A power plant for integrated waste energy recovery from liquid air energy storage and liquefied natural gas

Liquefied natural gas(LNG)is regarded as one of the cleanest fossil fuel and has experienced significant developments in recent years.The liquefaction process of natural gas is energy-intensive,while the regasification of LNG gives out a huge amount of waste energy since plenty of high grade cold energy(-160℃)from LNG is released to sea water directly in most cases,and also sometimes LNG is burned for regasification.On the other hand,liquid air energy storage(LAES)is an emerging energy storage technology for applications such as peak load shifting of power grids,which generates 30%-40%of compression heat(-200℃).Such heat could lead to energy waste if not recovered and used.The recovery of the compression heat is technically feasible but requires additional capital investment,which may not always be economically attractive.Therefore,we propose a power plant for recovering the waste cryogenic energy from LNG regasification and compression heat from the LAES.The challenge for such a power plant is the wide working temperature range between the low-temperature exergy source(-160℃)and heat source(-200℃).Nitrogen and argon are proposed as the working fluids to address the challenge.Thermodynamic analyses are carried out and the results show that the power plant could achieve a thermal efficiency of 27%and 19%and an exergy efficiency of 40%and 28%for nitrogen and argon,respectively.Here,with the nitrogen as working fluid undergoes a complete Brayton Cycle,while the argon based power plant goes through a combined Brayton and Rankine Cycle.Besides,the economic analysis shows that the payback period of this proposed system is only 2.2 years,utilizing the excess heat from a 5 MW/40 MWh LAES system.The findings suggest that the waste energy based power plant could be co-located with the LNG terminal and LAES plant,providing additional power output and reducing energy waste.

Experimental Study on Emission Control of Premixed Catalytic Combustion of Natural Gas Using Preheated Air

In this paper the premixed catalytic combustion emissions such as CO, unburned hydrocarbon (UHC), NOx and the temperature distribution in the catalytic monolith with ultra low concentration of Pd were studied. Three types of monoliths were used for experiments and the temperature of preheated air was respectively 50℃ , 100℃ and 200℃ . The results showed that preheated air made radial temperature in the catalytic monolith uniform which helped to avoid local hot spots so as to decrease NOx emission. The experiment also proved that the shorter monolith showed much better catalytic combustion performance than longer one and the temperature at the exit of the shorter monolith was relatively lower. On the contrary, the temperature was higher in the longer monolith and the lethal NOx emission was slightly increased.

Natural Gas and Indoor Air Pollution: A Comparison With Coal Gas and Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Objective The study was designed to compare the combustion products of coal gas, liquefied petroleum gas and natural gas in relation to indoor air pollution. Methods Regular pollutants including B(a)P were monitored and 1-hydroxy pyrene were tested in urine of the enrolled subjects. Radon concentrations and their changes in four seasons were also monitored in the city natural gas from its source plant and transfer stations to final users. To analyze organic components of coal gas, liquefied petroleum gas and natural gas, a high-flow sampling device specially designed was used to collect their combustion products, and semi-volatile organic compounds contained in the particles were detected by gas chromatograph-mass spectrograph (GC/MS). Results Findings in the study showed that the regular indoor air pollutants particles and CO were all above the standard in winter when heating facilities were operated in the city, but they were lowest in kitchens using natural gas; furthermore, although NO2 and CO2 were slightly higher in natural gas, B(a)P concentration was lower in this group and 1-hydroxy pyrene was lowest in urine of the subjects exposed to natural gas. Organic compounds were more complicated in coal gas and liquefied petroleum gas than in natural gas. The concentration of radon in natural gas accounted for less than 1‰ of its effective dose contributing to indoor air pollution in Beijing households. Conclusion Compared to traditional fuels, gases are deemed as clean ones, and natural gas is shown to be cleaner than the other two gases.

