[en] Despite the strong support for exergy in thermodynamics, the industry still relies on energy based power plant efficiencies. The paper exposes errors with energy based efficiencies and improves the graphical representation of plants efficiencies. Among others, energy efficiencies cannot recognised that Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant may be less efficient than condensing plants or that fossil fuel based plants should always be more efficient than any biomass plants because irreversibilities from biomass spontaneous thermo-chemical reactions are much higher than with coal or natural gas. Profitability equations fail to distinguish the true technical efficiency so exergy must be used, if only to enhance power plants understanding. Two novel graphs are introduced. Graph #1 combines all in a single graph; total, electrical and thermal exergy efficiencies. Graph #2 splits thermal exergy efficiency into two components related to; plant thermal losses and useful heat output quality. Data from 24 existing and design plants is used to support the graphs. Graph #1 shows different rankings of efficiencies than what is typically understood by the industry. Graph #2 shows that achieving further higher thermal energy efficiency barely increases the total exergy efficiency. If possible, it is better to increase the useful heat output quality. - Highlights: • Paper identifies weaknesses of industrial approach for power plant efficiencies. • Two exergy efficiency graphs are introduced to improve graphical representation. • Graph 1 combines electrical, thermal and total exergy efficiencies. • Graph 2 splits thermal exergy efficiency into its energy efficiency and useful heat output quality. • Graphs use typical data from 24 power plants of various technologies and fuels

[en] A Rankine System assisted for solar radiation and fuel combustion which produces 57 kW electrical power are evaluated from exergoeconomic point of view. The Parabolic trough collector efficiency has been performed to investigate its effect as heat source. The exergoeconomic parameters as the relative cost difference and the exergoeconomic factor for each component are evaluated. The analysis is based on the SPECO (Specific Exergy Costing) approach. The simulation of system on March, June, September and December 21st from 7 am to 4 pm for Natal/Brazil using real data was carried out. The results reveal the daily average values of collector efficiencies, ratio of the useful solar energy, electricity produced, the specific cost per exergy unit of the produced electricity and others heat rates. The system is advantageous for higher solar radiation. The outcome of the analysis can be useful in design, optimization of operating parameters and help to take decision of investment. - Highlights: • As the solar irradiation decreases, the electricity cost per exergy unit increases. • The cost rate is high at collector field due to higher purchase cost. • The system is advantageous when the solar radiation is high. • Further aspect as environmental impact is important

[en] Performance of the combined flash-binary geothermal power cycle for geofluid temperatures between 150 and 250 °C is studied. A thermodynamic model is developed, and the suitable binary working fluids for different geofluid temperatures are identified from a list of thirty working fluid candidates, consisting environmental friendly refrigerants and hydrocarbons. The overall system exergy destruction and Vapor Expansion Ratio across the binary cycle turbine are selected as key performance indicators. The results show that for low-temperature heat sources using refrigerants as binary working fluids result in higher overall cycle efficiency and for medium and high-temperature resources, hydrocarbons are more suitable. For combined flash-binary cycle, secondary working fluids; R-152a, Butane and Cis-butane show the best performances at geofluid temperatures 150, 200 and 250 °C respectively. The overall second law efficiency is calculated as high as 0.48, 0.55 and 0.58 for geofluid temperatures equal 150, 200 and 250 °C respectively. The flash separator pressure found to has important effects on cycle operation and performance. Separator pressure dictates the work production share of steam and binary parts of the system. And there is an optimal separator pressure at which overall exergy destruction of the cycle achieves its minimum value. - Highlights: • Performance of the combined flash-binary geothermal cycle is investigated. • Thirty different fluids are screened to find the most suitable ORC working fluid. • Optimum cycle operation conditions presented for geofluids between 150 °C and 250 °C. • Refrigerants are more suitable for the ORC at geothermal sources temperature ≤200 °C. • Hydrocarbons are more suitable for the ORC at geothermal sources temperature >200 °C

