Energies

Research

Jump to: Review

20 pages, 5324 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Turbulence Modeling of Iced Wind Turbine Airfoils

by Fahed Martini, Hussein Ibrahim, Leidy Tatiana Contreras Montoya, Patrick Rizk and Adrian Ilinca

Energies 2022, 15(22), 8325; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15228325 - 08 Nov 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2032

Abstract

Icing is a severe problem faced by wind turbines operating in cold climates. It is affected by various fluctuating parameters. Due to ice accretion, a significant drop in the aerodynamic performance of the blades’ airfoils leads to productivity loss in wind turbines. When [...] Read more.

Icing is a severe problem faced by wind turbines operating in cold climates. It is affected by various fluctuating parameters. Due to ice accretion, a significant drop in the aerodynamic performance of the blades’ airfoils leads to productivity loss in wind turbines. When ice accretes on airfoils, it leads to a geometry deformation that seriously increases turbulence, particularly on the airfoil suction side at high angles of attack. Modeling and simulation are indispensable tools to estimate the effect of icing on the operation of wind turbines and gain a better understanding of the phenomenon. This paper presents a numerical study to assess the effect of surface roughness distribution, along with the effect of two turbulence models on estimating wind turbine airfoils’ aerodynamic performance losses in the presence of ice. Aerodynamic parameter estimation was performed using ANSYS FLUENT, while ice accretion was simulated using ANSYS FENSAP-ICE. The results using the adopted modeling approaches and the simulation tools were compared with another numerical study and validated against experimental data. The validation process demonstrated the model’s accuracy when considering roughness distribution via the beading model available in ANSYS FENSAP-ICE. The two turbulence models examined (Spalart–Allmaras and k-ω SST) gave comparable results except for the drag at high angles of attack. The k-ω SST model was more efficient in replicating turbulence at high angles of attack, leading to higher accuracy in aerodynamic loss estimation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Energy Related Technologies in Canada 2021-2022)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

30 pages, 7915 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Electrochemical Cells and Storage Technologies to Increase Renewable Energy Share in Cold Climate Conditions—A Critical Assessment

by Yao Ahoutou, Adrian Ilinca and Mohamad Issa

Energies 2022, 15(4), 1579; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15041579 - 21 Feb 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4171

Abstract

The energy efficiency of a renewable energy system is inextricably linked to the energy storage technologies used in conjunction with it. The most extensively utilized energy storage technology for all purposes is electrochemical storage batteries, which have grown more popular over time because [...] Read more.

The energy efficiency of a renewable energy system is inextricably linked to the energy storage technologies used in conjunction with it. The most extensively utilized energy storage technology for all purposes is electrochemical storage batteries, which have grown more popular over time because of their extended life, high working voltage, and low self-discharge rate. However, these batteries cannot withstand the very low temperatures encountered in cold regions, even with these very promising technical characteristics. The cold northern temperatures affect the batteries’ electromotive force and thus decrease their storage capacity. In addition, they affect the conductivity of the electrolyte and the kinetics of electrochemical reactions, thus influencing the capacity and speed of electrons in the electrolyte. In this article, which is intended as a literature review, we first describe the technical characteristics of charge–discharge rate of different electrochemical storage techniques and their variations with temperature. Then, new approaches used to adapt these electrochemical storage techniques to cold climates are presented. We also conduct a comparative study between the different electrochemical storage techniques regarding their performance in the harsh climatic conditions of the Canadian North. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Energy Related Technologies in Canada 2021-2022)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

28 pages, 39298 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New Integrated Process for the Efficient Production of Methanol, Electrical Power, and Heating

by Alireza Khatami Jouybari, Adrian Ilinca and Bahram Ghorbani

Energies 2022, 15(3), 1054; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15031054 - 31 Jan 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2357

Abstract

In this paper, a novel process is developed to cogenerate 4741 kg/h of methanol, 297.7 kW of electricity, and 35.73 ton/h of hot water, including a hydrogen purification system, an absorption–compression refrigeration cycle (ACRC), a regenerative Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), and parabolic solar [...] Read more.

