Search Results (1,168)

Weather change, as a physical risk factor of climate change, increasingly impacts the energy market. This paper investigates China’s major energy futures using a QVAR framework to analyze spillover effects under different market conditions, addressing mean-model limitations. It also reveals state-dependent weather impacts on spillovers, providing physical climate risk evidence. The results show the following: (1) Spillover effects intensify under extreme conditions, with crude oil and fuel oil as main transmitters, and methanol and coking coal as key recipients. Coking coal shows a stronger spillover absorption capacity under extreme conditions. (2) The Total Spillover Index (TSI) displays significant time-varying feature and sensitivity to external shocks, with heightened asymmetry and complexity in extreme markets. (3) Weather change significantly affects spillovers of China’s energy futures, with temperature, cooling and heating loads, and precipitation showing different impacts on TSI across market conditions. These findings provide references for energy finance regulation and risk early warning under climate change conditions. Full article

Activated carbon has shown good catalytic performance in water treatment, but its wide application is limited by its high price. Activated coke exhibits functional groups and is low-cost. However, there is limited research on activated coke as a catalyst. In our previous study, powdered activated coke (PAC) exhibited good catalytic performance in NH₃-N treatment with ozonation. Increasing nitrogen selectivity is the key to harmless degradation of NH₃-N, which has received little attention. In this paper, manganese-loaded powdered coke (Mn–PAC) was prepared, aiming to further improve the nitrogen selectivity. Under the same conditions, the PAC/O₃ system achieved 92.16% NH₃-N removal and 49.46% nitrogen selectivity, while the Mn–PAC/O₃ system achieved almost 100% NH₃-N removal and 79.31% N₂ selectivity. When Mn–PAC was reused for the sixth time, the system achieved about 70% and 46% NH₃-N removal and N₂ selectivity, both of which were about 10% higher than those of PAC. Complex redox and synergistic interactions existed in the Mn–PAC/O₃ system. The Mn–PAC surface contains reactive sites such as C=C, C=O, π–π bonds, ArOH, and various MnO_x. These components collectively facilitate ozone decomposition into ·OH, ·O₂⁻, and ¹O₂. The ¹O₂ may play a significant role in converting NH₃-N to N₂. Full article

Enterprises in industries such as coking and metallurgy possess extensive industrial equipment requiring real-time monitoring and timely fault detection. Transmitting all monitoring data to servers or cloud platforms for processing presents challenges, including substantial data volumes, high latency, and significant bandwidth consumption, thereby compromising the monitoring system’s real-time performance and stability. This paper proposes a cloud–edge collaborative approach for edge feature extraction in equipment monitoring. A three-tier collaborative architecture is established: “edge pre-processing-cloud optimization-edge iteration”. At the edge, lightweight time-domain and frequency-domain feature extraction modules are employed based on equipment structure and failure mechanisms to rapidly pre-process and extract features from monitoring data (e.g., equipment vibration), substantially reducing uploaded data volume. The cloud node constructs a diagnostic feature library through threshold self-learning and data-driven model training, then disseminates optimized feature extraction parameters to the edge node via this threshold learning mechanism. The edge node dynamically iterates its feature extraction capabilities based on updated parameters, enhancing the capture accuracy of critical fault features under complex operating conditions. Verification and demonstration applications were conducted using an enterprise’s online equipment monitoring system as the experimental scenario. The results indicate that the proposed method reduces data transmission volume by 98.21% and required bandwidth by 98.25% compared to pure cloud-based solutions, while effectively enhancing the monitoring system’s real-time performance. This approach significantly improves equipment monitoring responsiveness, reduces demands on network bandwidth and data transmission, and provides an effective technical solution for equipment health management within industrial IoT environments. Full article

