Search results for "fuel"
showing 10 items of 986 documents
Fabrication and characterization of nanostructured Ni–IrO2 electrodes for water electrolysis
2014
Abstract Nanostructured Ni–IrO2 electrodes were fabricated by electrodeposition in a two-step procedure: first arrays of nickel nanowires (NWs) were electrodeposited within pores of polycarbonate (PC) membranes, then iridium oxide nanoparticles were deposited on the Ni metal after membrane dissolution, for improving the catalytic activity. The aim was to compare performance of these electrodes with traditional ones consisting of Ni film. Different methods of deposition of the IrO2 electrocatalyst were investigated and the effect on electrodes stability and activity is discussed. Despite a low coverage of Ni NWs by the electrocatalyst, results indicate a faster kinetics of O2 evolution in 1 …
Experimental model-based linearization of a S.I. engine gas injector flow chart:
2014
Experimental tests previously executed by the authors on the simultaneous combustion of gasoline and gaseous fuel in a spark ignition engine revealed the presence of strong nonlinearities in the lower part of the gas injector flow chart. These nonlinearities arise via the injector outflow area variation caused by the needle impacts and bounces during the transient phenomena that take place in the opening and closing phases of the injector and may seriously compromise the air-fuel mixture quality control for the lower injection times, thus increasing both fuel consumption and pollutant emissions. Despite the extensive literature about the operation and modelling of fuel injectors, there are …
Real time monitoring of water level and temperature in storage fuel pools through optical fibre sensors
2017
AbstractWe present an innovative architecture of a Rayleigh-based optical fibre sensor for the monitoring of water level and temperature inside storage nuclear fuel pools. This sensor, able to withstand the harsh constraints encountered under accidental conditions such as those pointed-out during the Fukushima-Daiichi event (temperature up to 100 °C and radiation dose level up to ~20 kGy), exploits the Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry technique to remotely monitor a radiation resistant silica-based optical fibre i.e. its sensing probe. We validate the efficiency and the robustness of water level measurements, which are extrapolated from the temperature profile along the fibre length, …
Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine Drive Powered by Fuel Cell for Automotive Applications
2020
Electric vehicles represent an optimal solution for the reduction of pollution in urban areas. In particular, the Fuel Cell (FC) technology is a promising solution especially for its charging times and zero CO2 direct emissions. The paper addresses the design and performance study of an Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine (IPMSM) drive powered by fuel cell for automotive applications. The IPMSM drive is powered by the use of 5,5 kW FC unit and it is composed of two DC-DC power converters and one inverter. In detail, a test bench has been carried out for the evaluation of the performances of each IPMSM drive conversion stage. Moreover, in order to simulate automotive working condit…
Reactivity of cellulose during hydrothermal carbonization of lignocellulosic biomass
2020
Abstract Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of pure cellulose (CE) and birchwood (BW) samples was carried out at temperatures between 160 and 280 °C, 0.5 h residence time and biomass-to-water ratio 1:5, to investigate the reactivity of cellulose in lignocellulosic biomass. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that the CE samples remained unaltered at temperatures up to 220 °C, but were significantly decomposed at 230 °C producing a thermal recalcitrant aromatic and high energy-dense material. FTIR showed that dehydration and aromatization reactions occurred at temperature equal or higher than 230 °C for the CE samples while a similar incre…
Modeling of the catalytic effects of potassium and calcium on spruce wood gasification in CO2
2016
Abstract Using previously reported thermogravimetric analysis measurements, the effects of calcium and potassium on the char gasification rate of spruce wood were modeled. Spruce wood was leached of inorganic ash elements and doped with measured amounts of potassium and calcium. The wood was gasified in an isothermal thermogravimetric analysis device in CO 2 where the devolatilization of the wood, char formation and char gasification all occurred inside the preheated reactor. A new method for separating the effects of devolatilization and char gasification is presented. Kinetic models were evaluated for their ability to describe the observed catalytic effects of potassium and calcium on the…
The effect of feedstock origin and temperature on the structure and reactivity of char from pyrolysis at 1300–2800 °C
2018
This study reports the effect of feedstock origin, residence time, and heat treatment temperature on CO2 and O2 reactivities, nanostructure and carbon chemistry of chars prepared at 1300, 1600, 2400, and 2800 °C in a slow pyrolysis reactor. The structure of char was characterized by transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The CO2 and O2 reactivity of char was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. Results showed that the ash composition and residence time influence the char reactivity less than the heat treatment temperature. The heat treatment temperature and co-pyrolysis of pinewood char with biooil decreased the CO2 reactivity, approaching that of metallurgical coke…
An experimental investigation on the long-term compatibility of preheated crude palm oil in a large compression ignition diesel engine
2018
An experimental study was carried out on a large stationary compression ignition engine to evaluate the long-term compatibility and durability issues associated with the use of crude palm oil as fuel. Two different preheating temperatures (60 and 80 °C) were adopted to assess the potential improvements related to lower fuel viscosity. The results obtained, in terms of in-cylinder carbon deposits and engine wear, were compared with the results obtained using ordinary diesel fuel. For each fuel and preheating temperature, the engine was operated for 300 consecutive h, during which several engine lubricant samples were collected and analysed to determine soot and fuel contaminations, viscosity…
Upgrade of citrus waste as a biofuel via slow pyrolysis
2015
Abstract Slow pyrolysis (200–650 °C) experiments on citrus residues (orange peel waste “OP” and lemon peel waste “LP”) were carried out in lab scale fixed bed batch reactor. Bio-oil and bio-char obtained by thermal degradation are more stable, more homogeneous and higher energy content fuels when compared to the parent feedstock. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed higher stability of LP waste, which appears related to the higher lignin content . Mass and energy yields of solid and liquid products (i.e., char and oil) were measured to determine the effects of peak temperature on feedstock. A linear correlation between Gross Calorific Value (GCV), peak temperatures and mass loss (ML) all…
A salt-induced mechanism for the swelling of black liquor droplet during devolatilization
2017
Abstract Black liquor (BL) from the pulp and paper industry is a significant bioenergy source. Swelling of BL droplet during the pyrolysis stage of combustion and gasification is a profound phenomenon affecting various boiler processes. However, the mechanism for droplet swelling has remains a puzzle due to an insufficient understanding of the formation of the plastic droplet at the pyrolysis stage of the thermal conversion. Thermogravimetric studies with model aliphatic carboxylates unraveled the melting and decomposition behavior of the complex mixture of BL salts during pyrolysis, indicating that the melting of salts forming a liquid state may be the primary cause for the development of …