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Special Issue "Recent Research on Technologies for Renewable Energy and Sustainability"

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2023 | Viewed by 6043

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Irfan Anjum Badruddin Magami

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Guest Editor

Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
Interests: thermofluid; renewable energy; biomechanics; CFD; FEM; IC Engine; multidisciplinary resaerch

Dr. T. M. Yunus Khan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Asir-Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
Interests: renewable energy; IC engine; biofuels
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Sarfaraz Kamangar

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Guest Editor

Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Asir-Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
Interests: biomechanics; CFD; biofuels; renewable energy; IC engine

Dr. C. Ahmed Saleel

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Guest Editor

Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Asir-Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
Interests: renewable energy; CFD; energy storage

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The growth in technology has resulted in amazing advancements, and comfort for all living things on the globe. These developments are mostly driven by energy. The push for further growth is constantly increasing, placing significant strain on energy supply. The ever-increasing need for conventional energy, on the other hand, has resulted in irreversible environmental losses, posing a threat to all forms of life. In this context, renewable energy plays a critical role in protecting the earth while still allowing for long-term growth. However, the technologies that are available for this purpose are still in their infancy and require a great deal of attention to continue to evolve.

The goal of this Special Issue is to provide a forum for all scholars to present their discoveries on technological developments in renewable energy and sustainability. It covers a wide range of topics, including all types of renewable energy and environmental sustainability. Prospective authors are encouraged to submit their most recent work on the subject.

Prof. Dr. Irfan Anjum Badruddin Magami
Dr. T. M. Yunus Khan
Dr. Sarfaraz Kamangar
Dr. C. Ahmed Saleel
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

sustainability
solar energy
wind energy
biofuel
geothermal energy
hydro energy
tidal energy
biomass
optimization of renewable energy for sustainability
nanotechnology and renewable energy
renewable energy and sustainability challenges

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

Open AccessArticle

Estimation of Evaporation of Water from a Liquid Desiccant Solar Collector and Regenerator by Using Conservation of Mass and Energy Principles

Gezahegn Habtamu Tafesse

Gulam Mohammed Sayeed Ahmed

Irfan Anjum Badruddin

Sarfaraz Kamangar

and

Mohamed Hussien

Sustainability 2023, 15(8), 6520; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086520 - 12 Apr 2023

Viewed by 435

Abstract

Solar thermal energy-powered air conditioning technologies are receiving increased attention. Among the solar energy-driven cooling technologies, open type liquid desiccant air conditioning (AC) system is emerging as a promising technology, which has a solar driven desiccant solution regenerator. In this type of system, the evaporation of water and concentrating the desiccant or regenerator performance determines the cooling performance of the AC system, which necessitates its development and experimental performance testing under actual operating conditions. The setup is made of a black painted corrugated solar collector of area 0.8 m × 1.84 m covered with glass, and a liquid desiccant solution tank and distribution system over the absorber. Solar regeneration experiments on calcium chloride–water solution were carried out on the setup and a total of five sets of meteorological, collector and solution property data were collected through concentrating the desiccant from 32.9 initially to 51.3% in five days. The evaporation of water from the regenerator was analyzed using energy and desiccant mass conservation. For a typical day, the mass of water evaporated was estimated to be 3.10 and 3.16 kg over a day, as estimated by conservation of mass and energy principles from a 34.8 kg of calcium chloride solution with initial desiccant concentration of 43.6% stored in the tank. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Research on Technologies for Renewable Energy and Sustainability)

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Open AccessArticle

Experimental Investigations on Dual-Fuel Engine Fueled with Tertiary Renewable Fuel Combinations of Biodiesel and Producer—Hydrogen Gas Using Response Surface Methodology

Sushrut S. Halewadimath

Nagaraj R. Banapurmath

V. S. Yaliwal

V. N. Gaitonde

T. M. Yunus Khan

Chandramouli Vadlamudi

Sanjay Krishnappa

and

Ashok M. Sajjan

Sustainability 2023, 15(5), 4483; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054483 - 02 Mar 2023

Viewed by 572

Abstract

The effects of producer gas (PG), hydrogen (H₂), and neem oil methyl ester-blended fuel (NeOME B20) flow rate optimization on dual fuel (DF) engine performance were examined in the current work. PG and H₂ were used as primary fuels, while NeOME B20 was used as a secondary pilot fuel in the DF engine. The DF engine’s performance and pollution levels were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) and the results were compared with experimental values. The full factorial design (FFD) has been used to minimize the number of experiments. The design of experiments (DOEs) with an experimental design matrix of 27 distinct combinations were taken into consideration. The primary goal of the effort is to optimize different fuel flow rates for better brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and lower tail pipe exhaust pollutants. The developed RSM model is validated with experimental results for the selected fuel flow rates using a desirability approach. Experiments were carried out at a constant speed of 1500 rpm, compression ratio (CR) of 17.5, injector opening pressure (IOP) 240 bar, six-hole nozzle with 0.2 mm diameter, and injection timing (IT) of 27° before top dead center (bTDC). The flow rates of NeOME B20, PG, and H₂ varied from 0.4 to 0.8 kg/h, 7 to 9 kg/h, and 0.029 to 0.059 kg/h, respectively. Optimum flow rates for NeOME B20, PG, and H₂ were found to be 0.8, 7, and 0.044, kg/h respectively for the maximized break thermal efficiency (BTE) and reduced exhaust emission levels. However, a marginal increase in NO_x was noticed. In addition, the delay period and combustion duration were reduced, and the cylinder pressure (CP) and heat release rate (HRR) were increased for the optimal condition with a desirability of 0.998. Overall, DF operation with selected fuel combinations was found to be smooth and satisfactory. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Research on Technologies for Renewable Energy and Sustainability)

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Open AccessArticle

A Comprehensive Study of the Effects of Various Operating Parameters on a Biogas-Diesel Dual Fuel Engine

Shaik Dawood Abdul Khadar

and

Mohammed Azam Ali

Sustainability 2023, 15(2), 1232; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021232 - 09 Jan 2023

Viewed by 616

Abstract

Alternative fuels are found to be the most promising solution to the problem of conventional IC engine pollution because their use curtails its huge emissions without exerting a negative impact on its performance. In this research, a conventional compression ignition engine is investigated by operating it with the combination of simulated biogas and neat diesel under a dual fuel mode of operations. The simulated biogas in the current work comprises different proportions of methane and carbon dioxide in the mixture. The full factorial approach in this work involved studying the effects of parameters such as biogas flow rate, composition, intake temperature, torque, and methane enrichment (complete removal of CO₂ from biogas) on the engine performance, emissions, and combustion indices with an extensive number of experiments. It is witnessed from the research that biogas is capable of providing a maximum of 90% of the overall energy input, while the CI engine operates under dual fuel mode. Under the dual fuel mode of operation involving biogas, a significant amount of reductions are witnessed in secondary fuel consumption (67%), smoke (75%), and NO_x (55%) emissions. At low flow rates, biogas is found to improve brake thermal efficiency (BTE), whereas it reduces hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions. Methane enrichment resulted in more diesel substitution by 5.5% and diminishes CO and HC emissions by 5% and 16%, respectively. Increasing the intake temperature caused an increase in thermal efficiency (2%) and a reduction in diesel consumption (~35%), and it curtailed all emission elements except NO_x. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Research on Technologies for Renewable Energy and Sustainability)

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Open AccessArticle

Effort to Mitigate Volatile Fatty Acid Inhibition by Using Mixed Inoculum and Compost for the Degradation of Food Waste and the Production of Biogas

Lai Llih Shyan

Noreen Suliani Mat Nanyan

and

Hesham Ali El Enshasy

Sustainability 2023, 15(2), 1185; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021185 - 09 Jan 2023

Viewed by 733

Abstract

Food waste is a rich organic matter that can potentially be converted into biogas as a source of renewable energy. The limitation in energy production lies in the presence of volatile fatty acid (VFA) during the anaerobic digestion of food waste due to the high degradation rate. The accumulation of VFA leads to a decrease in pH that exceeds the optimal pH range of 6.8–7.6 for methanogens, thus inhibiting methanogenesis and affecting biogas production. In the present study, a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) and kombucha mixed inoculum and compost was applied as an alternative treatment method to alleviate inhibition. The digestion efficiency was evaluated on pH, total alkalinity (TA), total volatile fatty acid (TVFA), total solid (TS), and volatile solid (VS) throughout the digestion period of 80 days to analyse the stability of the system. The results revealed that SCOBY and kombucha mixed inoculum caused system instability, inducing inhibition at TVFA of 12,874.1 mg/L, while the pH dropped to 5.23. The inhibition in the digestion system with only the SCOBY inoculum occurred at TVFA of 11,908.3 mg/L, and the pH dropped to 5.67. The biogas and methane yield quantified from the mixed inoculum is 8.792E⁻⁴ L/L d, comparatively lower than the ethanol pre-fermentation treatment method. These findings indicate that the addition of compost improved the pH, VS, and TVFA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Research on Technologies for Renewable Energy and Sustainability)

