Papers by Electo E . Silva Lora
Volume 6A: Energy, 2016
This paper presents a mathematical model for the thermo-economic evaluation of an Organic Rankine... more This paper presents a mathematical model for the thermo-economic evaluation of an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), which recovers exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine (ICE) based cogeneration plant, currently in operation in Turin, Italy. The model is based on a complete set of experimental data of the plant, for both nominal and partial load operation conditions. The main components of the ORC plant have been modelled and a thermo-economic analysis has been carried out for each component. The aim of the paper is to perform a thermo-economic analysis of the system through the Theory of Exergetic Cost, in order to provide a complete diagnosis of the plant, by quantifying the performances of the whole system and its sub-systems, and by determining the monetary costs and the exergetic costs. The model can represent a useful decision-making tool for the optimal design of similar plants.
Heat and power generation trough biomass gasification: An experimental and economic evaluation
Zeszyty Naukowe. Elektryka / Politechnika Opolska, 2008
Energies, May 21, 2020
The importance of efficient utilization of biomass as renewable energy in terms of global warming... more The importance of efficient utilization of biomass as renewable energy in terms of global warming and resource shortages are well known and documented. Biomass gasification is a promising power technology especially for decentralized energy systems. Decisive progress has been made in the gasification technologies development during the last decade. This paper deals with the control and optimization problems for an isolated microgrid combining the renewable energy sources (solar energy and biomass gasification) with a diesel power plant. The control problem of an isolated microgrid is formulated as a Markov decision process and we studied how reinforcement learning can be employed to address this problem to minimize the total system cost. The most economic microgrid configuration was found, and it uses biomass gasification units with an internal combustion engine operating both in single-fuel mode (producer gas) and in dual-fuel mode (diesel fuel and producer gas).
Tecnología Química, 2011
Electric Power from Agricultural Residual Biomass (ARB) in Colombia - Option of Rural Development after the Armed Conflict
European Biomass Conference and Exhibition Proceedings, 2018
After fifty years of a civil war in Colombia, known as "armed conflict", peace was sign... more After fifty years of a civil war in Colombia, known as "armed conflict", peace was signed in November 2016, between the national government and the largest armed group in the country; During these years, most of the rural areas were abandoned and unproductive. The demand for electric power in 2015 was 66,548 GWh, which was generated with an installed capacity of 16,436 MW, supported by large-scale hydraulic resources (70.0%) and fossil fuels (29.3%), the rest (0.7%) corresponded to cogeneration with cane bagasse (0.6%) and wind energy (0.1%). The nine main agricultural crops in the country generate a little more than 53.6 million tons of agricultural residual biomass (ARB), which is likely to be harnessed energy. In this ARB the residual biomass necessary for the supply of nutrients to the soil has been discounted, to avoid its degradation. If this ARB is used for electricity generation, it is estimated that it would be possible to generate at least 27,801 GWh y-1, and at most 59,895 GWh year-1, depending on the conversion technologies used, amounts corresponding to 41.8% and 90.0% of the energy generated in Colombia in 2015, respectively.
Determinação da velocidade de chama laminar do gás pobre produto da gaseificação de biomassa
Life Cycle Analysis for Biofuels in Brazilian Conditions: A Comparative Study of Meta-Analysis
Gestão Energética em Prédios Universitários: Estudo de caso BIM da UNIFEI
IX Congresso Nacional de Engenharia Mecânica, 2016
Anais do Congresso Brasileiro de Engenharia Química, Sep 26, 2014
RESUMO-O projeto P&D DE 0041 UNIFEI/CPFL/ANEEL trata da utilização de energia renovável para conv... more RESUMO-O projeto P&D DE 0041 UNIFEI/CPFL/ANEEL trata da utilização de energia renovável para conversão em energia elétrica através de um sistema hibrido solar biomassa onde tecnologias como a gaseificação/motores de combustão interna, motores Stirling, e ciclos Rankine orgânicos são estudados. O trabalho em questão apresenta o resultado obtido das modificações realizadas em um motor alternativo de ignição por centelha para melhoria de seu desempenho quando se usa gás produto da gaseificação de biomassa como combustível. Foram feitas alterações na câmara de combustão do motor através da troca do pistão, bem como, no avanço da ignição. Valores anteriores as modificações para potência elétrica fornecida pelo motogerador eram de 5,6 kW elétricos, com as modificações realizadas e aprimoramento de operação do sistema pode-se obter valores de 6,7 kW elétricos.
