Saudi Arabia
Future of Hydrogen as an Alternative Fuel for Next-Generation Industrial Applications; Challenges and Expected Opportunities
Jun 2022
Publication
A general rise in environmental and anthropogenically induced greenhouse gas emissions has resulted from worldwide population growth and a growing appetite for clean energy industrial outputs and consumer utilization. Furthermore well-established advanced and emerging countries are seeking fossil fuel and petroleum resources to support their aviation electric utilities industrial sectors and consumer processing essentials. There is an increasing tendency to overcome these challenging concerns and achieve the Paris Agreement’s priorities as emerging technological advances in clean energy technologies progress. Hydrogen is expected to be implemented in various production applications as a fundamental fuel in future energy carrier materials development and manufacturing processes. This paper summarizes recent developments and hydrogen technologies in fuel refining hydrocarbon processing materials manufacturing pharmaceuticals aircraft construction electronics and other hydrogen applications. It also highlights the existing industrialization scenario and describes prospective innovations including theoretical scientific advancements green raw materials production potential exploration and renewable resource integration. Moreover this article further discusses some socioeconomic implications of hydrogen as a green resource.
Optimal Scheduling of Multi-energy Type Virtual Energy Storage System in Reconfigurable Distribution Networks for Congestion Management
Jan 2023
Publication
The virtual energy storage system (VESS) is one of the emerging novel concepts among current energy storage systems (ESSs) due to the high effectiveness and reliability. In fact VESS could store surplus energy and inject the energy during the shortages at high power with larger capacities compared to the conventional ESSs in smart grids. This study investigates the optimal operation of a multi-carrier VESS including batteries thermal energy storage (TES) systems power to hydrogen (P2H) and hydrogen to power (H2P) technologies in hydrogen storage systems (HSS) and electric vehicles (EVs) in dynamic ESS. Further demand response program (DRP) for electrical and thermal loads has been considered as a tool of VESS due to the similar behavior of physical ESS. In the market three participants have considered such as electrical thermal and hydrogen markets. In addition the price uncertainties were calculated by means of scenarios as in stochastic programming while the optimization process and the operational constraints were considered to calculate the operational costs in different ESSs. However congestion in the power systems is often occurred due to the extreme load increments. Hence this study proposes a bi-level formulation system where independent system operators (ISO) manage the congestion in the upper level while VESS operators deal with the financial goals in the lower level. Moreover four case studies have considered to observe the effectiveness of each storage system and the simulation was modeled in the IEEE 33-bus system with CPLEX in GAMS.
A Review on Hydrogen-Based Hybrid Microgrid System: Topologies for Hydrogen Energy Storage, Integration, and Energy Management with Solar and Wind Energy
Oct 2022
Publication
Hydrogen is acknowledged as a potential and appealing energy carrier for decarbonizing the sectors that contribute to global warming such as power generation industries and transportation. Many people are interested in employing low-carbon sources of energy to produce hydrogen by using water electrolysis. Additionally the intermittency of renewable energy supplies such as wind and solar makes electricity generation less predictable potentially leading to power network incompatibilities. Hence hydrogen generation and storage can offer a solution by enhancing system flexibility. Hydrogen saved as compressed gas could be turned back into energy or utilized as a feedstock for manufacturing building heating and automobile fuel. This work identified many hydrogen production strategies storage methods and energy management strategies in the hybrid microgrid (HMG). This paper discusses a case study of a HMG system that uses hydrogen as one of the main energy sources together with a solar panel and wind turbine (WT). The bidirectional AC-DC converter (BAC) is designed for HMGs to maintain power and voltage balance between the DC and AC grids. This study offers a control approach based on an analysis of the BAC’s main circuit that not only accomplishes the function of bidirectional power conversion but also facilitates smooth renewable energy integration. While implementing the hydrogen-based HMG the developed control technique reduces the reactive power in linear and non-linear (NL) loads by 90.3% and 89.4%.
