Historical Review of Hydrogen Energy Storage Technology

Hydrogen energy as a sustainable energy source has most recently become an increasingly important renewable energy resource due to its ability to power fuel cells in zero-emission vehicles and its help in lowering the levels of CO2 emissions. Also, hydrogen has a high energy density and can be utilized in a wide range of applications. It is indeed the fuel of the future but, it is still not entirely apparent how to analyze the most successful ways for hydrogen storage based on technological configuration, nature, and efficiency mechanisms. The historical hydrogen storage technologies as they are presented by the current research have been evaluated, analyzed, and examined in this study. The two categories of hydrogen storage systems are physical-based and material-based.The first category involves storing hydrogen as liquid, cold/cryo-compressed, and compressed gas. Chemical sorption/chemisorption and physical sorption/physisorption are the two primary sub-groups of material-based storage, respectively. The quantitative and qualitative analyses of storage technologies for hydrogen are evaluated in this paper. Also, this report reviews the major safety and reliability issues currently facing hydrogen storage systems. Suggestions are made to assist lay the groundwork for future risk and reliability analysis to ensure safe, dependable operation.

Systematic Biological Upgrade of a Urea Fertilizer Effluent Treatment Plant Using GPS

The use of modeling and simulation has developed into a critical tool for the sustainable management of wastewater, especially when it comes to replicating the complex biochemical procedures required for fertilizer effluent treatment, which calls for a significant amount of wastewater-related data. The biological improvement of a urea fertilizer effluent via GPS* simulation was carried out in this work using a methodical process. Using established analytical techniques, temperature, total suspended solids (TSS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total phosphorus (T/), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN), total nitrate (NO3), electric conductivity (EC), turbidity, residual chlorine, urea, NH3, and heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni, and Fe) were assessed. The research revealed that the measured values from the fertilizer factory outfall effluent had high concentrations of all the physicochemical water quality indicators, with the exception of TSS, PO4-, SO4-, and NO3-. These concentrations are higher compared to the authorized limits or suggested values by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA). To improve the therapy biologically, however, a modeling and simulation program (GPS-X, version 8.0) was used with the physicochemical information gathered from the studied sample. The results of the treated water simulation showed that the concentrations of BOD5 and COD had been significantly reduced by 35% and 44%, respectively. Additionally, it was discovered that total phosphorus (TP), nitrate (N), and total nitrogen (TN) were all within the permitted FEPA limit. The results revealed good treatment performance of the wastewater with increasing concentration of acetic acid and sodium hydroxide. Hence, the results of this research work identify the need for proper treatment of fertilizer industry effluents prior to their release into the environment.

Comparison of dry reforming of methane in low temperature hybrid plasma-catalytic corona with thermal catalytic reactor over Ni/γ-Al_2O_3

In the current study,the hybrid effect of a corona discharge and γ-alumina supported Ni catalysts in CO2 reforming of methane is investigated.The study includes both purely catalytic operation in the temperature range of 923-1023K,and hybrid catalytic-plasma operation of DC corona discharge reactor at room temperature and ambient pressure.The effect of feed flow rate,discharge power and Ni/γ-Al2O3 catalysts are studied.When CH4/CO2 ratio in the feed is 1/2,the syngas of low H2/CO ratio at about 0.56 is obtained,which is a potential feedstock for synthesis of liquid hydrocarbons.Although Ni catalyst is only active above 573K,presence of Ni catalysts in the cold corona plasma reactor(T≤523K) shows promising increase in the conversions of methane and carbon dioxide.When Ni catalysts are used in the plasma reaction,H2/CO ratios in the products are slightly modified,selectivity to CO increases whereas fewer by-products such as hydrocarbons and oxygenates are formed.