In this paper, a novel process is developed to cogenerate 4741 kg/h of methanol, 297.7 kW of electricity, and 35.73 ton/h of hot water, including a hydrogen purification system, an absorption–compression refrigeration cycle (ACRC), a regenerative Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), and parabolic solar troughs. The heat produced in the methanol reactor is recovered in the ORC and ACRC. Parabolic solar troughs provide thermal power to the methanol distillation tower. Thermal efficiencies of the integrated structure and the liquid methanol production cycle are 78.14% and 60.91%, respectively. The process’s total exergy efficiency and irreversibility are 89.45% and 16.89 MW. The solar thermal collectors take the largest share of exergy destruction (34%), followed by heat exchangers (30%) and mixers (19%). Based on the sensitivity analysis, D17 (mixture of H₂ and low-pressure fuel gas before separation) was the most influential stream affecting the performance of the process. With the temperature decline of stream D17 from −139 to −149 °C, the methanol production rate and the total thermal efficiency rose to 4741.2 kg/h and 61.02%, respectively. Moreover, the growth in the hydrogen content from 55% to 80% molar of the feed gas, the flow rate of liquid methanol, and the total exergy efficiency declined to 4487 kg/h and 86.05%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Energy Related Technologies in Canada 2021-2022)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 1163 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Energy Recovering Using Regenerative Braking in Diesel–Electric Passenger Trains: Economical and Technical Analysis of Fuel Savings and GHG Emission Reductions

by Ahmad Fayad, Hussein Ibrahim, Adrian Ilinca, Sasan Sattarpanah Karganroudi and Mohamad Issa

Energies 2022, 15(1), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15010037 - 21 Dec 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2766

Abstract

Rail transport, specifically diesel–electric trains, faces fundamental challenges in reducing fuel consumption to improve financial performance and reduce GHG emissions. One solution to improve energy efficiency is the electric brake regenerative technique. This technique was first applied on electric trains several years ago, [...] Read more.

Rail transport, specifically diesel–electric trains, faces fundamental challenges in reducing fuel consumption to improve financial performance and reduce GHG emissions. One solution to improve energy efficiency is the electric brake regenerative technique. This technique was first applied on electric trains several years ago, but it is still considered to improve diesel–electric trains efficiency. Numerous parameters influence the detailed estimation of brake regenerative technique performance, which makes this process particularly difficult. This paper proposes a simplified energetic approach for a diesel–electric train with different storage systems to assess these performances. The feasibility and profitability of using a brake regenerative system depend on the quantity of energy that can be recuperated and stored during the train’s full and partial stop. Based on a simplified energetic calculation and cost estimation, we present a comprehensive and realistic calculation to evaluate ROI, net annual revenues, and GHG emission reduction. The feasibility of the solution is studied for different train journeys, and the most significant parameters affecting the impact of using this technique are identified. In addition, we study the influence of electric storage devices and low temperatures. The proposed method is validated using experimental results available in the literature showing that this technique resulted in annual energy savings of 3400 MWh for 34 trains, worth USD 425,000 in fuel savings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Energy Related Technologies in Canada 2021-2022)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

32 pages, 5232 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Survey of the Quasi-3D Modeling of Wind Turbine Icing

by Fahed Martini, Adrian Ilinca, Patrick Rizk, Hussein Ibrahim and Mohamad Issa

Energies 2022, 15(23), 8998; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15238998 - 28 Nov 2022

Viewed by 3727

Abstract

Wind turbine icing has been the subject of intensive research over the past two decades, primarily focusing on applying computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to 2D airfoil simulations for parametric analysis. As a result of blades’ airfoils deformation caused by icing, wind turbines experience [...] Read more.

Wind turbine icing has been the subject of intensive research over the past two decades, primarily focusing on applying computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to 2D airfoil simulations for parametric analysis. As a result of blades’ airfoils deformation caused by icing, wind turbines experience a considerable decrease in aerodynamic performance resulting in a substantial loss of productivity. Due to the phenomenon’s complexity and high computational costs, a fully 3D simulation of the entire iced-up rotating turbine becomes infeasible, especially when dealing with several scenarios under various operating and weather conditions. The Quasi-3D steady-state simulation is a practical alternative method to assess power loss resulting from ice accretion on wind turbine blades. To some extent, this approach has been employed in several published studies showing a capability to estimate performance degradation throughout the generation of power curves for both clean and iced wind turbines. In this paper, applying the Quasi-3D simulation method on wind turbine icing was subject to a survey and in-depth analysis based on a comprehensive literature review. The review examines the results of the vast majority of recently published studies that have addressed this approach, summarizing the findings and bringing together research in this area to conclude with clear facts and details that enhance research on the estimation of wind turbine annual power production loss due to icing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Energy Related Technologies in Canada 2021-2022)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 2566 KiB

