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Special Issue "Green Engineering for Sustainable Development 2023"

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A special issue of Eng (ISSN 2673-4117). This special issue belongs to the section "Chemical, Civil and Environmental Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2023 | Viewed by 6814

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Prof. Dr. George Z. Papageorgiou

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Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, P.O. Box 1186, GR-45110 Ioannina, Greece
Interests: sustainable and green industrial chemistry; polymer nanocomposites; materials characterization
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Prof. Dr. Maria Founti

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School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Lab. of Heterogeneous Mixtures & Combustion Systems, Heroon Polytechniou 9, 15780 Athens, Greece
Interests: combustion; fire engineering; energy efficiency in buildings; LCA; KPIs
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Dr. George N. Nikolaidis

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Chemistry Department, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
Interests: biodegradable polymers; polymers from renewable resources; sustainable materials development; polymer engineering (structure-properties relationship); processing and characterization of furan-based polyesters; computational studies (modelling of polymerization reaction kinetics)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is a continuation of the previous successful Special Issue "Green Engineering for Sustainable Development". You can find the information and published papers of the previous Special Issue at: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/eng/special_issues/Green_Engineering_Sustainable_Development.

Sustainable development is of primary importance as the key to future use and management of finite world resources. Sustainable development is a way of organizing society so that it can exist in the long term, considering the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Green Engineering is defined as the design, commercialization, and use of processes and products, which are feasible and economical, while minimizing the generation of pollution at the source and the risk to human health and the environment.

Green Chemistry and Chemical Engineering is a subset of Green Engineering. The goals of Green Chemistry and Green Chemical Engineering are usually achieved with the use of renewable raw materials and eco-friendly solvents along with “green” product design and impact including safety, sustainability, degradation and recyclability. Furthermore, benign synthesis and catalysis, solvent-free processes, process design and intensification, as well as energy use issues are of crucial importance in the manufacturing of green and sustainable materials.

Green Engineering is a broad field including various topics such as new eco-friendly and safe chemicals, methods and techniques for developing environmentally friendly novel materials, new industrial technologies, separation engineering, solvent-free processes, green solvents, process design, process intensification, clean processing and utilization of fossil resources, naturally occurring materials and biomaterials, man-made materials and chemicals, food science, water sources, water protection, toxicology, packaging industries and their impact on environment, environmental engineering, transportation, construction, sustainable construction materials, green building, zero energy buildings, building information modelling, green city and sustainable development, cloud- and green IoT-based technology for sustainable smart cities, daily consumer goods, electronics, photonics, optics, machinery, microbiology, biomedical industries, energy conservation, rural and urban development, pollution, biomass and biorefinery, bioprocesses and bioengineering, industrial ecology, renewable energy technologies, energy storage and network, clean energy and bioenergy, biofuels, biobased materials, biopolymers and composites, hybrid materials, novel materials and devices, processing technologies, nanoscience and nanotechnology, simulation, integration, safety and assessment, new energy harvesting materials and systems, solar energy materials, solar cells and photovoltaic devices, effect of electromagnetic radiation on human health, simulation tools for sustainable environment (especially electromagnetic, and acoustic), impact of pollution on the environment, biohazards, safe medicine, green science in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, modeling and optimization of applications of engineering sciences to medicine and biology, degradation, CO₂ capture, storage, and utilization, recycling and circular economy, life cycle analysis, engineering in bioeconomy, experiences on teaching environmentally safe engineering, among others.

The aim of this Special Issue is to highlight the progress on the topics of green engineering, from energy efficiency and sustainability to biobased chemicals and plastics from renewable resources.

Prof. Dr. George Z. Papageorgiou
Prof. Dr. Maria Founti
Dr. George N. Nikolaidis
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Eng is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

eco-friendly and safe chemicals
solvent-free processes
green solvents
process engineering
process intensification
clean processing of fossil resources
biomass and biorefinery
biobased materials and biomedical materials
energy storage
biofuels
green science in pharmaceuticals
biotechnology
degradation
CO₂ capture
water sources
toxicology
environmental engineering
transportation
sustainable construction materials
zero energy buildings
sustainable smart cities
rural and urban development
renewable energy
novel materials and devices
nanoscience and nanotechnology
simulation tools for sustainable environment
solar cells and photovoltaic devices
pollution and biohazards
recycling and circular economy
life cycle analysis
engineering in bioeconomy

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Experimental and Numerical Analysis on a Thermal Barrier Coating with Nano-Ceramic Base: A Potential Solution to Reduce Urban Heat Islands?

