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Article
Engineering
Energy and Fuel Technology

Ayalew Bekele Demie

,

Venkata Ramayya Ancha

,

Mulu Bayray Kahsay

Abstract: Diffuser-augmented wind turbines present a compelling solution for power extraction in low-wind-speed regions. However, the systematic optimization of plain flaps for compact diffusers has remained largely unexplored. This study conducts a comprehensive parametric CFD investigation of a plain flap integrated into an already optimized compact diffuser, utilizing a validated high-lift airfoil at a 5 m/s freestream velocity. Thirty design points were evaluated across five flap bend locations and six deflection angles using 2D axisymmetric steady RANS simulations with the γ-Re_θt transition turbulence model and an actuator disc rotor representation. Results identify a global optimum at xf/c = 0.90 and βf = 20°, delivering a velocity augmentation ratio of γ = 1.302, a 4.71% improvement over the baseline, and a corresponding 14.9% gain in power coefficient. A wide performance plateau (γ ≥ 1.30) exists for xf/c = 0.85–0.90 and βf = 5°–20°, demonstrating excellent robustness to geometric variations. Flow visualization and wall shear stress analysis reveal that optimal performance does not rely on flow reattachment; instead, a stabilized circulation zone functions as a virtual aerodynamic surface. These findings offer clear, practical design guidelines: integrating a plain flap with xf/c = 0.85–0.90 and βf = 5°–20° into compact diffusers achieves near-optimal performance while allowing generous manufacturing tolerances.

Article
Engineering
Energy and Fuel Technology

Douglas Alberto Rocha de Castro

,

Simone Patrícia Aranha Da Paz

,

Andréia de Andrade Mancio Mota

,

Nilton Pereira da Silva

,

Renan Marcelo Pereira Silva

,

Neyson Martins Mendonça

,

Jhuliana da Silva Santana

,

Sílvio Alex Pereira da Mota

,

Marcelo Costa Santos

,

Erika Milene Pinto de Sousa

+6 authors

Abstract: In this work, the fresh seeds of Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.), a rich lignin-cellulose residue, has been submitted to pyrolysis to produce a bio-oil like fuel. The pyrolysis reaction was carried out in a reactor of 143 L, operating in batch mode at 450 °C, 1.0 atmosphere. The morphology of the seeds of Açaí in nature and after pyrolysis process, were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The bio-oil and distillation fractions were physical-chemistry characterized by AOCS, ASTM, and ABNT/NBR methods for density, kinematic viscosity, acid value and refractive index. The chemical composition and qualitative analysis of chemical functions and/or groups present in bio-oil and distillation fractions were determined by GC-MS and FT-IR spectroscopy. The experimental data shows that bio-oil, a pyrolysis reaction liquid product, gas, H2O, and coke yields were 4.37% (wt.), 27.00, 33.63, and 35.00% (wt.), respectively. The bio-oil density and viscosity were 1.0468 g/cm3 and 162.96 mm²/s, respectively, with and acid value of 70.26 mg KOH/g. The GC-MS analysis shows that bio-oil is composed by 21.52% (wt.) hydrocarbons, and 78.48% (wt.) oxygenates (4.06% esters, 8.52% carboxylic acids, 3.53% ketones, 35.16% phenols, 20.52% cresols, 5.75% furans, and 0.91% (wt.) aldehydes. The distillation of bio-oil carried out in a laboratory scale column (Vigreux Column) according to the boiling temperature range of fossil fuels (gasoline, light kerosene, and kerosene). The distillation of bio-oil yielded gasoline, light kerosene, and kerosene-like fuel fractions of 16.16, 19.56, and 41.89% (wt.), respectively. The densities of gasoline, light kerosene, and kerosene-like fuel fractions were 0.9146, 0.9191, and 0.9816 g/cm3, respectively, while the kinematic viscosities were 1.457, 3.106, and 4.040 mm²/s, respectively, with acid values of 14.94, 61.08, and 64.78 mg KOH/g, increasing with boiling range temperature. The GC-MS analysis identified in gasoline, light kerosene, and kerosene-like fuel fractions 64.00%, 66.67%, and 19.87% (wt.) hydrocarbons. The pyrolysis has caused substantial changes on the morphological structure of Açaí seeds in nature by destructing the plant cell walls. The results of EDX show that carbon content increases from 79.28 to 89.98% (wt.), while that of oxygen decreases from 20.71 to 6.94% (wt.) at 450 °C. The results of XRD confirm the presence of 03 crystalline phases: graphite (C), cristobalite (SiO2), and quartz (SiO2), being the graphite the peak of high intensity (100%). The pyrolysis favors the formation of mineralogical phase graphite. The bio-adsorbent has been applied to selectively adsorb acetic acid from aqueous solutions, showing its ability to be applied as a bio-adsorbent.

Article
Engineering
Energy and Fuel Technology

Douglas Alberto Rocha de Castro

,

Simone Patrícia Aranha da Paz

,

Andréia de Andrade Mâncio Mota

,

Nilton Pereira da Silva

,

Renan Marcelo Pereira Silva

,

Neyson Martins Mendonça

,

Williane Azevedo da Silva

,

Sílvio Alex Pereira da Mota

,

Marcelo Costa Santos

,

Erika Milene Pinto de Sousa

+5 authors

Abstract:

In this work, the influence of temperature on the yield of reaction products (bio-oil, gas, H2O, and coke), physicochemical properties (acid value, density, and kinematic viscosity) and chemical composition (hydrocarbons and oxygenates) of bio-oil obtained by pyrolysis of fresh Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) seeds, a rich lignin-cellulose residue, has been systematically investigated in technical scale. The pyrolysis reaction carried out in a reactor of 143 L, operating in batch mode at 350, 400, and 450 ºC, 1.0 atmosphere. The distillation of bio-oil carried out in a laboratory scale (Vigreux) column according to the boiling temperature range of fossil fuels. The bio-oil and distillation fractions were physical-chemistry characterized for density, kinematic viscosity, acid value and refractive index. The chemical composition and qualitative analysis of chemical functions and/or groups present in bio-oils were determined by GC-MS and FT-IR. The yields of bio-oil, H2O and gas varied between 2.0 and 4.39% (wt.), 26.58 and 29.39% (wt.), and 18.76 and 30.56% (wt.), respectively, increasing with process temperature, while that of solid phase (coke) varied between 35.67 and 52.67% (wt.), decreasing with temperature. The distillation of bio-oil yielded gasoline, light kerosene, and kerosene-like fuel fractions of 16.16, 19.56, and 41.89% (wt.), respectively. The bio-oil densities and kinematic viscosities ranged between 1.0236 and 1.0468 g/cm3, and 57.22 and 68.34 mm²/s, respectively, increasing with temperature, while bio-oil acid values varied between 70.26 and 92.87 mg KOH/g, decreasing with temperature. The densities of gasoline, light kerosene, and kerosene-like fuel fractions were 0.9146, 0.9191, and 0.9816 g/cm3, respectively, while the kinematic viscosities were 1.457, 3.106, and 4.040 mm²/s, respectively, with acid values of 14.94, 61.08, and 64.78 mg KOH/g, increasing with boiling range temperature. The FT-IR analysis identified in bio-oil chemical functions characteristics of hydrocarbons (alkanes, alkenes, and aromatics) and oxygenates (phenols, cresols, ketones, esters, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, and furans). The GC-MS analysis identified hydrocarbons and oxygenates as major chemical compounds in bio-oil, with chemical composition strongly dependent on pyrolysis temperature. The concentration of hydrocarbons in bio-oil varied between 13.505 and 21.542% (area.), increasing with temperature, while that of oxygenates varied between 78.458 and 86.495% (area.), decreasing with pyrolysis temperature. The composition of alkanes, alkenes, and aromatics increase with temperature, showing that higher temperatures favor the formation of hydrocarbons.

