Characterization of coffee residues pellets and their performance in a residential combustor

Spent coffee grounds (SCG) and coffee husks (CH) were evaluated as biofuels, after densification, for energy production. CH represent a specific problem for the coffee industry due to a low calorific value, high ash content, and a very low bulk density. Hence, the energetic potential of SCG (95 wt%)/CH (5 wt%) blend and pure SCG (100%) were examined. The blend of SCG and CH was limited to 5 wt% of CH because of the low bulk density of CH. Therefore, physicochemical and energetic characterizations of the produced pellets were performed. Thermogravimetric analyses were performed under nitrogen and air atmospheres to evaluate the CH behavior in the blend. Characterization study shows that both produced pellets could reach the French Agropellets standard (AQI). Thermal degradation showed that the mean reactivity of the SCG/HC pellets was higher than pure SCG. Then, combustion experiments were performed in a domestic combustor, after modification of the boiler power in order to improve its energetic performances. The presence of CH led to a rise of CO, NOx, VOC’s, and particle emissions. Nevertheless, the performances of the biofuels are almost in agreement the NF EN 12809 standard.     

An experimental apparatus for testing biodiesels based on a CFR engine—setup and validation with different methyl ester blends

A cooperative fuel research (CFR) engine was modified and instrumented in order to control operating conditions and to measure engine parameters and in-cylinder pressure diagrams. Aiming at the comparison of different alternative fuels, an experimental procedure was defined, including cetane number (CN) evaluation and the definition of engine operating quantities in different working points, for fixed levels of compression ratio (CR) and injection advance. An investigation was made considering several blends of methyl-esters of rapeseed oil (RME) and of a mix of vegetable oils (VOME) with conventional diesel oil. The defined experimental procedure was applied to assess CN, engine brake thermal efficiency (bte) and exhaust emissions. Results show that the biodiesel content has a positive influence on soot emissions, with strong reduction, while thermal efficiency and NO_X emissions are negatively affected, which can be justified taking into account fuel properties and changes in combustion process. As observed outcomes are generally in line with those presented in literature, the facility proved to be a suitable tool for basic investigations on alternative fuels to be used in specific applications.     

Photovoltaic-thermal (PV/t) panel to minimize electrical and air conditioning energy consumption of a typical office in Beirut

A combined photovoltaic–thermal (PV/t) panel is proposed to produce simultaneously electricity and heat from one integrated unit. The unit utilizes effectively the solar energy through achieving higher PV electrical efficiency and using the thermal energy for heating applications. To predict the performance of the PV/t at a given environmental conditions, a transient mathematical model was developed. The model was integrated in a heating application for a typical office space in the city of Beirut to provide the office needs for electricity, heating during winter season, and dehumidification and evaporative cooling during the summer season. To minimize the yearly office energy (electrical and heat) needs, the PV/t panel cooling air flow rate and the dehumidification regeneration temperature were determined for opimal unit operation. Thermal energy savings of up to 85% in winter and 71% in summer were achived compared to conventional systems at a payback period of 8 years for the panels.     

Benchmarking Optical/Thermal Satellite Imagery for Estimating Evapotranspiration and Soil Moisture in Decision Support Tools

Generally, one expects evapotranspiration (ET) maps derived from optical/thermal Landsat and MODIS satellite imagery to improve decision support tools and lead to superior decisions regarding water resources management. However, there is lack of supportive evidence to accept or reject this expectation. We “benchmark” three existing hydrologic decision support tools with the following benchmarks: annual ET for the ET Toolbox developed by the United States Bureau of Reclamation, predicted rainfall‐runoff hydrographs for the Gridded Surface/Subsurface Hydrologic Analysis model developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the average annual groundwater recharge for the Distributed Parameter Watershed Model used by Daniel B. Stephens & Associates. The conclusion of this benchmark study is that the use of NASA/USGS optical/thermal satellite imagery can considerably improve hydrologic decision support tools compared to their traditional implementations. The benefits of improved decision making, resulting from more accurate results of hydrologic support systems using optical/thermal satellite imagery, should substantially exceed the costs for acquiring such imagery and implementing the remote sensing algorithms. In fact, the value of reduced error in estimating average annual groundwater recharge in the San Gabriel Mountains, California alone, in terms of value of water, may be as large as $1 billion, more than sufficient to pay for one new Landsat satellite.     