Time Series Analysis and Forecasting of the Air Quality Index of Atmospheric Air Pollutants in Zahleh, Lebanon

During the last decades, air pollution has become a serious environmental hazard. Its impact on public health and safety, as well as on the ecosystem, has been dramatic. Forecasting the levels of air pollution to maintain the climatic conditions and environmental protection becomes crucial for government authorities to develop strategies for the prevention of pollution. This study aims to evaluate the atmospheric air pollution of the city of Zahleh located in the geographic zone of Bekaa. The study aims to determine a relationship between variations in ambient particulate concentrations during a short time. The data was collected from June 2017 to June 2018. In order to predict the Air Quality Index (AQI), Naïve, Exponential Smoothing, TBATS (a forecasting method to model time series data), and Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) models were implemented. The performance of these models for predicting air quality is measured using the Mean Absolute Error (MAE), the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), and the Relative Error (RE). SARIMA model is the most accurate in prediction of AQI (RMSE = 38.04, MAE = 22.52 and RE = 0.16). The results reveal that SARIMA can be applied to cities like Zahleh to assess the level of air pollution and to prevent harmful impacts on health. Furthermore, the authorities responsible for controlling the air quality may use this model to measure the level of air pollution in the nearest future and establish a mechanism to identify the high peaks of air pollution.

Analysis on the Variation of Urban Heat Island Intensity and Its Relationships with Air Pollutants in Kunming,China

[ Objective] The research aimed to study variation of the urban heat island （UHI） intensity and its relationships with air pollutants in Kunming. [ Method] Observation data of the air temperature series from Kunming station and surrounding Taihuashan meteorological station were used to investigate the variation characteristics of UHI intensity in Kunming during 2001 -2010. Meanwhile, relationship between UHI intensity and air quality on the basis of concentration data for primary air pollutants （SO2, NO2 and PMlo ） from environmental monitoring station of Kunming was studied in this paper. [Result] Annual mean UHI intensity increased at the rate of 0.110 ℃/10 a, and UHI intensity was higher in dry season than that in rainy season. The change trend of air pollutants level in Kunming was in accordance with that of the UHI intensity. When UHI intensity reached peak value, air pollutants showed high concentration. UHI intensity had significantly positive correlation with air pollutants level. Annual mean UHI intensity had significantly positive correlation with PMlo level under the likelihood of 95%, but monthly mean UHI intensity had significantly positive correlation with NO2 level under the likelihood of 99%. In addition, annual statistics days with Grade I air quality obviously decreased with the strengthenment of UHI intensity. Therefore, air quality in Kunming City tumed more deteriorated with the enhancement of UHI intensity. [ Conclusion] The research findings provided a valid scientific basis for the mitigation of UHI and improvement of the atmospheric environment in Kunming.

Air Pollutant Emissions from Coal-Fired Power Plants

In order to investigate the factual air pollutant emissions from Henan’s power sector in 2010, SO2, NOx and PM emissions from 24 generating sets from 15 coal-fired power plants have been measured. It is shown that SO2 emission values from 22 of 24 generating sets conform to the requirements, which is causing by the high performance of the flue gas desulfurization system. Much higher NOx emissions indicate that the construction of flue gas denitrition systems is necessary. PM emissions varied from 2.3 kg to 299.9 kg per hour. Total sulfur, moisture, ash and volatile content, and net caloric value of coals were investigated to elucidate the relationship between coals and air pollutant emissions.

Tracking Source Variations of Inhalation Cancer Risks and Ozone Formation Potential in Hong Kong over Two Decades(2000−2020)Using Toxic Air Pollutant Monitoring Data

Toxic air pollutants(TAPs)are a class of airborne chemicals known or suspected to cause serious health issues.This study,applying positive matrix factorization and inhalation unit risk estimates of TAPs,quantifies the changes in significant sources contributing to inhalation cancer risks(ICRs)from 2000 to 2020 in Hong Kong,China.Total ICR decreased from 1701 to 451 cases per million between 2000−2004 and 2016−2020,largely attributed to the reduction in diesel particulate matter(DPM),gasoline and solvent use-related volatile organic compounds(VOCs),and coal/biomass combustion-related polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and metal(loid)s.The regional contribution of VOCs associated with industrial and halogenated solvent sources increased substantially,representing the largest non-DPM ICR contributor(37%)in 2016−2020,stressing the need for a more comprehensive risk evaluation across the fast-growing and densely populated Greater Bay Area(GBA).ICRs in Hong Kong and the GBA will likely remain over 100 cases per million by 2050.The contributions to ozone formation potential of VOC/carbonyl sources were quantified,which show a notable shift from being solvent/gasoline-dominant in 2000−2004 to being more evenly shared by various sources in 2016−2020.Establishing a similar TAP monitoring network in the GBA is anticipated to provide the monitoring data needed to facilitate the development of more informed air quality management strategies.