Bruno Malet-Damour

Dimitri Bigot

and

Garry Rivière

Eng 2023, 4(3), 2421-2442; https://doi.org/10.3390/eng4030138 - 19 Sep 2023

Viewed by 178

Abstract

Adopting a multiscale approach is crucial for optimizing urban and building performance, prompting inquiries about the link between a technology’s local efficiency (building scale) and its broader impact (city-wide). To investigate this correlation and devise effective strategies for enhancing building and city energy performance, we experimentally examined a commercial nano-ceramic Thermal Barrier Coating (TBC) on a small-scale building and assessed numerically its influence on mitigating Urban Heat Islands (UHIs) at a city scale, translated in our case by the use of the thermal comfort index: the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). Our results reveal that the coating significantly curbs heat transfer locally, reducing surface temperatures by over 50

^{\circ}

C compared to traditional roofs and attenuating more than 70% of heat flux, potentially alleviating air conditioning demands and associated urban heat effects. However, implementing such coatings across a city does not notably advance overall efficiency and might trigger minor overheating on thermal perception. Hence, while nano-ceramic coatings indirectly aid UHI mitigation, they are not a standalone fix; instead, an integrated strategy involving efficient coatings, sustainable urban planning, and increased vegetation emerges as the optimal path toward creating enduringly sustainable, pleasant, and efficient urban environments to counter urban heat challenges effectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Engineering for Sustainable Development 2023)

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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Solar Thermal Technology Aided Membrane Distillation Process for Wastewater Treatment in Textile Industry—A Technoeconomic Feasibility Assessment

Mukesh Kumar Gupta

Rajendra B. Mohite

Salunkhe Madhav Jagannath

and

Eng 2023, 4(3), 2363-2374; https://doi.org/10.3390/eng4030135 - 13 Sep 2023

Viewed by 188

Abstract

Because textile industries are intensely water-consuming and generate a huge quantity of wastewater, the present study examines the scope of using solar thermal technology to treat wastewater from textile industries. A hybrid technology, comprising a compound parabolic concentrator-based solar thermal system in conjunction with a Membrane Distillation (MD) system, is experimented with for wastewater treatment in textile industries. The MD system requires a water temperature of around 90 °C for efficient functioning. The advanced MD technology using waste heat combined with solar heat to meet the system’s thermal load is technologically evaluated for an experimental textile industry in India. Moreover, the present study critically analyses the techno economics of the proposed hybrid technology. A detailed financial analysis has revealed that, besides technological superiority, the recommended technology is also financially rewarding for wastewater treatment in the textile industry. To cope with the delayed payback period, financial incentives are recommended so that the system becomes a lucrative technological option. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Engineering for Sustainable Development 2023)

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Open AccessArticle

Commercial Level Analysis of P2P vs. Net-Metering Comparing Economic and Technical Indexes

Esteban A. Soto

Alexander Vizcarrondo Ortega

Andrea Hernandez

and

Lisa Bosman

Eng 2023, 4(3), 2254-2273; https://doi.org/10.3390/eng4030129 - 01 Sep 2023

Viewed by 301

Abstract

As photovoltaics (PV), also known as solar electricity, has been growing over the years, the energy markets have been gradually moving toward decentralization. However, recent media accusations suggest that decentralized renewable energy is slowly becoming unpopular because of the hidden fees being charged to owners of installed PV systems. In response, this paper investigates the potential for alternative approaches to incentivize owners using peer-to-peer (P2P) sharing. This study provides an analytical comparison between the use of the P2P mechanism, the net-metering mechanism, and a combination of these in the commercial sector. Through the use of a simulation, this case study presents the possible outcomes of the implementation of these models in a microgrid. Using technical and economic indexes the comparison was made by looking at the following indexes: peak power, energy balance, economic benefit, and transaction index. Based on a microgrid of 28 commercial buildings, readings of consumption were taken at intervals of one hour, and a Python model was made to find PV size and compare trading mechanisms. It was found that the combination of P2P and net-metering had the best overall performance, followed by net-metering itself, with the best season being all for both, and summer for net-metering by itself. This shows that a P2P model implemented in a microgrid helps create more energy balance, although the combination would achieve the highest performance. This study can be used by policymakers for proposing renewable energy policies and regulations that are more beneficial to all prosumers and consumers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Engineering for Sustainable Development 2023)

