Development Of Hydrogen Emissions Quantification Systems To Expand Understanding Of Leaks And Losses Associated With The Burgeoning Hydrogen Transportation Sector, Christopher Loomis

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

To combat global warming, alternative fuels are being investigated. Hydrogen is at the forefront of this movement, advertised as having zero emissions due to the products of the energy reaction being only water. However, studies over recent decades indicate that hydrogen in the atmosphere acts as a form of greenhouse gas (GHG) by increasing the lifespan of methane in the atmosphere. Models are attempting to estimate the possible effects of a transition to a hydrogen-fueled economy but lack empirical data to provide confidence to these estimated values. There is little data that quantifies hydrogen from anthropogenic sources.

To address this …

Microwave-Assisted Reduction Of Critical Metal Oxides From E-Waste Mixture, Kurundu Shavinka Jayasekera

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The efficient recovery of critical metals such as tantalum (Ta), manganese (Mn), gallium (Ga), and indium (In) from electronic waste (e-waste) is essential for resource sustainability and environmental protection. This research uses microwave-assisted treatment to investigate the carbothermal reduction of these four specific metals from their oxides in a simulated e-waste mixture, with carbon black serving as both a microwave coupling and reduction agent. Microwave processing is used specifically because it offers a rapid and energy-efficient alternative to conventional thermal methods, with the benefits of intrinsic heating and selective heating of materials. The first experiments centered on understanding the effects …

La2nio4+Δ-Based Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (Soecs) Electrodes Enhanced With Complex Perovskite Nanocatalyst Processed By Surfactant-Enabled Infiltration, Cole Samuel Klemstine

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As the world seeks to reduce its reliance on hydrocarbons, the demand for sustainable hydrogen production methods has become increasingly critical. Hydrogen is a versatile energy carrier that can be produced from various sources, including water, natural gas, and biomass. Replacing the burning of hydrocarbons with hydrogen could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to global climate goals like those set by the US H2NEW program. The joint technologies of solid oxide fuel and electrolysis cells present the ability to both produce and process clean hydrogen to meet these goals. Development into solid oxide fuel cells has been met with …

Fundamental And Applied Investigation Of Ammonia Combustion: Characteristics And Emissions At Relevant Ic Engine Conditions, Luis Fernando Alvarez Correa

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Ammonia (NH3) is regarded as a promising fuel for future carbon-free power and propulsion systems due to its high hydrogen content, ease of storage, and existing infrastructure. Despite these advantages, NH3 exhibits inherently poor combustion characteristics, including low laminar burning velocity, high ignition energy, narrow flammability limits, and sluggish chemical kinetics. These limitations were solved in prior research by blending NH3 with hydrogen (H2) or hydrocarbons, which improved reactivity but introduced trade-offs such as increased complexity, safety concerns, or carbon emissions. Consequently, there remains a significant lack of fundamental and applied research on neat NH3 combustion, particularly under engine-relevant conditions …

Assessing And Predicting The Impact Of A Retrofitted Methane Mitigator On Non-Road Large Natural Gas Engines Using Artificial Neural Networks, Augustine Thomas Ojo

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Abstract

ASSESSING AND PREDICTING THE IMPACT OF A RETROFITTED METHANE MITIGATOR ON NON-ROAD LARGE NATURAL GAS ENGINES USING ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS

Augustine Thomas Ojo

Methane emissions from the oil and gas sector present a pressing environmental and economic challenge, given methane’s high global warming potential and the considerable volumes of unutilized gas lost from industrial processes. This study investigates the impact of a retrofitted methane mitigation system, the Methane Mitigator (M²), on fuel consumption and engine-out emissions in non-road, four-stroke natural gas-powered, lean-burn engines and develops predictive Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models to estimate the resulting engine-out emissions and fuel …

An Investigation Into Energy Consumption And V2g Potential Of An Electric School Bus Fleet, Rupesh Dahal

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The transition towards sustainable public transportation demands detailed evaluation of alternative fuel technologies. This thesis presents a comprehensive energy assessment and comparative analysis of diesel and electric school buses (ESBs) operating within the Monongalia County school district, its Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) potential, and efficiency analysis of charging system. Utilizing real-world operational data collected from buses running identical routes, the study quantifies and compares their mileage specific energy consumption. The analysis reveals an average fuel economy of approximately 6.17 miles per gallon (MPG) for the conventional diesel school bus, contrasted with an average energy consumption rate of 0.46 miles per kilowatt-hour (miles/kWh) …

An Investigation Of The Performance Of A 140 Kw Solar Panel In West Virginia, Rumana Subnom

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Solar panels are recognized as a viable technology for producing electricity from sunlight. The performance of a solar panel is influenced by factors such as solar irradiance, tilt angle, orientation, shading, panel age, degradation, and various environmental conditions including ambient air temperature, humidity, dust, soil, and snow.

In this research, a mobile solar panel testing system consisting of a mobile cart, a solar panel, and a portable power station was designed and fabricated to evaluate the performance of a solar panel. The battery is equipped with a thermal management system controlling its temperature and charging and discharging system. The current …

Investigation Of Space Charge Effects On Co2 Electrocatalytic Reduction On Gd-Doped Ceria Via Scanning Kelvin Probe And Model-Based Bayesian Analysis, Alejandro Mejia

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In studying novel energy conversion and storage systems, such as high-temperature electrolysis, numerous underlying fundamental physical processes remain unclear or inadequately understood. Among these, the modeling and comprehension of surface reaction mechanisms, coupled with the intricate effects of space‑charge interfaces, remains an unclear and challenging area of research.

The work of this dissertation involves the development of a 2D finite element analysis model, leveraging the robust MOOSE framework from INL. This model, featuring inhomogeneous defect thermodynamics for near-surface chemistry, formulated through Poisson‑Cahn variational theory, has been exploited for studying the electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂ on gadolinia doped ceria. The …

Data-Driven Modeling Of Oxygen Kinetics In La0.6sr0.4co0.2fe0.8o3−Δ (Lscf) For High-Temperature Reduction Of Co2 In An Electrolysis Cell, Ferron Campbell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Electrolysis systems are critical to several societal applications, particularly energy storage and conversion. Developing these systems requires a detailed knowledge of the chemistry and thermodynamics of the materials used in the electrolysis cell. This work focuses on using embedded scientific machine learning as an efficient way to build an interpretable model for the reaction and transport kinetics in the LSCF electrode, whose performance directly influences the electrolysis system’s performance. The models developed in this study are trained using the publicly available machine learning package, FoKL-GP. This package incorporates a robust Gibbs sampler that employs a forward variable selection process to …

System Analysis Of An Internal Combustion Engine (Ice) – Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (Sofc) Hybrid Cycle, Jose Javier Colon Rodriguez

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Due to the intermittent nature of renewable energy and the rigid operation of existing coal plants, the need for flexible power generation technology is eminent. Hybrid energy systems have shown potential for flexible, grid following dynamics while maintaining higher efficiencies. The work below focuses on the performance analysis of a proposed 100 kW pressurized Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) hybrid system. The un-utilized fuel from the SOFC stack provided the chemical energy to operate the engine. A turbocharger was used to deliver the necessary air flow for both the stack and engine. An external reformer …

Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Analysis With Physical Sub-Models, Samuel Abimbola Ogunfuye

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Ever-increasing explosions occurring globally at a rapid rate and in diverse situations have re-established the fact that novel, faster, and more accurate approaches must be developed to analyze and possibly curb these explosions and avert their future occurrences. Experimental endeavors and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations as compared to engineering models generally require enormous time, and resources, as well as a high-level of expertise and technicalities. This might, however, delay prompt analysis and the ability to draw conclusions, thereby causing setbacks in recommending safety measures for different situations and conditions. Therefore, robust models which are accurate and fast to give …