Open AccessReview

Energy Efficiency and Industry 4.0 in Wood Industry: A Review and Comparison to Other Industries

by Mohamed Haddouche and Adrian Ilinca

Energies 2022, 15(7), 2384; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15072384 - 24 Mar 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3003

Abstract

This paper presents a literature review of recent research on introducing the Industry 4.0 approach to improving energy efficiency, especially in the wood industry. While researchers focus on processes, service, and customer concepts, the effect on energy consumption is less addressed in these [...] Read more.

This paper presents a literature review of recent research on introducing the Industry 4.0 approach to improving energy efficiency, especially in the wood industry. While researchers focus on processes, service, and customer concepts, the effect on energy consumption is less addressed in these studies and applications. This paper focuses on previous works that discuss how to apply Industry 4.0 concepts to energy issues, such as to achieve better efficiency and performance for the industry in general and the wood industry in particular. The complexity of the study requires a multistep development. First, we define each concept separately and the relationships between them. Second, we apply a search algorithm to find related articles with specific terms, and then use the PRISMA method to select the most important ones, eliminating duplicates and excluding articles that do not mention energy efficiency and Industry 4.0 in the manufacturing or wood industry. Third, we explain and categorize the results and consolidate the study with brief examples from other industries. Finally, we conclude the study by mentioning the limitations and perspectives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Energy Related Technologies in Canada 2021-2022)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 1380 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review on the Estimation of Power Loss Due to Icing in Wind Turbines

by Leidy Tatiana Contreras Montoya, Santiago Lain and Adrian Ilinca

Energies 2022, 15(3), 1083; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15031083 - 01 Feb 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2810

Abstract

The objective of this article is to review the methodologies used in the last 15 years to estimate the power loss in wind turbines due to their exposure to adverse meteorological conditions. Among the methods, the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for [...] Read more.

The objective of this article is to review the methodologies used in the last 15 years to estimate the power loss in wind turbines due to their exposure to adverse meteorological conditions. Among the methods, the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for the three-dimensional numerical simulation of wind turbines is highlighted, as well as the use of two-dimensional CFD simulation in conjunction with the blade element momentum theory (BEM). In addition, a brief review of other methodologies such as image analysis, deep learning, and forecasting models is also presented. This review constitutes a baseline for new investigations of the icing effects on wind turbines’ power outputs. Furthermore, it contributes to a continuous improvement in power-loss prediction and the better response of icing protection systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Energy Related Technologies in Canada 2021-2022)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 5585 KiB

Open AccessReview

Parameters Affecting Dust Collector Efficiency for Pneumatic Conveying: A Review

by Philippe Beaulac, Mohamad Issa, Adrian Ilinca and Jean Brousseau

Energies 2022, 15(3), 916; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15030916 - 27 Jan 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2975

Abstract

In a context of energy abundance for industrial applications, industrial systems are exploited with minimal attention to their actual energy consumption requirements to meet the loads imposed on them. As a result, most of them are used at maximal capacity, regardless of the [...] Read more.

In a context of energy abundance for industrial applications, industrial systems are exploited with minimal attention to their actual energy consumption requirements to meet the loads imposed on them. As a result, most of them are used at maximal capacity, regardless of the varying operational conditions. First, the paper studies pneumatic conveying systems and thoroughly reviews previously published work. Then, we overview simulations and operating data of the experimental parameters and their effects on the flow characteristics and transport efficiency. Finally, we summarize with a conclusion and some suggestions for further work. The primary goal of this study is to identify the parameters that influence the energy consumption of industrial dust collector systems. It is differentiated from previously published overviews by being concentrated on wood particles collection systems. The results will permit a better selection of an appropriate methodology or solution for reducing an industrial system’s power requirements and energy consumption through more precise control. The anticipated benefits are not only on power requirement and energy consumption but also in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This aspect shows more impacts in regions that rely on electricity supplied by thermal power stations, especially those that use petrol or coal. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Energy Related Technologies in Canada 2021-2022)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

State-of-the-Art Energy Related Technologies in Canada 2021-2022

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (8 papers)

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI