Engineering Commons^™

Computer Modeling Of A Solar Hot Water Collector System, Michael F. Bregar, William E. Stewart Jr.

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

Computer modeling of a solar collector system can facilitate the selection of design paths and produce the optimal orientation and layout of the system for its intended location and seasonal usage patterns. Application of economic criteria to modeling also enables the analysis of alternate designs in terms of their installed and operating costs, as well as allowing calculation of payback periods for the various system configurations.

This program was intended to aid in the design of solar hot water collector systems. Design parameters of the system are used as inputs to the program. System configuration and design can then be …

Assessment Of Residential Energy Use: Some Results And Methodologies, Gunar E. Liepins

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

This paper addresses the problem of determining residential energy use. Specifically, it discusses some of the estimation methods, selected results, and potential errors in the estimates.

To Light Or Not To Light? -- That Is The Energy Question, J. Byron Nelson, Burns E. Hegler

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

The controversy over lighting levels has existed for some time. Interest in methods of lighting has been heightened by the energy crisis. It has been estimated that lighting consumes approximately five percent of the nation's energy, therefore lighting is a relatively small energy user when compared to transportation and industrial processes which consume the bulk of the nation's energy. However, any saving that will make a contribution to the energy crisis should be considered. Consequently, this paper shows how energy for lighting may be reduced without sacrificing the present quality of lighting and in some cases, actually improve the lighting …

Wood As An Energy Source In The Tennessee Valley Region, Richard L. Doub

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

TVA has been working with wood energy production systems for only a short time, but we have been involved with forest development for many years, and our experience has led us to believe in the viability of using wood for energy production. Commercial forests of the Tennessee Valley region (125 watershed counties, plus another 76 counties where TVA provides Power) occupy some 30.5 million acres. The annual total tree growth from these lands is about 2.3 billion cubic feet of wood-equivalent to 38 million tons of coal in heat value. Conventional forest products now consume some 580 million cubic feet …

Gasification Of Municipal Solid Waste In A Fluidized Bed Reactor, Craig W. Mosley, Radon Tolman

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

Results of pilot plant municipal solid waste gasification studies conducted at the Adolph Coors Company, Golden, Colorado, are presented. The nominal one ton per hour, 150 psig, fluidized bed gasification system was operated during 1973- 1974 using steam and air as oxidants and fluidizing media. These studies show the feasibility of a one-stage, air blown, fluid bed MSW conversion system.

Energy Recovery From Organic Residues By Fluidized-Bed Combustion, V. F. Batson, L. G. Gale, W. L. Hurt, J. W. Stallings, C. M. Young

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

The merits and drawbacks of energy recovery from organic residues by means of fluidized-bed combustion are discussed. A series of analytical laboratory tests are suggested as a means of analyzing potential fuels for combustion. Finally, a number of potential fuels are described, along with problems which may be encountered in the commercial application of energy recovery from the sample fuels.

Burning Wood As A Supplement To Solid Waste, Andrew R. Banta, William P. Smith

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

The University of Kansas at Lawrence uses natural gas and oil to generate steam for heating and other campus needs. The projected price increase of these fuels has led to a study of burning solid waste and wood. This study discusses the technical and economic considerations of burning wood. Topics included are sources and availability, collection and transportation, preparation and burning, and environmental effects. It is concluded that sufficient wood is available; truck transport is the only feasible option; drying some wood is desirable; and that the burning can be done separately or directly with the solid waste.

An Analysis Of Investments In Residential Energy Conservation In Southeast Missouri, Ralph Gunderson

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

This study examines the economic feasibility of residential solar heating. Climatic and economic variables used in this report represent those of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. An annual cost model is used to determine the conditions under which solar heating achieves a reduced annual cost of heating relative to gas and electric heating systems.

Combining Solar Heating With A Wood Burning Furnace, Kenneth Bechtold, William E. Stewart Jr.

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

The objective is to minimize the use of high-cost heating fuels in rural areas with the assistance of a wood burning furnace and a solar collector.

It was discovered that when the output of a wood burning furnace can be diverted into a solar storage battery, more useful heat can be supplied to a house with little extra inconvenience to the homeowner. The total amortized system of the wood burning furnace combined with the solar system will be less than if the systems were operated independently.

Energy Evaluation And Component Characterization Data In A Residential Solar Monitoring Program, Gene E. Kouba, William P. Moran, Bruce V. Ketcham

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

The initial phase of performance analysis, data acquisition system development and short term component characterization of a two year residential solar energy monitoring program are presented. The purpose of the monitoring program is to accumulate both short and long term performance data which would be useful in optimizing system operation, determining possible improvements to the system configuration, validating simulation methods for predicting performance, and estimating the economics of the system.

Industrial Energy Conservation Through Boiler Operation Efficiency Improvement, Dupree Maples, G. D. Whitehouse

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

A method of determining the minimum amount of oxygen in the flue gas which results in the most efficient combustion is discussed. Results of field test are presented. The magnitude of the stack gas losses is dependent on the stack gas composition determined by the fuel and quantity of excess air and the stack temperature.

Carrying Water To Newcastle, Lloyd Lore Wartes

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

Western coals, now being shipped by unit trains to eastern and southern markets, contain from 13% to 32% moisture. Drying of these coals at the mine would reduce the cost of coal to the utilities from 10% to 16% IF the railroads do not materially increase rates on higher BTU coal.

The spontaneous combustion of dry coal can be inhibited, and the savings per unit train should range from $1,375,000 to $4,129,000 per year according to the various minimum tonnage rates. The shipment of dried coal will reduce the tonnages being shipped by 15%, or increase the railroad carrying capacity …

A Solar-Cooling Pool Assisted Heat Pump System, Walter J. Schaetzle

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

A swimming pool is used in parallel with a water-source heat pump for both cooling and heating. For cooling, the pool is used as a spray pond (cooling tower); and for heating, the pool is used as a solar collector, and thermal energy storage. Both theoretical studies and experimental work have been done on this system. A full scale system is almost complete and has been used during the summer for cooling. Economically, on both an operating basis and a capital basis, the system appears feasible.

Oil Shale Energy And The Environment, Stephen Utter

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

Shale oil can be produced from oil shale by true In situ, modified in situ, and surface retorting methods. Both modified in situ and surface methods require mining of the oil shale. The environmental Implications of an oil shale mining industry are reviewed and the impacts upon land use, air and water quality, and ecological systems discussed. The Bureau's mining environmental research program is described and the results to date summarized.

The Impact Of Public Transportation Policy To Affect Energy Conservation (A Case Study), Ali A. Selim, John T. Kretzer, Braja M. Das

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

In order that public transportation policies relating to energy conservation might be identified, correlated, and assessed, a mail survey of local, regional, state, and federal appointed and elected officials was made. This survey also included contacting members of the regional business community. Although the responses received did not constitute the complete survey mailing, they did provide insight to the individual policymaker's perception of what public policy is now in effect and how it was enacted, particularly those pertinent to energy conservation in the transportation sector.

Effective Use Of Bottom Ash As A Geotechnical Material, Braja M. Das, Ali A. Selim, Tom W. Pfeifle

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

Some geotechnical properties of bottom ash produced from the burning of North Dakota lignite in a power plant are presented. These properties include grain size distribution, maximum and minimum void ratios, maximum dry density of compaction and optimum moisture content from standard Proctor tests, angle of friction, one-dimensional compressibility, and coefficient of permeability. The geotechnical properties of this bottom ash, as determined from laboratory tests, appear to be comparable to those generally obtained from poorly graded sands and indicate that bottom ash can be used for such works as backfill of retaining structures, construction of highway embankments, and fill material …

Energy Aspects Of Rural School Bus Transportation, Kirk R. Hastain, Frank A. Gerig

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

In an effort to determine the effect of rural school bus transportation on energy consumption, a study was made of a rural school district in Central Missouri. The school district's bus system was studied, records of fuel and maintenance costs were analyzed, and discussion held with supervisor and bus drivers. An effort was made to recommend ways by which energy could be conserved, without jeopardizing the welfare of the students.

Multimodal Analysis Of The Western Coal Transportation System, Kenneth Ebeling, Kam Li

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

Points raised in the coal slurry pipeline issue imply a need for an analysis of the multimodal alternatives within the context of the existing western transportation system. In reporting the initial results of the first study of its kind, this paper includes a brief description of the data base and computer routines used to construct a base case and ideal case senerios of the western coal transportation issues.

Transporting Coal In Containers Through Pipeline -- A Feasibility Study, Henry Liu

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

A preliminary assessment of the feasibility of transporting coal in containers suspended in water moving through pipes - the concept of hydraulic capsule (container) pipelining (HCP) - is presented. The assessment includes technical (engineering), environmental, social and economic considerations. A tentative conclusion reached is that HCP transportation of coal is technically feasible (although it needs further research and development works), socially and environmentally beneficial, and economically justifiable in a number of situations.

An Architectural Application For Fchart (Solar Feasibility In The Midwest), Rodney Wright, Larry Dieckmann

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

Examination of climatic conditions in the twelve Midwestern states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin reveals that this region receives from 50% to 70% of the possible annual total hours of sunshine.

Degree day heating requirements range from 4,000DD to over 10,000DD per year. In the northern tier of states, some areas require heat at some time in each month.

The FCHART Method for Solar Heating Design, developed at the Solar Energy Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin, is a method for making a computer study of solar capability for …

Principles Of Design Of A Solar Heated House, Alex Stefanovic, Chaman Kashkari

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

This paper explains the principles of design of a solar heating system for a house in Akron, Ohio area. The house is a standard one family, two story house, such as Ryan Home's Brockington model. It has, approximately, 2,000 square feet of living area, a full basement, and an attached two car garage. The solar heating system is designed to provide as much of the heating needs as is economically feasible.

