Chemical Engineering Commons^™

Modeling Of A Fossil-Fired Power Plant For Real-Time Simulation, Robert Douglas Busch

Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs

Computer simulation of complex physical systems can be a useful technique in analyzing the multitude of interactions occurring in such systems. Real-time modeling of power plants is particularly useful in operator training and engineering research programs. Towards this end, a small-scale simulator has been developed using a dedicated minicomputer. Major components of a drum-type fossil-fired power plant were modeled using first principle, physical equations, and then the component modules were interconnected to form the simulation package. Support routines were written to provide real-time operation, periodic data storage, continuous data display, interrupt capabilities, and manipulation of control variables. The package presently …

An Experimental Study Of Semi-Continuous Ph-Parametric Pumping With A Center Feed, John S. Dell'osso

Theses

Parametric pumping represents a new development in separation science. It has attracted considerable attention both because of its novelty and because it permits continuous operation in small equipment with very high separation factors. The basic principle of parametric pumping is to utilize the coupling of periodic changes in equilibrium conditions caused by periodic changes in some intensive variables (temperature, pH, electric field, etc.), and periodic changes in flow direction to separate the components of fluid which flows past a solid adsorbent. Applications of parametric pumping involving the separation of valuable materials such as proteins would be very attractive and profitable …

The Impact Of Solar Central Electric Technology On The Regulated Utility, Donald A. Murry

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

The generation of electricity by solar energy in the U.S. is moving from the design stage to the pilot plant stage. Some persons have argued that at least some of the base line technologies are competitors now or are approaching parity with other energy sources, at least when the social costs and benefits are considered. This paper evaluates briefly the institutional framework of the regulated electric utility, the proforma impact of a solar electric plant upon an operational utility. We conclude that under the present regulatory/institutional framework, the solar electric technology will be developed at a date that is slower …

A Method For Ascertaining The Effects Of The "Significant Deterioration Of Air Quality" Regulations On Energy Industries, James A. Crenshaw, Allan G. Pulsipher, Robert C. Shock

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

EPA has issued regulations to "prevent the significant deterioration" of air quality. Problems that states may encounter in implementing these regulations are described and an approach that states and utility systems can use to implement the prevention of significant deterioration regulations efficiently is given. The planning method can also be used to ascertain the economic effects of these regulations upon the energy industries in the state in question.

Economic Implications Of Alternative Property Rights Systems For Geothermal Resources, Thomas D. Crocker

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

A system of property claims in geothermal steam reservoirs is outlined that could cause the economically heat energy of the reservoir to be allocated among claimants and over time in a more efficient fashion. At most, the proposed scheme is second-best. It is nevertheless realistic.

Optimal Fuel Supply Control For Electrical Energy Systems -- A Real Time Computer Technique, J. Derald Morgan, Richard Thomas Smith

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

The techniques of linear-integer programming are applied to the problem of supplying coal to power plants. A heuristic technique for optimizing the supply of coal to power companies is created. The optimization minimizes the purchase, transportation, and demurrage costs of coal subject to power system operations, power plant demands, coal purchase supply, power plant coal handling operations, and transport options. A procedure for calculation and analysis of cost sensitivity of optimal solutions to input data perturbations is presented which utilizes the optimizing technique.

The nature of the constraint set developed allows for the inclusion of loading and unloading operations in …

Over One Billion Tons Of Coal In 1985: Can The Railroad Industry Handle It?, Larry C. Peppers

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

Any evaluation of our country's resource potential must carefully consider the transport network and the constraints which it places upon future energy development and growth. The federal government has a vague goal of energy independence (or, at least, less energy dependence), but it has not developed a coherent energy plan—a critical element of which is energy transport. The paper analyzes the uncertain coal outlook facing the rail industry, translates these coal scenarios into alternative financial projections for the rail sector, and clarifies the most urgent federal decisions needed in the energy-transport policy matrix. The rail industry is being asked to …

A Total Present Worth Economic Comparison Of Coal And Nuclear Fuel Energy Alternatives, Dennis M. Tulenko, Phillip F. Ostwald, Klaus D. Timmerhaus

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

This paper utilizes the total present worth concept to make an economic comparison for a 500 MWe electrical power generating station operated either with Eastern U.S. coal, Western U.S. coal or nuclear fuel. Arguments are presented to support the use of this concept for comparing the economic desirability of various energy alternatives used for generating electrical power.

On-Site Generation Of Electricity -- An Idea Whose Time Has Come, Thomas R. Casten

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

Generation of electricity, on-site, with recapture of waste heat can save many area concerns up to 50% on their total energy costs today and save up to 60% of the total fossil fuel presently used. The very favorable economics result from increased utility costs -- a phenomenon of the past three years. The efficient use of fossil fuel is a feature of on-site power generation. This article traces the history of "total energy" and describes how and where on-site generation of electricity makes sense.