[en] Economical optimization of hybrid systems is usually performed by means of LCoE (levelized cost of energy) calculation. Previous works deal with the LCoE calculation of the whole hybrid system disregarding an important issue: the stochastic component of the system units must be jointly considered. This paper deals with this issue and proposes a new fast optimal policy that properly calculates the LCoE of a hybrid system and finds the lowest LCoE. This proposed policy also considers the implied competition among power sources when variability of gas and electricity prices are taken into account. Additionally, it presents a comparative between the LCoE of the hybrid system and its individual technologies of generation by means of a fast and robust algorithm based on vector logical computation. Numerical case analyses based on realistic data are presented that valuate the contribution of technologies in a hybrid power system to the joint LCoE. - Highlights: • We perform the LCoE calculation with the stochastic component jointly considered. • We propose a fast an optimal policy that minimizes the LCoE. • We compare the obtained LCoEs by means of a fast and robust algorithm. • We take into account the competition among gas prices and electricity prices

[en] Energy systems based on fuel cells technology can have a strategic role in the range of small-size power generation for the sustainable energy development. In order to enhance their performance, it is possible to recover the “waste heat” from the fuel cells, for producing or thermal power (cogeneration systems) or further electric power by means of a bottoming power cycle (combined systems). In this work an advanced system based on the integration between a HT-PEMFC (high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell) power unit and an ORC (organic Rankine cycle) plant, has been proposed and analysed as suitable energy power plant for supplying electric and thermal energies to a stand-alone residential utility. The system can operate both as cogeneration system, in which the electric and thermal loads are satisfied by the HT-PEMFC power unit and as electric generation system, in which the low temperature heat recovered from the fuel cells is used as energy source in the ORC plant for increasing the electric power production. A numerical model, able to characterize the behavior and to predict the performance of the HT-PEMFC/ORC system under different working conditions, has been developed by using the AspenPlus™ code. - Highlights: • The advanced plant can operate both as CHP system and as electric generation system. • The performance prediction of the integrated system is carried out by numerical modeling. • ORC thermodynamic optimization is carried out by a sensitivity analysis. • Thermal coupling between the HT-PEMC system and the ORC plant is analyzed. • Results are very promising in the field of the distributed generation

[en] Based on a sub-critical ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) process, this study introduces the term OHST (Optimal Heat Source Temperature) with consideration of a suitable thermal match between heat source and working fluid. A theoretical formula is developed for predicting the OHST, which shows that OHST only depends on evaporation pressure and pinch point in the preheater and evaporator. A comparative study between the predicted OHSTs and those obtained from cycle simulations is performed, showing that the proposed formula is reliable, provided that HTF (Heat Transfer Fluid) is homogeneous and has good consistency in terms of heat capacity for different temperatures. To demonstrate the application of the proposed OHST-theory for thermodynamic optimization of ORC systems, a case study is presented based on a simple ORC coupled with thermal water at 140 °C. Consequently, using R227ea leads to the highest system efficiency of 10.38%, due to a better thermal match in the preheater and evaporator. In order to increase the exploitation of the thermal potential from the heat source, a dual-fluid-ORC is proposed, where R245fa and R227ea are considered for the high and low temperature ORC processes, respectively. Finally, this combination leads to the highest system efficiency of 11.07%. - Highlights: • Optimal Heat Source Temperature is investigated for the sub-critical ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle). • A theoretical formula is proposed to predict OHST (Optimal Heat Source Temperature). • A comparative study shows the proposed formula is accurate and reliable. • Significances of OHST in optimizing the sub-critical ORC are discussed. • A case study is presented, showing the application of the proposed OHST theory

[en] This paper shows a study on energetic consumption of BTSs (Base Transceiver Stations) for mobile communication, related to conditioning functions. An energetic “thermal model” of a telecommunication station is proposed and studied. The results have been validated with a BTS in central Italy, showing good agreement. Findings show a substantial high internal-external temperature difference in the containing shelter, particularly during daytime and warm months, due to sources of heat (equipment, external temperature and sun radiation) and to the difficulty in spread the warmth out. The necessity to keep the operating temperatures within a given range for the correct functioning of the electronic equipment requires the use of conditioning setups, and this significantly increases the energetic demand of the whole system. The analysis of thermal flows across the shelter can help to gather further data on its temperature behavior and to devise practical measures to lower the power demand, while keeping the operating parameters in the suggested ranges. The investigation of some operating parameters of the equipment and of the shelter, such as threshold set-points, air vent area, external wall transmittance and reflectivity, suggests annual energy savings between 10% and 30%. - Highlights: • A heat flow model for a telecommunication shelter was created. • Successful matching of the model and real-life cases was obtained. • The model addresses how each parameter affects energy consumption. • Reasonably savings of up to 30% of consumed energy can be expected