Combustion Characteristics Of Methane, Ethane, Propane, And Butane Blends Under Conditions Relevant Of A Dual-Fuel Diesel And Natural Gas Engine, Christopher Joseph Ulishney

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As natural gas production infrastructure is already in place in most of the world and will continue expanding for the foreseeable future, natural gas is an alternative to traditional liquid petroleum fuels in heavy-duty engines. Dedicated natural gas or dual-fuel diesel-natural gas heavy-duty engines are alternatives to diesel-only power generation equipment. One challenge is the large variation in the natural gas composition available for such applications, which is known to significantly affect engine’s combustion characteristics and the emissions composition. As the literature on dual-fuel combustion under low load engine operating conditions that use more realistic natural gas mixtures (i.e., mixtures …

Simulating Energy Performance Of Buildings: A Study Using Equest And Energy Star® Portfolio Manager, Sabin Wagle

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The urgent need for improving building energy efficiency in response to global warming and environmental sustainability has highlighted the importance of practical techniques to optimize energy performance. The study utilizes the eQUEST simulation engine and Energy Star® Portfolio Manager to evaluate retrofit and design parameters and conduct a sensitivity analysis to explore the impact of different parameters on building energy performance. The study develops building energy models in eQUEST using data from two fully operational Distribution centers. It is calibrated using the Normalized Mean Bias Error (NMBE) and Coefficient of Variation of Root Mean Square Error (CV(RMSE)) method, meeting the …

Evaluating Electrification Of Fossil Fuel-Fired Boilers For Decarbonization Using Discrete Event Simulation, Nahian Ismail Chowdhury

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Decarbonizing fossil fuel usage is crucial in mitigating the impacts of climate change. CO2, which comprises the major portion of greenhouse gas, is emitted from burning fossil fuels. One of the significant sources of fossil fuel user is industrial process heating, and most of the heating in industrial processes is achieved through boilers. Electrification is a promising solution for decarbonizing these boilers, as it enables renewable energy sources to generate electricity, which can then be used to power the electric boilers. The electrification of boilers can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and increase energy efficiency. However, it requires …

Controlling The Thermal And Electrical Properties Of Camno3-Δ Based Perovskite Ceramics, Sergio Andres Paredes Navia

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Most of the energy lost during the conversion process comes in the form of waste heat. The world's energy consumption loses over 60% of its energy after conversion. In order to increase the efficiency of the conversion process, it is essential to harness waste heat and reutilize this energy resource. Heat recovery technology as thermoelectric (TE) technology is one of the growing alternatives to harvest excessive amounts of energy lost as waste heat for a more efficient, safe, and sustainable future. Due to the Seebeck effect, TE materials have the potential to convert waste heat directly into electricity, improving efficiency …

Combustion Feature Characterization Using Computer Vision Diagnostics Within Rotating Detonation Combustors, Kristyn B. Johnson May

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In recent years, the possibilities of higher thermodynamic efficiency and power output have led to increasing interest in the field of pressure gain combustion (PGC). Currently, a majority of PGC research is concerned with rotating detonation engines (RDEs), devices which may theoretically achieve pressure gain across the combustor. Within the RDE, detonation waves propagate continuously around a cylindrical annulus, consuming fresh fuel mixtures supplied from the base of the RDE annulus. Through constant-volume heat addition, pressure gain combustion devices theoretically achieve lower entropy generation compared to Brayton cycle combustors. RDEs are being studied for future implementation in gas turbines, where …

Analysis Of Emissions Profiles Of Hydraulic Fracturing Engine Technologies, Nicholas Joseph Wells

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In the past twenty years natural gas production in the United States has significantly increased. This is largely due to technological advancements in unconventional methods of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. With these new and improved technologies, the United States has been able to increase its natural gas dry production per year by 14.5 trillion cubic feet per year from 2001-2021, a 74.1% increase. Horizontal drilling allows the wellbore to have more contact with the source rock, thus allowing more hydrocarbons to be extracted. Hydraulic fracturing allows oil and gas companies to have access to low permeable source rock, previously …