Article
Engineering
Energy and Fuel Technology

Oumaima El Farnini

,

Mourad Trihi

Abstract: Morocco’s National Green Hydrogen Roadmap targets large-scale hydrogen exports, yet the offshore wind and tidal resources of the Atlantic Sahara coast remain underexplored, and single-resource electrolysis plants suffer from low, variable electrolyser utilisation. This study presents a reproducible techno-economic model of a 560 MW hybrid offshore wind–tidal hub at Dakhla producing hydrogen via proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) electrolysis and exporting it as liquid hydrogen (LH₂) to Jorf Lasfar (1,241 km). The regional wind, current and sea-surface-temperature resource is characterised from Copernicus Marine Service (CMEMS) reanalysis and satellite products (2002–2016), complemented by ERA5 hourly wind for the Weibull fit; the framework then integrates harmonic (M₂+S₂) tidal modelling, Jensen wake losses, hourly dispatch, liquefaction, shipping, and discounted levelised-cost-of-hydrogen (LCOH) analysis. For a 510/50 MW wind/tidal configuration feeding a 350 MW electrolyser, capacity factors reach 49.1 % (wind), 8.8 % (tidal) and 45.5 % (hybrid), yielding ≈36,800 t H₂/yr at 60 % utilisation with 15.1 % curtailment. The 2025 base-case production LCOH is 7.53 USD/kg (10.04 USD/kg delivered); a 2030 learning scenario reduces this to 4.45 USD/kg, approaching the 2–4 USD/kg roadmap band. Hybridisation provides firming value through near-zero wind–tidal correlation, reducing output variance and electrolyser cycling rather than adding energy. Sensitivity analysis identifies capacity factor and electrolyser specific energy consumption as the dominant cost drivers, ahead of wind capital cost and the cost of capital. This work offers the first integrated wind–tidal hydrogen assessment for the Moroccan Atlantic coast and a transparent modelling platform for future multi-objective optimisation.

Article
Engineering
Energy and Fuel Technology

Mingyong Cui

,

Peiyan Jiang

Abstract: Accurate ultra-short-term wind power forecasting at the turbine level is important for grid stability and dispatching. To address the time-varying spatial and temporal correlations among multiple turbines in a single wind farm, this paper builds dynamic spatio-temporal graphs to model dynamic spatial dependencies, proposes a causal dilated convolutional network to combine short-term and long-term dependencies, proposes a graph fusion layer to achieve weight fusion of different graph sources. Experiments show that GraphFusionGRU achieves the lowest error, outperforming compared baseline models. The results confirm the model’s improved robustness, and interpretability for complex wind farm environments.

Article
Engineering
Energy and Fuel Technology

Karidewa Nyeinga

,

Jimmy Chaciga

,

Denis Okello

,

Ole Jorgen Nydal

Abstract: The study introduces a solar-powered electric cooking system designed for households in sub-Saharan Africa. It uses a 330W photovoltaic (PV) panel directly connected without a battery, to ten parallel Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) heating elements mounted on a 20 cm diameter circular aluminium plate to form a “PTC hot plate.” An Arduino controller manages the load and records system data (current, voltage, power, and temperature). Cooking tests under different weather conditions showed practical performance: 0.5 kg of beans cooked in ~3 h using 1.4 kWh; 1.0 kg of beef in 1.5 h using 1.1 kWh; and 0.5 kg of rice in 1 h using 0.73 kWh. Boiling 2 liters of water took about 25 min. Sequential cooking (rice then beans), starting at 9:45 h was completed by 14:30 h. The average cooking efficiency was evaluated to be about 54%, dependent on the duration of cooking and the food type being cooked. A minimum solar irradiance of about 400 W/m2 per day was required for effective cooking. These results demonstrate that the solar PV-PTC cook stove is a viable and promising solution for meeting household cooking needs in the sub-Saharan African region.

