Renewable and Sustainable Energy Technology

Heat Pipe PV/T System under Hot Climate Conditions-Experimental and Simulation Analysis of System Performance

Amani Alajmi, Alina ZABNIENSKA- Gora, Hussam Jouhara — Tue, 13 May 2025 00:00:00 +0800

With the rapid increase in energy demand, the limited availability of fossil fuel resources and the desire to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, the importance of optimising PV installations is paramount. The objective and innovation of this paper is to examine the effect of a cooling system based on heat pipes on the performance of photovoltaic panels for a household in the hot climate of Kuwait for which the considered system has not been tested before. Experimental and simulation results show both the amount of heat and electrical power generated from the solar panels in two configurations with and without cooling, considering different seasonal cycles. The angles of the panels were located at their optimum position indicating an active tracking system. Numerical model of the system was developed in TRNSYS and validated based on the measurement data. Simulation results showed that the cooling effect of the panels significantly increases the electrical output by almost 6.25%. In addition, a reduction in solar cell temperature of around 8% was observed in the Kuwait climate. The proposed model supports the decision of implementing a PV/T system in hot climate areas where the effect of cooling will result in higher efficiencies for generating electricity.

Contributions of Green Energy Materials to Sustainable Development Goals

Bshaer Nasser, Muhammad Tawalbeh, Amani Al-Othman, Mohammad Yusuf — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0800

The global shift toward renewable and green energy highlights the critical role of green energy materials in achieving sustainability goals. This paper focuses on how these materials contribute to the three pillars of sustainability: environmental, economic, and social, in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Green energy materials, including photovoltaic materials, thermoelectric materials, electrochemical storage materials, and other materials appear to play a vital role in meeting these pillars. It is found that using these materials, green and renewable energy is projected to contribute up to 55% of global electricity use by 2030. Green energy materials have achieved the three pillars of sustainability. Environmentally, they help to mitigate climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and protect ecosystems. Economically, these materials foster innovation, create jobs and opportunities, and stimulate economic growth within the green energy sector. Socially, they improve the living standards by providing access to clean energy, reducing health risks, while supporting the development of sustainable cities and communities. By aligning with sustainable development goals, such as clean water, climate action, economic growth, and affordable energy, green energy materials are necessary for achieving a sustainable future. Despite these advances, widespread adoption remains hindered by economic, policy, and technological barriers. Therefore, there is a need for integrative policies, improved lifecycle analysis, and inclusive access to green energy technologies to ensure equitable transition and global sustainability.

Multi-Criteria Decision-Making for Selecting Renewable and Sustainable Gasoline Biofuel Additives Based on an Integrated AHP-TOPSIS Model

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0800

Article

Multi-Criteria Decision-Making for Selecting Renewable and Sustainable Gasoline Biofuel Additives Based on an Integrated AHP-TOPSIS Model

Montaser Mahmoud ¹, Tamer M. M. Abdellatief ^1,2, Ridvan Aydin ³ and Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem ^1,2^,*

¹Sustainable Energy & Power Systems Research Centre, RISE, University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 27272, United Arab Emirates

²Chemical Engineering Department, Minia University, Elminia 61519, Egypt

³Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, College of Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 27272, United Arab Emirates

* Correspondence: mabdulkareem@sharjah.ac.ae

Received: 28 January 2025; Revised: 7 March 2025; Accepted: 8 April 2025; Published: 22 April 2025

Abstract: The production of biofuel from locally available biomass resources is a crucial step toward achieving a sustainable energy production system. As a result, it is crucial to select a suitable biomass resource by considering its availability and combining several other factors simultaneously. Since conventional single-criteria decision-making techniques can no longer handle such complexity, multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) is recommended. The current paper aims to apply MCDM to select renewable and sustainable gasoline biofuel additives to produce high-octane gasoline with high gasoline engine performance and low exhaust emissions based on an integrated AHP-TOPSIS model. The compared gasoline biofuel alternatives are isopropanol, ethanol, methanol, isobutanol, di-isobutylene, n-butanol, and (Di isopropyl ether) DIPE. Ten technical criteria that address various elements such as research octane number, motor octane number, density, Reid vapor pressure, boiling point temperature, auto-ignition temperature, heat of evaporation at 25 °C, Flashpoint, stoichiometric air-fuel ratio (AFR), and laminar flame speed are used in MCDM. The overall MCDM results revealed that isopropanol and ethanol achieved the highest rankings, which is consistent with the advantages and technical characteristics of the gasoline biofuel additives. The ranking of gasoline additives places isopropanol at the top with a score of 0.6576, primarily due to its anti-knock properties, which contribute to the formation of gasoline with high octane, which is environmentally in fuel blending. This was closely followed by ethanol and isobutanol, with scores of 0.6301 and 0.626, respectively.

Isopropanol as a Renewable Additive in Gasoline Blends: Enhancing Octane Ratings for Sustainable Fuel Solutions

Tamer M. M. Abdellatief, Ahmad Mustafa, Xiongbo Duan — Wed, 07 May 2025 00:00:00 +0800

Article

Isopropanol as a Renewable Additive in Gasoline Blends: Enhancing Octane Ratings for Sustainable Fuel Solutions

Tamer M. M. Abdellatief ¹^,2,*, Ahmad Mustafa ³ and Xiongbo Duan ⁴

¹ Sustainable Energy & Power Systems Research Centre, RISE, University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 27272, United Arab Emirates

² Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Minia University, EL-Minia 61519, Egypt

³ Center of Excellence, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA), Giza 12566, Egypt

⁴ School of Energy Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China

* Correspondence: tamerabdellatief@mu.edu.eg

Received: 30 January 2025; Revised: 17 March 2025; Accepted: 21 April 2025; Published: 7 May 2025

Abstract: This study explored the effect of isopropanol on Research Octane Number (RON) and Motor Octane Number (MON) of different gasoline constituents, such as reformate, isomerate, light straight-run naphtha (LSRN), and heavy straight-run naphtha (HSRN). Considering its high intrinsic octane values, isopropanol was mixed with different volumetric concentrations of each gasoline to assess its potential as an octane booster. Using normal ASTM procedures, the RON and MON of each blend were assessed. The findings showed that the octane levels of all base fuels had significantly increased. LSRN and HSRN showed the biggest gains, while isomerate and reformate showed very modest improvements. It was discovered that adding isopropanol enhanced the mixes’ anti-knock capabilities, making them more appropriate for contemporary high-compression engines. The study also emphasizes how crucial it is to optimize blending ratios to balance the increase in octane with other gasoline characteristics like stability and volatility. The experimental results reported that fuel blends’ antidetonation performance, as determined by their octane number, varies in the following order: isopropanol > reformate > isomerate > light straight run naphtha > heavy straight run naphtha by octane number. Finally, isopropanol may be a useful and sustainable additive for raising the octane level of gasoline, improving fuel economy and lessening engine knocking.

Efficiency and Enhanced Performance: Exploring Digital Twin Implementation in Power Plants

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0800

The utilization of digital twin technology in large-scale power plants has recently attracted considerable attention. This is because a digital twin can be an opportunity to improve multiple aspects of power plant operations, such as performance monitoring, predictive maintenance, and fault diagnosis. As a result, this study aims to present a comprehensive survey of the existing literature on applying digital twins in large-scale power plants. These applications include thermal, nuclear, and hydropower plants. Furthermore, this paper explores the distinct architecture of a large-scale power plant digital twin. This comprehensive survey paves the way for accurately identifying gaps and constraints restraining the use of digital twins for large-scale power plants. There is a clear indication of a research gap when examining the challenges and practical considerations in implementing digital twins in large-scale power plants.