A Solar Energy System Design for Green Hydrogen Production in South-Western Nigeria, Lagos State, Using HOMER & ASPEN

Solar system design for green hydrogen production has become the most prominent renewable energy research area, and this has also actively fueled the desire to achieve net-zero emissions. Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier because it possesses more energy capacity than fossil fuels and the abundant nature of renewable energy systems can be utilized for green hydrogen production. However, the design of an optimized electrical energy system required for hydrogen production is crucial. Solar energy is indeed beneficial for green hydrogen production and this research designed, discussed, and provided high-level research on HOMER design for green hydrogen production and deployed the energy requirement with ASPEN Plus to optimize the energy system, while also incorporating fuzzy logic and PID control approaches. In addition, a promising technology with a high potential for renewable hydrogen energy is the proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer. Since its cathode (hydrogen electrode) may be operated over a wide range of pressure, a control process must be added to the system in order for it to work dynamically efficiently. This system can be characterized as an analogous circuit that consists of a resistor, capacitor, and reversible voltage. As a result, this research work also explores the Fuzzy-PID control of the PEM electrolysis system. Both the PID and Fuzzy Logic control systems were simulated using the control simulation program Matlab R2018a, which makes use of Matlab script files and the Simulink environment. Based on the circuit diagram, a transfer function that represents the mathematical model of the plant was created, and the PEM electrolysis control system is determined to be highly significant and applicable to the two control systems. The PI controller, however, has a 30.8% overshoot deficit, but when the fuzzy control system is compared to the PID controller, it is found that the fuzzy control system achieves stability more quickly, demonstrating its benefit over PID.

Review of the progress in preparing nano TiO_2: An important environmental engineering material

TiO2 nanomaterial is promising with its high potential and outstanding performance in photocatalytic environmental applications, such as CO2 conversion, water treatment, and air quality control. For many of these applications, the particle size, crystal structure and phase,porosity, and surface area influence the activity of TiO2 dramatically. TiO2 nanomaterials with special structures and morphologies, such as nanospheres, nanowires, nanotubes, nanorods,and nanoflowers are thus synthesized due to their desired characteristics. With an emphasis on the different morphologies of TiO2 and the influence factors in the synthesis, this review summarizes fourteen TiO2 preparation methods, such as the sol–gel method, solvothermal method, and reverse micelle method. The TiO2 formation mechanisms, the advantages and disadvantages of the preparation methods, and the photocatalytic environmental application examples are proposed as well.

Cobalt supported on CNTs-covered γ-and nano-structured alumina catalysts utilized for wax selective Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

Cobalt supported on carbon nanotubes(CNTs)-covered alumina has been recently developed and successfully utilized as a catalyst in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis(FTS).Problems associated with shaping of Co/CNTs into extrudates or pellets as well as catalyst attrition rendered these materials unfavorable for industrial applications.In this investigation regularγ-and nano-structured(N-S)alumina as well as CNTs-covered regularγ-and N-S-alumina supports were impregnated by cobalt nitrate solution to make new cobalt-based catalysts which were also promoted by Ru.The catalysts were characterized and tested in a micro reactor to evaluate their applicability in FTS.γ-Al2O3 was prepared by calcination of bohemite and N-S-Al2O3 was prepared by sol-gel method using aluminum chloride as starting material.Catalyst evaluations indicated that N-S-Al2O3 was superior to regularγ-Al2O3 and that CNTs-covered alumina supports were favored over non-covered ones in terms of activity and heavy hydrocarbon selectivity.These were justified by porosimetric characteristics of the catalysts and existence of CNTs points of view. CNTs-covered catalysts also showed higher wax selectivity and better resistance to deactivation.Furthermore,TPR analysis indicated that the cobalt aluminate phase,which is responsible for the permanent deactivation of alumina supported Co-based catalysts,did not form on alumina supported Co-based catalysts covered with CNTs due to weaker interactions between cobalt and alumina.

Long-term joint effect of nutrients and temperature increase on algal growth in Lake Taihu,China

To study how global warming and eutrophication affect water ecosystems,a multiplicative growth Monod model,modified by incorporating the Arrhenius equation,was applied to Lake Taihu to quantitatively study the relationships between algal biomass and both nutrients and temperature using long-term data.To qualitatively assess which factor was a limitation of the improved model,temperature variables were calculated using annual mean air temperature (AT),water temperature (WT),and their average temperature (ST),while substrate variables were calculated using annual mean total nitrogen (TN),total phosphorus (TP),and their weighted aggregate (R),respectively.The nine fitted curves showed that TN and AT were two important factors influencing algal growth;AT limited growth as algal photosynthesis is mainly carried out near the water surface;N leakage of phytoplankton and internal phosphorus load from sediment explains why TN was the best predictor of peak biomass using the Monod model.The fitted results suggest that annual mean algal biomass increased by 0.145 times when annual mean AT increased by 1.0°C.Results also showed that the more eutrophic the lake,the greater the effect AT had on algal growth.Subsequently,the long-term joint effect of annual temperature increase and eutrophication to water ecosystems can be quantitatively assessed and predicted.

