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This paper examines the role of entrepreneurship in energy engineering education, emphasizing the importance of incorporating entrepreneurial skills into the curriculum. Given the global challenges associated with sustainable energy, entrepreneurship is identified as a crucial driver for developing innovative technologies in the energy sector. The paper addresses the obstacles and challenges of integrating entrepreneurship into energy engineering education programs and highlights the need for curriculum reform, enhanced industry collaboration, and the utilization of appropriate resources to foster entrepreneurship. Additionally, the paper underscores the importance of balancing technical and entrepreneurial content within energy engineering courses, and the necessity of providing suitable incentives and opportunities for students to engage in entrepreneurial activities. The societal demand for sustainable energy solutions and the pressing global challenges underscore the need for energy engineering students to develop entrepreneurial skills. This development is presented as a vital strategy for driving economic growth and fostering innovation in the energy industry. In conclusion, the paper argues that the integration of entrepreneurship into energy engineering education is essential for preparing students to contribute effectively to the energy sector's evolution and to address the urgent need for sustainable and innovative energy solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic viscoelastic theory of soil–pile interaction dominates the initial impedance calculation during the pile dynamic design and analysis. Further, it provides a firm theoretical ground for the wave propagation simulation, which could be the basis of seismic analysis and some geotechnical testing approaches. This review traces the development history and key findings of viscoelastic soil–pile interaction theory and expounds on the advantages and limitations of various theoretical advances in terms of dynamic design and wave propagation modeling. The review consists of three sub-divisions, which are the longitudinal, horizontal, and torsional viscoelastic soil-pile theories. The development and implement of multi-phase soil constitutive equations, multi-dimensional soil–pile interaction modeling methods, pile–soil–pile mutual interactions in pile groups, and the fluid–structure interaction problems in offshore piles are especially remarked and concluded. Finally, the shortcomings and deficiencies of the present development are pointed out with a view to addressing them in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Definition: Solar Architecture represents the confluence of the two disciplines of energy engineering and architecture. The concept of Solar Architecture defines a decision-making process to select, design, deploy, and operate solar energy-enabled solutions for environments where solar energy resources are part of the energy mix. The principles of Solar Architecture include maximizing solar energy harvesting from solution's surfaces with a positive balance of energy, carbon, and cost provided by the solution. Solar Architecture application selection is built on two major cornerstones, features and groups, defining the best options in energy engineering of a solar solution. Solar surfaces are key to solar architecture. They are the "heart", and balance-of-system components are the "muscles" of solar solutions. Addressing energy losses in photovoltaic, solar to thermal, and solar to chemical energy conversion allows for increasing energy harvesting yield. Life Cycle Assessment and solar energy harvesting methodologies based on solar surface characteristics define Solar Architecture Balance. This balance allows for defining energy, carbon, and cost return on investment for solar solutions and selecting the best solution for related assets/environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study evaluates the energy engineering students' perception and insights concerning the use and usefulness of AR technology in online engineering education during COVID-19 pandemic. The assessment is based on the following criteria: usefulness, suitability, advantages for different activities, types of overlays. Results show an increased interest for AR applications in all types of teaching activities, and its usefulness for a better understanding of studied topics. Among the most important advantages of using AR are considered closer connection to practice, speeding and deepening learning. Overall, these results indicate an improved user perception of AR from acceptance to high interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to report the experience from the project named "Energy Efficiency in the School" with seven-year-old students in a Second Grade classroom in a school located in Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. In 2019, university extension activities were promoted by students, professors, and technical-administrative employees who work in the education field at the Undergraduate Degree in Energy Engineering at the Federal University of Pampa, Bagé Campus. The project goal is to sensitize Basic Education students to build a culture based on the efficient use of electric energy. In cooperation with the classroom teachers, the proposed activities embrace presentations, discussions, games, and in-class practical demonstrations on energy efficiency and conservation, as well as applied electricity. This paper details the procedures performed by the project team and the learning strategies used in the classroom, such as the tutorial, small-group, and game-based learning techniques. Results are discussed, emphasizing the lifestyle changes for the efficient use of electric energy verified during and after the university