CFD analysis on the performance of a solar chimney power plant system: Case study in Algeria

The solar chimney power plant (SCPP) is a power generator which uses solar radiation to increase the internal energy of the air circulating in the system, thereby transforming the useful gain of the solar collector into kinetic energy. The produced kinetic energy then can be converted into electrical energy by means of an appropriate turbine. In this paper, four locations in Algeria

(Constantine, Ouargla, Adrar, and Tamanrasset) were considered as case studies to describe the SCPP mechanism in detail. Numerical simulation of an SCPP which has the same geometrical dimensions was performed to estimate the power output of SCPP in these regions. Using the CFD software FLUENT we simulated a two-dimensional axisymmetric model of a SCPP with the standard k-ε turbulence model. The simulation results show that the highest power output produced monthly average value 68–73 KW over the year and the highest hourly power produced in June is around 109–113 KW.     

Evaluation of energy savings by using high efficiency motors in a thermal power station

This paper presents potential energy savings by installing high-efficiency motors instead of existing ones and their impact on greenhouse gases emissions reductions. This research study of the energy efficiency of electric motors has been performed in a typical thermal power plant. In the literature, the focus has been mainly on separate and away electric motors from operating facilities. The important advantage of this paper over other studies is that it uses the actual motors’ efficiency in the evaluation. The gains both in terms of electrical energy savings and in terms of financial economy by using high-efficiency motors have been discussed. As a result, the energy saving can be expected as 12.6% at the operating rate. This excellent result also reduces greenhouse gas emission by 1,423 tons every year. The analysis of the data provided an overview on energy losses often generated by the degradation and rewinding of electrical motors. This study represents very encouraging results that will help energy managers of industrial plants to become more involved in energy efficiency strategies.     

Global solar radiation and energy yield estimation from photovoltaic power plants for small loads

Daily global solar radiation on a horizontal surface and duration of sunshine hours have been determined experimentally for five meteorological stations in Saudi Arabia, namely, Abha, Al-Ahsa, Al-Jouf, Al-Qaisumah, and Wadi Al-Dawaser sites. Five-years of data covering 1998–2002 period have been used. Suitable Angstrom models have been developed for the global solar radiation estimation as a function of the sunshine duration for each respective sites. Daily averages of monthly solar PV power outputs have been determined using the Angstrom models developed. The effect of the PV cell temperature on the PV efficiency has been considered in calculating the PV power output. The annual average PV output energy has been discussed in all five sites for small loads. The minimum and maximum monthly average values of the daily global solar radiation are found to be 12.09 MJ/m²/d and 30.42 MJ/m²/d for Al-Qaisumah and Al-Jouf in the months of December June, respectively. Minimum monthly average sunshine hours of 5.89 hr were observed in Al-Qaisumah in December while a maximum of 12.92 hr in Al-Jouf in the month of June. Shortest range of sunshine hours of 7.33–10.12 hr was recorded at Abha station. Minimum monthly average Solar PV power of 1.59 MJ/m²/day was obtained at Al-Qaisumah in the month of December and a maximum of 3.39 MJ/m²/day at Al-Jouf in June. The annual PV energy output was found to be 276.04 kWh/m², 257.36 kWh/m², 256.75 kWh/m², 245.44 kWh/m², and 270.95 kWh/m² at Abha, Al-Ahsa, Al-Jouf, Al-Qaisumah, and Wadi Al-Dawaser stations, respectively. It is found that the Abha site yields the highest solar PV energy among the five sites considered.     

Natural resource industry involvement in collaboration for water governance: influence on processes and outcomes in Canada

Natural resource industries are increasingly significant actors in environmental decision-making. Possessing vast institutional and technical capacity, firms have an important role to play in ‘new’ governance strategies such as collaboration. These strategies are often based upon assumptions of equitable influence. This paper investigates the nature of resource industry participation in collaborative water governance in Canada, and the potential consequences of that participation as investigated using power theory. The study used comparative cases to reveal that resource industries are able to shape collaboration, and the issues collaborated upon, at multiple analytical levels both internal and external to the collaborative process in ways not available to other actors. Analysis also revealed that resource industry participation in collaboration did not reflect a commitment to engage in shared learning and the reexamination of values and interests as presupposed by collaborative theory. Collaboration is thus challenged in producing equitable, representative outcomes when resource industries participate.     

生物质能源发展的市场环境培育分析——以湖北省为例

生物质能源作为可再生能源的重要组成部分,其在替代能源、环境保护、减少碳排放,促进农民增效方面具有重要作用。以资源贫乏、能源短缺的湖北省作为生物质能源发展市场环境培育分析的研究对象,具有一定的代表性。通过深入分析生物质能源原料市场、产品市场、技术市场的发展现状,得知生物质能源发展的政策法规不完善、市场保障机制体系不健全、公众能源意识淡薄、投融资体制不顺畅、技术研发创新难是制约其产业发展的主要因素。因此对生物质能源发展的市场环境培育提出3方面建议：在政策法规层面,政府需要制定保护性政策来调控市场,以弥补市场力量的不足,并界定好生物质能源产业的发展方向;在监管体系层面,需要设立严格的生物质能源市场准入门槛和有效的定价机制,防止生物质能源过度发展;在企业经营层面,实施生物质能源企业集群带动战略,提升核心竞争力。     

Willing and able: explaining individuals' engagement in environmental policy making

Research on attitudes toward environmental policy making has often overlooked the important role that risks play in forming individual attitudes towards the environment. Similarly, this research often assumes that the factors that affect attitudes are similar across different environmental domains. The purpose of this research is to examine how the factors that affect an individual's willingness to get involved in environmental policy making differ on two environmental issues – nuclear power and drinking water. The study utilises multivariate statistical techniques to explore the relationship that uncertainty, risk, and trust play in an individual's willingness to take action in environmental policy making. The data consist of responses to a national random telephone survey of 403 adults in the United States. The individuals surveyed are more likely to take action on the less avoidable potential threat of nuclear power than they are on drinking water. The respondents believe that the potential harm from nuclear power is greater than that from drinking water. The individuals most likely to take action are those who indicate that they are interested in environmental issues.     

太阳能光伏发电成本及展望

针对太阳能电池的昂贵发电成本,分析和预测了国内外的太阳能光伏产业链的现状与发展;指出研制高效率、低成本太阳能光伏发电系统将是今后的任务。     

环保产业：实现可持续发展的朝阳产业

可持续发展的绿色需求是促进环保产业成为朝阳产业的根本动力,本文在分析国内外绿色需求与绿色市场状况的基础上,提出了甸发展绿色高科技等建议。     

垃圾填埋气收集利用研究进展

城市生活垃圾填埋过程中伴随产生大量填埋气,造成的环境影响不容忽视,填埋气中的CH4具有很高热值,是可利用的再生能源.对我国垃圾填埋气的特点、常见收集方式、焚烧发电利用现状进行了综述和分析,并探讨了未来的发展方向.     

乡村工业的绿色转型及可持续发展研究——以南京市D村为例

绿色发展是乡村振兴的必由之路.通过对南京市D村的实地调查,发现政府主导的转型模式在推动村庄绿色发展的同时,存在村庄内生动力不足、内部利益分化以及产业市场竞争力较弱等风险,制约着村庄可持续发展.基于此提出,政府在开发与建设过程中要充分保障村民主体性的发挥,同时注重提高产业的市场竞争力.