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Open AccessArticle

Decentralized Biogas Production in Urban Areas: Studying the Feasibility of Using High-Efficiency Engines

Rubén González

José García-Cascallana

Javier Gutiérrez-Bravo

and

Xiomar Gómez

Eng 2023, 4(3), 2204-2225; https://doi.org/10.3390/eng4030127 - 24 Aug 2023

Viewed by 316

Abstract

The study examines decentralized waste treatment in an urban setting with a high-density population of 2500 inhab./km². The co-digestion of food and garden waste was assumed by using several mid-size digesters, while centralized biogas and digestate valorization was considered. The studied configuration generates electricity and thermal energy, covering 1.3% of the residential electricity demand and 3.2% of thermal demand. The use of double-turbocharged engines under the most favorable scenario aids cities in reaching sustainability goals. However, the location of treatment plants is a factor that may raise social discomfort and cause a nuisance to citizens. Locating waste plants near residential areas causes discomfort due to possible odors, gaseous emissions, and housing market distortions. Such problematic aspects must be addressed for the decentralized alternative to work. These factors are of great relevance and must be given a practical solution if the circular economic model is to be implemented by considering the insertion of waste streams into the production system and generating local energy sources and raw materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Engineering for Sustainable Development 2023)

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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

The Evaluation of Green Building’s Feasibility: Comparative Analysis across Different Geological Conditions

and

Eng 2023, 4(3), 2034-2054; https://doi.org/10.3390/eng4030115 - 20 Jul 2023

Viewed by 616

Abstract

Green building materials have nontoxic properties and are made from recycled materials. This means they are, in most cases, created from renewable resources in comparison to non-renewable resources. This research aims to further improve the justification of green buildings and their materials. This is undertaken to determine the validity of such construction techniques. This research utilizes both qualitative and quantitative methods through five Australian case studies. The case studies, which are based on new and redeveloped structures, are selected via different geological locations and are evaluated via logical argumentation along with correlation research. Further, the research will address the problem by identifying a variety of green building materials that can be used to substitute non-green building materials. With careful comparisons among the five buildings, the green signs and implementation advantages and disadvantages will be evaluated. The result of this comparison will assist in improving the current education around the topic of green building and benefit the overall response to positive change within the construction industry. Although green building initiatives are not difficult to apply, they can be cost efficient. To maximize their cost efficiency, these initiatives need to be fully adopted. This includes the adaptation of specific building orientation, design, and sealing off penetrations to greatly improve passive heating and cooling. Further, the use of rainwater tanks also assists with energy efficiency by reducing the amount of mains water used. The utilization of natural lighting along with an advanced solar power system would further reduce the overall energy usage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Engineering for Sustainable Development 2023)

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Open AccessArticle

Multivariate Multi-Step Long Short-Term Memory Neural Network for Simultaneous Stream-Water Variable Prediction

