Energies

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

2714 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Overview of Two Years of Continuous Energy Optimization at the Velenje Coal Mine

by Milan Medved, Ivica Ristovic, Janez Roser and Milivoj Vulic

Energies 2012, 5(6), 2017-2029; https://doi.org/10.3390/en5062017 - 20 Jun 2012

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 7185

Abstract

The Velenje Coal Mine (VCM) is one of the largest and the most modern underground coal mines in Europe. Although the coal mining industry produces coal as an energy source, it is also uses a lot of energy for its own operation and support processes. At this time of volatile energy prices and more and more strict environmental emission requirements, optimizing energy consumption plays an important role in good business performance. To track the consumption of electricity, district heating, drinking water and compressed air at the VCM a detailed energy monitoring methodology was developed and established in July 2010. The essential element of the presented monitoring system is a software application named “Central System for Regulation of Energy” (CSRE). The purpose of the CSRE is to control energy processes from a distance, take measures for economical and efficient use of energy, as well as to assist in maintenance. Such monitoring allows extensive comparisons between different energy sources consumption and enables correct measures to be taken to reduce the difference between the target and actual consumption of energy in VCM. With established real-time monitoring system, it is possible to look at mining processes and see where energy is being used inefficiently. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 24th International Conference on Efficiency, Cost, Optimization, Simulation and Environmental Impact of Energy Systems (ECOS2011))

► Show Figures

Figure 1

358 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficiency of Small Scale Manually Fed Boilers —Mathematical Models

by Nebojsa Dedovic, Sasa Igic, Todor Janic, Snezana Matic-Kekic, Ondrej Ponjican, Milan Tomic and Lazar Savin

Energies 2012, 5(5), 1470-1489; https://doi.org/10.3390/en5051470 - 15 May 2012

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 6835

Abstract

This study reviews test results for a biomass-fired hot water boiler with a nominal boiler thermal power of 120 kW. In the experiments, prismatic wheat straw bales were used as biomass. The impact of the quantity (220, 290, 360 and 430 m³ h⁻¹) of inlet air fed to the boiler firebox was continuously monitored. This was to examine the influence of the quantity of inlet air and recirculation (0, 16.5 and 33%) of combustion products on the boiler thermal power and boiler energy efficiency. Thus, the following mathematical models and formulas were presented: correlation between boiler thermal power and bale residence time; bale mass loss during the combustion process; correlation between boiler energy efficiency and bale residence time. Mathematical models were obtained by using experimental data and by applying nonlinear regression analysis. Adjustment evaluation of mathematical models with experimental data was performed based on the determination coefficient, t-test and F-test. Increase the amount of air throughout the firebox produced boiler thermal power increase and bale residence time decrease. It was shown that combustion products recirculation of 16.5% partly improved boiler characteristics, while the recirculation of 33% did not, comparing with the case without recirculation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 24th International Conference on Efficiency, Cost, Optimization, Simulation and Environmental Impact of Energy Systems (ECOS2011))

► Show Figures

Figure 1

574 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exergy Assessment of Recovery Solutions from Dry and Moist Gas Available at Medium Temperature

by Fadhel Ayachi, Elias Boulawz Ksayer and Pierre Neveu

Energies 2012, 5(3), 718-730; https://doi.org/10.3390/en5030718 - 12 Mar 2012

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 6425

Abstract

The Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR-EESI) ENERGY ReCOvery from Low Temperature heat sources (ENERCO_LT) project is a waste heat recovery project that aims to reduce energy consumption in industrial gas production sites, by producing electrical power from exothermic processes discharges at low and medium temperature. Two promising thermal sources, consisting of: (i) almost dry gas flow at 165 °C and (ii) moist gas flow at 150 °C with a dew point at 60 °C, were then investigated. In this paper, the challenge was to discern suitable recovery solutions facing resource specificities and their thermodynamic constraints, in order to minimize the overall exergy destruction, i.e., to move up the exergy efficiency of the entire system. In this spirit, different designs, including Organic Rankine Cycles (ORCs) and CO₂ transcritical cycles, operating as simple and cascade cycles, were investigated. Combined exergy analysis and pinch optimization was performed to identify the potential of various working fluids, by their properties, to overcome the global irreversibility according to the studied resource. Supercritical parameters of various working fluids are investigated too, and seem to bring promising results regarding system performances. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 24th International Conference on Efficiency, Cost, Optimization, Simulation and Environmental Impact of Energy Systems (ECOS2011))

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Selected Papers from the 24th International Conference on Efficiency, Cost, Optimization, Simulation and Environmental Impact of Energy Systems (ECOS2011)

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI