scholarly journals An Environmental and Economic Analysis of Flocculation Technology Applied to a Corn-Based Ethanol Plant

Processes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 271
Author(s):  
Maria da Conceição T. B. e Oliveira ◽  
Kurt A. Rosentrater
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Economic Analysis ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Corn Oil ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Conventional System ◽  
Ethanol Plant ◽  
Flocculation Process

The stimulation of renewable fuel production is related to the environmental issues resulting from the extraction and utilization of fossil fuels. Although corn-based ethanol is one of the leading renewable fuels and promises to mitigate these environmental impacts, it generates large volumes of wastewater with high concentrations of organic material (CODcr > 30,000 mg/L) and low pH (3.5–4.5), which leads to serious environmental concerns. A common method of treatment of distillery wastewater is the Dry Distilled Grain Soluble (DDGS) process, which separates liquid and solid fractions; however, a disadvantage of this process is its high energy consumption. Other commonly implemented methods are often costly and not environmentally safe. To minimize these problems, a flocculation process can be applied as a potential lower energy consumption process utilizing bioflocculants, which have been proven harmless to the environment. Therefore, the main goal of this study was to analyze the economic and environmental impacts of using bioflocculants instead of evaporation process in a corn-based ethanol plant. The procedures were evaluated by analyzing the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA). From the results, it can be seen that the flocculation system can be an alternative process for effectively minimizing energy consumption during the production of DDGS, Distilled Wet Grains with Solubles (DWGS), and corn oil. The flocculation process achieved a significantly (28%) lower utility cost when compared to the conventional system. However, the overall fixed costs and annual operating costs for the flocculation system were higher than those of the conventional system. Additionally, both processes resulted in negative profit and a sensitivity analysis showed that the feedstocks cost substantially impacted the DDGS, DWGS, and corn oil production costs. Related to environmental aspects, the LCA results showed that the flocculation process achieved the lowest Global Warming Potential (GWP) of the several electricity supply technologies analyzed and presented a significant reduction in CO2 equivalent emissions when compared to a conventional system. The flocculation process resulted in approximately 57% lower greenhouse gas emissions.

scholarly journals Analysis of Energy System in Norway with Focus on Energy Consumption Prediction

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Hamlehdar ◽  
Alireza Aslani
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Energy System ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Regression Result ◽  
Industry Growth ◽  
The Status

Abstract Today, the fossil fuels have dominant share of energy supply in order to respond to the high energy demand in the world. Norway is one of the countries with rich sources of fossil fuels and renewable energy sources. The current work is to investigate on the status of energy demand in Norway. First, energy and electricity consumption in various sectors, including industrial, residential are calculated. Then, energy demand in Norway is forecasted by using available tools. After that, the relationship between energy consumption in Norway with Basic economics parameters such as GDP, population and industry growth rate has determined by using linear regression model. Finally, the regression result shows a low correlation between variables.

Decision support for evaluating energy demand in vinification processes using fuzzy sets theory

2006 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 4-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Musee ◽  
L Lorenzen ◽  
C Aldrich
Keyword(s):  
Fuzzy Logic ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Current Trend ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Wine Industry ◽  
Process Industries ◽  
Industrial Growth

The current trend associated with high energy demand, depletion of energy reserves and low potential of renewable energy sources linked with strong industrial growth, is increasingly becoming unsustainable. As a result, production costs have increased considerably in the process industries, mainly owing to skewed energy demand and supply realities. A feasible strategy for meeting these challenges is to reduce energy consumption per unit throughput. However, to obtain a workable solution, decision makers may have to deal with energy management variables that are ambiguous, which makes solving the energy minimization problem with conventional numerical approaches very difficult. In this paper, we consider an alternative approach based on fuzzy logic to qualitatively evaluate the energy demand associated with an industrial cooling process. The model was formulated based on Mamdani fuzzy logic inferencing and implemented in MATLAB 6.5 via the Fuzzy Logic toolbox. The energy demands pertaining to specific variables were independently estimated, followed by an estimate of the overall energy consumption. The procedure is demonstrated via a case study of cooling at the maceration stage of a vinification process in the wine industry.

scholarly journals Study of geothermal energy potential as a green source of energy with a look at energy consumption in Iran

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Dashti ◽  
Maziar Gholami Korzani
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Geothermal Energy ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Average Energy ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Energy Potential ◽  
Sustainable Resources ◽  
Geological Characteristics ◽  
Geothermal Potential ◽  
High Energy Consumption

AbstractRegarding disadvantages of fossil fuels, renewables like geothermals can be an eco-friendly source of energy. In Iran, the availability of fossil fuels and poor policies surrounding subsidies (ranked as the first in giving subsidies) caused high energy consumption (1.75 times higher than the global average). Energy is mainly provided by fossil fuels that leads to high CO2 emission. This study evaluates the energy consumption trend and potentials of more sustainable resources like geothermals in Iran. The formation of geothermals is tightly linked with geological prerequisites that are partly present within Iran. Adjacency of the metamorphic with volcanic zones, existence of numerous faults and seismic activity of Iran are notable geological characteristics confirming the geothermal potential. In Iran, 18 regions are being explored as the most promising geothermal prospects. To test the potentials of one of these regions, a geothermal power plant with a capacity of 5 MWe is installed in the Sabalan Field. Northwest (where Sabalan Field is located), central (like Mahalat Region) and southeast of Iran (Makran Zone) can be regarded as promising zones for hosting geothermal prospects.

Large-Size Wheel Rotary Forging Process Research

2013 ◽  
Vol 456 ◽  
pp. 282-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Li ◽  
Hui Xue Sun ◽  
Li Mei Wang ◽  
Mu Hua Tao
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
New Technology ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Forming Force ◽  
Forging Process ◽  
Rotary Forging ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Process Route ◽  
Small Influence

For forging process of the large size alloy wheels have several disadvantages, such as using large tonnage presses, high energy consumption, etc.So rotary-forging process route is developed. Forgings forming require 5000-6000T presses by the traditional process, but only require 350T rotary forging presses by new technology. This new process reduces the production costs and energy consumption and extends the life of die. Investigate the effect of several key factors on the forming force. The results show that forming force decreases with the decrease of press amount per turn, and reduce with the die and bars temperature increases. Forging wheel window has small influence on the forming force, but can decrease the forgings cutting weight, improve material utilization. This study plays a guiding role for equipment R & D and determination of the production processes parameters.

scholarly journals Analysis of Fossil Fuel Energy Consumption and Environmental Impacts in European Countries

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 964 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florinda Martins ◽  
Carlos Felgueiras ◽  
Miroslava Smitkova ◽  
Nídia Caetano
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Fossil Fuel Energy ◽  
Fossil Fuel Energy Consumption

The use of fossil fuels as the main source of energy for most countries has caused several negative environmental impacts, such as global warming and air pollution. Air pollution causes many health problems, causing social and economic negative effects. Worldwide efforts are being made to avoid global warming consequences through the establishment of international agreements that then lead to local policies adapted to the development of each signing nation. In addition, there is a depletion of nonrenewable resources which may be scarce or nonexistent in future generations. The preservation of resources, which is a common goal of the Circular Economy strategy and of sustainable development, is not being accomplished nowadays. In this work, the calculation of indicators and mathematical and statistical analysis were applied to clarify and evidence the trends, provide information for the decision-making process, and increase public awareness. The fact that European countries do not possess abundant reserves of fossil fuels will not change, but the results of this analysis can evolve in the future. In this work, fossil fuel energy consumption, fossil fuel depletion, and their relationship with other variables, such as energy dependence and share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption, were analyzed for 29 European countries. Furthermore, it was possible to conclude that many European countries still depend heavily on fossil fuels. Significant differences were not found in what concerns gross inland consumption per capita when the Kruskal–Wallis test was applied. It was possible to estimate that by 2050 (considering Jazz scenario) it will only remain approximately 14% of oil proven reserves, 72% of coal proven reserves and 18% of gas proven reserves. Given the small reserves of European countries on fossil fuels, if they need to use them, they will fast disappear.

scholarly journals Assessing the Impacts of Electricity Utilization in Educational Faculties: A Thailand Case Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Dalia M. M. Yacout ◽  
Pramote Sirirote ◽  
M. M. Yacout ◽  
Dusanee Thanaboripat
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Energy Saving ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy Analysis ◽  
Co2 Reduction ◽  
Energy Utilization ◽  
Educational Facilities ◽  
Up Scaling

In view of the up-scaling energy crises worldwide, efforts have been focusing on reducing energy consumption and replacing fossil fuels usage with renewable energy sources. Thailand is one of the developing countries that have been facing an increase in energy demand associated to its economic expansion. The development in the educational sector is one of the sectors causing an increasing energy demand.Purpose: This study aims to quantify energy usage and understand its environmental impacts in one of the educational facilities in Thailand in order to identify energy saving opportunities and improvement options related to energy consumption in this sector. Materials and Methods: The investigation included a historical energy analysis for energy utilization of the facility, an onsite energy audit and an environmental impacts assessment. A number of potential energy saving opportunities was identified; related cost savings and CO2 reduction were calculated. Additionally, the environmental impacts of energy utilization were simulated using the life cycle assessment technique. Special attention was given to potential impacts on global warming due to its direct association to fossil fuels combustion.Results and discussion: the pattern of energy utilization was identified and it clarified that the major contributor to energy utilization was energy consumption practices by students and staff of the faculty. Consequently, awareness raising of energy saving opportunities and people involvement was the major area of improvement. Results show that increasing people involvement in energy saving practices could lead to a cost saving of 46,000-120,000 USD/Year with low cost investment and a 100-240 ton CO2 reduction. Other potential savings were using motion sensors which save 30-40% of energy costs in offices and utilizing renewable solar energy as a source for electricity. This will save 13,300-33,300 USD/Year with a 7.5 years payback and 35-50 years lifetime.When assessing the associated environmental impacts to electricity production, five main categories were found to be impacted: fossil fuels depletion, respiratory inorganics formation potential, global worming potential, acidification potential and eutrophication potential. The application of the suggested energy saving opportunities will reduce the electricity consumption, lower generated air emissions from fossil fuels combustion, consequently minimize all associated impacts specially global worming potential.In Conclusion: assessing energy utilization of educational facilities is essential to reduce energy demand in an up-scaling economy. Energy analysis and onsite energy audits are efficient methods for recognizing energy utilization patterns and identifying energy saving opportunities. The implemented investigation in this study can be applied in different educational facilities. 

scholarly journals Environmental life cycle assessment for potable water production – a case study of seawater desalination and mine-water reclamation in South Africa

Water SA ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (4 October) ◽  
Author(s):  
T Goga ◽  
E Friedrich ◽  
CA Buckley
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Mine Water ◽  
Potable Water ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Water Reclamation ◽  
Desalination Plant

Water is becoming a scarce resource in many parts of South Africa and, therefore, numerous plans are being put in place to satisfy the increased urban demand for this resource. Two of the methods currently considered are desalination of seawater and reuse of mine-affected water based on the use of reverse osmosis (RO) membranes.  Due to their high energy consumption and associated environmental impacts, these methods have been under scrutinity and, therefore, an LCA was undertaken for both methods. To allow comparison between the two, the functional unit of 1 kL of potable water was specified. Design data were collected for both the construction and operation phases of the plants while SimaPro was used as the LCA analysis software with the application of the ReCiPe Midpoint method.  The results indicate that the operation phase carried a greater environmental burden than the materials required for the infrastructure. In particular, electricity production and consumption is responsible for the majority of environmental impacts that stem from the respective plants. The total energy consumption of the proposed desalination plant is 3.69 kWh/kL and 2.16 kWh/kL for the mine-water reclamation plant. This results in 4.17 kg CO2 eq/kL being emitted for the desalination plant and 2.44 kg CO2 eq/kL for the mine-affected plant. A further analysis indicated that replacing South African electricity with photovoltaic (solar) and wind power has the potential to bring significant environmental benefits. The integration of these renewable energy systems with desalination and membrane treatment of mine-affected water has been proven to reduce environmental burdens to levels associated with conventional water technologies powered by the current electricity mix.  

scholarly journals Paulownia as power culture

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (92) ◽  
pp. 19-22
Author(s):  
A. Linnik
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
High Energy ◽  
White Paper ◽  
Energy Crops ◽  
Chemical Treatments ◽  
Community Strategy ◽  
Power Direction ◽  
The Masses

The interest for production of energy crops, which biomass may be used as renewable fuel have been grown in 70 years of last century after dramatically rising price of fossil fuels. The energy crops growing have been also stimulated by environmental factors and approval some International political initiatives, like White Paper for a Community Strategy and Action Plan and The Kyoto protocol. After some decreasing, the area of energy crops in EU and North America countries are stabilized. In Ukraine in the last few years there is a gradual increase of part of energy consumption of biopropellant from 1.3 % in 2008 to 3.4 % in 2018 in the general energy consumption of country. As the most widespread energy cultures biomass of that is used as a biopropellant come forward willow, saccharine sorghum and miscanthus. However, the last years industrial plantations of power direction appeared the paulownias taken under growing. This arboreal culture is mainly presented by the artificially shown out hybrid of Paulownia Clone in of Vitro 112®. Paulownia it quickly grows tree that for today occupies the first places for speeds of increase bio the masses, the not demanding to the agrotechnics growing proof to illnesses and wreckers is suitable for recultivation of exhausted and useless for the conduct of traditional agriculture of soils. It is characterized a softwood that successfully can be used also in furniture industry, green mass has high maintenance of albumen confronted with leguminous cultures. Bio mass of paulownia is suitable for the production of bioethanol (it is possible to get a to 0.5 ton of ethanol from a 1 ton of dry wood) and fuel preforms and пелет (power value 4211.1 kkal/kg). Next to that, a paulownia is a melliferous culture from honey the productivity 700 kg/hectare of ecological honey, as during growing does not require chemical treatments. A paulownia can be useful to 20–50 years. After each the offcutss, that is conducted at any time year with an interval in 4–8, a tree grows. At the proper supervision in 7 it is possible to get a 240–350 m³ of quality wood from 1 hectare. Taking into account the features of growing and power descriptions bio the masses of paulownia her growing will be rational with the aim of receipt of high-energy bio mass and commercial timber, and also as a melliferous culture.

Development of Methodology for Determining the Physical Properties of Natural and Innovative Materials

2019 ◽  
Vol 1156 ◽  
pp. 79-96
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Spinelli ◽  
Pedro Henrique Dall'Agnol Pasquali ◽  
Angélica Bertotti ◽  
Dantara Lerin ◽  
Alana F. Pitol ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Improve Energy Efficiency ◽  
Innovative Materials ◽  
Reduction Of Energy Consumption ◽  
Soybean Straw ◽  
The Impact

The high energy consumption of buildings in the various sectors of society, the exploitation of natural resources and the use of fossil fuels make it necessary to research constructive alternatives that can reduce the impact on the planet. The use of thermal insulation in buildings is important for the reduction of energy consumption, however, most of the materials developed are manufactured generating high rates of pollution. This study starts with the use of natural elements (corn cob / soybean straw / pine bark) and innovative elements (vacuum / slimstone plate), in order to improve energy efficiency of buildings. The methodological development of the work began in the selection of materials and development of facade cladding boards. The determination of the thermal conductivity was analyzed using a heating plate and PT100 temperature sensors, determination of the apparent and actual density, and analysis of the material composition using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). After the development of the analyzes, the natural slabs and recycled slimstone showed significant results, with thermal conductivity lower than 0.07 W / m.k.

scholarly journals Investigation on a Bio-Composite Material as Acoustic Absorber and Thermal Insulation

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 3699
Author(s):  
Domenico Curto ◽  
Andrea Guercio ◽  
Vincenzo Franzitta
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Thermal Insulation ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Natural Material ◽  
Indoor Environments ◽  
Residential Sector

In order to limit the anthropic emissions of CO2, research is currently investigating new materials for the building sector. The main purpose is the reduction in the embodied energy consumption, especially in the residential sector, and consequently the limitation of the direct and indirect utilization of fossil fuels, for the indoor heating, cooling, and ventilation services. Indeed, the residential sector is affected by a high energy demand, thus the choice of improved materials is fundamental to improve the sustainability. All phases: construction, building life, and dismantling are impacting in terms of resource and energy consumption, both associated with the emissions of pollutants in the atmosphere. The aim of this experimental research is to study the thermal insulation and the acoustic absorption of a material composed by natural lime, water, and shives from sativa hemp, a variety of hemp usable for industrial applications. In order to assess the main characteristics of this material, some specimens have been made according to required shapes and sizes to test them in specific machines. The results obtained from the tests are compared with the values of similar lime-based materials already available on the market. The comparison shows how, in certain aspects, the lime and hemp shives materials represent a concrete alternative to conventional materials. This completely natural material would like to achieve thermal and acoustic comfort in indoor environments.

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