A study on mechanical and sliding wear behaviour of e-glass fibre reinforced epoxy composites -2014-

Modèle constitutif hydromécanique tridimensionnelle pour l'analyse de stabilité des piliers d'évacuateur de crues (In english)

Stefan, Constantin Lucian (2011) 

RELIABILITY ANALYSIS OF THE 4.5 ROLLER BEARING

Financial Return for Government Support Financial Return for Government Support of Large-Scale Thin-Film Solar Photovoltaic Manufacturing in Canada

Authors:	Branker, K. Pearce, J.M.
Files in This Item: File Description Size Format Gov PV Qshare.pdf 317.38 kB Adobe PDF
Keywords:	government incentives photovoltaic financing solar energy
Issue Date:	2010
Publisher:	Elsevier
Citation:	K. Branker and J. M. Pearce, “Financial Return for Government Support of Large-Scale Thin-Film Solar Photovoltaic Manufacturing in Canada”, Energy Policy 38, pp. 4291–4303 (2010).
Abstract:	As the Ontario government has recognized that solar photovoltaic (PV) energy conversion is a solution to satisfying society's energy demands while reducing the adverse anthropogenic impacts on the global environment that compromise social welfare, they have begun to generate policy and funding programs to support financial incentives for PV. This paper (publication below) provides a financial analysis for investment in a 1 GW per year turnkey amorphous silicon PV manufacturing plant. The financial benefits for both the provincial and federal governments were quantified for: i) full construction subsidy, ii) construction subsidy and sale, iii) partially subsidize construction, iv) a publicly owned plant, v) loan guarantee for construction, and vi) an income tax holiday. Revenues for the governments are derived from: taxation (personal, corporate, and sales), sales of panels in Ontario, and saved health, environmental and economic costs associated with offsetting coal-fired electricity. Both governments enjoyed positive cash flows from these investments in less than 12 years and in many of the scenarios both governments earned well over 8% on investments from 100s of millions to $2.4 billion. The results showed that it is in the financial best interest of both the Ontario and Canadian federal governments to implement aggressive fiscal policy to support large-scale PV manufacturing.

3D-Mapping Optimization of Embodied Energy of Transportation

Authors:	Pearce, Joshua M. Johnson, Sara J. Grant, Gabriel B.
Files in This Item: File Description Size Format 3Dmap-final draft.pdf 1.74 MB Adobe PDF
Keywords:	ecological education embodied energy fuel conservation greenhouse gas emissions LEED mapping route optimization transportation energy transportation energy
Issue Date:	2007
Publisher:	Elsevier
Citation:	Joshua M. Pearce, Sara J. Johnson, and Gabriel B. Grant, "3D-Mapping Optimization of Embodied Energy of Transportation", Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 51 pp. 435-453, 2007.
Abstract:	The recent development of Google Earth, an information service that provides imagery and three dimensional data depicting the entire Earth, provides an opportunity to use a new method of navigating information to save energy in the real world. Google Earth uses Keyhole Markup Language (KML) for modeling and storing geographic features and information for display in the Google Earth Client. This paper will analyze the potential of this novel and free geographic mapping service to reduce embodied energy of transportation in two ways. First, at the consumer level, Google Earth will be studied to map the automobile route that uses the least fuel and maintains vehicles at their individual maximum fuel efficiency velocities. The same analysis for single destination trips could be used to optimize fleet vehicle routes such as garbage or recycling collection trucks. The secondary benefit of ecological education will also be explored. Fuel used could be converted into monetary units based on the current price of gas, pollution/ greenhouse gas emissions, or ecological footprints to improve driving habits. Secondly, KML overlays will be analyzed for use of determining: i) raw material and products availability as a function of location, and ii) modes of transportation as a function of emissions. These overlays would enable manufacturers access to an easily navigable method to optimize the life cycle of their products by minimizing transportation embodied energy. The most efficient transportation methods and travel routes could be calculated. This same tool would be useful for architects to obtain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating points for the green design of buildings. Overall, the analysis completed finds that the flexibility and visual display of quantitative information made available by Google Earth could have a significant impact at conserving fuel resources by reducing the embodied energy of transportation on a global scale.

Energy Service Companies as a Component of a Comprehensive University Sustainability Strategy

Authors:	Pearce, Joshua M. Miller, Laura L.
Files in This Item: File Description Size Format Pearce and Miller 2006 preprint.pdf 174.16 kB Adobe PDF
Keywords:	energy service company ESCO energy service performance contracting guaranteed savings energy energy conservation energy efficiency service contract sustainability green schools green college green university
Issue Date:	2006
Publisher:	Emerald
Citation:	Joshua M. Pearce and Laura L. Miller, “Energy Service Companies as a Component of a Comprehensive University Sustainability Strategy”, International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 7(1), pp. 16-33, 2006. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14676370610639227
Abstract:	The sustainability deficit observed in modern universities is not necessary to fulfill the education, research, or administrative functions of the university system, because a vast quantity of natural resources are currently wasted. The current waste thus provides a large number of opportunities to improve environmental stewardship while reducing operating costs. Guaranteed energy savings programs (GESPs), which utilize the technical and financial expertise of energy service companies (ESCOs), provide a means to capitalize on these opportunities to move universities towards sustainability. The guaranteed savings from energy conservation measures provide more than sufficient funds to service loan payments each year for the capital needed to make efficiency improvements and generally completely pay for themselves in ten years or less. Energy savings projects are win-win situations, addressing both ecological and economic stewardship. The utilization of ESCOs can accelerate the implementation of energy savings projects and garner institutional support for sustainability initiatives. This paper focuses on the best practices of a comprehensive Environmental Stewardship Strategy that includes a GESP to expand a university’s environmental stewardship. The GESP improved the operational efficiency, decreased the ecological footprint, and reduced the operating costs of the University. The environmental and economic benefits and limitations of this approach will be critically analyzed in the context of sustainability with the goal of providing a model for other universities to improve upon.

Expanding Photovoltaic Penetration with Residential Distributed Generation from Hybrid Solar Photovoltaic + Combined Heat and Power Systems

Authors:	Pearce, Joshua M.
Files in This Item: File Description Size Format CHP and PV pre-print.pdf 829.85 kB Adobe PDF
Keywords:	energy renewable energy CHP combined heat and power cogeneration cogen solar energy solar photovoltaic solar photovoltaic
Issue Date:	2009
Publisher:	Elsevier
Citation:	J. M. Pearce, “Expanding Photovoltaic Penetration with Residential Distributed Generation from Hybrid Solar Photovoltaic + Combined Heat and Power Systems”, Energy 34, pp. 1947-1954 (2009).
Abstract:	The recent development of small scale combined heat and power (CHP) systems has provided the opportunity for in-house power backup of residential-scale photovoltaic (PV) arrays. This paper investigates the potential of deploying a distributed network of PV+CHP hybrid systems in order increase the PV penetration level in the U.S. The temporal distribution of solar flux, electrical and heating requirements for representative U.S. single family residences were analyzed and the results clearly show that hybridizing CHP with PV can enable additional PV deployment above what is possible with a conventional centralized electric generation system. The technical evolution of such PV+CHP hybrid systems was developed from the present (near market) technology through four generations, which enable high utilization rates of both PV-generated electricity and CHP-generated heat. A method to determine the maximum percent of PV-generated electricity on the grid without energy storage was derived and applied to an example area. The results show that a PV+CHP hybrid system not only has the potential to radically reduce energy waste in the status quo electrical and heating systems, but it also enables the share of solar PV to be expanded by about a factor of five.