extension activities were carried out. This project motivates elementary school students to pursue Higher Education; enhances the collaboration between University and schools; and supports the Basic Education. Thereby, scientific and technological knowledge is disseminated, demonstrating the role played by the University in the local and regional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bulb tubular pump is a special pump type with considerable application potential in low-head energy engineering. The energy performance of a large-scale bulb tubular pump can only be estimated based on its hydraulic model according to the conventional similarity law. However, engineering experience shows that this approach may cause significant errors, but the reason is still unclear due to the lack of understanding the scale effect of its energy conversion. In this paper, the characteristics, mechanisms and applications of the scale effect of energy conversion in large-scale bulb tubular pump are comprehensively studied. Progressive characteristics of energy conversion are quantified and a special scale effect is found. Hydraulic efficiency and head exhibit a feature of first increasing and then decreasing as the geometric scale increases, and the critical scale is 16. The competition between viscous effect and gravity effect is the origin of this special scale effect. When the bulb tubular pump exceeds a certain size, gravity-induced pressure polarization oscillation and partial flow separation are rapidly highlighted, destroying the hydraulic consistency and leading to a surge in energy loss and hydraulic instability. According to these findings, an improved similarity conversion mode is proposed for the bulb tubular pump, and the hydraulic efficiency drift with the geometric scale is determined by combining the dynamic weights of gravity effect and viscous effect. More importantly, this indicates the existence of a theoretical limit of pump size to balance the economy and safety, which should be paid attention to in energy engineering. • Scale effect of energy conversion in large-scale bulb tubular pump is comprehensively studied. • Progressive characteristics of energy conversion with the geometric scale are quantified. • An interesting scale effect is found, posing a challenge to the conventional similarity law. • Flow mechanisms behind this special scale effect are clarified. • An improved similarity conversion mode is proposed to guide engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding thermo-hydrodynamic characteristics of microchannels is of importance to fabricate efficient heat sinks, due to wide applications of cooling modules in microscales. In this work, water-alumina nanofluid heat transfer and laminar flow field of a microchannel under imposing a magnetic field is studied. The microchannel is partially heated by a constant heat flux. The effects of various values of Hartmann number, varying between 0 and 40, Reynolds number, increased from 10 to 500, and volume fraction of nanoparticles, which falls between 0 and 0.06, on the problem physics are investigated. Lattice-Boltzmann numerical method is applied to simulate the hydrodynamic and thermal field. Further, the energy loss due to thermal, frictional and magnetic mechanisms is also computed. It is shown that heat transfer is intensified by strengthening magnetic force, Reynolds number or concentration of nanoparticles. This is such that increasing Hartmann number from 0 to 40 or volume fraction of the nanofluid from 0 to 0.06 makes 150% increment in Nusselt number. Intensifying Reynolds number from 100 to 500 causes 200% rising in Nusselt number, as well. It is found that the thermal response of the microchannel to variation of pertinent parameters is nonlinear. Comparing the various sources of entropy generation shows that the thermal mechanism is most influential by the value of one order of magnitude larger than the other sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The accurate prediction of sulfur content is an essential role to ensure proper operation and product quality control in the hydrodesulfurization process (HDS) for environmental protection. Machine learning (ML) techniques have proven their predictive capability in solving challenging problems in the petroleum industry. In this work, an optimized support vector machine (SVM) model was constructed to predict the degradation of the sulfur content in the HDS process. To improve the predictive ability of the models, a genetic algorithm (GA) was used to select the SVM optimal parameters when building the (GA-SVM) model. Thus, a catalyst consisting of alumina modified with 15% molybdenum, 5% cobalt and 2% of bismuth (AlMoCoBi) was prepared by a thermal process and its catalytic performance for HDS was evaluated using a batch reactor. The experimental results demonstrated that our proposed model has promising potential with correlations of R2 = 0.99 being achieved during the testing stages of the prediction of the sulfur concentration. The experimental validation demonstrates that the predicted values obtained from the (GA-SVM) model correspond closely with the experimental results with average experimental errors of <5%. This proves that the AlMoCoBi catalyst holds great promise for obtaining the sulfur-clean production of fuels. Highlights • Designing of an accurate and reliable predictive model for sulfur content estimation in desulfurization process. • Integrating support vector machine with a genetic algorithm to select the optimal variables. • Validating the constructed model prediction accuracy using real experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The comparison of various nanomaterials’ effects on the performance of solar flat‐plate collectors has not been drawn thoroughly in the reported literature. In this paper, modeling of a solar flat‐plate collectors working with the mixture of water and different non‐metallic and metallic nanomaterials has been carried out by means of MATLAB coding. A more appropriate exergy factor of solar radiation has been applied for exergy analysis; the pressure loss in collectors manifolds has been considered as well. Results show that uncommonly used cerium oxide, hybrid magnesium oxide/silver, and titanium carbide nanomaterials in flat‐plate collector and commonly used ones such as copper oxide, nickel, iron, and copper have the potential to increase the heat transfer coefficient of the collector understudy. The value has been reported by the present study to be 90 % for cerium oxide case. Accordingly, an improvement in energy efficiency up to 73 % has been achieved at 4 vol.