Water And Energy, Frank Ellis

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

Energy self-sufficiency or independence from foreign oil imports depends critically on the yet undeveloped domestic fossil fuel resources, particularly for the production of heat, which can be utilized in the conventional and technically feasible thermal energy cycles of steam-electric generators and prime movers, which can easily be replicated. An integral facet of the complex domestic energy development undertaking is the availability of water that may be required to convert the vast domestic coal and oil shale resources into usable energy forms. An orderly utilization of water resources must receive attention if sufficient development of fossil- fuel conversion energy systems is …

Household Demand Responsiveness To Peak Use Pricing: Implications Drawn From Experimental Studies Of Consumer Demand Behavior Of Both Humans And Animals, Raymond C. Battalio, John H. Kagel

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

The authors approach the problem of demand responsiveness to peak use pricing from the perspective of experimental economists working in the area of consumer demand behavior. Results from experiments involving both human and laboratory animal consumers are presented suggesting that wide classes of house-_ hold economic activities will be quite responsive to changes in peak use pricing but that the demand for space heating and cooling will be highly inelastic without major changes in capital stocks. The reasons for these differences are discussed along with suggestions of low cost technologies for achieving greater price responsiveness in space heating and cooling …

Regional Impacts Of The Energy Crisis On Agricultural Production, Dan Dvoskin, Earl O. Heady

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

An interregional linear programming model of U.S. agricultural production is used to analyze the regional economic consequences of higher energy prices and a severe energy shortage in 1985.

Energy Conservation In Aeronautical Ground Testing, R. W. Hensel

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

Large aeronautical ground test facilities, particularly continuous flow wind tunnels and engine altitude test cells, are large users of electricity. Because of the correspondingly high absolute cost of energy, these facilities generally maintain continual programs to minimize both energy and power levels consistent with achievement of testing objectives. The recent sharp increases in kilowatt-hour costs (overall rates doubled within two years at the U. S. Air Force's Arnold Engineering Development Center, for example) have resulted in a proportional rise in efforts to effect further economies. The various methods available to reduce electricity costs fall in three categories: (1) methods related …

Coal-Oil Slurries As A Device To Conserve Fuel Oil In Existing Industrial Furnaces, Lee Carter

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

Coal-oil slurries constitute a device for extending the supply of heavy fuel oil by admixing up to 40$ of ground coal. The resultant slurry can be pumped and burned in standard heavy fuel oil equipment. This paper deals with history, technology and the ERDA program for exploiting the coal-oil slurry idea. It offers a prognosis for program execution and final outcome.

Future Growth Of Electric Power Demand In The South Atlantic Region, W. S. Chern, S. B. Caudill, B. D. Holcomb, W. W. Lin

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

A reliable forecast of electricity demand is essential for evaluating the future need for additional electricity generating capacity. Such an evaluation has important implications for public policies on the research and development of energy technologies, particularly those technologies related to electricity generation, transmission, distribution, and consumption. The purposes of this paper are to discuss a methodology used in forecasting electricity demand on a state basis and to present some preliminary demand forecasts, by sector, for the eight states in the South Atlantic region. Although the models presented here were developed for this region, we are currently developing similar models for …

Local Data And The Role Of Price In Energy Conservation, John J. Snyder

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

A preliminary report is presented on an econometric demand study of residential electricity in Colorado municipalities. The data base consists of fifteen years of annual data for each of 33 communities. This permits electricity price data to be taken directly from residential rate-schedules.

In Situ Leaching Of Uranium, Nicholas H. Tibbs

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

In situ leaching is a relatively new production method for uranium with several advantages. It will contribute an increasing portion of uranium supply as production turns to deposits inaccessible to conventional mining methods.

The Lag Effects Of Ownprice And Income On The Demand For Gasoline, Albert L. Danielsen, R. Carter Hill

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

There have been a number of studies attempting to determine income and price elasticities of demand for petroleum products. These studies vary greatly in terms of model specification and in the type of data used. The immediate purpose of this paper is to formally investigate the time distribution of the income and price variables on the demand for gasoline in the United States during the time period 1949-1973. Gasoline was selected because it is the principal refined petroleum product and is important in its own right. However, the more fundamental purpose is to contribute to the methodological literature and to …

A Re-Examination Of The Energy-Gnp Hypothesis, Alexander B. Holmes

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

This paper re-examines the hypothesis that there is a constant relationship between U.S. energy consumption and gross national product (GNP). If this ratio is constant then providing incentives for energy conservation may be an unacceptable policy since economic activity in some sectors of the economy may be adversely affected. Further, if the energy-GNP ratio has begun to rise over time, as some researchers have suggested, then expectations of the future demand for various energy resources must be revised accordingly. Berndt and Wood (1974) have shown that the energy-GNP ratio is consistent with standard economic theory only under highly restrictive conditions, …

Energy Independence, Arthur T. Andersen

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

Nearly two years have passed since President Nixon first proposed that the U.S. become energy independent. -- This to be accomplished by the end of the 1970's. The proposal set in motion vast governmental efforts. As we all know, the "blueprint" for Project Independence was soon forthcoming. In this "blueprint" the proposed prospective date for attaining independence was moved forward to the mid-1980's. This perhaps was a subtle indication of the difficulty of moving toward energy independence however one might wish to define this concept.