Lattice Boltzmann Simulation of CO_2 Transport in Kerogen Nanopores——An Evaluation of CO_2 Sequestration in Organic-Rich Shales

Organic-rich shale resources remain an important source of hydrocarbons considering their substantial contribution to crude oil and natural gas production around the world. Moreover, as part of mitigating the greenhouse gas effects due to the emissions of carbon dioxide(CO_2) gas, organic-rich shales are considered a possible alternate geologic storage. This is due to the adsorptive properties of organic kerogen and clay minerals within the shale matrix. Therefore, this research looks at evaluating the sequestration potential of carbon dioxide(CO_2) gas in kerogen nanopores with the use of the lattice Boltzmann method under varying experimental pressures and different pore sizes. Gas flow in micro/nano pores differ in hydrodynamics due to the dominant pore wall effects, as the mean free path(λ) of the gas molecules become comparable to the characteristic length(H) of the pores. In so doing, the traditional computational methods break down beyond the continuum region, and the lattice Boltzmann method(LBM) is employed. The lattice Boltzmann method is a mesoscopic numerical method for fluid system, where a unit of gas particles is assigned a discrete distribution function(f). The particles stream along defined lattice links and collide locally at the lattice sites to conserve mass and momentum. The effects of gas-wall collisions(Knudsen layer effects) is incorporated into the LBM through an effective-relaxationtime model, and the discontinuous velocity at the pore walls is resolved with a slip boundary condition. Above all, the time lag(slip effect) created by CO_2 gas molecules due to adsorption and desorption over a time period, and the surface diffusion as a result of the adsorption-gradient are captured by an adsorption isotherm and included in our LBM. Implementing the Langmuir adsorption isotherm at the pore walls for both CO_2 gas revealed the underlying flow mechanism for CO_2 gas in a typical kerogen nano-pore is dominated by the slip flow regime. Increasing the equilibrium pressure, increases the mass flux due to adsorption. On the other hand, an increase in the nano-pore size caused further increase in the mass flux due to free gas and that due to adsorbed gas. Thus, in the kerogen nano-pores, CO_2 gas molecules are more adsorptive indicating a possible multi-layer adsorption. Therefore, this study not only provides a clear understanding of the underlying flow mechanism of CO_2 in kerogen nano-pores, but also provides a potential alternative means to mitigate the greenhouse gas effect(GHG) by sequestering CO_2 in organic-rich shales.

Abatement of SO_2–NOx binary gas mixtures using a ferruginous active absorbent:Part I. Synergistic effects and mechanism

A novel ferruginous active absorbent, prepared by fly ash, industrial lime and the additive Fe(VI), was introduced for synchronous abatement of binary mixtures of SO2–NOx from simulated coal-fired flue gas. The synergistic action of various factors on the absorption of SO2 and NOx was investigated. The results show that a strong synergistic effect exists between Fe(VI) dose and reaction temperature for the desulfurization. It was observed that in the denitration process, the synergy of Fe(VI) dose and Ca/(S + N) had the most significant impact on the removal of NO, followed by the synergy of Fe(VI) and reaction temperature, and then the synergy of reaction temperature and flue gas humidity. A scanning electron microscope(SEM) and an accessory X-ray energy spectrometer(EDS)were used to observe the surface characteristics of the raw and spent absorbent as well as fly ash. A reaction mechanism was proposed based on chemical analysis of sulfur and nitrogen species concentrations in the spent absorbent. The Gibbs free energy, equilibrium constants and partial pressures of the SO2–NOx binary system were determined by thermodynamics.