Advances in Hydrogen Production from Natural Gas Reforming
Jun 2021
Publication
Steam natural gas reforming is the preferred technique presently used to produce hydrogen. Proposed in 1932 the technique is very well established but still subjected to perfections. Herein first the improvements being sought in catalysts and processes are reviewed and then the advantage of replacing the energy supply from burning fuels with concentrated solar energy is discussed. It is especially this advance that may drastically reduce the economic and environmental cost of hydrogen production. Steam reforming can be easily integrated into concentrated solar with thermal storage for continuous hydrogen production.
An Overview of Hydrogen Energy Generation
Feb 2024
Publication
The global issue of climate change caused by humans and its inextricable linkage to our present and future energy demand presents the biggest challenge facing our globe. Hydrogen has been introduced as a new renewable energy resource. It is envisaged to be a crucial vector in the vast low-carbon transition to mitigate climate change minimize oil reliance reinforce energy security solve the intermittency of renewable energy resources and ameliorate energy performance in the transportation sector by using it in energy storage energy generation and transport sectors. Many technologies have been developed to generate hydrogen. The current paper presents a review of the current and developing technologies to produce hydrogen from fossil fuels and alternative resources like water and biomass. The results showed that reformation and gasification are the most mature and used technologies. However the weaknesses of these technologies include high energy consumption and high carbon emissions. Thermochemical water splitting biohydrogen and photo-electrolysis are long-term and clean technologies but they require more technical development and cost reduction to implement reformation technologies efficiently and on a large scale. A combination of water electrolysis with renewable energy resources is an ecofriendly method. Since hydrogen is viewed as a considerable game-changer for future fuels this paper also highlights the challenges facing hydrogen generation. Moreover an economic analysis of the technologies used to generate hydrogen is carried out in this study.
Design and Implementation of an Intelligent Energy Management System for Smart Home Utilizing a Multi-agent System
Jul 2022
Publication
Green Hydrogen Microgrid System has been selected as a source of clean and renewable alternative energy because it is undergoing a global revolution and has been identified as a source of clean energy that may aid the country in achieving net-zero emissions in the coming years. The study proposes an innovative Microgrid Renewable hybrid system to achieve these targets. The proposed hybrid renewable energy system combines a photovoltaic generator (PVG) a fuel cell (FC) a supercapacitor (SC) and a home vehicle power supply (V2H) to provide energy for a predefined demand. The proposed architecture is connected to the grid and is highly dependent on solar energy during peak periods. During the night or shading period it uses FC as a backup power source. The SC assists the FC with high charge power. SC performs this way during load transients or quick load changes. A multi-agent system (MAS) was used to build a real energy management system (RT-HEMS) for intelligent coordination between components (MAS). The scheduling algorithm reduces energy consumption by managing the required automation devices without the need for additional network power. It will meet household energy requirements regardless of weather conditions including bright cloudy or rainy conditions. Implementation and discussion of the RT-HEMS ensures that the GHS is functioning properly and that the charge request is satisfied.
Development and Mechanistic Studies of Ternary Nanocomposites for Hydrogen Production from Water Splitting to Yield Sustainable/Green Energy and Environmental Remediation
Mar 2022
Publication
Photocatalysts lead vitally to water purifications and decarbonise environment each by wastewater treatment and hydrogen (H2 ) production as a renewable energy source from waterphotolysis. This work deals with the photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP) and H2 production by novel silver-nanoparticle (AgNPs) based ternary-nanocomposites of thiolated reducegraphene oxide graphitic carbon nitride (AgNPs-S-rGO2%@g-C3N4 ) material. Herein the optimised balanced ratio of thiolated reduce-graphene oxide in prepared ternary-nanocomposites played matchlessly to enhance activity by increasing the charge carriers’ movements via slowing down charge-recombination ratios. Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) >2 wt.% or < 10 nm. Therefore AgNPs-S-rGO2%@g-C3N4 has 3772.5 µmolg−1 h −1 H2 production which is 6.43-fold higher than g-C3N4 having cyclic stability of 96% even after four consecutive cycles. The proposed mechanism for AgNPs-S-rGO2%@g-C3N4 revealed that the photo-excited electrons in the conduction-band of g-C3N4 react with the adhered water moieties to generate H2 .