Special Uses Of Silicone Elastomers In Nuclear Power Plant Systems, D. A. Sierawski

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

The utility of silicone elastomers as construction materials in nuclear power plants is discussed. Particular emphasis is placed on two products developed recently by Dow Corning; DOW CORNING® 3-6548 Silicone RTV Foam for fire resistant penetration sealing and DOW CORNING® Q3-6527 Silicone Dielectric Gel for neutron shielding. Both of these products are used at present in nuclear power plants and their use is growing.

Mhd Generators For Baseload Power Stations, L. E. Ring, G. W. Garrison

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

The expected continued requirement for power from coal-fired baseload plants indicates a need for an efficient, relatively pollution-free system capable of operating on high-sulfur coals. Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) power generation offers the possibility of meeting these requirements with cycle efficiencies above 50 percent. This paper outlines the basic arguments for the conmercial application of coal-fired MHD baseload plants and describes the MHD High Performance Demonstration Experiment to be conducted at the Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) by ARO, Inc., contract operator for AEDC.

John Doe's Wallet And Jane Doe's Purse Look At Hometown Recycling And Energy Conservation, Charles P. Tryon, Sharon S. Tryon

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

A national shift from the use of virgin raw materials to greater use of recycled raw materials could significantly reduce our nation's energy needs. Local governments are slowly but increasingly establishing solid waste recycling programs, but they are commonly operated as "add ons" to the existing solid waste disposal system rather than being an integral part of it. The result is both energy and monetary waste, and the taxpayers have to pick up the bill. A case study from Rolla, Missouri, quantifies the energy conservation and monetary costs and benefits of a coordinated solid waste disposal-recycling system.

The Environmental Effects And Ecohomic Costs Of Solid Waste Energy Recovery, John P. Collins

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

Environmental and economic impacts of solid waste energy recovery systems are discussed. Emphasis is given to the Navy Salvage Fuel Boiler facility in Norfolk, Virginia. Built in 1967, it is the first waterwall steam generating facility to use solid waste as a fuel in the United States. Nine years of operational data reflect national trends in energy recovery costs and environmental problems. Steam generation costs, environmental compliance costs and facility environmental impacts are discussed.

Thermal Processing Of Biomass Materials, Donald E. Garrett

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

Biomass materials have been man's chief energy source throughout history, and with current and future energy shortages, attention is being turned toward their possibly again becoming an important energy source. The extensive literature on this subject is reviewed, and an analysis made of the current state of the art and future development work needed.

Economic Consequences Of The Energy Policy And Conservation Act, A. Bradley Askin, Richard L. Farman

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

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act was signed into law during December 1976 after a year of debate between the Ford Administration and Congress over energy policy. The Act established a compromise 40 month phased decontrol program for domestic crude oil prices. This paper employs macroeconometric simulation techniques to assess the impacts that the decontrol pricing policy will have on energy sector demand and supply conditions and on the general economy through 1978.

The Realization Of An Educational Program For Improving Energy Efficiency In The Furniture Industry, Herbert M. Eckerlin, Albert S. Boyers

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

A new educational program in energy conservation has been developed by North Carolina State University for the furniture industry. This paper describes the development, implementation, and content of the program and presents some typical workshop problems applied to the furniture industry. Some measures of the effectiveness of this program are discussed and some important elements contributing to the success of the program are identified.

Energy Conversion Efficiency Versus Energy Utilization Effectiveness, Yildirim Omurtag, Donald A. Cline

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

This paper provides a brief outline of thermodynamics of energy conversion and efficiency concepts to establish a basis for the following argument that energy conversion is essentially a technical problem to be solved within the constraints of available technological know-how, whereas energy use effectiveness is largely a management problem which requires a somewhat different approach. An attempt is made to show that significant economic contributions can be made by improved management of energy use within the existing technological boundaries.

Design Of A Large Solar Heating System For A Campus Complex Of Buildings, John R. Schneider, Sherril F. Glover

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

The design program is presented describing the world's largest central solar heating system developed for the Saudi Arabian Government. Domestic hot water and building space heating is provided for a campus complex of fourteen buildings. Feasibility studies through the final design are discussed.

Net Energy Analysis Theoretical And Methodological Considerations, David A. Huetter

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

This paper takes a critical look at net energy analysis beginning with a summary of its major assumptions and objectives and an examination of the important theoretical and methodological difficulties encountered in this new discipline. An economic, rationale is developed for placing a positive value- on environmental services provided man by nature even when the supply of these services exceeds demand. The author concludes that the value weights developed by net energy analysis contain little information of use to decision makers and that the vitally needed insights of environmentalists, ecologists, energy analysts, and others can and should be integrated into …