Application of Ag/AgBr/GdVO_4 composite photocatalyst in wastewater treatment

Ag/AgBr/GdVO_4 composite photocatalysts were designed and synthesized in this paper.The physical and chemical structures, as well as optical properties of the synthesized composite were investigated via XRD, XPS, TEM, and UV–vis. It is found that the composite showed a ternary heterojunction structure of Ag, Ag Br and GdVO_4. Meanwhile, it has a high intensity of light current, indicating its high separation efficiency of electron and hole.Photocatalytic oxidation of rhodamine B(RhB) under visible light irradiation was performed to investigate the activity of the Ag/Ag Br/GdVO_4 composite. Result indicates that it shows excellent photocatalytic activity. Under visible light irradiation for 12 min, about 80% of Rh B(30 μmol/L) was degraded. The degradation rate is estimated to be 0.253 min1, which is three times higher than that of pure AgBr. The high photoactivity can be ascribed to the synergetic effect of Ag Br, GdVO_4, and Ag nanoparticle in separation of electron–hole pairs.

Economic Assessment and Review of Waterless Fracturing Technologies in Shale Resource Development: A Case Study

Our database tracking of USA water usage per well indicates that traditionally shale operators have been using, on average 3 to 6 million gallons of water; even up to 8 million for the entire life cycle of the well based on its suitability for re-fracturing to stimulate their long and lateral horizontal wells. According to our data, sourcing, storage, transportation, treatment, and disposal of this large volume of water could account for up to 10% of overall drilling and completion costs. With increasingly stringent regulations governing the use of fresh water and growing challenges associated with storage and use of produced and flowback water in hydraulic fracturing, finding alternative sources of fracturing fluid is already a hot debate among both the scientific community and industry experts. On the other hand, waterless fracturing technology providers claim their technology can solve the concerns of water availability for shale development. This study reviews high-level technical issues and opportunities in this challenging and growing market and evaluates key economic drivers behind water management practices such as waterless fracturing technologies, based on a given shale gas play in the United States and experience gained in Canada. Water costs are analyzed under a variety of scenarios with and without the use of(fresh) water. The results are complemented by surveys from several oil and gas operators. Our economic analysis shows that fresh water usage offers the greatest economic return. In regions where water sourcing is a challenge, however, the short-term economic advantage of using non-fresh water-based fracturing outweighs the capital costs required by waterless fracturing methods. Until waterless methods are cost competitive, recycled water usage with low treatment offers a similar net present value(NPV) to that of sourcing freshwater via truck, for instance.

Understanding the wettability of nanometer-thick room temperature ionic liquids(RTILs) on solid surfaces

Many important applications of room temperature ionic liquids(RTILs), e.g., lubrication, energy storage and catalysis, involve RTILs confined to solid surfaces. In order to optimize the performance, it is critical to understand the wettability of nanometer-thick RTILs on solid surfaces. In this review, the recent progress in this filed is presented. First, the macroscopic wettability of RTILs on solids will be discussed briefly.Afterwards, the wetting of nanometer-thick RTILs will be discussed with the emphasis on RTIL/mica and RTIL/graphite interfaces since mica and graphite not only are mostly studied but also have important real-life applications. For RTIL/mica interface, the extended layering that promotes the wetting has been extensively reported and it is generally accepted that the electrostatic interaction at the RTIL/mica interface is the key. However, recent works from others and us highlight the unexpected effect of water:Water enables ion exchange between K+and the cations of RTILs on the mica surface and thus triggers the ordered packing of cations/anions in RTILs, resulting in extended layering. Different from mica, there is no electrical charge on the graphite surface. Interestingly, previous reports showed inconsistent results on the wettability of RTILs on graphite. Recent research from others and us suggested that π-π^+stacking between sp^2 carbon and the imidazoliumcation in the RTILs is the key to the extended layering and enhanced wettability of RTILs. Lastly, the future research directions will be briefly discussed.

三维定常Navier-Stokes方程有限元/有限体积方法非奇异解束L~∞优化阶分析研究

本文主要对三维定常Navier-Stokes方程有限元/有限体积方法非奇异解束L~∞优化阶分析进行研究,利用低阶宏元逼近、精细的三线性项估计技巧及Green函数和加权技巧,得到相应的有限元方法关于速度梯度和压力变量L~∞的优化阶分析;以有限元解为插值,利用有限元与有限体积方法之间等价性,突破有限体积体系试验函数与检验函数不在同一空间且仅有O(h)阶误差的限制,得到有限体积方法与有限元方法解之间有趣的结果:速度梯度和压力变量L^2模具有O(h^(3/2))阶的超逼近结果,且L~∞模具有O(h)阶的优化收敛结果.进一步得到相应的有限体积方法非奇异解束L~∞模的优化阶收敛分析.