Petroleum substitution, greenhouse gas emissions reduction and environmental benefits from the development of natural gas vehicles in China

This study develops a bottom-up model to quantitatively assess the comprehensive effects of replacing traditional petroleum-powered vehicles with natural gas vehicles（NGVs） in China based on an investigation of the direct energy consumption and critical air pollutant（CAP） emission intensity, life-cycle energy use and greenhouse gas（GHG） emission intensity of NGV fleets. The results indicate that, on average, there are no net energy savings from replacing a traditional fuel vehicle with an NGV. Interestingly, an NGV results in significant reductions in direct CAP and life-cycle GHG emissions compared to those of a traditional fuel vehicle, ranging from 61% to 76% and 12% to 29%, respectively. Due to the increasing use of natural gas as a vehicle fuel in China（i.e. approximately 28.2 billion cubic metres of natural gas in2015）, the total petroleum substituted with natural gas was approximately 23.8 million tonnes（Mt）, which generated a GHG emission reduction of 16.9 Mt of CO2 equivalent and a CAP emission reduction of 1.8 Mt in 2015. Given the significant contribution of NGVs, growing the NGV population in 2020 will further increase the petroleum substitution benefits and CAP and GHG emission reduction benefits by approximately 42.5 Mt of petroleum-based fuel, 3.1 Mt of CAPs and 28.0 Mt of GHGs. By 2030, these benefits will reach 81.5 Mt of traditional petroleum fuel, 5.6 Mt of CAPs and 50.5 Mt of GHGs, respectively.

Study on Spatial Variation Characteristics of Air Pollutants in Typical Cities of Shandong Province

Air pollution has become the most concerned regional environmental problem in China at present.According to the data of typical cities in Shandong Province from January,2014 to December,2015,the air quality status,pollution status and spatial variation characteristics of air pollutants were classified and analyzed,thereby providing a scientific basis for air pollution control.The conclusions of this study are as follows:(1) PM_(2.5) was the most important atmospheric pollutant in Shandong Province;(2) Qingdao had the best air quality with a good air quality rate of 73.7%,while Jinan had the worst air quality with a good air quality rate only of 31.3%; and(3) the days with heavy pollution were mainly concentrated in winter,mainly due to coal-fired heating in winter.

Mapping Air Quality Using Remote Sensing Technology: A Case Study of Nairobi County

Nairobi County experiences rapid industrialization and urbanization that contributes to the deteriorating state of air quality, posing a potential health risk to its growing population. Currently, in Nairobi County, most air quality monitoring stations use low-cost, inaccurate monitors prone to defects. The study’s objective was to map Nairobi County’s air quality using freely available remotely sensed imagery. The Air Pollution Index (API) formula was used to characterize the air quality from cloud-free Landsat satellite images i.e., Landsat 5 TM, Landsat 7 ETM+, and Landsat 8 OLI from Google Earth Engine. The API values were computed based on vegetation indices namely NDVI, TVI, DVI, and the SWIR1 and NIR bands on the QGIS platform. Qualitative accuracy assessment was done using sample points drawn from residential, industrial, green spaces, and traffic hotspot categories, based on a passive-random sampling technique. In this study, Landsat 5 API imagery for 2010 provided a reliable representation of local conditions but indicated significant pollution in green spaces, with recorded values ranging from -143 to 334. The study found that Landsat 7 API imagery in 2002 showed expected results with the range of values being -55 to 287, while Landsat 8 indicated high pollution levels in Nairobi. The results emphasized the importance of air quality factors in API calibration and the unmatched spatial coverage of satellite observations over ground-based monitoring techniques. The study recommends the recalibration of the API formula for characteristic regions, exploring newer satellite sensors like those onboard Landsat 9 and Sentinel 2, and involving key stakeholders in a discourse to develop a suitable Kenyan air quality index.