%. As another outcome, the application of these nanoparticles enhances the exergy destruction within the collector. Therefore, it would be advantageous for the environment by paying attention to the environmental impacts of exergy loss. Thus, employing nanomaterial science would help to advance the solar flat‐plate collector engineering technology through higher energy productivity and lower environmental destructive impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, an estimate of the emissions of volatile organic vapors emitted at a gasoline loading terminal is presented, in the absence of a vapor recovery unit. The estimation of the emissions is evaluated by the application of the General Law of Ideal Gases, using data measured in situations of fuel loading. A total of 3800 tank truck compartment samples were collected, totaling a loaded volume of 33 161 838 liters of gasoline for about 282 hours of operation in 21 days, or in three operating weeks. The results obtained provided a first estimate of the reduction of the environmental impact, evaluated by the reduction of the mass of evaporated gasoline and the registration in a database, for the execution of future projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is expected that in the next year, over a billion wireless sensor network (WSN) nodes will be deployed throughout the world, constituting a wide variety of sensor applications. In such a domain, management of the randomly distributed sensor networks is complicated by issues such as knowledge of energy consumption and coverage, extended lifetimes and demands for improved quality of service parameters. Several researchers have addressed these issues through their own innovations and discoveries of different schemes, methods, techniques or mathematical models and architectures or applications, using a variety of node designs. This in turn, has lead to multiple different choices of hardware and software options. However, this has not simplified the process of setting up application testbeds considering energy consumption. There is no readily available solution for setting up a WSN with user selected profiles and parameters. Multiple communication protocols, routing protocols, signal calibration and propagation methods, data aggregation schemes, clustering formations with multiple variations have been proposed for different research objectives. This paper proposes a method for consolidating all the initiatives and integrating these in a service panel framework that helps manage the desired WSN with options to set up an individual WSN profile and supporting the energy engineering processes involved in the WSN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humic acid (HA) is a complex organic compound made up of small molecules. A variety of raw materials are used to manufacture HA, due to which the structure and composition of HA vary widely. In this study, nitric acid oxidation of two coal samples from Lakhra (Pakistan) was followed by HA extraction using 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5% KOH solutions. The impact of different operating parameters such as; the effect of KOH concentrations, KOH-coal proportion, extraction time and pH range influencing the HA extraction efficiency was optimally investigated. Commercial HA applications possess numerous challenges, including valuable applications and sub-optimal extraction techniques. A significant limitation of conventional experimental methods is that they can only investigate one component at a time. It is necessary to improve the current processing conditions, this can only be achieved by modelling and optimization of the process conditions to meet market demands. A comprehensive evaluation and prediction of HA extraction using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) are also being reported for the first time in this study. The maximum HA extraction efficiency of 89.32% and 87.04% for coal samples 1 and 2 respectively was achieved with the lowest possible pH of 1.09 (coal sample 1) and 1(coal sample 2), which is remarkably lower as compared to those reported in the literature for conventional alkaline extraction process. The model was evaluated for two coal samples through the coefficient of determination (R 2), Root Means Square Error (RMSE), and Mean Average Error (MEE). The results of RSM for coal sample 1 (R 2 = 0.9795, RMSE = 4.784) and coal sample 2 (R 2 = 0.9758, RMSE = 4.907) showed that the model is well suited for HA extraction efficiency predictions. The derived humic acid from lignite coal was analyzed using elemental analysis, UV–Visible spectrophotometry and Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy techniques. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was applied to analyze the morphological modifications of the extracted HA after treatment with 3.5% KOH solution. For agricultural objectives, such as soil enrichment, enhancing plant growth conditions, and creating green energy solutions, this acquired HA can be made bioactive. This study not only establishes a basis for research into the optimized extraction of HA from lignite coal, but it also creates a new avenue for the efficient and clean use of lignite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents entropy generation minimisation model of combined heat and power system. The turbine control valves and heater throttle valves were analysed. The high-pressure control valves regulate the mass flow rate of steam into the turbine, whereas the intermediate-pressure and low-pressure control valves the steam pressure of the turbine extracts 3 and 5. The steam of the turbine extracts 3 and 5 is used for the city-wide heating system purposes by means of the peak and basic heaters. The quantity of the extracted steam used for the city-wide heating system is additionally controlled by the throttles regulating the extracted steam into the basic or peak heater. This results in a double throttling of the extracted steam of the turbine, double generated entropy and a double loss of work. If adequate pressure of the extracted steam of the turbines is maintained by means of the turbine control valves the two heaters for the heating system could operate with the throttles open. As a result, the generated entropy of the throttles of the steam admitted to the heater could be avoided and the amount of generated entropy of the turbine control valves reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Undergraduate energy education in Greece is compared with relevant accredited courses of the United Kingdom, with the aim to transfer good practices applied in the latter for the development and improvement of the Greek courses. Despite the encouraging prospects for energy engineering courses, the situation in Greece seems declining, with only one course being offered in this period. The (unique) Greek course seems to share the same basis with the majority of the British accredited courses, but also a few peculiarities that could be amended for the improvement of the course. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Digitalisation of the process and energy industries through energy digital twin technology promises step-improvements in energy management and optimisation, better servicing and maintenance, energy-efficient design and evolution of existing sites, and integration with locally and regionally generated renewable energy. This systematic and critical review aims to accelerate the understanding, classification, and application of energy digital twin technology. It adds to the literature by developing an original multi-dimensional digital twin classification framework, summarising the applications of energy digital twins throughout a site's lifecycle, and constructing a proposal of how to apply the technology to industrial sites and local areas to enable a reduction in carbon and other environmental footprints. The review concludes by identifying key challenges that face uptake of energy digital twins and a framework to apply the energy digital twins. [Display omitted] • Develops a multi-dimensional framework for classifying energy and other digital twins. • Highlights how energy digital twins can apply to different phases of the production lifecycle. • Presents a concept for energy digital twin application to industrial sites and local areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) must be vaporized before it is used in the combustion process. In most regasification terminals, energy that was previously expended to liquefy natural gas is dissipated in the environment. The paper proposes the use of the thermal effect of LNG regasification for the atmospheric air separation as a possible solution to the LNG exergy recovery problem. The presented idea is based on the coupling of the LNG regasification unit with an oxygen generator based on the Temperature Swing Adsorption (TSA) process. Theoretical analysis has revealed that it is thermodynamically justified to use the LNG enthalpy of vaporization for cooling of the TSA adsorption bed for increasing its adsorptive capacity. It has been shown that 1 kg of LNG carries enough exergy for separating up to approximately 100 g of oxygen using the TSA method. Although the paper suggests using the enthalpy of LNG vaporization for atmospheric air separation, similar processes for other gas mixture separations using the TSA method can be applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the ever-growing pressure on our planet's natural resources to supply energy, the production of bioethanol by fermentation of lignocellulosic biomass is increasingly important in courses related to engineering and energy. Moreover, recent changes in the teaching–learning paradigm make necessary the introduction of novel teaching tools where students are the protagonist of their education. In this context, the purpose of this study is to compare the results obtained after traditional lessons with those obtained after the implementation of various computer activities based on modeling and simulation of bioreactors to teach biorefinery concepts focused on bioethanol production. Berkeley Madonna was chosen as the digital simulation software package because it is user-friendly, fast, and easy to program. This software allowed students to gain experience writing models that let optimize fermentations in well-stirred bioreactors and others bioprocess of industrial interest. The students (those who participated in the modeling-simulation classes and those who participated in traditional ones) completed a questionnaire and a cognitive test at the end of the course. Students that participated in modeling-simulation classes got a better score than students that participated in traditional classes. Therefore, the study showed the improvement in the understanding of the biorefinery concepts and the students improved their grades. Finally, students' perception