Marzieh Khosravi

Bushra Monowar Duti

Munshi Md Shafwat Yazdan

Shima Ghoochani

Neda Nazemi

and

Hanieh Shabanian

Eng 2023, 4(3), 1933-1950; https://doi.org/10.3390/eng4030109 - 11 Jul 2023

Viewed by 735

Abstract

Implementing multivariate predictive analysis to ascertain stream-water (SW) parameters including dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, discharge, water level, temperature, pH, and turbidity is crucial in the field of water resource management. This is especially important during a time of rapid climate change, where weather patterns are constantly changing, making it difficult to forecast these SW variables accurately for different water-related problems. Various numerical models based on physics are utilized to forecast the variables associated with surface water (SW). These models rely on numerous hydrologic parameters and require extensive laboratory investigation and calibration to minimize uncertainty. However, with the emergence of data-driven analysis and prediction methods, deep-learning algorithms have demonstrated satisfactory performance in handling sequential data. In this study, a comprehensive Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) and feature engineering were conducted to prepare the dataset, ensuring optimal performance of the predictive model. A neural network regression model known as Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) was trained using several years of daily data, enabling the prediction of SW variables up to one week in advance (referred to as lead time) with satisfactory accuracy. The model’s performance was evaluated by comparing the predicted data with observed data, analyzing the error distribution, and utilizing error matrices. Improved performance was achieved by increasing the number of epochs and fine-tuning hyperparameters. By applying proper feature engineering and optimization, this model can be adapted to other locations to facilitate univariate predictive analysis and potentially support the real-time prediction of SW variables. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Engineering for Sustainable Development 2023)

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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Influence of Ventilation Openings on the Energy Efficiency of Metal Frame Modular Constructions in Brazil Using BIM

Mohammad K. Najjar

Luis Otávio Cocito De Araujo

Olubimbola Oladimeji

Mohammad Khalas

Karoline V. Figueiredo

Dieter Boer

Carlos A. P. Soares

and

Assed Haddad

Eng 2023, 4(2), 1635-1654; https://doi.org/10.3390/eng4020093 - 07 Jun 2023

Viewed by 647

Abstract

Construction projects demand a higher amount of energy predominantly for heating, ventilation, and illumination purposes. Modular construction has come into the limelight in recent years as a construction method that uses sustainable building materials and optimizes energy efficiency. Ventilation openings in buildings are designed to facilitate air circulation by naturally driven ventilation and could aid in reducing energy consumption in construction projects. However, a knowledge gap makes it difficult to propose the best dimensions of ventilation openings in buildings. Hence, the aim of this work is to empower the decision-making process in terms of proposing the best ventilation opening dimensions toward sustainable energy use and management in buildings. A novel framework is presented herein to evaluate the impact and propose the best dimensions of ventilation openings for metal frame modular construction in Brazil, using building information modeling. The ventilation openings were constructed and their dimensions evaluated in eight Brazilian cities, based on the bioclimatic zone (BioZ) classification indicated in ABNT NBR 15220: Curitiba (1st BioZ); Rio Negro (2nd BioZ); São Paulo (3rd BioZ); Brasília (4th BioZ); Campos (5th BioZ); Paranaíbe (6th BioZ); Goiás (7th BioZ); and Rio de Janeiro (8th BioZ). The study results show that the energy consumption of the same building model would vary based on the dimensions of ventilation openings for each BioZ in Brazil. For instance, modeling the same modular construction unit in the city of Rio Negro could consume around 50% of the energy compared to the same unit constructed in the city of Rio de Janeiro, using the small opening sizes based on the smallest dimensions of the ventilation openings. Similarly, modeling the construction unit in Curitiba, São Paulo, Brasília, Campos, Paranaíba, and Goiás could reduce energy consumption by around 40%, 34%, 36%, 18%, 20%, and 16%, respectively, compared to constructing the same building in the city of Rio de Janeiro, using the small opening sizes based on the smallest dimensions of the ventilation openings. This work could help practitioners and professionals in modular construction projects to design the best dimensions of the ventilation openings based on each BioZ towards increasing energy efficiency and sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Engineering for Sustainable Development 2023)

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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Hybrid Modeling of Machine Learning and Phenomenological Model for Predicting the Biomass Gasification Process in Supercritical Water for Hydrogen Production

Julles Mitoura dos Santos Junior

Ícaro Augusto Maccari Zelioli

and

Adriano Pinto Mariano

Eng 2023, 4(2), 1495-1515; https://doi.org/10.3390/eng4020086 - 29 May 2023

Viewed by 869

Abstract

Process monitoring and forecasting are essential to ensure the efficiency of industrial processes. Although it is possible to model processes using phenomenological approaches, these are not always easy to apply and generalize due to the complexity of the processes and the high number of unknown parameters. This work aims to present a hybrid modeling architecture that combines a phenomenological model with machine learning models. The proposal is to enable the use of simplified phenomenological models to explain the basic principles behind a phenomenon. Next, the data-oriented model corrects deviations from the simplified model predictions. The research hypothesis consists of showing the benefits of integrating prior knowledge of chemical engineering in simplifying data-based models, enhancing their generalization and improving their interpretability. The gasification process of lignin biomass with supercritical water was used as a case study for this methodology and the variable to be observed was the production of hydrogen. The real experimental data of this process were augmented using Gibbs energy minimization with the Peng–Robinson equation of state, thus generating a more voluminous database that was considered as real process data. The ideal gas model was used as a simplified model, producing significant deviations in predictions (relative deviations greater than 20%). Deviations (∆H₂ =