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Open AccessArticle

Exergy Analysis of a CI Engine Operating on Ternary Biodiesel Blends

Sreekanth Manavalla

Abhishek Chaudhary

Shreyash Hemant Panchal

and

Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 12350; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912350 - 28 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 783

Abstract

Exergy analysis is carried out on a single-cylinder CI engine fueled with biodiesel blends of palm, jatropha and cottonseed oils. This is to identify the blends with high exergy destruction. To this end, experimental and analytical methods were adopted. Three types of biodiesel blends incorporated in this study are primary, binary and ternary. The load was varied as an independent parameter, and mass flow rates of air and fuel, flue gas composition, etc., were measured during the study. Moreover, the chemical composition of the fuel blends and flue gas, as well as their flow rates, were used to determine the total exergy. The output parameters determined were 1st and 2nd law efficiency and fuel exergy destruction under all loading conditions. The inference obtained from the experiment suggests minutely higher 1st law efficiency for the biodiesel blends. Increasing the blending ratio led to an increase in efficiency indices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Research on Technologies for Renewable Energy and Sustainability)

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Open AccessArticle

Influence of Pilot-Fueling and Nozzle-Opening Pressure on Performance and Tailpipe Emissions of WCO Biodiesel in a CRDi Engine

Lawrence Joseph Fernandes

and

Sustainability 2022, 14(18), 11146; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141811146 - 06 Sep 2022

Viewed by 636

Abstract

Pilot-fueling and nozzle-injection pressure are significant injection parameters, and they have significant impacts on modern vehicles for enhancing the engine output, in addition to meeting rigorous tailpipe-exhaust emission standards. In this current work, the influence of the pilot-fueling pressure and nozzle-opening pressure (NOP) on the engine performance and tailpipe outcomes from a compression-ignition (CI) engine at a higher injection pressure and varying load conditions was investigated using a waste cooking oil (WCO) biodiesel (B20). The experiments were executed in a high-pressure CRDi-fitted diesel engine at the start of pilot fueling (SOPF) (timing: 23° bTDC), and at the start of the main fueling (SOMF) (timing: 33° bTDC). The results showed that the combined influence of the pilot-fueling and nozzle-opening pressure induced a remarkable enhancement in the BTE, by 25.13%, and the BSFC decreased by 13.88%, compared with diesel at 10% pilot fueling. Carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon, and smoke emissions were drastically reduced for the higher pilot-fueling quantity by 21.05%, 16.66%, and 33.10%, respectively, compared with the diesel at 10% pilot fueling. With the implementation of the pilot-fueling strategy, there is no effect on the NOx reduction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Research on Technologies for Renewable Energy and Sustainability)

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Open AccessArticle

Genetic Analysis of Geothermal Resources in Deep-Seated Fault Area in Tonghe County, Northeast China and Implications of Geothermal Exploration

Guowen Wang

and

Jian Kuang

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5431; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095431 - 30 Apr 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1040

Abstract

Northeast China is an area with high energy consumption and high carbon emissions, and the utilization of geothermal resources can effectively overcome these problems. However, there are few geothermal manifestations in Northeast China and no systematic method for geothermal exploration at present, which hinders the utilization of geothermal resources. Here, a systematic analysis, including hydrochemistry, petrology, isotopes, controlled source audio magnetotelluric sounding, drilling, and temperature curve of two boreholes was carried out to investigate the genesis of geothermal resources in Tonghe County, Northeast China, along the Yilan-Yitong lithospheric fault (YYF). We found that the geothermal water is alkaline Na-HCO₃ type water, is of local meteoric origin, and is recharged from the hilly area with an elevation of ~280 m around the study area. We established a geothermal water circulation path model: (1) cold water infiltrated along the YYF to a depth of 2–3 km, (2) cold water was heated by mantle heat, and (3) hot water was stored in sandstone/siltstone, forming a sandstone geothermal reservoir with a temperature of ~70 ℃. These results have important guiding significance for the scientific exploration of geothermal resources in Northeast China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Research on Technologies for Renewable Energy and Sustainability)

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