Abstract

The purpose of this research is to determine sustainable marketing strategies for the future Norwegian energy hub, specifically emphasizing hydrogen energy. It offers a strategic plan for stakeholders in hydrogen-based energy sector, analyzing the capabilities and limitations under the field of strengths and weaknesses, and opportunities and threats (SWOT) in a macro and strategic way. The study employs SWOT and quantitative strategic planning matrix (QSPM) methods to assess all the alternative strategies. Also, at the end, an aggressive macro strategy for the use of hydrogen in the energy sector is formulated as the result of the research. The current research can be also a guide and a suitable model in formulating sustainable energy marketing strategies for Qatar as another country with huge natural gas resources, which at the same time supports sustainable development.

Abstract

In the last decades, the transition to zero-emission automotive transportation has accelerated thanks to the technological advancement of Electric Vehicles (EVs). In particular, the great performance improvements of their Energy Storage Systems (ESSs) in energy and power density have declared this automotive transportation the most promising among the competitors. However, EVs are still being studied by the research community in order to overcome several challenges which limit the large diffusion of this technology on the global market. The aim of this paper is to analyse the relationship between user drive style and battery pack’s aging which reduces ESS capacity over the operative time. The analysis is carried out in MatLab/Simulink environment on real urban driving cycles using an experimentally validated ageing-electro-thermal model of a LiNMC cell. The evaluations have been obtained by monitoring the BP State of Health (SoH) under different user’s drive styles and operative conditions. The paper’s results provide useful information for the ESS manufacturers and designers in order to improve the achievable EVs’ road range.

Abstract

As an essential part of the natural gas supply chain, the safe and reliable operation of the natural gas pipeline system is vital to energy supply security. When accidents occur in the natural gas pipeline system, determining the maximum allowable repair time of the failed unit is a crucial factor in balancing maintenance resources against risks of gas shortage. Therefore, this paper proposes a methodology to determine the maximum allowable repair time for critical units of natural gas pipeline systems using gas supply reliability theory, considering system uncertainties as well as the line-pack effect. The methodology is composed of three parts. Firstly, the supply reliability indicators are proposed from the perspective of gas shortage. Secondly, the gas supply reliability evaluation model for the natural gas pipeline system is developed considering system uncertainties and the line-pack effect. Finally, the maximum allowable repair time is determined based on gas supply reliability and target reliability. Furthermore, a real natural gas pipeline system located in China is applied to confirm the feasibility of the methodology. The results demonstrate that the proposed methodology can serve as part of a Reliability Centered on Maintenance (RCM) analysis and provide guidance to support maintenance managers in making data-driven decisions.

Abstract

Layered nickel-rich oxide LiNixCoyMn1-x-yO2 (0.6≤x<1) is a highly promising positive electrode material. However, the cycling stability of nickel-rich positive electrode materials is limited by particle fracture and a series of side reactions. A comprehensive understanding of particle cracking mechanisms is paramount for material optimization, but crack initiation and propagation have received limited research attention. This paper uses a quasi in-situ SEM observation method and an in-situ optical microscopy observation method to observe crack evolution in real time. The results show rapid cracking behavior under hazardous operating conditions and cracking during cycling under mild conditions. Center cracks and surface cracks are observed during cycling. The observation methods and these insights into the crack behavior offer theoretical guidance for the structural engineering of NCM cathode particles.

Abstract

The hotel sector, which accounts for 1% of global carbon emissions, remains an under-researched sector of the non-domestic building stock. This study focuses on the characterisation of the hotel stock in England and Wales, targeting the data needed to assess options for climate change mitigation. The analysis utilises public datasets including Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), Valuation Office Agency (VOA) rating lists, UK Buildings, 2011 Rural and Urban Classification (RUC), and AddressBase Premium. The study aims to provide a comprehensive description of the hotel building stock, to identify sustainability challenges and opportunities, and to support the development of relevant policies and measures. The findings of the study show that there is scope to improve the energy performance of the hotel sector in England and Wales, with historic buildings accounting for a sizeable proportion of this. These historic buildings present carbon emission challenges, highlighting the need to improve energy efficiency while preserving their historic significance. This study helps to break down the data barriers of non-domestic stock studies to aid energy management and climate change response in the hotel sector, providing insights into the realisation of a low-carbon economy and sustainable development goals. The limitations of the data are recognised to improve the accuracy and reliability of future studies.

Abstract

Low-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (LT-PEMFCs) have emerged as a clean energy solution in the transportation sector and the backup power generator in the deep space mission. Under aggressive cell operating conditions, the likelihood of mechanical failure in the membrane is high, which eventually generates cracks and pinholes, leading to a gas crossover and catastrophic failure. In this work, a physics-based model of the LT-PEMFC is developed using COMSOL Multiphysics to study the effects of clamping pressure, humidity conditions, and temperatures on cell deformation. The physics-based model is validated with the experiments performed on 32 cm2 LT-PEMFC with the hybrid flow configuration at 75 °C and 80% RH. The results show that the membrane under the channel experiences cyclic swelling and shrinking than the rib because of the lower compression and higher humidity, thereby accelerating the degradation. By developing a deeper comprehension of these degradation processes, we aim to enhance the durability of LT-PEMFCs through optimized cell design, and operating conditions.

Abstract

Mobilized thermal energy storage (M-TES) system can balance the spatial mismatch between the waste heat source and the end-user side. In this study, an experimental test rig has been built to study. The dynamic discharging characteristics and the storage performance of a three-phase absorption thermal energy storage (ATES) system are studied. The test rig consists of an electric chiller, electric heaters, a control cabinet, plate heat exchangers and detachable storage tanks for mobilized applications. LiCl solution is chosen as a working fluid for its high energy storage density (ESD). Three-phase absorption, which includes the formation and dissolution of LiCl crystals during storage and discharging processes, can further enhance its ESD. The performances of the proposed storage system under three application scenarios, namely cooling, heating and combined cooling and heating were investigated. The experimental results show that the proposed storage system can achieve the ESD for 484~598 (kJ/kg solution) under different working conditions. The test results verify its potential mobilized application in district heating and cooling systems.

Abstract

Air-cooled battery thermal management technology is well developed and inexpensive, but the small convection coefficient of air limits the heat dissipation capability of the system. In this paper, a wet pad is applied to pre-cool air before it passing through the battery pack. Fluent software is used to establish a model of the lithium-ion battery pack to simulate the surface temperature of the battery. Comparative study on the temperature distribution of the same battery pack with and without the wet pad is conducted under various ambient conditions and air velocity. Simulation results show that better cooling performance of the wet pad can be obtained at higher and arid ambient conditions. Increased air velocity brings in slightly reduced cooling efficiency of the wet pad. But it can enhance the heat transfer among airflow and the battery pack. Overall, thermal performance of the proposed wet pad assisted air-cooled battery thermal management system is improved compared to a traditional one.

Abstract

This study pioneers a novel method to interpret urban energy consumption through human mobility patterns, utilizing electric vehicle (EV) charging data as a proxy. By applying algorithms like DBSCAN and a pre-trained human mobility model, the research effectively transforms EV charging logs into a detailed map of urban movement. Analyzing data from Shanghai, the study successfully correlates these synthesized mobility trajectories with actual human movement patterns, revealing a strong interplay between EV charging behavior and urban dynamics. This innovative approach not only offers fresh insights into urban energy dynamics but also respects individual privacy, marking a significant advancement in the field of urban planning and sustainable development.

Abstract

Access to clean water is a basic human right, and reverse osmosis (RO) is a common method for producing potable water from seawater. However, the high energy demands of RO systems make them expensive to operate. Renewable energy sources (RES), such as photovoltaic (PV) systems, can reduce the energy costs associated with powering RO systems. In this paper, a novel approach that uses a differential evolution (DE) algorithm to optimize PV-Battery systems for RO desalination is proposed. (DE) is a heuristic, population-based algorithm that searches for the global optimal solution. The approach aims to minimize the Cost of Electricity (COE), and Cost of Water (COW) and ensure that Desalinated water costs are within an appropriate range. The algorithm was used in a case study of the city of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, which faces significant water scarcity challenges. The results show that for an RO load demand of 1 kW, the optimized hybrid system’s configuration includes a PV generation capacity of 9.145 kW and a battery size of 64.65 kWh. The COE is 0.425 $/kWh for Dhahran city, and the COW falls between 2.41 and 2.6 $/m3.