H_{2}^{r e a l} - H_{2}^{p r e d i c t}

) were used as the target variable for the machine learning model. Linear regression models (LASSO and simple linear regression) were used to predict ∆H₂ and this variable was added to the simplified forecast model. This consisted of the hybrid prediction of the resulting hydrogen formation (

H_{2}^{p r e d i c t}

). Among the verified models, the simple linear regression adjusted better to the values of ∆H₂ (R² = 0.985) and MAE smaller than 0.1. Thus, the proposed hybrid architecture allowed for the prediction of the formation of hydrogen during the gasification process of lignin biomass, despite the thermodynamic limitations of the ideal gas model. Hybridization proved to be robust as a process monitoring tool, providing the abstraction of non-idealities of industrial processes through simple, data-oriented models, without losing predictive power. The objective of the work was fulfilled, presenting a new possibility for the monitoring of real industrial processes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Engineering for Sustainable Development 2023)

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Open AccessArticle

Negative Impacts of Trace Metal Contamination on the Macrobenthic Communities along the Santos Port Complex—Brazil

Jéssica de F. Delgado

Renan M. Amorim

Leonardo da S. Lima

Christine C. Gaylarde

José Antônio Baptista Neto

Samira C. de S. Pinto

Beatriz F. dos S. Gonçalves

and

Estefan M. da Fonseca

Eng 2023, 4(2), 1210-1224; https://doi.org/10.3390/eng4020071 - 20 Apr 2023

Viewed by 911

Abstract

Port sites represent one of the most impacted coastal areas; this impact is due to intensive anthropogenic pressures. In addition to the port complex itself, associated activities, such as indiscriminate disposal of pollutants, including trace metals, affect the local ecosystem. Macroinvertebrate benthic communities are one of the most effective bioindicators of environmental health because of their importance as a primary food source for many fish, birds, and mammals, as well as their influence on sediment stability and geochemical composition. This article evaluates the benthic macrofauna in the Santos Estuarine System (SES), the location of the Santos Port Complex (SPC), linking trace metal levels to differences in microbenthic community structure and pollutant bioavailability. The distribution of Cd, Ni, and Pb was directly related to organic matter deposits, while Cu and Zn appeared to result from port activities. The SES contained a poor benthic macroinvertebrate community, resulting from the contaminated muddy sediments. A significant negative correlation was found between the macrobenthic diversity and concentrations of Cu in the soluble phase; this implied the pollution-induced degradation of the macrobenthos in SES. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Engineering for Sustainable Development 2023)

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Open AccessArticle

Environmental Impacts of Rainwater Harvesting Systems in Urban Areas Applying Life Cycle Assessment—LCA

and

Eng 2023, 4(2), 1127-1143; https://doi.org/10.3390/eng4020065 - 10 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1437

Abstract

Climate change poses a series of challenges to water management to satisfy society’s current and future needs. Considering water an essential resource for life, this research is dedicated to comparing the environmental impacts caused by the conventional water supply system and Conventional Water Supply system complemented with rainwater harvesting, considering in the first one not only the components of the municipal public supply, but also the hydraulic components of the residences until the point of use. A life cycle assessment—LCA—was conducted for the two systems, considering them from the catchment to the point of use. This methodology quantifies environmental impacts throughout the product or process life cycle to obtain sustainable options, from raw material extraction to ultimate disposal. The results expose that the hybrid system represents an increase in environmental impacts. However, at a building scale, this increase was very small, and this can be seen as favorable to the hybrid system due to the benefit it brings. The seven percent reduction in water demand over the conventional system can represent significant relief in regions that already have water stress as a reality. This study has the potential to guide managers and designers of public water policies, providing data for a better decision-making process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Engineering for Sustainable Development 2023)

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