about the proposed modeling-simulation learning was also analyzed and they rated the efficiency of this new learning methodology as satisfactory. There are very few studies providing information about educational experiences regarding the development of skills for the formulation, interpretation, simplification, and use of mathematical models based on mass balances and simple microbial kinetics in biochemical engineering courses. The experience described in this work can be used by professors to plan and conduct courses based on the modeling of biochemical engineering problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• To utilize its surface, MoCo catalysts was loaded on zeolite with carbon derived from waste. • ZACMoCo50% showed enhanced hydrodesulphurization of dibenzothiophene. • The mechanism was proposed based on the characterization results and GC-SM. A series of catalysts of cobalt (Co) and molybdenum (Mo) loaded on zeolite (Z) support decorated with different weight percent of activated carbon (AC), namely ZMoCo, ZACMoCo25%, ZACMoCo50%, and ZACMoCo75%, were newly prepared, characterized by using various techniques to reveal the structural, textural, surface composition and thermal behavior of both hybrid supports and supported bimetallic catalysts, followed by the evaluation of the supported bimetallic catalysts in ultra-deep hydrodesulfurization reaction. The loading of Co and Mo nanoparticles, as well as carbon, perturbed the zeolite lattice, but the structural crystallinity was largely preserved with low weight percent composition of carbon in the hybrid supports. The ZAC75% hybrid support showed significant loss of crystallinity, but this seemed to be largely redeemed with the incorporation of Co and Mo nanoparticles, as in the case of ZACMoCo75%. The progressive decrease in relative crystallinity (RC) with an increase in the amount of carbon, in both hybrid supports and supported bimetallic catalysts, could be due to the dilution effect of the hybrid supports. Importantly, the decoration of Y zeolite with carbon from waste rubber tyre offered a new metal-free approach to modify zeolite support for hydrodesulfurization MoCo catalysts. Optimum loading of carbon onto zeolite support offered uniform mesoporous structure, moderate acidity, and better active metal dispersion in the carbon-decorated zeolite-supported MoCo catalysts. The hybrid support ZAC50% showed better dispersion of metal nanoparticles to form ZACMoCo50% with preserved structural, textural and surface functionalities and reduced acidity that enabled its better performance of 98% conversion (turn over number, TON, of 7.84 at 6 h reaction time) in hydrodesulfurization of model fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: l-Histidine biosynthesis is embedded in an intertwined metabolic network which renders microbial overproduction of this amino acid challenging. This is reflected in the few available examples of histidine producers in literature. Since knowledge about the metabolic interplay is limited, we systematically perturbed the metabolism of Corynebacterium glutamicum to gain a holistic understanding in the metabolic limitations for l-histidine production. We, therefore, constructed C. glutamicum strains in a modularized metabolic engineering approach and analyzed them with LC/MS-QToF-based systems metabolic profiling (SMP) supported by flux balance analysis (FBA). Results: The engineered strains produced l-histidine, equimolar amounts of glycine, and possessed heavily decreased intracellular adenylate concentrations, despite a stable adenylate energy charge. FBA identified regeneration of ATP from 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR) as crucial step for l-histidine production and SMP identified strong intracellular accumulation of inosine monophosphate (IMP) in the engineered strains. Energy engineering readjusted the intracellular IMP and ATP levels to wild-type niveau and reinforced the intrinsic low ATP regeneration capacity to maintain a balanced energy state of the cell. SMP further indicated limitations in the C1 supply which was overcome by expression of the glycine cleavage system from C. jeikeium. Finally, we rerouted the carbon flux towards the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway thereby further increasing product yield to 0.093 ± 0.003 mol l-histidine per mol glucose. Conclusion: By applying the modularized metabolic engineering approach combined with SMP and FBA, we identified an intrinsically low ATP regeneration capacity, which prevents to maintain a balanced energy state of the cell in an l-histidine overproduction scenario and an insufficient supply of C1 units. To overcome these limitations, we provide a metabolic engineering strategy which constitutes a general approach to improve the production of ATP and/or C1 intensive products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adsorption technology is currently one of the most popular methods of air separation. At relatively low energy expenditure, this allows oxygen to be obtained with sufficient purity for oxyfuel, metallurgy or medical applications. The adsorption process is dependent on several factors such as pressure, temperature, the concentration of adsorbed element in the gas phase, or the surface area of the phase boundary. The paper shows the calculation of the minimum energy needed for oxygen separation taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of the adsorption methods. The article shows how many times the energy consumption of a real oxygen-separation plant is higher than the theoretical energy consumption, and indicates which components of the adsoption installation can be further improved. The paper is supported by research conducted on an oxygen-separation installation at a semi-technical scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]