Development Of Methane Emissions Model To Assess Fuel Recovery Potential At Gas Well Sites Using On Site Compression, Nicholas G. Lindenfeldar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The US natural gas production and consumption has increased 85.5% since 2005 primarily due to the unconventional production methods of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Natural gas used as a fuel has a lower greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint than coal and petroleum due to lower Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) emissions when combusted. However, the “greener” benefit to natural gas may be consumed by leaks in production and transmission systems. Methane (CH₄), the primary hydrocarbon in natural gas, has an estimated Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 28-36 over 100 years, meaning it can absorb 28-36 more energy than …

Development Of A Thermal Desalination System Using Low Quality Thermal Energy, Takudzwa C. Chipunza

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Abstract

Development of a Thermal Desalination System Using Low Quality Thermal Energy

Takudzwa Chipunza

The blowdown water from the cooling tower of the power plant and the produced water from shale gas industry cannot be disposed directly to the environment as they may contain dissolved solids that are harmful to the environment. A detailed physical and chemical process to remove the mineral and organic solids has been developed in West Virginia University. Such a process includes running the blowdown and produced water through a softening tank, activated carbon tank, and a reverse osmosis (RO) system. The RO reject contains a …

Computational Analysis Of The Stability Limits Of Premixed Methane-Air Combustion In Micro-Channels, Almoutazbellah Adnan Kutkut

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Technological progress in the last decades facilitated the development of integrated microsystem devices, including electrical and mechanical components for micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). Such systems necessitate an external power supply, but typical batteries yet have some unavoidable limitations. To address this problem, numerous studies have been conducted to develop alternatives powered by micro combustion – in order to effectively utilize the high-density energy of hydrocarbon fuels. Such a global need has resulted in much more attention devoted to the combustion-based micro-power generation systems. However, to better understand the typical combustion characteristics in such microscale systems, design and performance restrictions need to …

An Equest Based Building Energy Modeling Analysis For Energy Efficiency Of Buildings, Saroj Lamichhane

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Building energy performance is a function of numerous building parameters. In this study, sensitivity analysis on twenty parameters is performed to determine the top three parameters which have the most significant impact on the energy performance of buildings. Actual data from two fully operational commercial buildings were collected and used to develop a building energy model in eQUEST. The model is calibrated using Normalized Mean Bias Error (NMBE) and Coefficient of Variation of Root Mean Square Error (CV(RMSE)) method. The model satisfies the NMBE and CV(RMSE) criteria set by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning (ASHRAE) Guideline 14, …

Determination Of Effectiveness Of Energy Management System In Buildings, Vivash Karki

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) are computer-based systems that aid in managing, controlling, and monitoring the building technical services and energy consumption by equipment used in the building. The effectiveness of BEMS is dependent upon numerous factors, among which the operational characteristics of the building and the BEMS control parameters also play an essential role. This research develops a user-driven simulation tool where users can input the building parameters and BEMS controls to determine the effectiveness of their BEMS. The simulation tool gives the user the flexibility to understand the potential energy savings by employing specific BEMS control and help …

On The Improvement Of The Indirect Quantification Of Methane Emissions: A Stationary Single Sensor Approach, Robert Scott Heltzel

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

There is a need for improved indirect quantification of methane emissions, particularly from the natural gas industry. Natural gas production continues to increase along with the number of wells and production sites. These production sites have the potential to contribute significant levels of methane emissions. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas and the primary component of natural gas. A more complete understanding of emissions through improved quantification will lead to enhanced mitigation. Emissions have historically been quantified with both direct and indirect methods, with varying results. Emissions have been shown to be both temporally and spatially variable. These facts have …

Improving Real-Time Methane Monitoring In Longwall Coal Mines Through System Response Characterization Of A Multi-Nodal Methane Detection Network, Brian Philip Cappellini