Air Quality Assessment of Ubeji Community near Petroleum-Related Activities

The escalating global concern over air pollution requires rigorous investigations. This study assesses air quality near residential areas affected by petroleum-related activities in Ubeji Community, utilizing Aeroqual handheld mobile multi-gas monitors and air quality multi-meters. Air sampling occurred on three distinct days using multi-gas monitors and meters, covering parameters such as CO, NO2, CH4, NH3, VOCs, Particulate Matter, Temperature, Relative Humidity, and Air Quality Index. Soil and plant samples were collected and analyzed for physicochemical and organic components. Air pollutant concentrations showed significant fluctuations. Carbon monoxide (CO) ranged from 0.00 to 3.22 ppm, NO2 from 0.00 to 0.10 ppm, CH4 from 4.00 to 2083 ppm, NH3 from 371 to 5086 ppm, and VOCs from 414 to 6135 ppm. Soil analysis revealed low total nitrogen, and undetected BTEX levels. Plant samples displayed a pH range of 7.72 to 9.45. CO concentrations, although below WHO limits, indicated potential vehicular and industrial influences. Fluctuations in NO2 and CH4 were linked to traffic, industrial activities, and gas flaring. NH3 levels suggested diverse pollution sources. The result in this study highlights the dynamic nature of air pollution in Ubeji community, emphasizing the urgent need for effective pollution control measures. Although CO concentrations were within limits, continuous monitoring is essential. Elevated NO2 levels gave information on the impact of industrial activities, while high CH4 concentrations may be associated with gas flaring and illegal refining. The study recommends comprehensive measures and collaborative efforts to address these complex issues, safeguarding both the environment and public health. This study shows the potential synergy between air quality sensors and plants for holistic environmental health assessments, offering valuable insights for environmental assessments and remediation endeavours. The findings call for stringent regulations and collaborative efforts to address air pollution in Ubeji community comprehensively.

Investigating the Air Quality Parameters in Louisiana’s Industrial Corridor: A Baton Rouge Case Study

In a local context, sustainable development entails utilizing the current resources—material and immaterial, measurable and immeasurable, popular and unpopular—of the community in a manner that avoids overexploitation and ensures intergenerational equity. This approach prioritizes the safety and health of local citizens, placing communal productivity above corporate profitability. This research aims to assess air quality surrounding 28 chemical industry sites in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to understand the environmental and health impacts of industrial pollutants, with a focus on environmental justice. Air quality pollutants, including PM2.5, PM10, O3, NO2, CO, and SO2, were monitored for 75 days during the Summer, using the BreezoMeter app. Python, Mapize, and QGIS software technologies were utilized for data analysis and visualization. Findings indicate a reduction in NO2 and CO levels, compared to existing literature. However, the persistent challenge of particulate matter suggests areas for further environmental management efforts. Additionally, the research suggests a significant disparity in air pollution exposure, probably affecting marginalized communities. Although the nature of the study might not fully capture annual pollution trends, the findings highlight the urgent need for the chemical industry to adopt efficient production methods and for policymakers to enhance air quality standards and enforcement, particularly in pollution-sensitive areas. The disproportionate impact of air pollution on vulnerable communities calls for a more inclusive approach to environmental justice, ensuring equitable distribution of clean air benefits and community involvement in pollution management decisions.

Assessment of Air Quality in Brazzaville: Measurement of Some Automobile Pollutants

Atmospheric pollution is currently a real public health problem because of its potentially harmful effects on the environment as well as on human health. Several studies conducted in America, Europe, Asia, and Africa have established a significant link between air pollution and cancer, infertility, cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity, and mortality. This study aims to measure some automotive pollutants (CO, CO2, NO2, and SO2) by a selective and colorimetric method using a measurement system on Dräger reagent tubes coupled to a Dräger Accuro sampling pump in order to do a quantitative assessment of air quality in the nine districts of Brazzaville. The results obtained during this study revealed high concentration levels of pollutants (CO, CO2, NO2, SO2), all above the standards recommended by the WHO. The results obtained during this study made it possible to categorise Brazzaville as a polluted city.