This study evaluated how raw-material compounding strategies affect the high-temperature compressive strength of ferro-coke. Ferro-coke was prepared using varying additions of iron-carbon-containing dust (ICD) and different gasification temperatures. High-temperature experiments were conducted to study the reactivity (CRI) and hot strength of ferro-coke, and fracture morphologies were examined by microscopy and Micro-CT. The results show that both the increase in ICD addition amount and gasification temperature would increase the reactivity and decrease the high temperature of ferro-coke. As ICD addition increased from 5% to 20%, the reactivity of the ferro-coke rose from 58.70% to 76.32%, and high-temperature strength decreased from 3260 N to 1954 N at 800 °C. This trend is attributed to catalytic components in ICD (e.g., Fe, Zn), which would accelerate gasification, increase porosity, and reduce high-temperature strength. Similarly, increasing the gasification temperature from 1000 °C to 1200 °C enhanced reactivity from 51.95% to 65.51%, but the hot strength was reduced. The higher carbon gasification rate at elevated temperature increases porosity and weakens the coke matrix, lowering compressive strength. Full article

This study investigates the thermal decomposition, ignition, combustion, and gasification processes of composite fuels derived from anthracite coal and pine sawdust. The research highlights the non-additive behavior of composite fuels, demonstrating enhanced reactivity and combustion efficiency compared to simple mixtures. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed distinct stages of thermal decomposition, with composite fuels exhibiting combined processes of volatile release and coke residue decomposition, unlike mixtures. Ignition experiments in a vertical tubular furnace showed reduced flash delay times for composites, attributed to the formation of active surface centers during mechanical activation. Flare combustion studies confirmed more stable and complete combustion of composites, achieving higher temperatures and improved flame stability. Plasma gasification experiments indicated that composite fuels provide more uniform gas evolution, with higher yields of hydrogen (H₂) and carbon monoxide (CO), while reducing nitrogen oxide (NO) emissions. The findings underscore the potential of composite fuels for optimizing energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact in coal-fired power plants, supporting the transition to sustainable energy solutions. Full article

The article presents a method of measurement and a test stand for determining the specific electrical resistivity of granular carburizing materials most commonly used in foundry practice. The research was conducted for synthetic graphites (GS) and petroleum cokes (KN) using a test stand proposed by the authors of the study and protected by a patent. It was shown that this measurement method allows for a clear distinction between the tested materials. For synthetic graphites, specific resistivities in the range of 35.9–144.5 μΩ·m were obtained, while for petroleum cokes the range was 172.1–1390 μΩ·m. The main aim of the study was to determine whether there is a correlation between the measured electrical resistivity of the tested materials and the carburization efficiency obtained in melting experiments. Therefore, the article also presents the course and results of studies on the process of cast iron melting in laboratory induction furnaces, where the carburizing material was introduced into the induction furnace with a fixed charge. Carburization efficiencies obtained for synthetic graphite ranged from 86.6% to 94.4%, and from 65.5% to 85.31% for petroleum coke. Based on the measurement results, a statistical analysis was carried out, yielding a relationship with a coefficient of determination R² = 0.92. The research confirmed the possibility of a quick assessment of carburizers in terms of their assimilation degree by molten metal. This is valuable information both for scientific research and industrial applications. The presented results form part of ongoing studies aimed at explaining the differences occurring within a given group of materials (petroleum cokes and synthetic graphites). Full article

Dry reforming of methane (DRM) is a method whereby two greenhouse gases (methane and carbon dioxide) are synthesized into a high-value gas. Suitable catalysts with optimal compositions are still in development, as problems concerning coking and metal sintering remain unresolved. Since the late 20th century, catalysts prepared via solution combustion synthesis (SCS) have been applied for catalytic reactions, as these materials (catalyst or supports) demonstrate high catalytic performance; for example, SCS catalysts have been tested in DRM. This review describes the history of solution combustion synthesis, compares it with traditional methods of preparing catalysts for DRM, and charts recent developments in SCS catalytic systems based on Ni and Co. SCS catalysts are prepared by burning nitrates (oxidizing agents) and fuels (reducing agents) at mild pre-ignition temperatures. In this review, the effects of fuel type and mixed-fuel systems on the catalyst composition, as well as its activity in DRM, are described. These catalysts have shown high metal dispersion, good coke resistance, and stable catalytic performance in long-term tests. This review demonstrates the main reasons for catalyst deactivation, such as coke deposition on the catalyst surface, and suggests ways to reduce them. Full article

Based on comprehensive experimental datasets—proximate/ultimate analyses, XPS, solid-state ¹³C NMR, and Raman spectroscopy—we constructed and optimized a compositionally faithful macromolecular model of SG coking coal. Using density-functional theory (DFT) calculations, we simulated electrostatic-potential (ESP) fields and frontier molecular orbitals (FMO) to probe elementary oxidation steps relevant to combustion, and focused on how heteroatom speciation and carbon ordering govern site-selective reactivity. Employing multi-peak deconvolution and parameter synthesis, we obtained an aromatic fraction f_a = 76.56%, a bridgehead-to-periphery ratio X_BP = 0.215, and Raman indices I_D1/I_G ≈ 1.45 (area) with FWHM(G) ≈ 86.7 cm⁻¹; the model composition C₁₉₀H₁₄₄N₂O₂₁S and its predicted ¹³C NMR envelope validated the structural assignment against experiment. ESP–FMO synergy revealed electron-rich hotspots at phenolic/ether/carboxyl and thiophenic domains and electron-poor belts at H-terminated edges/aliphatic bridges, rationalizing carbon-end oxidation of CO, weak electrostatic steering by O₂/CO₂, and a benzylic H-abstraction → edge addition → O-insertion/charge-transfer sequence toward CO₂/H₂O, with thiophenic sulfur comparatively robust. We quantified surface functionalities (C–O 65.46%, O–C=O 24.51%, C=O 10.03%; pyrrolic/pyridinic N dominant; thiophenic-S with minor oxidized S) and determined a naphthalene-dominant, stacked-polyaromatic architecture with sparse alkyl side chains after Materials Studio optimization. The findings are significant for mechanistic understanding and control of coking-coal oxidation, providing actionable hotspots and a reproducible workflow (multi-probe constraints → model building/optimization → DFT reactivity mapping → spectral back-validation) for blend design and targeted oxidation-inhibition strategies. Full article

Driven by the urgent reduction in industrial energy consumption and nitrogen oxide (NO_x) emissions, numerical simulation becomes a significant tool to understand the internal working process and optimize the structure of the combustion chamber in coke oven. However, conventional numerical simulation is computationally expensive and impractical for real-time monitoring or multi-parameter optimization. To address this challenge, this study proposes a novel parameter fusion convolutional network (PFCN) to rapidly reconstruct the spatial temperature distribution in the combustion chamber of a coke oven. The key innovation of PFCN is its dual-stream encoding mechanism, which processes structural parameters (1 × 5 vector) and spatial coordinates (25 × 200 matrix) separately via dedicated encoders, followed by a cross-modal fusion to effectively integrate these heterogeneous inputs. Furthermore, a support vector machine (SVM) is coupled downstream of the PFCN to estimate the exhaust NO_x emissions based on the predicted physical information. This coupled PFCN–SVM framework allows universal applicability across different combustion chamber configurations. Based on this framework, parametric influence analysis and co-optimization of five key structural parameters are conducted for a three-stage air-supply coke oven. The results reveal that both the air staging ratio and staging height significantly affect combustion performance. Compared to the basecase, the optimized design simultaneously improves temperature homogeneity by 15.2% and reduces NO_x emissions by 8%, with negligible computational cost. This integrated data-driven approach demonstrates considerable potential for combustion chamber optimization, transient process predictions, multi-physics coupling analyses, and online control implementations. Full article

The challenges faced by the metallurgical industry implicate that actions aimed at reducing negative impacts on the environment are becoming extremely important. This is justified both in the search for economically competitive methods of producing basic construction materials, consistent with the circular economy policy, and in improving the efficiency of metal production technology. An essential aspect of biomass use is the introduction of an energy source that naturally reduces the energy supplied to the reactor, thereby reducing the carbon footprint of the metal produced. In this case, the research undertaken aims to determine the possibility of using a bioreductant that will allow for the reduction or elimination of the fossil raw material, which is coal, thus reducing the costs associated with ETS and ETS II (European Union Emissions Trading System). This paper presents the results of research on the reduction process of oxide metal-bearing raw material, the chemical composition of which is similar to slags from the copper industry. The effects of slag reduction time on the degrees of copper and lead removal were examined. The process was carried out at 1300 °C, with the constant addition of a reducing agent, in the form of crushed pine cones. After processing for 1 h, the copper content in the waste slag was 1.30 wt%, whereas extending the process to 5 h reduced the copper content to 0.15 wt%. For lead, at the exact reduction times, the element’s contents in the slag after processing were 1.92 wt% and 0.79 wt%, respectively. The results of the studied process showed that, in the first stage of the slag reduction process, intensive reduction of copper and lead oxides occurs. Research was also conducted to characterize the biomaterial during the high-temperature process. Results show high degrees of removal for basic metals at the following levels: 99% for Cu and 72% for Pb. The waste slag is characterized by low metal content, which allows for safe storage or use in other sectors of the economy. This type of biomaterial is, therefore, recommended for research in large-scale laboratories or on a semi-industrial scale, particularly in relation to the gas phase formed and its possible impacts on the structural elements of industrial installations. It should be noted that there is a lack of data in the literature on the use of forest biomass in the form of pine cones as an alternative to coke as a reducing agent for use in pyrometallurgical processes. Full article