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Machine automation and atmospheric monitoring are used by many industries to improve safety and productivity in the workplace. The underground Methane Watchdog System (MWS) is a multi-nodal network of sensors currently under development. The MWS aims to improve safety and productivity by introducing 10 compact sampling units designed to be easily integrated within the current roof support equipment of the mine. Each unit contains an array of sensors used to continuously monitor the environmental conditions which include methane concentration, temperature, pressure, and relative humidity. All MWS units report information back to a remote central processing hub (CPH) which collects nodal …

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

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

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, …

A Study On The Hydrodynamics Of A Bench-Scale Top-Fed Bubbling Fluidized Bed Gasifier Using Biomass And Coal As Feedstocks, Ali Can Sivri

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The production of synthetic gas (syngas) from renewable or carbon-neutral sources can significantly reduce greenhouse and other emissions associated with conventional fuels. One of the most promising technologies to efficiently convert carbonaceous feedstocks such as biomass, coal, or municipal waste into syngas for transportation, power, heat, electricity generation, and or production of added-value chemicals is the bubbling fluidized-bed gasifier (BFBG). However, the gasification process inside a BFBG is a very complex high-temperature multiphase flow phenomena still not well understood, particularly when binary mixtures are investigated. As a result, despite the numerous correlations in the literature developed to predict the hydrodynamics …

An Examination To Pathways Powering Car Using Clean Energy, Marina Miranda

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Traditional vehicles powered by internal combustion engines contribute significantly to increasing emissions of greenhouses gasses (GHG). There has been increasing interest in powering vehicles using green energy include using electricity produced by wind turbine and solar panel. The green electricity can be used to directly charge the Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV), or producing hydrogen as fuel for Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV) by converting electrical energy to hydrogen (H₂) through water electrolysis. The low energy density H₂ produced can be stored on board as either compressed H₂ or liquefied H₂.

This research examines the …

Evaluation Of Process And Economic Feasibility Of Implementing A Topping Cycle Cogeneration System, Unique Karki

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Industrial applications that require steam for their end-uses generally utilize steam boilers that are at higher size than what is typically required. Similarly, gas turbine-based power plants corroborate the gas turbine system and eventually relieve the exhaust into the atmosphere. These facilities include food, paper, chemicals, refining, and primary metal manufacturing industries. This research focuses on the scope of a topping cycle combined heat and power (CHP) system by pushing the load on the boiler to a higher limit, or a gas turbine operation in place of a boiler system for a topping cycle CHP and its economic feasibility by …

Development Of An Activity-Based Windowing Approach To Evaluate Real-World Nox Emissions From Modern Medium And Heavy-Duty Diesel Trucks, Rasik Pondicherry

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The introduction of in-use emissions regulations by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S.EPA) requires medium-duty (MD) and heavy-duty (HD) engine manufacturers to demonstrate emissions compliance during in-fleet operation. In the United States (U.S.), the Not-to-Exceed (NTE) method is used to evaluate real-world emissions compliance from on-highway MD and HD trucks. Regulatory agencies, engine manufacturers and research entities have identified that the NTE method incorporates numerous exclusions and evaluates emissions compliance only under selective operating conditions that are favorable for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system to reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions efficiently. Such operation is typically encountered only …

Measured And Modeled Performance Of A Spring Dominant Free Piston Engine Generator, Ramanjaneya Mehar Baba Bade

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Free Piston Engine Generators (FPEG) directly convert the reciprocating piston motion into electricity by using a linear alternator. Unlike conventional engines with piston motion restricted by a crankshaft mechanism, the FPEG piston motion is constrained by the energy available in the system. When stiff springs are considered in the design, the FPEG system attains high frequency with high power and efficiency. The main objective of this research was to model stiff spring-assisted FPEG system dynamics and performance accurately, and to apply the modeling results to the development of a 1kW, spark ignited, natural gas fueled, FPEG experimental prototype. The experimental …