Energy Conservation From Systematic Tire Pressure Regulation

Authors:	Pearce, Joshua M. Hanlon, Jason T.
Files in This Item: File Description Size Format Tire Pressure Pearce final preprint.pdf 337.28 kB Adobe PDF
Keywords:	energy conservation tire pressure fuel economy fuel efficiency automobile transportation gas mileage TREAD Act energy
Issue Date:	2007
Publisher:	Elsevier
Citation:	Joshua M. Pearce and Jason T. Hanlon, "Energy Conservation From Systematic Tire Pressure Regulation", Energy Policy, 35(4), pp. 2673-2677, 2007.
Abstract:	The majority of U.S. drivers do not consistently monitor the tire pressures in their vehicles. The 2000 TREAD Act, which requires automakers to gradually provide tire pressure monitoring systems for vehicles sold in the U.S. will correct this problem for new vehicles. This law does not impact the problem in previously deployed vehicles, which have a turnover time of ~20 years. A solution is provided here to address under-inflated tires on the current 220 million vehicles and the concomitant wasted energy due to increased rolling resistance in the U.S. automobile fleet. This communication reports on a preliminary study of tire pressures in randomly chosen vehicles, which were undergoing oil changes at a combined retail/auto-care facility. The study indicates that substantial benefits would accrue if car care facilities systematically offered complimentary tire pressure checks with oil changes including: i) increased safety by decreasing all crashes and saving more than 100 lives, ii) reduced petroleum consumption by over a billion gallons/year, which would iia) provide over $4 billion in economic savings for U.S. consumers that could in part be recouped in retail/auto-care facilities, iib) reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 13.5 million tons and automobile pollution and iic) enhance national security.

Environmental and Economic Assessment of a Greenhouse Waste Heat Exchange

Authors:	Andrews, R. Pearce, J.M.
Files in This Item: File Description Size Format IS-Greenhouse-pre-print-2011.pdf 297.9 kB Adobe PDF
Keywords:	industrial symbiosis waste heat exchange waste exchange greenhouse industrial ecology by-product exchange heat exchanger
Issue Date:	2011
Publisher:	Elsevier
Citation:	R. Andrews and J.M. Pearce, “Environmental and Economic Assessment of a Greenhouse Waste Heat Exchange”, Journal of Cleaner Production 19, pp. 1446-1454 (2011). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2011.04.016
Abstract:	As the economic costs of energy and the negative externalities associated with the combustion of fossil fuels threaten the economic viability of greenhouses in northern climates there is a renewed interest in the use of waste heat. This paper presents a technical and economic methodology to determine the viability of establishing waste heat greenhouses using the waste heat from industrial processes in northern climates. A case study is presented of an exchange between a tomato greenhouse and a flat glass manufacturing plant, which found the waste heat system is significantly more economic to operate than a purely natural gas system.

Dispatch Strategy and Model for Hybrid Photovoltaic and Combined Heating, Cooling, and Power Systems

Authors:	Nosrat, Amir Pearce, Joshua M.
Files in This Item: File Description Size Format 2011 Nosrat and Pearce pre-print.pdf 365.52 kB Adobe PDF
Keywords:	photovoltaic CHP combined heating cooling and power cogeneration trigeneration hybrid renewable energy solar power solar energy solar energy combined heat and power CCHP trigen
Issue Date:	2011
Publisher:	Elsevier
Citation:	Amir Nosrat and Joshua M. Pearce, “Dispatch Strategy and Model for Hybrid Photovoltaic and Combined Heating, Cooling, and Power Systems”, Applied Energy 88 (2011) 3270–3276 . http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2011.02.044
Abstract:	The advent of small scale combined heat and power (CHP) systems has provided the opportunity for in-house power backup of residential-scale photovoltaic (PV) arrays. These hybrid systems enjoy a symbiotic relationship between components, but have large thermal energy wastes when operated to provide 100% of the electric load. In a novel hybrid system is proposed here of PV-trigeneration. In order to reduce waste from excess heat, an absorption chiller has been proposed to utilize the CHP-produced thermal energy for cooling of PV-CHP system. This complexity has brought forth entirely new levels of system dynamics and interaction that require numerical simulation in order to optimize system design. This paper introduces a dispatch strategy for such a system that accounts for electric, domestic hot water, space heating, and space cooling load categories. The dispatch strategy was simulated for a typical home in Vancouver and the results indicate an improvement in performance of over 50% available when a PV-CHP system also accounts for cooling. The dispatch strategy and simulation are to be used as a foundation for an optimization algorithm of such systems.