The methanol-to-olefins (MTO) process offers a viable alternative to traditional naphtha cracking for producing light olefins, providing flexibility in feedstock sources and the potential for reduced energy consumption. This study presents a detailed plant-wide design of an MTO process, developed and optimized to increase ethylene and propylene yields while reducing energy consumption. The methodology includes comprehensive reactor modeling of a fast fluidized-bed reactor–regenerator system, accounting for coke formation kinetics, along with rigorous process simulation for the subsequent separation and purification of products. A six-column distillation train has been designed and optimized for the recovery of polymer-grade ethylene and propylene, while dual-stage CO₂ absorption units ensure complete removal of carbon dioxide. Pinch analysis is used to identify opportunities for heat integration, resulting in an optimized heat-exchanger network that significantly reduces the need for external heating and cooling utilities. The results show that the optimized MTO design achieves a methanol conversion rate of over 99.9% and produces a propylene-rich product stream with a propylene-to-ethylene ratio of approximately 1.8, while maintaining a high purity level exceeding 99.5%. By implementing heat integration and recycling by-products, including using off-gas methane as furnace fuel and repurposing waste heat for steam generation, the plant reduces utility requirements by more than 85%, significantly improving energy efficiency. An economic evaluation shows a favorable payback period of approximately 5.4 years and an internal rate of return of 15–16%, confirming the viability and industrial potential of the integrated MTO process for sustainable olefin production. Full article

The physico-chemical and electrophysical properties of carbon coke obtained by coking composite mixtures of pitches isolated from coal tar coking plants of JSC “Shubarkol Komir” and “Qarmet” are investigated. The component composition of the initial resins and the obtained pitches was determined by gas–liquid chromatography methods. The purpose of this study was to identify the patterns of influence of the composition of composite mixtures of pitches isolated from coal tar coking plants of JSC “Shubarkol Komir” and “Qarmet”, as well as heat treatment parameters (temperature 800–1000 °C, duration 4–6 h), on the thermophysical and electrophysical properties of electrode coke, with the determination of optimal conditions for obtaining a material combining low ash content and high carbon content. It was found that the content of phenols and paraffins in the resin of “Shubarkol Komir” is approximately 25% of each component. It is shown that the properties of the final coke depend on the ratio of the mixed pitches (1:1, 1:2, 2:1) and coking conditions (temperature 800–1000 °C, duration 4–6 h). Optimal characteristics (minimal ash content of 0.4%, maximal carbon content of 97.75%) were achieved with a pitch ratio of 1:2 and a temperature of 1000 °C for 6 h. A specific heat capacity in the range of 298–448 K was measured calorimetrically for this sample, where a type II phase transition was detected at 373 K. Electrophysical measurements in the range of 293–483 K revealed a complex temperature dependence of the resistance characteristic of a semiconductor with two sections of a narrow band gap (~0.67 eV and ~0.55 eV). The novelty of the work consists in a comprehensive study of composite mixtures of coal tar pitches and the influence of heat treatment parameters on the formation of thermophysical and electrophysical properties of electrode coke. For the first time, signs of a type II phase transition have been identified for this type of coke material and gigantic permittivity values (up to 10⁹) have been recorded, indicating its potential as a functional carbon material. Full article

Dry reforming of methane (DRM) is a promising method for turning two major greenhouse gases, CO₂ and CH₄, into syngas (H₂ + CO). This syngas has the right H₂/CO ratio for making valuable chemicals and liquid fuels. However, there are significant challenges that make it tough to implement commercially. One big issue is that the process requires a lot of energy because it is highly endothermic, needing temperatures over 700 °C. This high heat can quickly deactivate the catalyst due to carbon build-up (coking) and the thermal sintering of metal nanoparticles. Researchers increasingly recognize mechanochemistry—a non-thermal, solid-state technique employing mechanical force to drive chemical transformations—as a sustainable, solvent-free strategy to address these DRM challenges. This mini-review critically assesses the dual role of mechanochemistry in advancing DRM. First, we examine its established role in creating advanced catalysts at lower temperatures. Here, mechanochemical methods help produce well-dispersed nanoparticles, enhance strong interactions between metal and support, and develop bimetallic alloys that resist coke formation and show great stability. Second, we delve into the exciting possibility of using mechanochemistry to directly engage in the DRM reaction at near-ambient temperatures, which marks a major shift from traditional thermocatalysis. Lastly, we discuss the key challenges ahead, like scalability and understanding the mechanisms involved, while also outlining future directions for research to fully harness mechanochemistry for converting greenhouse gases sustainably. Full article

The service life of graphite anodes—key consumables in the Pr/Nd fluoride molten salt electrolysis process—directly governs production continuity, cost-efficiency, and supply chain stability. This study systematically evaluated five industrial-grade anodes produced from different raw materials and processes. Multimodal characterization—combining macroscopic and microscopic morphology, SEM/EDS, XRD, Raman, and physical property analysis—was employed to correlate initial anode properties with corrosion-induced morphological and mass changes during electrolysis. The results show that the raw material quality and preparation methods synergistically regulate both the crystal structure and microstructure, thereby governing the corrosion behaviour and mass loss. Anodes #2 and #3, which were fabricated from high-quality petroleum coke and subjected to full densification and graphitization, exhibited high graphitization (93.7–94.5%), large crystallites (59.6–64.5 nm), minimal defects (low I_D/I_G), and suppressed microporosity, leading to the lowest mass loss (10.2 ± 0.8 kg and 10.6 ±0.9 kg). In contrast, anodes #1, #4, and #5, made from recycled graphite without graphitization, contained abundant structural defects and large pores and led to greater morphological changes and quality losses. Moreover, for recycled graphite anodes, the presence of large pores and cracks is one of the important reasons for their failure. This work clarifies the “process–microstructure–mass loss” relationship in graphite anodes for Pr/Nd electrolysis, offering key insights for designing high-performance anodes and advancing sustainable rare earth production. Full article

Background: Hospitals generate large volumes of single-use plastic waste, which are predominantly incinerated. To improve sustainability, standardized procedure-specific surgical trays have been implemented, reducing waste and setup time. This early feasibility study investigated whether all residual plastics from surgical procedures could be recycled via pyrolysis into high-quality oil for circular reuse in medical supply production. Methods: All residual plastics from five transurethral resection (TUR) trays were subjected to pyrolysis at 430–460 °C in a batch reactor. Condensable fractions were separated into heavy (HF) and light (LF) oils, while non-condensable gases and coke were quantified. Chemical analyses included the density, water content, heating value, and elemental composition. Results: From 1.102 kg of input material, the process yielded 78 weight percent (wt%) oil (HF 59.1%, LF 40.9%), 20.5 wt% gas, and 1.5 wt% coke. HF solidified at room temperature, whereas LF remained liquid, reflecting distinct hydrocarbon chain distributions. The oils exhibited densities of 767.0 kg/m³ (HF) and 748.9 kg/m³ (LF), heating values of 46.39–46.80 MJ/kg, low water contents (<0.05 wt%), and minimal contamination (silicone ≤ 193 mg/kg; chlorine ≤ 110 mg/kg). Conclusions: Pyrolysis of surgical tray plastics produces decontaminated high-energy oils comparable in quality to fossil fuels, with a material recovery rate exceeding 75% and potential CO₂ savings of ~ 2.9 ton per t plastic compared with incineration. This process provides a technically and ecologically viable pathway toward a scalable circular economy in healthcare. Full article