An Analysis Of Solar Heating Costs In Arkansas Broiler Houses, Ralph Gunderson, J. Martin Redfern

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

This study is based on the computer simulation model of a solar heated broiler house in four locations in Arkansas. This simulation model estimated the annual energy savings in each broiler house due to the installation of a solar heating system. This paper uses present value analysis to estimate the life cycle costs of heating conventional and solar heated broiler houses in the state of Arkansas. From these calculations, the number of years required to achieve a break-even cost of heating is estimated.

Innovations In Heat Pumps, Ronald Hunter Howell, Harry J. Sauer Jr.

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

The status of the residential heat pump industry is reviewed. Some potential improvements in energy efficiency, operational reliability, and initial cost are described and delineated. These possible innovations include two-speed or variable speed compressors, reliable defrost initiation and termination, improved system components, modifications to the basic thermodynamic cycle, add-on-heat pumps, solar assisted heat pumps, annual cycle energy system, chemical heat pumps, and gas fired heat pumps.

Sizing Of Air-Conditioning Systems -- The New Methodology, Harry J. Sauer Jr., Ronald Hunter Howell

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

Accurate cooling load calculations for sizing air-conditioning equipment are more important today than ever. Properly sized equipment saves energy. This paper briefly describes a new method developed by ASHRAE for such calculations .

Design And Operational Characteristics Of A Retrofit Solar Heating System, D. J. Wetteroff, Bassem F. Armaly

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

The construction and the operation of a retrofit solar assisted space heating system are described. Performance characteristics of each component were measured and used to estimate the contribution of solar energy to the yearly space heating energy requirements.

Comparison Of Stirred And Immobilized Cell Reactors For Ethanol Production, Oliver C. Sitton, J. L. Gaddy

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

Biomass can be converted to sugars by hydrolysis with enzymes or mineral acids. These sugars can be converted into a number of chemical intermediates in biological reactors. Biological reactions are generally slow and selection of the most efficient reactor is important in these applications.

Immobilized cell reactors allow high cell densities and high throughput by attaching microorganisms to a fixed support. This paper compares the rate of production of ethanol from glucose by Saccharomyces Cerevisiae in a packed column and a stirred reactor.

Continuous stirred reactor studies showed a washout rate of .27 hr^-1. The optimum rate of …

University Of Missouri--Rolla Wood Energy Research, Yildirim Omurtag, V. J. Flanigan, Nathan E. Welch

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

The overall objective of this project is to conduct a research and development program which will lead to the early commercialization of wood gasification technology to process wood residues typical of those found in the Ozark region.

Webs For Cold Formed Steel Flexural Members Structural Behavior Of Transversely Reinforced Beam Webs, Wei-Wen Yu, Nguyen Phung

CCFSS Library (1939 - present)

Since 1973, a research project on webs for cold-formed steel flexural members has been conducted at the University of Missouri-Rolla under the sponsorship of American Iron and Steel Institute. This study deals with the structural behavior of beam webs subjected to bending stress, shear stress, combined bending and shear, web crippling and the effect of bending on web crippling load. In addition, it includes a study of beam webs reinforced by either transverse or longitudinal stiffeners. This report presents the research findings on transversely reinforced cold-formed steel beam webs. The results obtained from the study of beam webs subjected to …

Webs For Cold Formed Steel Flexural Members Structural Behavior Of Longitudinally Reinforced Beam Webs, Wei-Wen Yu, Nguyen Phung

CCFSS Library (1939 - present)

Since 1973, a research project on webs for cold-formed steel flexural members has been conducted at the University of Missouri-Rolla under the sponsorship of American Iron and Steel Institute. This study deals with the structural behavior of beam webs subjected to bending stress, shear stress, combined bending and shear, web crippling and the effect of bending on web crippling load. In addition, it includes a study of beam webs reinforced by either transverse or longitudinal stiffeners. This report presents the research findings on longitudinally reinforced cold-formed steel beam webs. The results obtained from the study of beam webs subjected to …

Webs For Cold Formed Steel Flexural Members Structural Behavior Of Beam Webs Subjected Primarily To Shear Stress, Wei-Wen Yu, Roger A. Laboube

CCFSS Library (1939 - present)

Since 1973, a research project on webs for cold-formed steel flexural members has been conducted at the University of Missouri-Rolla under the sponsorship of American Iron and Steel Institute. This study deals with the structural behavior of beam webs subjected to bending stress, shear stress, combined bending and shear, web crippling and the effect of bending on web crippling load. In addition, it includes a study of beam webs reinforced by either transverse or longitudinal stiffeners. This report presents the research findings on the unreinforced beam webs subjected primarily to shear stress. The results obtained from the study of beam …