modernization projects, which will allow for a comprehensive renovation of buildings and lead to significant annual energy savings in this end-use sector.


Author(s):  
Wente Pan ◽  
Hongyuan Mei

In the past decade, Chinese urban areas have seen rapid development, and rural areas are becoming the next construction hotspot. The development of rural buildings in China has lagged behind urban development, and there is a lack of energy-efficient rural buildings. Rural houses in severe cold regions have the characteristics of large energy exchange, a long heating cycle, and low construction costs. Energy consumption is a crucial issue for rural houses in severe cold regions. How to balance the energy efficiency and building cost become a crucial problem. To solve this problem, we investigate the energy consumption of rural housing in cold regions, using Longquan Village in Heilongjiang Province, northeast China, as a case study. A low-energy design framework is established that considers the spatial layout, building type, enclosure system, and heating system. With the support of project funds, a demonstration house is constructed, and the energy savings performance of the building is investigated during the heating period. The results indicate that the energy savings rate of the demonstration house is 66%. The demonstration building enables local residents to learn construction methods for low-energy houses and promotes energy efficiency.


Resources ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jens Teubler ◽  
Sebastian Kiefer ◽  
Christa Liedtke

The long-term transition towards a low-carbon transport sector is a key strategy in Europe. This includes the replacement of fossil fuels, modal shifts towards public transport as well as higher energy efficiency in the transport sector overall. While these energy savings are likely to reduce the direct greenhouse gas emissions of transport, they also require the production of new and different vehicles. This study analyses in detail whether final energy savings in the transport sector also induce savings for material resources from nature if the production of future vehicles is considered. The results for 28 member states in 2030 indicate that energy efficiency in the transport sector leads to lower carbon emissions as well as resource use savings. However, energy-efficient transport sectors can have a significant impact on the demand for metals in Europe. An additional annual demand for 28.4 Mt of metal ores was calculated from the personal transport sector in 2030 alone. The additional metal ores from semiprecious metals (e.g., copper) amount to 12.0 Mt, from precious metals (e.g., gold) to 9.1 Mt and from other metals (e.g., lithium) to 11.7 Mt, with small savings for ferrous metal ores (−4.6 Mt).


2016 ◽  
Vol 78 (3-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Zakwan Zaine ◽  
Mohd. Faris Mustafa ◽  
Onn Hassan ◽  
Kamarul Asri Ibrahim ◽  
Norazana Ibrahim ◽  
...  

Energy savings is a major challenge in distillation operations. However, there is still one problem, which is how do we improve the energy efficiency of the existing distillation column systems without major modifications. Recently, a new energy efficient distillation columns methodology that will be able to improve energy efficiency of the existing separation systems without having major modifications has been developed. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to present a new improvement of the existing methodology by designing an optimal sequence of energy efficient distillation columns using a driving force method. Accordingly, the methodology is divided into four hierarchical sequential stages: i) existing sequence energy analysis, ii) optimal sequence determination, iii) optimal sequence energy analysis, and iv) energy comparison and economic analysis. The capability of this methodology is tested in designing an optimal synthesis of energy efficient distillation columns sequence of an aromatics separation unit. The existing aromatics separation unit consists of six compounds (Methylcyclopentane (MCP), Benzene, Methylcyclohexane (MCH), Toluene, m-Xylene and o-Xylene) with five direct sequence distillation columns being simulated using a simple and reliable short-cut method and rigorously tested within an Aspen HYSYS® simulation environment. The energy and economic analyses show that the optimal sequence determined by the driving force method has a better energy reduction with a total of 6.78% energy savings and a return of investment of 3.10 with a payback period of 4 months. It can be concluded that, the sequence determined by the driving force method is not only capable in reducing energy consumption, but also has a better economic cost for an aromatic separation unit


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