Article
Engineering
Energy and Fuel Technology

Jose David Esquicha-Tejada

,

Elias David Esquicha-Larico

,

Victor Ricardo Esquicha-Tejada

,

Ivan Edgardo Reaño-Soto

,

Elizabeth Susan Mamani-Machaca

Abstract: Distributed generation offers a critical pathway to sustainable urban energy; however, in-complete regulatory frameworks in emerging economies frequently force residential pho-tovoltaic (PV) systems into export-restricted operation. This study quantifies the empirical performance and opportunity costs of a demand-matched, zero-export PV system paired with an Internet of Things (IoT)-managed backup tier. A 54-month longitudinal sin-gle-case evaluation was conducted in Arequipa, Peru, utilizing a 1.36 kWp grid-tied array and a 0.6 kWh/day decoupled backup subsystem. Performance was rigorously bench-marked against a fully metered pre-PV counterfactual. The zero-export constraint man-dated a 96.3% self-consumption index (SCI), capping the self-sufficiency index (SSI) at 38.7% and yielding a utilization ratio (U) of only 24.1% against the site's technical poten-tial. Economically, the status quo produced a negative net present value (NPV) of −USD 885. However, scenario modeling demonstrated that activating a net-billing or net-metering framework robustly reversed the NPV to +USD 792 and +USD 4,587, respec-tively. Furthermore, the decoupled backup architecture successfully mitigated 97.7% of 43 recorded grid outages at a resilience cost of USD 3.2 per protected hour. The headline finding is therefore institutional, not technological: identical hardware shifts from val-ue-destroying to highly profitable purely through the regulatory mechanism governing surplus energy. We present two replicable sizing rules and propose the U metric to trans-late regulatory impasse into an internationally standardized reporting parameter, provid-ing an evidence-based roadmap for accelerating decentralized renewable energy in re-source-constrained grids (SDG 7, SDG 11).

Article
Engineering
Energy and Fuel Technology

Margarita Mayoral-Villa

,

Lizeth Torres

,

Estela Mayoral-Villa

,

Jaime Klapp

,

Enrique Guzmán

Abstract: Effective decision-making in reservoir management requires accurate insight into interwell fluid-flow communication and the dynamic response of fluids in fractured reservoirs. This study builds upon prior Visibility Graph (VG) analysis and Multiplex Network (MN) methodologies to infer potential interwell communication patterns associated with subsurface fluid flow connectivity. We leverage VG-derived adjacency matrices in conjunction with production and injection time series, treating them as dynamic reservoir responses and transforming them into image representations using the Gramian Angular Field (GAF) method. These GAF images then serve as input to a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) for classifying zones associated with different levels of inferred interwell fluid-flow connectivity. The result is a dual-path framework that combines structural insights from VG with learned spatiotemporal patterns from production-injection dynamics, enabling the generation of spatial diagnostic maps for reservoir planning. These maps provide a proxy interpretation of possible preferential communication pathways associated with production-injection response. The proposed method supports practical decision-making by providing interpretable spatial representations of reservoir connectivity and production-injection interaction patterns. Comparison of the resulting metrics demonstrates the potential of the method to support reservoir diagnostics and identify zones where connectivity-related behavior may require further engineering evaluation. Furthermore, we assess two GAF-based input strategies, the impact of data augmentation, and the resulting spatial classification of interwell connectivity zones.

Article
Engineering
Energy and Fuel Technology

Hanna Koshlak

,

Wen Huabing

,

Roman Radchenko

,

Andrii Andreev

,

Artem Andreev

,

Sergii Serogin

,

Valerii Pozdieiev

Abstract: The low speed diesel engines are the most widespread in marine power plants. Their fuel efficiency falls with growing intake and charge air temperatures. Therefore, cyclic air cooling ensures a sustainable performance of ship engines along the voyage with high fuel efficiency. The absorption chillers of lithium-bromide type (LBCh) are the most widened due to their high efficiency with COP of about 0.7. However, they are complicated and need a special room. The ejector chillers (ECh) consist mostly of heat exchangers which might be placed on the board side and transverse bulkheads in engine room, but their efficiency is considerably less than that of LBCh: COP = 0.2–0.3 depending on the temperatures of heat source, boiling and condensing refrigerant. The cogeneration engines are desired to produce hot water with temperature of about 90 °C. If hot water is applied as a heat source their COP is about 0.2, that inevitable leads to reduced refrigeration capacity and undercooling engine cyclic air. The lack of ECh cooling capacity has been boosted by the heat left from unloaded LBCh. Basing on a such general approach the overall thermal load on air cooling system has been distributed between LBCh and ECh to minimize LBCh sizes. A concept of ship cogeneration engine air cooling by combine LBCh and ECh has been realized by corresponding cooling system scheme solution. The general statements and assumptions of proposed design methodology of combine air cooling systems for diesel engines are introduced.

Article
Engineering
Energy and Fuel Technology

Shuwei Ma

,

Youan He

,

Qinchuan Yang

,

Tianjing Huang

,

Wenlian Xiao

,

Bo Wang

,

Shunyan Feng

Abstract: Shale oil reservoirs are inherently tight and are currently developed mainly by natural energy depletion through horizontal wells with volumetric fracturing. However, the production characteristics during the post-fracturing process remain unclear, and the contributions of various energy sources have not been quantified, leading to a lack of targeted measures for maintaining stable production in horizontal wells. In this study, we combined microscopic visualization experiments with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to characterize oil production in shale oil reservoirs across different development stages and to determine the contribution of each energy source to the overall recovery factor. Using reservoir engineering methods, we further evaluated the contributions of various energy sources in Xi-233 and Z-183 blocks. The results show that during the post-fracture shut-in (PFSI) stage, imbibition mobilizes oil from pores of all sizes, whereas the subsequent displacement phase primarily targets oil in meso and macropores. The PFSI not only enhances oil recovery factor but also improves oil-water flow during later production. The total recovery factor contributed by the shut-in phase, elastic energy of the fracturing fluid, elastic energy of the reservoir fluid, and solution gas drive is approximately 10%, with individual contributions of 7.40%, 6.67%, 66.74%, and 19.19%, respectively. Among these, the elastic energy of the reservoir fluid is the dominant contributor to the total recovery factor. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for optimizing production strategies in shale oil wells, support the efficient development of shale oil in Longdong area, and offer valuable insights for the development of shale oil resources across the world.

Article
Engineering
Energy and Fuel Technology

Shuhan Chen

,

Qianhao Xiao

,

Biyuan Tan

,

Muyan Cao

Abstract: Frequent heat source drift and environmental disturbances maintain hydrogen compressors in a state of thermal non-equilibrium, where transient interactions between thermal transpiration and Poiseuille flows significantly influence stability and safety. A comprehensive understanding of how time-dependent temperature patterns modulate coupled behavior remains lacking. This study addresses this gap by solving the slip-boundary Navier–Stokes equations to examine transient thermo-fluidic-mass coupling for six periodic temperature waveforms, including rectangular, segmented, square, Gaussian pulse, triangular, and sinusoidal. The results demonstrate that the heating rate predominantly determines the intensity of forward Poiseuille flow, while cooling rate and plateau duration exert minimal influence. Thermal transpiration flow, through mass redistribution, indirectly governs the formation and reversal of pressure gradients, thereby coupling temperature and pressure fields. Both transpiration intensity and the resulting reverse Poiseuille flow increase with prolonged high-temperature residence time; extending the plateau from 0.1 to 0.5 seconds more than doubles their peak values. Among the six waveforms, the square wave produces the highest peaks for all three flow components due to its maximum heating and cooling rates and the longest high-temperature hold. These findings elucidate the distinct modulation of flow responses by waveform structures and offer theoretical support for stability assessment and thermal management optimization.

Article
Engineering
Energy and Fuel Technology

Dunke Liu

,

Dieter Froning

,

Ralf Peters

Abstract: This study develops a 3D-dimensional computational fluid dynamic model of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell cathode gas channel with seven discrete liquid breakthrough inlets, one gas inlet, and a two-phase outlet. Two-phase flow and droplet evolution on the GDL are simulated using the volume-of-fluid method in OpenFOAM. The model agrees well with reported experimental and numerical data in terms of droplet size, morphology, and detachment behavior. Results show that breakthrough geometry governs droplet dynamics: circular openings promote stronger aerodynamic loading and earlier detachment, while sharp-cornered geometries (e.g., triangular and polygonal) stabilize droplets and prolong residence time. Among all investigated geometries, the circular breakthrough exhibits the highest drainage efficiency, in agreement with recent experimental studies demonstrating that laser-drilled circular pores facilitate water removal and reduce oxygen mass-transfer resistance in polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Complex interactions with the GDL surface, gas channel walls, and corners lead to coalescence, sliding, and rivulet formation. Force decomposition reveals the competition among aerodynamic, capillary, adhesion, and shear forces. The study provides a mechanistic basis for geometry-controlled water transport and guidance for GDL design and water management.

Article
Engineering
Energy and Fuel Technology

Tim Ronan Britton

,

Boris Heinz

Abstract: Displaced persons in resource-constrained contexts experience a lack of access to energy, withconsequences for health, safety, livelihoods and wellbeing. Existing research andimplementation measures addressing energy in displacement contexts remain shaped byrecurring shortcomings, in particular limited attention to displaced persons’ needs, a focus ontechnology provision, and a linear framing of change processes. These shortcomings point to abroader conceptual gap in how energy access in displacement contexts is understood, supportedby evidence and translated into action. Drawing on academic and grey literature from variousdisciplines and on insights from practice, this article proposes an alternative point of departurefor research and implementation. We argue that improving energy access requires placingdisplaced persons’ perspectives at the centre of how energy services are understood and shaped.We conceptualise enhancing access to energy services as a non-linear, locally groundedtransformation process in which priorities, pathways and arrangements are progressivelyshaped through the inclusion of diverse perspectives. To advance conceptual clarity, we proposean integrative approach that identifies core areas of inquiry for transforming access to energyservices and integrating diverse perspectives, while linking them to relevant research fields andmethodological entry points. The article contributes to strengthening conceptual clarity,evidence generation and practical engagement towards equitable and sustainable access toenergy services in displacement contexts.

Review
Engineering
Energy and Fuel Technology

Onne A. Iping

,

Maja S.L. Lamminga

,

Annik Riise

,

Rebecca Saive

Abstract: Desertification is increasing pressure on food production and water availability in arid and semi-arid regions, while these regions also offer high solar energy potential. Agrivoltaic (agri-PV) systems, which combine photovoltaic electricity generation with agriculture on the same land, may help address these linked challenges. This focused review examines how agri-PV can support the water-energy-food (W-E-F) nexus in desert environments by synthesizing literature on microclimatic effects, crop responses, photovoltaic design, and implementation barriers. The reviewed studies show that PV shading can lower soil and air temperatures, reduce evaporation, improve soil moisture retention, and, in some cases, enhance crop water productivity under arid conditions. Based on this literature, the paper proposes a design suggestion for an agri-PV system optimized for desert regions, highlighting elevated bifacial modules, fixed structures, wider row spacing, east-west row orientation, moderate tilt angles, and drought-adapted or shade-tolerant crops as promising directions. Key limitations include high capital costs, dust and soiling, water requirements for panel maintenance, ecological trade-offs, and policy barriers. Overall, agri-PV shows strong potential to improve resource-use efficiency in desert regions, but further site-specific field studies and techno-economic assessments are needed before broad design recommendations can be made.

Article
Engineering
Energy and Fuel Technology

Giuseppe De Lorenzo

,

Piero Bevilacqua

,

Roberto Bruno

,

Pietropaolo Morrone

,

Nicola Briguglio

Abstract: In order to address the climate crisis and reduce fossil fuel dependency, the REPowerEU plan and the "Fit for 55" package mandate a rapid green transition, including the transition to Electric and Fuel Cell Hybrid Electric Vehicles (EV-FCHEV) by 2035. This study evaluates a poly-generative (PG) system integrating a biomass-fed ICE co-generator, a PhotoVoltaic (PV) system, and a PEM electrolyzer. Located in Rende, Italy (Lat. 39.3°N), the system is designed to reduce grid dependence by supplying electric energy for EV charging, hydrogen for FCHEV refueling, and thermal energy for building loads. The present work extends the energy as-sessment to four representative seasonal days, two mobility-demand scenarios, part-load ICE op-eration, and a Vehicle-to-Grid strategy to manage PV surplus and support fixed-load hydrogen production. This integrated approach aims to demonstrate the feasibility of decentralized energy systems combining renewable sources and biofuels. Under maximum-range conditions, the system reaches peak electrical and thermal outputs of 50 kW and 97 kW, respectively, while producing up to 9.23 kg of hydrogen per day for FCHEV refueling, the system successfully meets 100% of the building's domestic hot water requirements year-round.

Article
Engineering
Energy and Fuel Technology

Kypros Tillyros

,

Michael Komodromos

,

Muhammad Ahmed Qureshi

,

Marios Lestas

,

Stelios Ioannou

,

Zunaib Ali

,

Nicholas Christofides

Abstract: Cold ironing, also known as electrification of onshore power systems, is an important strategy for reducing emissions from vessels while berthed at port. However, effective planning of cold ironing infrastructure requires reliable estimation of the electrical power demand of different vessel categories, especially in ports where measured ship consumption data are limited or unavailable. This paper presents a data-driven approach to synthetic ship power demand modelling for cold ironing decision support, with a case study focused on Cyprus Port of Limassol. Using data collected from various sources, a Random Forest Regression model is developed which creates a relationship between vessel characteristics and power demand. This relationship is expressed as a power density coefficient and is employed to generate a synthetic power consumption profile of each ship visiting the port. The individual ship demand values are then aggregated to determine the total daily power consumption required for cold ironing operation at the port. The results provide insights into vessel-level and port-level electrical demand, supporting cold ironing feasibility studies, shore-side infrastructure sizing, port electrification planning, and energy management decisions.

Article
Engineering
Energy and Fuel Technology

Tomasz Włodek

,

Szymon Kuczyński

,

Adam Szurlej

,

Mariusz Łaciak

Abstract: Underground Gas Storage (UGS) facilities serve to balance natural gas networks within a given area. The nature of natural gas network balancing is twofold: long-term (seasonal) during periods of significant gas withdrawal (the cold half-year) and short-term (daily) during periods of peak natural gas demand throughout the day. The first type of balancing has been a standard characteristic for many years, covering increased demand during the winter season. In contrast, the importance of daily balancing is growing alongside the ongoing energy transition, where natural gas-based power generation sources flexibly replace renewable energy sources that are dependent on the time of day or weather conditions. The necessity for increased balancing of energy systems makes them more sensitive to crisis situations. This article presents the key role of UGS as a fundamental resilience factor for European energy systems, particularly in the face of energy crises triggered by geopolitical instability. Conflicts are redefining the role of UGS as a pillar of energy security. This study analyzes how strategic gas reserves mitigate the effects of sudden supply disruptions and price shocks caused by geopolitical factors. It describes impact scenarios of two conflicts: Russia’s invasion on Ukraine and the conflict in the Persian Gulf leading to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. While UGS is essential for the short-term management of natural gas supply flows, its long-term value lies in providing a “strategic buffer” that allows energy systems to adapt to unforeseen geopolitical conflicts. Integrated storage management is indispensable for maintaining the operational integrity of the European transmission and energy system during periods of heightened instability. The paper also identifies necessary directions for the development of UGS systems.