Experimental investigation of a 250-kW turbine organic Rankine cycle system for low-grade waste heat recovery

An organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is generally used for converting low-grade heat into electricity. In this study, an extensive literature survey was conducted to identify current research gaps on experimental ORC systems. Specifically, there is limited experimental data and limited details on thermal and expander efficiencies of ORC systems. In order to address these gaps, the objective of this study included developing a turbine ORC with a power output exceeding 50 kW and thermal efficiency exceeding 8% for a heat source temperature < 120°C. The experimental results indicated that the system achieved a net power output of 242.5 kW and a thermal efficiency of 8.3% (the highest value for a turbine ORC system for the heat source temperature below 120°C). Thus, the study addressed the gaps identified in the research area of ORCs.     

热处理时间对餐厨垃圾高温干式厌氧发酵的影响

餐厨垃圾中有机物大部分以大分子的形式存在,对其进行热处理,破坏大分子有机物的存在形式,将会影响其干式厌氧发酵的过程。实验对餐厨垃圾进行了热处理(100℃),处理后将其在含固率(TS)20%、接种率25%的条件下进行高温55℃厌氧发酵。实验结果表明,热处理后,餐厨垃圾的理化性质发生显著变化,累计产气量、TS和VS的去除率均增大。当热处理时间为15 min时,餐厨垃圾的SCOD值最高,为59.49 g/L,比未处理时提高了3.3倍。同样该条件下,累计产气量也最高,为2 782.8 m L,与未处理相比累积产气量提高58.30%,第二产气高峰比未处理提前3天。各发酵瓶发酵前后TS、VS去除率的变化趋势与累计产气量的变化基本一致,累计产气量越大,TS、VS的去除率越大。     

纳米铁催化分解高氯酸盐废水的反应动力学

通过实验考察了酸性条件下纳米铁催化分解高氯酸盐过程中的影响因素,对其分解的动力学进行了研究,并对纳米铁催化剂结构及微观形貌进行SEM、EDS和XRD表征分析。利用阿仑尼乌斯方程和幂指数方程拟合反应动力学方程,获得了高氯酸盐分解动力学方程Ct=C0exp{-0.03773exp(-201.65/T)[H]0.191t},理论的计算值与实验值吻合较好,误差在15%以内。     

城市污水处理厂预热处理混合污泥的高温厌氧消化特性研究

针对165℃、30min预处理后的混合污泥,进行高温厌氧消化的连续试验.研究了在不同的水力停留时间(HRT)下的产气量、有机物的分解率等指标,探讨了"热处理 高温消化"实用化的可行性.结果表明,总固体(TS)为70g·L-1、预热处理后的混合污泥经高温厌氧消化,在HRT.为10、20、30d的条件下,产气率为2.82、1.70和1.19 L·L-1·d-1;降解单位COD的产气量为968、1053和1091 L·kg-1;COD分解率为47%～52%;有机物分解率与HRT的关系符合一级反应动力学关系.COD物质平衡计算结果表明,基质中50%的固态有机物被分解转化,生物气中的甲烷含量可达59.1%.本研究中的厌氧消化反应可归纳为C8.38H19.7O7.59N 3.86H2O→4.38CH4 2.99CO2 NH4 HCO3-.     

热解析-固相微萃取-气相色谱法测定空气样品中挥发性有机化合物

建立了热解析-固相微萃取-气相色谱法测定空气样品中挥发性有机化合物的分析方法,并对色谱分离条件、玻璃针筒保存样品的稳定性、固相微萃取萃取纤维、萃取时间、色谱进样时间等条件进行了优化,9种挥发性有机化合物的峰面积与其质量浓度在所测范围内有较好的线性关系,相对标准偏差＜8.8%,检出限为0.05～0.75 μg/100 mL,满足实际空气样品测定需要。     

污水污泥间壁热干燥实验研究

研究了污泥间壁热干燥的工艺过程,分析了其工艺参数、冷凝水水质和产生的污染气体,探讨了有机物水解机理.结果表明,污泥含水率与停留时间呈负指数函数相关.收集到的干燥冷凝水属高浓度有机废水,其总有机碳（TOC）、挥发性有机酸（VFA）和氨氮（NH₃-N）浓度均很高,pH值保持在9～9.5.干燥冷凝水中挥发性有机酸和氨氮来源于2部分：低温110 ～130℃时,主要发生蛋白质的水解,生成有机酸和氨氮;高温140～150℃时,主要发生脂肪类的水解,生成有机酸.干燥温度低于150 ℃时,污泥间壁热干燥过程无污染气体产生.