Structural Stability of the SUPER304H Steel Used in Energetics

This paper describes the influence of technological treatments (i.e., bending or welding) on the structural stability of SUPER304H austenitic steel used in reheaters and superheaters in fossil fuel power plants. Although the worldwide trend is transitioning to green power sources, the lifetime of existing power plants has to be prolonged until the transition is complete. Experimental material was tested in as-received state (straight tubes), bends, and homogeneous weld joints. Part of the specimens was solution-annealed after the technological operation. Afterwards, all the samples were thermally aged in furnace (650, 675 and 700 °C) for 7560–20,000 h. For comparison, bent specimens were placed at experimental sites on an operating powerplant for 10,000+ h. The long-term aging causes the formation of Cr-based carbides on the grain boundaries along with the Fe-Cr sigma phase. Combination of elevated temperature and residual stress accelerates formation of the sigma phase. This can be prevented by solution-annealing after bending. Mechanical properties were evaluated by Vickers hardness and tensile tests. The microstructure was observed using light optical microscopy (LOM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with the energy-dispersive X-ray detector (EDXS). Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) were used to characterize the brittle phases.

An Intelligent Grid Network Based on Cloud Computing Infrastructures

This chapter covers important topics in development of efficient energy girds. Inefficient power generation, unbalanced consumption patterns that lead to underutilization of expensive infrastructure on the one hand, and severe overload on the other, as well as urgent issues of national and global concern such as power system security and climate change are all driving this evolution. As the smart grid concept matures, we'll see dramatic growth in green power production: small production devices such as wind turbines and solar panels or solar farms, which have fluctuating capacity outside of the control of grid operators. Small companies that specialize in producing power under just certain conditions will boom in forthcoming years. Energy is stored in the storage during low-cost periods, and the stored energy is used during high-cost periods to avoid the expensive draw from the grid. The authors evaluate the impact of large-scale energy storage adoption on grid electricity demand.

Well Lifting Capability to a Green Power Generation Using Microturbine Generator

A new way of utilizing access gas to power generation using newly developed technology named micro-turbine electric generator (mTEG). This technology is using relatively low gas flow rate: same region of gas-lift consumption between 0.3 – 0.5 MMscf/d of power generation for a minimum of one kilo Watt (1kW) per unit. The technology is classified under green category is due to no combustion process instead using pressure differential as the mechanism for power generation. Therefore, it supports PETRONAS’ net carbon zero program especially for unmanned platform operation. The mTEG is simple unit developed based on differential method by allowing gas to flow inside for rotation without combustion for power generation. Flow and pressure requirements are relatively low at 0.4 MMscf/d at 10 bar, respectively. One of gas supply sources to run the unit is coming from well or gas lift skid. Per skid of mTEG it can produce up-to 4 kW power. This technology helps to support unmanned platform operation to reduce operation cost and moreover, this technology is compact and superior than solar power scheme unit. Life cycle cost between the two technologies was indicated superior saving is possible for mTEG technology. Completed prototype model – integrated skid and in 2019 team managed secured full in-house development under prototyping and engineering centre unit located in PETRONAS Research Sdn. Bhd. (PRSB), Bangi. One of the technologies used to produce the mTEG unit is 3D printer with also available in PRSB. Passed factory acceptance test (FAT) in 2019 based on positive outcome of endurance test performance. Embarked detail engineering for installation of the skid and completed electrical and installation in 2020 and the skid unit is expecting to provide 1 kW power by end of this year at field E and upon completing the test, this technology will be able to benefits other operating unmanned platform or event small plant operation. The technology was designed for green power generation: operation greenification with no combustion elements instead provide flexibility for recycling of the gas and reuse for another means such as gas lift gas application to improved oil recovery.

GPF: A Green Power Forwarding Technique for Energy-Efficient Network Operations

The energy consumption of network infrastructures is increasing; therefore, research efforts designed to diminish this growing carbon footprint are necessary. Building on prior work, which determined a difference in the energy consumption of network hardware based on their forwarding configurations and developed a real-time network energy monitoring tool, this research proposes a novel technique to incorporate individual device energy efficiency into network routing decisions. A new routing metric and algorithm are presented to select the lowest-power, least-congested paths between destinations, known as Green Power Forwarding (GPF). In addition, a network dial is developed to enhance GPF by allowing network administrators to tune the network to optimally operate between energy savings and network performance. To ensure the scope of this research for industry adoption, implementation details for different generations of networking infrastructure (past, present, and future) are also discussed. The experiment results indicate that significant energy and, in turn, cost savings can be achieved by employing the proposed GPF technique without a reduction in network performance. The future directions for this research include developing dynamically-tuning network dial modes and extending the principles to inter-domain routing.

Integrated Multi-Attribute Preference Analysis in Fisheries and Solar Power Symbiosis Areas: A Case Study in Cigu, Taiwan

To achieve the 2025 Non-Nuclear Homeland goal and carbon emission mitigation target, the Taiwan government has been developing actively green and renewable energy with low carbon emissions. This study assessed the FSPS development project in the Cigu region of Tainan City to provide a thorough analysis toward making tradeoffs among ecosystem conservation, aquaculture, fisheries, and green power generation development. This study employs the choice experiment method and designs different attributes and levels to discuss the preferences of stakeholders in the policy development choices for ecosystem conservation and FSPS. The hope is that it can balance economic development and ecological conservation. The findings demonstrate that the tourists’ marginal willingness to pay is low. The respondents then give importance to improving biodiversity. Finally, they prefer minimal changes to the status quo with the FSPS policy implementation. These findings can serve as a reference for decision making for regional sustainable development, aquaculture and fishery upgradation, and green power generation and exploitation.

Motivation Crowding in Peer Effects: The Effect of Solar Subsidies on Green Power Purchases

I test whether economic incentives impact peer effects in public-good settings. I study how a visible and subsidized contribution to a public good (installing solar panels) affects peer contributions to the same good that are neither subsidized nor visible (electing green power). Exploiting spatial variation in the feasibility of installing solar panels, I find that on average panels increase voluntary purchases of green power by neighbors. However, when subsidies to solar are high, solar panels reduce peer contributions. The results support the hypothesis that signals drive peer responses to visible public-good contributions and that economic incentives alter those signals.