Relevant Points for Thermodynamic Diagnosis Application Using the Reconciliation Method
ABSTRACT After some hours of operation, every power plant's equipment begins to show degrade... more ABSTRACT After some hours of operation, every power plant's equipment begins to show degraded performance. The amount of equipment degradation and the gain that can be achieved in plant heat rate and power generation by the replacement or repairing of each ...
Research, Society and Development, Jan 2, 2022
A review of Brazilian agro-industrial pig farming systems: environmental impacts and applied anae... more A review of Brazilian agro-industrial pig farming systems: environmental impacts and applied anaerobic digestion processes with mineral additives Uma revisão dos sistemas agroindustriais da suinocultura brasileira: impactos ambientais e processos de digestão anaeróbia aplicados com aditivos minerais Una revisión de los sistemas de cría de cerdos agroindustriales brasileños: impactos ambientales y procesos de digestión anaeróbica aplicados con aditivos minerales
Thermal and environmental performance of a modern bagasse cogeneration boiler
Zuckerindustrie, 2004
Journal of Cleaner Production, Aug 1, 2021
The key objective of this study was to evaluate and compare, within the concept of integrated bio... more The key objective of this study was to evaluate and compare, within the concept of integrated biorefining, the potential environmental gains of the life cycle, economic feasibility and energy balance of the production of bioenergetics from palm and sugarcane. In this context, the research model developed in this work involved several assessment techniques; in terms of environmental assessment, the tool used was the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) from the Well-To-Tank perspective, which is based on the LCA "cradle-to-gate" assignment method. The environmental assessment was performed using SimaPro v.8.0.3 software and the impacts were quantified using the IMPACT 2002+ method. On the other hand, energy performance evaluation was based on the 1st law indicators. Likewise, economic feasibility was based on the evaluation of the fixed capital investment index and the estimate of investment costs for the entire integrated system. Two different scenarios were proposed in order to compare and evaluate traditional systems with the integrated biorefinery. The first conversion scenario (baseline scenario) consisted of a traditional palm oil extraction plant in addition to an ethanol and sugar plant, concerning the use of fossil fuels in all stages of production. The second conversion scenario (improved scenario) explored the substitution of fossil energy sources as well as the energy recovery of residual biomass in more efficient energy conversion systems. The results indicated significant reductions of 29.5% and 29.1% in the global warming impact category when the baseline scenario was compared to the improved scenario. Additionally, the improved scenario achieved a reduction of 2.1 g CO2eq MJ−1 (ethanol) and 2.61 g CO2eq MJ−1 (biodiesel). On the other hand, the improved scenario presented better energy rates since it showed an increase of 3.82% in the global efficiency of the system and produced 106.32 kWh more per ton of processed raw material. Finally, when considering the Life Cycle Energy Efficiency, an increase of 83% was observed and in the case of the Renewability Factor showed an increase of 7.12 energy units. Integration is also economically feasible; however, it could be significantly improved through fiscal incentives founded on the reduction of fossil energy use, enhanced conversion yielding, and improvements in conversion technologies.
Thermodynamic and environmental assessment of different scenarios for the insertion of pyrolysis technology in palm oil biorefineries
Journal of Cleaner Production, Mar 1, 2020
Abstract The large quantities of residual biomass produced in the palm oil industry have become o... more Abstract The large quantities of residual biomass produced in the palm oil industry have become one of the main environmental and financial concerns of this industry. For this reason, biorefineries are gaining strength in recent years, since through their production model the residual biomass can be used as raw material to produce bioenergetics (biofuels and bio-products), hence contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gases emissions. Therefore, the main objective of this work is to compare and evaluate alternatives to convert a conventional palm oil mill into a biorefinery considering energy and environmental sustainability indicators. In this context, this work presents a study of three scenarios: the first (I), the base case, consists of a traditional palm oil mill; the second (II) considers a palm oil mill working under the biorefinery concept that uses the fast pyrolysis process for the production of bio-oil and biochar; and the third (III) considers a biorefinery that, besides incorporating the pyrolysis process, has an extraction/transesterification stage for the production of biodiesel and glycerin in the palm oil mill. The surplus electricity index was calculated for the three scenarios, and scenario III was the most favorable, achieving 110.23 kW per ton of fresh fruit bunch with an overall efficiency of 82.69%. The environmental assessment carried out for scenario III indicates that environmental impacts of bio-oil production are 32.5% lower than the ones to produce electricity (climate change category) and 14.2% lower than environmental impacts to produce biodiesel (resources category), demonstrating that the production of bio-oil using fast pyrolysis result in lower environmental impacts compared with the other products obtained in the biorefinery. Finally, the Net Energy Ratio was calculated for the scenario with the best thermodynamic performance (scenario III: 21.17) and compared with previously published studies, resulting in a gain of total energy flow of up to 17.77.