Portable Prototype of Hydrogen Fuel Cells for Educational Training
Jan 2023
Publication
This paper presents an experimental prototype of hydrogen fuel cells suitable for training engineering students. The presented system is designed to teach students the V-I characteristics of the fuel cells and how to record the V-I characteristics curve in the case of a single or multiple fuel cells. The prototype contains a compact electrolyzer to produce hydrogen and oxygen to the fuel cell. The fuel cell generates electricity to supply power to various types of loads. The paper also illustrates how to calculate the efficiency of fuel cells in series and parallel modes of operation. In the series mode of operation it is mathematically proven that the efficiency is higher at lower currents. Still the fuel cell operating area is required where the power is the highest. According to experimental results the efficiency in the case of series connection is approximately 25% while in parallel operation mode the efficiency is about 50%. Thus a parallel connection is recommended in the high current applications because the efficiency is higher than the one resulted from series connection. As explained later in the study plan several other experiments can be performed using this educational kit.
Hybrid Electric Vehicle: Design and Control of a Hybrid System (Fuel Cell/Battery/Ultra-Capacitor) Supplied by Hydrogen
Apr 2019
Publication
Due to its high efficiency and reduced emissions new zero-emission hybrid electric vehicles have been selected as an attractive challenge for future transport applications. New zero -emission hybrid electric on the other hand has some major drawbacks from the complicated charging process. The hybrid electrical fuel cell system is introduced as the main source to intelligently control multi-source activities. An ultra-capacitor system is selected as the energy recovery assistance to monitor the fuel cell’s fast transient and peak power during critical periods. To regulate energy demand and supply an intelligent energy management system is proposed and tested through several constraints. The proposed approach system aims to act quickly against sudden circumstances related to hydrogen depletion in the prediction of the required fuel consumption basis. The proposed strategy tends to define the proper operating system according to energy demand and supply. The obtained results show that the designed system meets the targets set for the energy management unit by referring to an experimental velocity database.
Hydrogen Production by Solar Thermochemical Water-Splitting Cycle via a Beam Down Concentrator
May 2021
Publication
About 95% of the hydrogen presently produced is from natural gas and coal and the remaining 5% is generated as a by-product from the production of chlorine through electrolysis1 . In the hydrogen economy (Crabtree et al. 2004; Penner 2006; Marbán and Valdés-Solís 2007) hydrogen is produced entirely from renewable energy. The easiest approach to advance renewable energy production is through solar photovoltaic and electrolysis a pathway of high technology readiness level (TRL) suffering however from two downfalls. First of all electricity is already an energy carrier and transformation with a penalty into another energy carrier hydrogen is in principle flawed. The second problem is that the efficiency of commercial solar panels is relatively low. The cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film solar cells have a solar energy conversion efficiency of 17%. Production of hydrogen using the current best processes for water electrolysis has an efficiency of ∼70%. As here explained the concentrated solar energy may be used to produce hydrogen using thermochemical water-splitting cycles at much global higher efficiency (fuel energy to incident sun energy). This research and development (R&D) effort is therefore undertaken to increase the TRL of this approach as a viable and economical option.
Technical, Economic, Carbon Footprint Assessment, and Prioritizing Stations for Hydrogen Production Using Wind Energy: A Case Study
Jul 2021
Publication
While Afghanistan’s power sector is almost completely dependent on fossil fuels it still cannot meet the rising power demand of this country. Deploying a combination of renewable energy systems with hydrogen production as the excess energy storage mechanism could be a sustainable long-term approach for addressing some of the energy problems of Afghanistan. Since Badakhshan is known to have a higher average wind speed than any other Afghan province in this study a technical economic and carbon footprint assessment was performed to investigate the potential for wind power and hydrogen production in this province. Wind data of four stations in Badakhshan were used for technical assessment for three heights of 10 30 and 40 m using the Weibull probability distribution function. This technical assessment was expanded by estimating the energy pattern factor probability of wind speeds greater than 5 m/s wind power density annual power output and annual hydrogen output. This was followed by an economic assessment which involved computing the Leveled Cost Of Energy (LCOE) the Leveled Cost Of Hydrogen (LCOH) and the payback period and finally an carbon footprint assessment which involved estimating the consequent CO2 reduction in two scenarios. The assessments were performed for 22 turbines manufactured by reputable companies with capacities ranging from 600 kW to 2.3 MW. The results showed that the entire Badakhshan province and especially Qal’eh-ye Panjeh and Fayazabad have excellent potentials in terms of wind energy that can be harvested for wind power and hydrogen production. Also wind power generation in this province will be highly cost-effective as the produced electricity will cost about one-third of the price of electricity supplied by the government. For better evaluation the GIS maps of wind power and hydrogen outputs were prepared using the IDW method. These maps showed that the eastern and northeastern parts of Badakhshan province have higher wind power-hydrogen production potentials. The results of ranking the stations with SWARA-EDAS hybrid MCDM methods showed that Qal’eh-ye Panjeh station was the best location to produce hydrogen from wind energy.
Optimal Design for a Hybrid Microgrid-hydrogen Storage Facility in Saudi Arabia
May 2022
Publication
Background: Sustainable development requires access to afordable reliable and efcient energy to lift billions of people out of poverty and improve their standard of living. The development of new and renewable forms of energy that emit less CO2 may not materialize quickly enough or at a price point that allows people to attain the standard of living they desire and deserve. As a result a parallel path to sustainability must be developed that uses both renewable and clean carbon-based methods. Hybrid microgrids are promoted to solve various electrical and energy-related issues that incorporate renewable energy sources such as photovoltaics wind diesel generation or a combination of these sources. Utilizing microgrids in electric power generation has several benefts including clean energy increased grid stability and reduced congestion. Despite these advantages microgrids are not frequently deployed because of economic concerns. To address these fnancial concerns it is necessary to explore the ideal confguration of micro-grids based on the quantity quality and availability of sustainable energy sources used to install the microgrid and the optimal design of microgrid components. These considerations are refected in net present value and levelized energy cost. Methods: HOMER was used to simulate numerous system confgurations and select the most feasible solution according to the net present value levelizied cost of energy and hydrogen operating cost and renewable fraction. HOMER performed a repeated algorithm process to determine the most feasible system configuration and parameters with the least economic costs and highest benefits to achieve a practically feasible system configuration. Results: This article aimed to construct a cost-effective microgrid system for Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu city using five configurations using excess energy to generate hydrogen. The obtained results indicate that the optimal configuration for the specified area is a hybrid photovoltaic/wind/battery/generator/fuel cell/hydrogen electrolyzer microgrid with a net present value and levelized energy cost of $10.6 billion and $0.15/kWh. Conclusion: With solar photovoltaic and wind generation costs declining building electrolyzers in locations with excellent renewable resource conditions such as Saudi Arabia could become a low-cost hydrogen supply option even when accounting for the transmission and distribution costs of transporting hydrogen from renewable resource locations to end-users. The optimum confguration can generate up to 32132 tons of hydrogen per year (tH2/year) and 380824 tons per year of CO2 emissions can be avoided.
An Insight into Carbon Nanomaterial-Based Photocatalytic Water Splitting for Green Hydrogen Production
Dec 2022
Publication
At present the energy shortage and environmental pollution are the burning global issues. For centuries fossil fuels have been used to meet worldwide energy demand. However thousands of tons of greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels are burned contributing to global warming. Therefore green energy must replace fossil fuels and hydrogen is a prime choice. Photocatalytic water splitting (PWS) under solar irradiation could address energy and environmental problems. In the past decade solar photocatalysts have been used to manufacture sustainable fuels. Scientists are working to synthesize a reliable affordable and light-efficient photocatalyst. Developing efficient photocatalysts for water redox reactions in suspension is a key to solar energy conversion. Semiconductor nanoparticles can be used as photocatalysts to accelerate redox reactions to generate chemical fuel or electricity. Carbon materials are substantial photocatalysts for total WS under solar irradiation due to their high activity high stability low cost easy production and structural diversity. Carbon-based materials such as graphene graphene oxide graphitic carbon nitride fullerenes carbon nanotubes and carbon quantum dots can be used as semiconductors photosensitizers cocatalysts and support materials. This review comprehensively explains how carbon-based composite materials function as photocatalytic semiconductors for hydrogen production the water-splitting mechanism and the chemistry of redox reactions. Also how heteroatom doping defects and surface functionalities etc. can influence the efficiency of carbon photocatalysts in H2 production. The challenges faced in the PWS process and future prospects are briefly discussed.
Environmental Assessment of Hydrogen Utilization in Various Applications and Alternative Renewable Sources for Hydrogen Production: A Review
May 2023
Publication
Rapid industrialization is consuming too much energy and non-renewable energy resources are currently supplying the world’s majority of energy requirements. As a result the global energy mix is being pushed towards renewable and sustainable energy sources by the world’s future energy plan and climate change. Thus hydrogen has been suggested as a potential energy source for sustainable development. Currently the production of hydrogen from fossil fuels is dominant in the world and its utilization is increasing daily. As discussed in the paper a large amount of hydrogen is used in rocket engines oil refining ammonia production and many other processes. This paper also analyzes the environmental impacts of hydrogen utilization in various applications such as iron and steel production rocket engines ammonia production and hydrogenation. It is predicted that all of our fossil fuels will run out soon if we continue to consume them at our current pace of consumption. Hydrogen is only ecologically friendly when it is produced from renewable energy. Therefore a transition towards hydrogen production from renewable energy resources such as solar geothermal and wind is necessary. However many things need to be achieved before we can transition from a fossil-fuel-driven economy to one based on renewable energy
Greenhouse Gas Emission Dynamics of Saudi Arabia: Potential of Hydrogen Fuel for Emission Footprint Reduction
Mar 2023
Publication
The growth of population gross domestic product (GDP) and urbanization have led to an increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The leading GHG-emitting sectors are electricity generation road transportation cement chemicals refinery iron and steel. However the KSA is working to lead the global energy sustainability campaign to reach net zero GHG emissions by 2060. In addition the country is working to establish a framework for the circular carbon economy (CCE) in which hydrogen acts as a transversal facilitator. To cut down on greenhouse gas emissions the Kingdom is also building several facilities such as the NEOM green hydrogen project. The main objective of the article is to critically review the current GHG emission dynamics of the KSA including major GHG emission driving forces and prominent emission sectors. Then the role of hydrogen in GHG emission reduction will be explored. Finally the researchers and decision makers will find the helpful discussions and recommendations in deciding on appropriate mitigation measures and technologies.
Review on Techno-economics of Hydrogen Production Using Current and Emerging Processes: Status and Perspectives
Feb 2024
Publication
This review presents a broad exploration of the techno economic evaluation of different technologies utilized in the production of hydrogen from both renewable and non-renewable sources. These encompass methods ranging from extracting hydrogen from fossil fuels or biomass to employing microbial processes electrolysis of water and various thermochemical cycles. A rigorous techno-economic evaluation of hydrogen production technologies can provide a critical cost comparison for future resource allocation priorities and trajectory. This evaluation will have a great impact on future hydrogen production projects and the development of new approaches to reduce overall production costs and make it a cheaper fuel. Different methods of hydrogen production exhibit varying efficiencies and costs: fast pyrolysis can yield up to 45% hydrogen at a cost range of $1.25 to $2.20 per kilogram while gasification operating at temperatures exceeding 750°C faces challenges such as limited small-scale coal production and issues with tar formation in biomass. Steam methane reforming which constitutes 48% of hydrogen output experiences cost fluctuations depending on scale whereas auto-thermal reforming offers higher efficiency albeit at increased costs. Chemical looping shows promise in emissions reduction but encounters economic hurdles and sorptionenhanced reforming achieves over 90% hydrogen but requires CO2 storage. Renewable liquid reforming proves effective and economically viable. Additionally electrolysis methods like PEM aim for costs below $2.30 per kilogram while dark fermentation though cost-effective grapples with efficiency challenges. Overcoming technical economic barriers and managing electricity costs remains crucial for optimizing hydrogen production in a low-carbon future necessitating ongoing research and development efforts.
