IEA Bioenergy Task 32 investigates net negative GHG emissions via biomass combustion with CCUS. A newsworthy case study models full-scale CCUS at Denmark’s Skærbæk CHP plant, chosen for its green CO2, high operating hours, and location. Using the advanced Balmorel energy system model, simulations for 2035 show CCUS significantly increases district heating (from surplus heat) […]
Waste-to-Energy (WtE) is a complex system influenced by technical, economic, environmental, and societal factors. This presentation highlights the innovative need for models that address the socio-technical complexity of WtE, not just its technical aspects. “Participatory system dynamic modelling” is introduced as a key tool to foster consensus and facilitate strategy implementation among all stakeholders. The […]
Sandia National Laboratories is advancing hydrogen internal combustion engines (H2ICE) for hard-to-electrify sectors, targeting 2024-2027 market entry. Key findings: increased swirl improves H2 mixing, yet cyclic variability remains. Crucially, hydrogen significantly delays hydrocarbon auto-ignition, providing new insights into oil pre-ignition. Pre-chamber fueling with H2 reduces cyclic variability and enables ultra-lean operation, outperforming natural gas. This […]
This presentation highlights ethanol/methanol for off-road decarbonization, despite their low ignitability for compression ignition. Pilot injections are key, creating a flame kernel to ignite main sprays. Ethers improve ignitability but reduce efficiency in single-fuel blends, lowering NOx. Methanol port injection struggles with vaporization, causing liquid entry and weak combustion. Notably, active pre-chamber jets achieve diesel-like […]
High-fidelity simulations are crucial for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) combustion modeling. DNS of aero-combustors shows premixed flames dominate heat release, with edge flames re-igniting extinction regions via coupled deflagration and ignition. Crucially, edge flames cause turbulent kinetic energy back-scatter, missed by current LES models. New constrained Deep Neural Network models significantly improve multi-modal combustion predictions. […]
This project de-risks Ducted Fuel Injection (DFI) for heavy-duty engine decarbonization with Low-Lifecycle-CO2 Fuels (LLCFs). The first-ever DFI retrofit for a production multi-cylinder engine was successfully implemented. Initial DFI testing revealed substantial NOx reductions (up to 80%) but significant soot increases (up to 1370%), indicating the need for further optimization. A robust mechanical alignment technique […]
This project supports off-road engine decarbonization via methanol and hydrogen, emphasizing injection challenges. Methanol experiments reveal significant plume collapse and accelerated inter-plume regions under flash-boiling, with slow evaporation causing potential wall wetting. Hydrogen jet studies show complex shockwave structures and substantial local cooling. These findings highlight key difficulties for CFD modeling and injector optimization. The […]
Global planned capacity for Renewable Diesel (RD), Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), and Dimethyl Ether (DME) reached 23.699 billion units by June 2024, a 3% increase. Key drivers include RFS RVOs and Net Zero targets. A significant development is California’s withdrawal of its Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) waiver request, creating uncertainty for fleet electrification. Feedstock affordability […]
Demand for Sustainable, Affordable, Reliable, Available (SARA) feedstock is sky-high, especially for SAF, but it’s tough to find. Competition and pushback exist for conventional crops, necessitating more residues, like forest waste. Positively, new technologies for waste-to-fuels and intermediate crops are arriving, with new crops becoming available and marginal lands being utilized. The 2023 Billion-Ton Report […]
Consumer demand for biobased materials is strong, and innovation is rampant with first commercial products becoming more common. Chemicals and materials offer higher margins suitable for early-stage companies. However, the sector faces significant headwinds, including a lack of mandates or tax credits, immature capital markets, slow adoption by formulators, high costs, and scarce production capacity. […]