Applied Thermal Engineering, Apr 1, 2019
Development of a homogeneous charge prechamber torch ignition system for an SI engine fuelled wit... more Development of a homogeneous charge prechamber torch ignition system for an SI engine fuelled with hydrous ethanol,
Design and optimal energy management of community microgrids with flexible renewable energy sources
Renewable Energy, 2022
Evaluation of alternatives for the evolution of palm oil mills into biorefineries
Biomass & Bioenergy, Dec 1, 2016
Six alternatives for the conversion of an average Colombian palm oil mill (30 t h−1 of fresh frui... more Six alternatives for the conversion of an average Colombian palm oil mill (30 t h−1 of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) into biorefineries were evaluated. The alternatives studied were: (C1) Production of biogas from the Palm Oil Mill Effluents (POME), (C2) Composting of empty fruit bunches (EFB) and fiber, (C3) Biomass combustion for high pressure steam combined heat and power, (C4) Pellets production, (C5) Biochar production and, (C6) Biochar and bio-oil production. The available biomass could result in up to 125 kWh of electricity, 207 kg of compost, 125 kg of pellet, 44 kg of biochar and 63 kg of bio-oil per metric ton of FFB. The global warming potential (GWP), eutrophication potential (EP), net energy ratio (NER), capital expenditures (CAPEX), operational costs (OPEX), net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR) were calculated for all the alternatives. GHG reductions of more than 33% could be achieved. Anaerobic digestion and composting contributed to 30% reduction of the EP. The CAPEX for all of the biorefinery alternatives studied varies between 0.7 $ t−1 and 2.8 $ t−1 of FFB. The OPEX varies between 1.6 $ t−1 and 7.3 $ t−1 of FFB. The NPV for viable scenarios ranged between 2.5 million and 13.9 million US dollars. The IRR calculated varied between 3% and 56% and the payback periods were between 3 and 8 years. The total extra incomes reached values up to 15.2 $ t−1 of FFB. Overall the pellets production biorefinery was the preferred alternative.
Resources Conservation and Recycling, Jul 1, 2016
The palm oil agroindustry not only produces the most consumed vegetable oil in the world, but als... more The palm oil agroindustry not only produces the most consumed vegetable oil in the world, but also a significant quantity of residual biomass. This waste represents real opportunity to create a variety of products. In the context of sustainable oil production, the use of biomass to generate value-added products can be addressed through the evolution of existing palm oil mills (POMs) into biorefineries. In this manuscript, the authors present a literature review of potential uses for biomass generated in palm plantations and at the POM, including the main properties, quantities, and current practices. After this, a review of novel, less traditional is made. Finally, strategies for the synthesis and analysis of POM biorefinery concepts are discussed. This review highlights the need for development of high-value products from POM waste and the urgency to incubate these emerging technologies for gradual transition into biorefineries. Based on short term economic performance, biomass pelletization and anaerobic digestion of POME are the most promising technologies. Furthermore, the production of biochar has great potential when the environmental performance is taken into account. More work is needed to evaluate the long term economic, social, and environmental impact of other new technologies both now and in the future.
Biomass as energy source in Brazil
Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, May 1, 2009
... of some agricultural products [11] and the availability of residues in Brazil (residue coeffi... more ... of some agricultural products [11] and the availability of residues in Brazil (residue coefficient was taken from Nogueira and Lora, 2003). ... We can highlight the African Palm or 'Dendê' because of its productivity, for it presents medium and long-term possibilities of replacing ...
Retention and transformation of nitrogen in hydrochars from co-hydrothermal carbonization of fiberboard and glucose
Fuel, Nov 1, 2023
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Papers by Electo E . Silva Lora