[en] The challenges faced by electricity grids suggest smart grids will have to coordinate its operation with other important initiatives in areas such as transportation. The smart grid relies on the use of network platforms where meter readings and data can be transmitted. On the other hand, concerning transportation systems the need to achieve a reduction of road congestion and traffic accidents among the increasing use of electric vehicles has consolidated the importance of ITS (intelligent transport systems). Given the magnitude of the challenges faced by both the smart grid and ITS, the aim of this work is to identify the elements comprising a convergence platform capable of supporting future services for data traffic associated to smart grid operations as well as ITS-related commercial service applications and road traffic safety messaging. A seaport terminal scenario is used to present a convergence network platform incorporating WSN (wireless sensor network) theory. The results of the simulation of the proposed network confirms the suitability of WSN to be used in the transmission of data traffic associated to meter readings which is required for effective energy consumption and management policies in industrial environments comprising equipment with high energy demands. - Highlights: • Common needs/challenges of smart grid/ITS can be addressed by a convergence network platform. • VANETs are identified as key components of the smart grid/ITS convergence network platform. • WSN (Wireless Sensor Network) theory is suitable for the transmission of data traffic associated to meter readings. • The amount of energy supplied to the network is low but enough to support data traffic required in industrial environments. • WSN supports the steady exchange of packets as characterized in industrial environments like seaports

[en] The aim of this work is to analyse whether the integration of Multi-Effect Distillation (MED) process into Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plants can be more competitive, under certain conditions, than the independent freshwater and power production by connecting a Reverse Osmosis (RO) system to a CSP plant. For this purpose, different CSP + MED configurations using the steam from the turbine as the thermal energy source of the desalination process have been evaluated and compared to the simple combination of a CSP plant connected to a RO plant. A sensitivity analysis has been carried out varying different parameters of the whole system (the specific electric consumption and the exhaust steam temperature) and calculating in each case the overall thermodynamic efficiency of the combined system for the same net production of electricity and desalinated water. This analysis has been performed for the three types of cooling methods usually employed in power plants (dry cooling, once-through and evaporative water cooling) and the results have been discussed in detail. - Highlights: • CSP + MED compared to CSP + RO for different cooling systems in different conditions. • Variation in SEC and exhaust steam temperature to characterise the CSP + D system. • Sensitivity analysis performed by calculating CSP + D overall efficiency. • CSP + LTMED better than CSP + RO at exhaust steam temperature 47–57 °C and high RO SEC. • CSP + LTMED + TVC feasible in arid regions for dry or once-through cooling

[en] Energy piles have recently emerged as a viable alternative to borehole heat exchangers, but their energy efficiency has so far seen little research. In this work, a finite element numerical model is developed for the accurate 3D analysis of transient diffusive and convective heat exchange phenomena taking place in geothermal structures. The model is validated by reproducing both the outcome of a thermal response test carried out on a test pile, and the average response of the linear heat source analytical solution. Then, the model is employed to carry out a parametric analysis to identify the key factors in maximising the pile energy efficiency. It is shown that the most influential design parameter is the number of pipes, which can be more conveniently increased, within a reasonable range, compared to increasing the pile dimensions. The influence of changing pile length, concrete conductivity, pile diameter and concrete cover are also discussed in light of their energetic implications. Counter to engineering intuition, the fluid flowrate does not emerge as important in energy efficiency, provided it is sufficient to ensure turbulent flow. The model presented in this paper can be easily adapted to the detailed study of other types of geothermal structures. - Highlights: • A numerical model for 3D thermal transient analysis of energy piles is developed. • The model is validated against both field data and an analytical solution. • Key parameters are then identified for efficient thermal design of energy piles. • Energy efficiency is maximised by large pipe number and concrete conductivity. • Large exchanger fluid velocity does not have a major impact on efficiency