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Inducing Energy Conservation and Distributed Generation from Elimination of Electric Utility Customer Charges

Authors:	Pearce, Joshua M. Harris, Paul J.
Files in This Item: File Description Size Format Energy Conservation from Merged Utility Rates final preprint.pdf 996.6 kB Adobe PDF
Keywords:	carbon dioxide distributed generation energy conservation energy efficiency energy policy energy electricity conservation green house gas utility rates fraud
Issue Date:	2007
Publisher:	Elsevier
Citation:	J. M. Pearce and Paul J. Harris, "Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by inducing energy conservation and distributed generation from elimination of electric utility customer charges", Energy Policy, 35, pp. 6514-6525, 2007.
Abstract:	This paper quantifies the increased green house gas emissions and negative effect on energy conservation (or “efficiency penalty”) due to electric rate structures that employ an unavoidable customer charge. First the extent of customer charges was determined from a nationwide survey of U.S. electric tariffs. To eliminate the customer charge nationally while maintaining a fixed sum for electric companies for a given amount of electricity, an increase of 7.12% in the residential electrical rate was found to be necessary. If enacted, this increase in the electric rate would result in a 6.4% reduction in overall electricity consumption, conserving 73 billion kW-hrs, eliminating 44.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, and saving the entire U.S. residential sector over $8 billion per year. As shown here, these reductions would come from increased avoidable costs thus leveraging an increased rate of return on investments in energy efficiency, energy conservation behavior, distributed energy generation, and fuel choices. Finally, limitations of this study and analysis are discussed and conclusions are drawn for proposed energy policy changes.

Appropedia as a Tool for Service Learning in Sustainable Development

Authors:	Pearce, Joshua M.
Files in This Item: File Description Size Format appropedia final draft.pdf 441.95 kB Adobe PDF
Keywords:	service learning open source appropriate technology sustainable development sustainability
Issue Date:	2009
Publisher:	Sage
Citation:	Joshua M. Pearce, "Appropedia as a Tool for Service Learning in Sustainable Development", Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, 3(1), pp.47-55, 2009.
Abstract:	Numerous studies have demonstrated that university students are capable of contributing to sustainable development while improving their academic skills. Unfortunately for many institutions, the expense of sending large cohorts of students on international service learning trips is prohibitive. Yet, students remain enthusiastic and well equipped to assist in sustainable development. This article reports on two pedagogical experiments in service learning that overcame this challenge by providing solutions to sustainable development problems using Appropedia.org, the site for collaborative solutions in sustainability, poverty reduction and international development. The course successfully used Appropedia (1) as a forum for students who were geographically dispersed, (2) for a whole-class writing collaboration, (3) to coordinate a sustainability-focussed outreach campaign to retrofit stop lights in communities throughout Pennsylvania and (4) to review class material with application to technologies for sustainable development.

A Review of Solar Photovoltaic Levelized Cost of Electricity

Authors:	Branker, K. Pathak, M. J.M. Pearce, J. M.
Files in This Item: File Description Size Format LCOE paper_Tables.pdf Tables 78.13 kB Adobe PDF LCOE of PV pre-print.pdf Main text 309.42 kB Adobe PDF
Keywords:	photovoltaic solar energy solar photovoltaic levelized cost of electricity LCOE electricity generation solar photovoltaic PV Grid parity solar economics
Issue Date:	2011
Publisher:	Elsevier
Citation:	K. Branker, M. J.M. Pathak, J. M. Pearce, “A Review of Solar Photovoltaic Levelized Cost of Electricity”, Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews 15, pp.4470-4482 (2011). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.07.104
Abstract:	As the solar photovoltaic (PV) matures, the economic feasibility of PV projects are increasingly being evaluated using the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) generation in order to be compared to other electricity generation technologies. Unfortunately, there is lack of clarity of reporting assumptions, justifications and degree of completeness in LCOE calculations, which produces widely varying and contradictory results. This paper reviews the methodology of properly calculating the LCOE for solar PV, correcting the misconceptions made in the assumptions found throughout the literature. Then a template is provided for better reporting of LCOE results for PV needed to influence policy mandates or make invest decisions. A numerical example is provided with variable ranges to test sensitivity, allowing for conclusions to be drawn on the most important variables. Grid parity is considered when the LCOE of solar PV is comparable with grid electrical prices of conventional technologies and is the industry target for cost-effectiveness. Given the state of the art in the technology and favorable financing terms it is clear that PV has already obtained grid parity in specific locations and as installed costs continue to decline, grid electricity prices continue to escalate, and industry experience increases, PV will become an increasingly economically advantageous source of electricity over expanding geographical regions.