An Estimation of Green Hydrogen Generation from Wind Energy: A Case Study from KSA
Sep 2023
Publication
Actually green hydrogen is viewed as a fundamental component in accelerating energy transition and empowering a sustainable future. The current study focuses on the estimation of green hydrogen generation by using wind energy via electrolysis in four sites located in Saudi Arabia. Results showed that the yearly amount of hydrogen that could be generated by using wind turbine ranges between 2542877 kg in Rafha and 3676925 kg in Dhahran. The hydrogen generated could be used to fuel vehicles and decrease the amount of GHG emission from vehicles in KSA. Also hydrogen may be used to store the excess of wind energy and to support the achievement of vision 2030 of the Kingdom. An economic assessment is carried out also in this paper. Results showed that the LCOH by using wind energy in KSA ranges from 2.82 $/kg to 3.81 $/kg.
Hydrogen Balloon Transportation: A Cheap and Efficiency Mode to Transport Hydrogen
Nov 2023
Publication
The chances of a global hydrogen economy becoming a reality have increased significantly since the COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine and for net zero carbon emissions. However intercontinental hydrogen transport is still a major issue. This study suggests transporting hydrogen as a gas at atmospheric pressure in balloons using the natural flow of wind to carry the balloon to its destination. We investigate the average wind speeds atmospheric pressure and temperature at different altitudes for this purpose. The ideal altitudes to transport hydrogen with balloons are 10 km or lower and hydrogen pressures in the balloon vary from 0.25 to 1 bar. Transporting hydrogen from North America to Europe at a maximum 4 km altitude would take around 4.8 days on average. Hydrogen balloon transportation cost is estimated at 0.08 USD/kg of hydrogen which is around 12 times smaller than the cost of transporting liquified hydrogen from the USA to Europe. Due to its reduced energy consumption and capital cost in some locations hydrogen balloon transportation might be a viable option for shipping hydrogen compared to liquefied hydrogen and other transport technologies.
Towards a Sustainable Future: Bio-hydrogen Production from Food Waste for Clean Energy Generation
Jan 2024
Publication
To address climate change energy security and waste management new sustainable energy sources must be developed. This study uses Aspen Plus software to extract bio-H2 from food waste with the goal of efficiency and environmental sustainability. Anaerobic digestion optimised to operate at 20-25°C and keep ammonia at 3% greatly boosted biogas production. The solvent [Emim][FAP] which is based on imidazolium had excellent performance in purifying biogas. It achieved a high level of methane purity while consuming a minimal amount of energy with a solvent flow rate of 13.415 m³/h. Moreover the utilization of higher temperatures (600-700°C) during the bio-H2 generation phase significantly enhanced both the amount and quality of hydrogen produced. Parametric and sensitivity assessments were methodically performed at every stage. This integrated method was practicable and environmentally friendly according to the economic assessment. H2 generation using steam reforming results in a TCC of 1.92×106 USD. The CO2 separation step has higher costs (TCC of 2.15×107 USD) due to ionic liquid washing and CO2 liquefaction. Compressor electricity consumption significantly impacts total operating cost (TOC) totaling 4.73×108 USD. showing its ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions optimize resource utilization and promote energy sustainability. This study presents a sustainable energy solution that addresses climate and waste challenges.
An Overview on the Technologies Used to Storage Hydrogen
Aug 2023
Publication
Hydrogen energy has a significant potential in mitigating the intermittency of renewable energy generation by converting the excess of renewable energy into hydrogen through many technologies. Also hydrogen is expected to be used as an energy carrier that contribute to the global decarbonization in transportation industrial and building sectors. Many technologies have been developed to store hydrogen energy. Hydrogen can be stored to be used when needed and thus synchronize generation and consumption. The current paper presents a review on the different technologies used to store hydrogen. The storage capacity advantages drawbacks and development stages of various hydrogen storage technologies were presented and compared.
Performance, Emissions, and Combustion Characteristics of a Hydrogen-Fueled Spark-Ignited Engine at Different Compression Ratios: Experimental and Numerical Investigation
Jul 2023
Publication
This paper investigates the performance of hydrogen-fueled spark-ignited single-cylinder Cooperative Fuel Research using experimental and numerical approaches. This study examines the effect of the air–fuel ratio on engine performance emissions and knock behaviour across different compression ratios. The results indicate that λ significantly affects both engine performance and emissions with a λ value of 2 yielding the highest efficiency and lowest emissions for all the tested compression ratios. Combustion analysis reveals normal combustion at λ ≥ 2 while knocking combustion occurs at λ < 2 irrespective of the tested compression ratios. The Livenwood–Wu integral approach was evaluated to assess the likelihood of end-gas autoignition based on fuel reactivity demonstrating that both normal and knocking combustion possibilities are consistent with experimental investigations. Combustion analysis at the ignition timing for maximum brake torque conditions demonstrates knock-free stable combustion up to λ = 3 with increased end-gas autoignition at lower λ values. To achieve knock-free combustion at those low λs the spark timings are significantly retarded to after top dead center crank angle position. Engine-out NOx emissions consistently increase in trend with a decrease in the air–fuel ratio of up to λ = 3 after which a distinct variation in NOx is observed with an increase in the compression ratio.
Advancing Hydrogen: A Closer Look at Implementation Factors, Current Status and Future Potential
Dec 2023
Publication
This review article provides a comprehensive analysis of the hydrogen landscape outlining the imperative for enhanced hydrogen production implementation and utilisation. It places the question of how to accelerate hydrogen adoption within the broader context of sustainable energy transitions and international commitments to reduce carbon emissions. It discusses influencing factors and policies for best practices in hydrogen energy application. Through an in-depth exploration of key factors affecting hydrogen implementation this study provides insights into the complex interplay of both technical and logistical factors. It also discusses the challenges of planning constructing infrastructure and overcoming geographical constraints in the transition to hydrogen-based energy systems. The drive to achieve net-zero carbon emissions is contingent on accelerating clean hydrogen development with blue and green hydrogen poised to complement traditional fuels. Public–private partnerships are emerging as catalysts for the commercialisation of hydrogen and fuel-cell technologies fostering hydrogen demonstration projects worldwide. The anticipated integration of clean hydrogen into various sectors in the coming years signifies its importance as a complementary energy source although specific applications across industries remain undefined. The paper provides a good reference on the gradual integration of hydrogen into the energy landscape marking a significant step forward toward a cleaner greener future.
Integration of Renewable-Energy-Based Green Hydrogen into the Energy Future
Sep 2023
Publication
There is a growing interest in green hydrogen with researchers institutions and countries focusing on its development efficiency improvement and cost reduction. This paper explores the concept of green hydrogen and its production process using renewable energy sources in several leading countries including Australia the European Union India Canada China Russia the United States South Korea South Africa Japan and other nations in North Africa. These regions possess significant potential for “green” hydrogen production supporting the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy and promoting environmental sustainability through the electrolysis process a common method of production. The paper also examines the benefits of green hydrogen as a future alternative to fossil fuels highlighting its superior environmental properties with zero net greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover it explores the potential advantages of green hydrogen utilization across various industrial commercial and transportation sectors. The research suggests that green hydrogen can be the fuel of the future when applied correctly in suitable applications with improvements in production and storage techniques as well as enhanced efficiency across multiple domains. Optimization strategies can be employed to maximize efficiency minimize costs and reduce environmental impact in the design and operation of green hydrogen production systems. International cooperation and collaborative efforts are crucial for the development of this technology and the realization of its full benefits.
Optimal Parameter Determination of Membrane Bioreactor to Boost Biohydrogen Production-Based Integration of ANFIS Modeling and Honey Badger Algorithm
Jan 2023
Publication
Hydrogen is a new promising energy source. Three operating parameters including inlet gas flow rate pH and impeller speed mainly determine the biohydrogen production from membrane bioreactor. The work aims to boost biohydrogen production by determining the optimal values of the control parameters. The proposed methodology contains two parts: modeling and parameter estimation. A robust ANIFS model to simulate a membrane bioreactor has been constructed for the modeling stage. Compared with RMS thanks to ANFIS the RMSE decreased from 2.89 using ANOVA to 0.0183 using ANFIS. Capturing the proper correlation between the inputs and output of the membrane bioreactor process system encourages the constructed ANFIS model to predict the output performance exactly. Then the optimal operating parameters were identified using the honey badger algorithm. During the optimization process inlet gas flow rate pH and impeller speed are used as decision variables whereas the biohydrogen production is the objective function required to be maximum. The integration between ANFIS and HBA boosted the hydrogen production yield from 23.8 L to 25.52 L increasing by 7.22%.
Palladium-alloy Membrane Reactors for Fuel Reforming and Hydrogen Production: Hydrogen Production Modelling
Jul 2023
Publication
Endeavors have recently been concentrated on minimizing the dependency on fossil fuels in order to mitigate the ever-increasing problem of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Hydrogen energy is regarded as an alternative to fossil fuels due to its cleaner emission attributes. Reforming of hydrocarbon fuels is amongst the most popular and widely used methods for hydrogen production. Hydrogen produced from reforming processes requires additional processes to separate from the reformed gases. In some cases further purification of hydrogen has to be carried out to use the hydrogen in power generation applications. Metallic membranes especially palladium (Pd)-based ones have demonstrated sustainable hydrogen separation potential with around 99.99% hydrogen purity. Comprehensive and critical research investigations must be performed to optimize membrane-assisted reforming as well as to maximize the production of hydrogen. The computational fluid dynamic (CFD) can be an excellent tool to analyze and visualize the flow/reaction/permeation mechanisms at a lower cost in contrast with the experiments. In order to provide the necessary background knowledge on membrane reactor modeling this study reviews summarizes and analyses the kinetics of different fuel reforming processes equations to determine hydrogen permeation and lastly various geometry and operating condition adopted in the literature associated with membrane-reactor modeling works. It is indicated that hydrogen permeation through Pd-membranes depends highly on the difference in hydrogen pressure. It is found that hydrogen permeation can be improved by employing different pressure configuration introducing sweep flow on the permeate side of the membrane reducing retentate side flow rate and increasing the temperature.
Optimal Design and Sizing of Hybrid Photovoltaic/Fuel Cell Electrical Power System
Aug 2023
Publication
Renewable energy solutions play a crucial role in addressing the growing energy demands while mitigating environmental concerns. This study examines the techno-economic viability and sensitivity of utilizing solar photovoltaic/polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells (FCs) to meet specific power demands in NEOM Saudi Arabia. The novelty of this study lies in its innovative approach to analyzing and optimizing PV/PEMFC systems aiming to highlight their economic feasibility and promote sustainable development in the region. The analysis focuses on determining the optimal size of the PV/PEMFC system based on two critical criteria: minimum cost of energy (COE) and minimum net present cost (NPC). The study considers PEMFCs with power ratings of 30 kW 40 kW and 50 kW along with four PV panel options: Jinko Solar Powerwave Tindo Karra and Trina Solar. The outcomes show that the 30 kW PEMFC and the 201 kW Trina Solar TSM-430NEG9R.28 are the most favorable choices for the case study. Under these optimal conditions the study reveals the lowest values for NPC at USD 703194 and COE at USD 0.498 per kilowatt-hour. The levelized cost of hydrogen falls within the range of USD 15.9 to 23.4 per kilogram. Furthermore replacing the 30 kW Trina solar panel with a 50 kW Tindo PV module results in a cost reduction of 32%. The findings emphasize the criticality of choosing optimal system configurations to attain favorable economic outcomes thereby facilitating the adoption and utilization of renewable energy sources in the region. In conclusion this study stands out for its pioneering and thorough analysis and optimization of PV/PEMFC systems providing valuable insights for sustainable energy planning in NEOM Saudi Arabia.
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