Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), energy efficiency is critical for minimizing energy losses across various sectors, which account for significant consumption. At IR4TD, we focus on cutting-edge research to advance energy efficiency in industrial applications. Our research includes developing innovative methods for optimizing energy use in power generation and manufacturing processes. Our research includes developing innovative methods for optimizing energy use in power generation and manufacturing processes. We employ advanced simulations, exergy analysis, and multi-objective optimization techniques to study how energy systems can be more efficient, reducing operational costs and better environmental impacts. By employing cutting-edge modeling and optimization techniques, we address critical challenges like supply-demand mismatches, greenhouse gas emissions, and cost-efficiency in renewable systems. Our research demonstrates the technical and economic viability of these innovations and provides scalable solutions to enhance the performance of energy systems globally. Through these efforts, IR4TD aims to accelerate the transition to low-carbon, highly efficient energy systems, supporting both industry and broader energy sustainability goals.
 

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Our Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Highlights

 

 

 

Efficiency Boosting and Steam Saving for a Steam-Injected Gas Turbine Engine: Optimization Study 

Journal of Energy Engineering (2021) by Ahmad M. Abubaker, Mohammad N. A. Magableh, Adnan Darwish Ahmad, and Yousef S. H. Najjar

Collaborator: Mechanical Engineering Department, Jordan University of Science and Technology

In this paper, our team explores the optimization of steam injection in gas turbines to improve efficiency and reduce fuel consumption. Steam injection increases power output and thermal efficiency by recovering waste heat from exhaust gases. The study focuses on determining the optimal steam-to-air (SA) ratio at different operating conditions, such as turbine inlet temperature (TIT) and pressure ratio, to maximize performance. Using a General Electric LM2500 gas turbine as a case study, the results show that steam injection can boost efficiency by 31%, increase power output by 76.8%, and reduce specific fuel consumption by 23.8% compared to a simple cycle. Additionally, the study formulates an equation for the optimal SA ratio as a function of TIT, providing guidelines for maximizing efficiency under varying operational conditions. The paper concludes that optimizing steam injection significantly enhances gas turbine performance while saving fuel and water resources, making it a viable solution for sustainable power generation.

 

 

Power boosting of a combined cycle power plant in Jordan: An integration of hybrid inlet cooling & solar systems

Energy Conversion and Management by Adnan Darwish Ahmad, Ahmad M. Abubaker, Yousef S. H. Najjar, and Yaman Mohammad Ali Manaserh

Collaborator: Mechanical Engineering Department, Jordan University of Science and Technology and Mechanical Engineering Department, Binghamton University- SUNY

This article presents a strategy to improve the performance of the AlQatrana power plant. The plant suffers from high ambient temperatures and inefficient heat recovery, which limit its power output. The authors propose a hybrid system that integrates inlet air cooling with concentrated solar power (CSP). Using mechanical and absorption chillers, the system reduces the temperature of the air entering the gas turbine, increasing its efficiency. Additionally, CSP is used to supplement the steam generation process, further enhancing the plant’s power output. The study demonstrates that this hybrid system boosts the plant's power by 22.8%, improves efficiency by 4.3%, and reduces specific fuel consumption (SFC) by 8.4%. Furthermore, the system stabilizes power output across a wide range of ambient temperatures. The economic analysis reveals a payback period of 5.3 years, making the solution financially viable. This hybrid system provides a sustainable, efficient, and economically feasible way to enhance the performance of combined cycle power plants, especially in regions with high ambient temperatures.

Other Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Papers

1. Loiy Al-Ghussain, et al., Exploring the feasibility of green hydrogen production using excess energy from a country-scale 100% solar-wind renewable energy system. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2022.

Collaborator: Mechanical Engineering Department, Villanova University and Mechanical Power Engineering, Cairo University

2. Al-Ghussain, L., et al., Techno-economic feasibility of thermal storage systems for the transition to 100% renewable grids. Renewable Energy, 2022. 189: p. 800-812.

Collaborator: Mechanical Engineering Department, Villanova University and Mechanical Power Engineering, Cairo University

3. Al-Ghussain, L., A.M. Abubaker, and A. Darwish Ahmad, Superposition of renewable-energy supply from multiple sites maximizes demand-matching: Towards 100% renewable grids in 2050. Applied Energy, 2021. 284: p. 116402.

4. Al-Ghussain, L., et al., A Demand-Supply Matching-Based Approach for Mapping Renewable Resources Towards 100% Renewable Grids in 2050. IEEE Access, 2021. 9: p. 58634-58651.

Collaborator: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Kansas Stata University; Department of Electrical Engineering,         University of Hail; Electrical Engineering Department, Minia University; and Department of Electrical Engineering, Fuzhou University

5. Abubaker, A.M., et al., Multi-objective linear-regression-based optimization of a hybrid solar-gas turbine combined cycle with absorption inlet-air cooling unit. Energy Conversion and Management, 2021. 240: p. 114266.

6. Abubaker, A.M., et al., A novel solar combined cycle integration: An exergy-based optimization using artificial neural network. Renewable Energy, 2021.

7. Al-Ghussain, L., et al., An integrated photovoltaic/wind/biomass and hybrid energy storage systems towards 100% renewable energy microgrids in university campuses. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 2021. 46: p. 101273.

Collaborator: Electrical Engineering Department, Minia University and Department of Electrical Engineering, Fuzhou University

8. Manaserh, Y.M.A., et al., Assessment of integrating hybrid solar-combined cycle with thermal energy storage for shaving summer peak load and improving sustainability. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 2021. 47: p. 101505.

Collaborator: Institute for Energy Systems and Technology, Technical University of Darmstadt and  Mechanical Engineering Department, Jordan University of Science and Technology

9. Al-Ghussain, L., et al., 100% Renewable Energy Grid for Rural Electrification of Remote Areas: A Case Study in Jordan. Energies, 2020. 13(18): p. 4908.

Collaborator: Mechanical Engineering Program and Electrical and Electronics Engineering Program, Middle East Technical University Northern Cyprus Campus, Turkey

 

For more research output on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, please visit Scholars@UK.