Design of Multi-gas Monitoring Device for Indoor Air Quality

Besides the need for low-cost instruments for air pollution measurement and detection,nowadays there are many concerns about air pollution due to the fast changes and used technologies.This research was applied using an MQ2 gas detector,and microcontroller/Arduino-Uno.The design steps included bonding and connecting readymade sensors,coding,and finally testing the device.Testing has been conducted in Environment and Pollution Engineering Department laboratories,at the Technical Engineering College of Kirkuk.This study proposed the use of an MQ2 sensor for multi-gas rate detection which can exist indoors.The system uses also a DHT22 sensor for measuring environment temperature and humidity.The sensors are connected to Arduino and LCD to present data on LCD by powering the system with external power.Overall,the testing was conducted,and the device served as a measuring tool for indoor air as an accurate multi-gas rate detector.

Quantifying the impacts of emissions and meteorology on the interannual variations of air pollutants in major Chinese cities from 2015 to 2021

Air pollutant concentration is a function of emission rates and meteorology.To accurately evaluate the effect of control measures,the meteorological covariate must be corrected from the observations.This study quantified the impacts of emission abatement and meteorological condition on the interannual variations of SO_(2),NO_(2),CO,O_(3),PM_(10) and PM_(2.5) concentrations in 31 major Chinese cities using an optimized machine learning-based meteorological normalization technique.Overall,the annual average concentrations of SO_(2),NO_(2),CO,PM_(10)and PM_(2.5)were reduced by 86%,51%,99%,86% and 88%from 2015 to 2020,respectively,in the studied cities,attributable to their emission reductions.However,the concentration of O_(3) was found with no significant decrease with the reduction of precursors.Emission abatement notably improved air quality between 2015 and 2018.Such a decline in emissions tended to progressively slow down since 2018.Overall,the meteorological conditions in 2016–2017 and 2018–2019 were unfavorable for a better air quality,while it became favorable in 2020–2021.Specifically,emission abatement in 2021 further lowered the concentrations of SO_(2),NO_(2),CO,and PM_(2.5),while the emission of PM_(10) increased.And changes in precursors emissions worsened O_(3) air quality.To meet the demand of improving air quality,more aggressive abatement measures need to be formulated to synergistically reduce NOx,volatile organic compounds,and coarse particles.

Air Quality Estimation Using Nonhomogeneous Markov Chains: A Case Study Comparing Two Rules Applied to Mexico City Data

A nonhomogeneous Markov chain is applied to the study of the air quality classification in Mexico City when the so-called criterion pollutants are used. We consider the indices associated with air quality using two regulations where different ways of classification are taken into account. Parameters of the model are the initial and transition probabilities of the chain. They are estimated under the Bayesian point of view through samples generated directly from the corresponding posterior distributions. Using the estimated parameters, the probability of having an air quality index in a given hour of the day is obtained.

Unveiling Citizens’ Perceptions, Attitudes, and Behaviors towards Air Quality: Insights from a Survey in the Po Basin Area

Air pollution has far-reaching environmental and social consequences, requiring the active participation of individual citizens in improving air quality by means of emission-reducing behaviors. This research examines the relationship between citizens’ knowledge, perceptions of air quality, attitudes towards policy measures, and intentions to adopt environmentally-friendly behaviors to combat air pollution. A comprehensive survey is conducted among a representative sample from seven regions in the Po basin area: Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardy, Piedmont, Province of Trento, Valle d’Aosta, and Veneto. The survey aims at profiling participants based on their level of information, perceptions of air pollution, and attitudes towards emission-reducing behaviors. Cluster analysis identifies meaningful differences among citizen groups in terms of their awareness and intentions to engage in specific behaviors. Four distinct clusters emerge, each characterized by varying levels of willingness to embrace pro-environmental behaviors and support air quality improvement initiatives. By examining these profiles, the study uncovers patterns in citizens’ awareness, concerns, and acceptance of environmentally-friendly practices. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers to develop targeted interventions, policies, and communication strategies.