Article
Engineering
Energy and Fuel Technology

Florentin Eckl

,

Ana Moita

,

Tânia Sousa

,

Rui Costa Neto

Abstract: Steel production contributes significantly to global emissions, making its decarbonization essential. Electrified steelmaking based on electric arc furnaces (EAF) using hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (H₂-DRI) and scrap is a promising pathway. This study analyzes how the H₂-DRI:scrap ratio affects electricity demand, CO₂ emissions, slag formation, and oxygen management. To address limitations of approaches based on aggregated data and linear scaling assumptions, a detailed bottom-up mass and energy balance model is developed, explicitly resolving process interactions between electrolysis, direct reduction, and EAF steelmaking. Eight H₂-DRI:scrap ratios ranging from 0:100 to 100:0 are evaluated. Electricity demand increases from 1.1 GJ/tSteel (0.31 MWh/tSteel) for scrap-based operation to 13.9 GJ/tSteel (3.86 MWh/tSteel) for fully H₂-based production, largely driven by hydrogen generation. Consequently, emissions strongly depend on electricity carbon intensity, with reductions of up to 95% under renewable supply. Electrolytic oxygen can fully cover process demand at ~10–13% H₂-DRI, enabling system integration benefits.

Article
Engineering
Energy and Fuel Technology

Mou-Yung Liao

,

Sih-Li Chen

,

Li Xu

,

Yu-Hsiang Pan

,

Xin-Yuan Wu

,

Po-Hsien Wu

,

Jong-Fu Yeh

,

Yu-Yuan Hsien

,

Kuan-Che Lan

,

Yi-Tung Chen

+4 authors

Abstract: This study demonstrates the generation of excess energy and isotopes via Low-Energy Nuclear Reactions (LENR) of water in 11 reactors. Cross-verification using Mass Spectrometry (MS), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS) confirmed that 17O production concurrently occurs with excess energy release, establishing the reproduci-bility of the LENR process. For mass production of 17O-enriched water, a batch-type internal circulation system integrating a storage tank and a circulation pump was developed. This setup allows continuous manufacturing of 17O-enriched water, with concentrations controlled via cir-culation time. Specifically, a 32 L system successfully yielded 30 mol% 17O-enriched water within 290 h. For high-concentration measurement, a 17O NMR-verified dilution method was es-tablished. Moreover, the LENR process induces the formation of stable, 200 nm nanobubbles (density: 9.33 x 106 particles/mL for reactor #185r12), predominantly composed of 17O com-pounds of non-condensable gases (O2 and CO2). These persistent nanobubbles prevent gas loss, significantly enhancing the long-term storage stability and practical utility of the product. Uti-lizing this low-cost, mass-produced 17O-enriched water, a preliminary MTT assay revealed that 17O disrupts cancer cell metabolism, offering promising insights for future oncology research. Overall, this cost-effective mass-production technology facilitates the deployment of 17O in healthcare and biomedical sectors, promoting further academic and clinical exploration.

Article
Engineering
Energy and Fuel Technology

Michal Ježek

,

Kamil Staněk

,

Michaela Veselá

,

Jiří Šťastný

Abstract: Operational data from thermal power plants is interpreted through the judgment of experienced experts, following procedures that are often only partly documented and hard to reproduce. The literature offers many algorithmic techniques, yet workflow-level methodologies that bind validation, detection, event creation and expert review into an auditable whole remain scarce. This article proposes EVENT (Expert eValuation of ENumerated Typed events), a semi-automated methodology for offline analysis of operational time-series data. It is organized as five steps – data validation, data preparation, anomaly detection, event creation and report generation – linked by machine-readable data contracts covering schematic, semantic, physical and temporal checks. Two design choices set it apart. The reporting unit is the event, not the isolated anomalous sample, and the procedural role of the analyst is kept distinct from the interpretive role of the domain expert. As a proof of concept, the method ran on a one-year anonymized dataset labeled with the KKS coding standard. A controlled injection of seventy constructed faults across eleven categories was caught in full by the contract checks, and the pipeline ran end to end on the annual record. These results verify the workflow, but they are not a statistical validation of detection performance.

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