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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Integrated Techno-Economic And Life Cycle Analyses Of Biomass Utilization For Value-Added Bioproducts In The Northeastern United States, Yuxi Wang Jan 2020

Integrated Techno-Economic And Life Cycle Analyses Of Biomass Utilization For Value-Added Bioproducts In The Northeastern United States, Yuxi Wang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

A multi-stage spatial analysis was first conducted to select locations for lignocellulosic biomass-based bioproduct facility, using Geographical Information System (GIS) spatial analysis, multi-criteria analysis ranking algorithm, and social-economic assessment. A case study was developed to determine locations for lignocellulosic biorefineries using feedstocks including forest residue biomass and three energy crops for 13 states in the northeastern United States. In the entire study area, 11.1% of the counties are high-suitable, 48.8% are medium-suitable for biorefinery siting locations. A non-parametric analysis of cross-group surveys showed that preferences on biorefinery siting are homogeneous for experts in academia and industry groups, but people in …


Process Modeling And Techno-Economic Analysis Of Thermo-Catalytic Dimethyl Ether Synthesis And Microwave-Based Aromatics Production Technologies From Shale Gas, Chirag Mevawala Jan 2020

Process Modeling And Techno-Economic Analysis Of Thermo-Catalytic Dimethyl Ether Synthesis And Microwave-Based Aromatics Production Technologies From Shale Gas, Chirag Mevawala

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Production of dimethyl ether (DME) and direct non-oxidative methane dehydroaromatization (DHA) to aromatics via conventional and microwave (MW)-assisted processes are investigated in this research. Plant-wide models of the shale gas to DME process with integrated CO2 capture via direct and indirect synthesis routes have been developed. Optimal parameter estimation, and model validation are undertaken for various sections of the process including the pre-reforming reactor, auto-thermal reforming reactor, DME synthesis reactors, CO2 capture units and separation sections. A novel DME separation process has been developed for efficient separation of DME, syngas, and CO2. Plant-wide techno-economic optimization is …


Techno-Economic Feasibility Of Solar Powered Electric Vehicle Charging Stations In West Virginia, Houssem Eddine Younes Jan 2020

Techno-Economic Feasibility Of Solar Powered Electric Vehicle Charging Stations In West Virginia, Houssem Eddine Younes

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

This project explores the techno-economic feasibility of installing a photovoltaic (PV) system to power electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in West Virginia. A case study of a parking garage charging station is considered. The PV system performance and economic feasibility are assessed for two different system configurations and two financial scenarios. Two system variations one including PV only and another with on-site storage battery are modelled using the System Advisor Model (SAM) developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Initial technical specifications of the PV system, battery system and EV chargers were selected as a reference case. Through parametric simulation, …