Generation of a Controlled Polluted Atmosphere for Vehicles’ Cabins Air Quality Characterization

Air pollution induces significant health risks to individuals exposed to high levels of pollutants concentration. For ground vehicles, pollutants infiltrate the car cabin through the ventilation system, leading to potential health issues. To address this problem, a project was undertaken to develop a protocol for characterizing in-cabin air quality. The study involved a closed chamber (the bubble) where its internal multiphase flow has been optimized to create controlled polluted atmospheres. Experiments were conducted to optimize the positioning of the stirring fan and particle generation source, ensuring a homogeneous distribution of fine and ultrafine particles. This study demonstrated the feasibility of implementing a platform dedicated to characterizing the vehicles’ in-cabin air quality under controlled conditions. It allows a better understanding of the dynamics of particle infiltration and the establishment of an optimized protocol for simultaneous measurements of indoor and outdoor concentrations.

Outlier Detection of Air Quality for Two Indian Urban Cities Using Functional Data Analysis

Human living would be impossible without air quality. Consistent advancements in practically every aspect of contemporary human life have harmed air quality. Everyday industrial, transportation, and home activities turn up dangerous contaminants in our surroundings. This study investigated two years’ worth of air quality and outlier detection data from two Indian cities. Studies on air pollution have used numerous types of methodologies, with various gases being seen as a vector whose components include gas concentration values for each observation per-formed. We use curves to represent the monthly average of daily gas emissions in our technique. The approach, which is based on functional depth, was used to find outliers in the city of Delhi and Kolkata’s gas emissions, and the outcomes were compared to those from the traditional method. In the evaluation and comparison of these models’ performances, the functional approach model studied well.

Impact of Crude Oil Storage Tank Emissions and Gas Flaring on Air/Rainwater Quality and Weather Conditions in Bonny Industrial Island, Nigeria

This study investigated the effects of gaseous emissions from crude storage tank and gas flaring on air and rainwater quality in Bonny Industrial Island. Ambient air quality parameters, rainwater and weather parameters were collected at 60 m, 80 m, 100 m, 200 m and control plot for 4 weeks at the Bonny. Rainwater parameters were investigated using standard laboratory tests. Data analyses were done using Analysis of variance, pairwise t-test and Pearson’s correlation statistical tools. Results show that emission rates, volatile organic compound (VOC) noise and flare temperature decreased with increasing distance from flare points and crude oil storage tanks. Findings further revealed the emission rates varied significantly with distance away from the gas flaring point (F = 6.196;p = 0.004). The mean concentration of pollutants between gas flare site and crude oil storage tank showed that CO (0.02 ± 0.001 - 0.002 ±0.001), SPM (0.011 ± 0.001 - 0.01 ± 0.001), VOC (0.005 ± 0.001 - 0.01 ± 0.001) and NO2 (0.04 ± 0.001 - 0.005 ± 0.000) had significant variations (p > 0.05) with CO, O3 and NO2 having higher concentrations at the gas flare site while SPM, and VOC were higher around the crude oil storage tank site. Wind turbulence was higher around the gas flaring point (4.93 TKE) than the crude oil storage tank (4.55 TKE). Similarly, there was significant variation in the sun radiation, precipitation, and wind speed caused by gas flaring (1582.25 w/m2, 436.25 mm, 0.53 m/s) and crude oil storage tank (1536.25 w/m2, 3.91.41 mm, 0.51 m/s). There were also significant variations in flared temperature (F = 22.144;p = 0.001);NO2 (F = 8.250;p = 0.001), CO (F = 6.000;p = 0.004) and VOC (F = 5.574;p = 0.006) with distance from the gas flaring point. The variation in the rainwater parameters with distance from the gas flaring indicated significant variations in pH (F = 5.594;p = 0.006). The study showed that the concentration of VOC and particulates were high in the supposedly control area which is perceived to be safe for human habitation. Significant variations exist in emission rate (p = 0.015), flare temperature (p = 0.001), NO2 (p = 0.003), VOC (p = 0.001), noise (p = 0.041), hydrogen carbonate (p = 0.037) and chromium (p = 0.032) between the gas flaring and crude oil storage tank. Regular monitoring is advocated to mitigate the harmful effects of the pollutants.