Analysis of machine tool structure using RSM approach

Ashirbad, Swain (2012) Analysis of machine tool structure using RSM approach. MTech thesis.

PDF 3264Kb

Abstract

Unwanted vibration in machine tools like milling, lathe, grinding machine is one of the main problem as it affects the quality of the machined parts, tool life and noise during machining operation. Hence these unwanted vibrations are needed to be suppressed or damped out while machining. Therefore the present work concentrates and aims on study of different controllable parameter that affect the responses like vibration amplitude and roughness of machined part. The part to be machined is kept on sandwich of plates made up of polymer and composite material. The sandwich along with the part to be machined, fixed on the slotted table of horizontal milling machine. The parameters that can easily be controlled are feed, RPM of cutter, depth of cut, and number of plates that form the secondary bed material.Polymers like Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polypropylene (PP) plates and composites like Glass Fiber Polyester and Glass Fiber Epoxy (GFE) plates are used in the experiments to form the sandwich (secondary bed material) on which work-piece (MS Plate) was mounted and fed to the milling cutter. Four holes are made on the specimen and the plates to ensure that the sandwich of plate including the work-piece can be bolted to the slotted table.Common up-milling operation was carried out in controlled manner. Vibration signals were recorded on the screen of phosphorous storage oscilloscope and surface roughness of machined plate was found from the Talysurf. Finite element analysis (FEA) was carried out to know the resonance frequencies at which the structure should not be excited. In the course of the FEA some important facts have come up that lead to set some of the steps of precautions during the experimentation. Response surface methodology (RSM) is used to develop the model equation for each set of plate material.

Experimental studies on plate fin heat exchangers

Alur, Sidramappa (2012) Experimental studies on plate fin
heat exchangers. PhD thesis.

PDF (PhD) 3462Kb

Abstract

Heat exchangers used in cryogenic applications need to have very high effectiveness to preserve the refrigerating effect produced. Normally the heat exchangers used in cryogenic refrigerators and liquefiers have effectiveness of the order of 0.95 or higher. If the effectiveness of the heat exchangers falls below the design value, there may not be any liquid yield. Plate fin heat exchangers, because of their compactness, low weight and high effectiveness, are widely used in aerospace and cryogenic applications. Such heat exchangers have closely spaced fins and offer narrow and intricate passages for the fluid flow which often leads to significant pressure drop. The stringent requirement of high effectiveness in cryogenic refrigerators and liquefiers and high pressure drop occurring in plate fin heat exchangers make it necessary to test the heat exchanger before putting into operation in a liquefier.Plate fin heat exchanger (PFHE) is a type of compact exchanger that consists of a stack of alternate flat plates called parting sheets and corrugated fins, both being brazed together as a block. Streams exchange heat by flowing along the passages made by the fins between the parting sheets. Separating plates act as the primary heat transfer surfaces and the appendages known as fins act as the secondary heat transfer surfaces intimately bonded to the primary surface. Aluminum is the most commonly used material and stainless steel is employed in high pressure and high temperature applications.

A study on analysis and prediction of erosion response of plasma sprayed titania coatings

Agrawal, Jatin (2012) A study on analysis and prediction of erosion response of plasma sprayed titania coatings. BTech thesis.

PDF 1273Kb

Abstract

This work presents successful implementation of Taguchi experimental design integrated with artificial neural networks (ANN) to develop a robust and efficient method of analyzing and predicting the erosion wear response of a new class of metal-glass coatings prepared by plasma spraying. Plasma spray technology utilizes the exotic properties of the plasma medium to effect physical, chemical or metallurgical reactions to produce new materials or impart new functional properties to conventional materials. Titania(TiO2 )are preferred as the coating material over irregular ones due to low surface area to volume ratio, high density, free flowing ability and close sizing etc. Coatings of this titania are deposited on mild steel substrates at various input power levels of the plasma torch. Erosion wear characteristics of these coatings are investigated following a plan of experiments based on the Taguchi technique, which is used to acquire the erosion test data in a controlled way. The study reveals that the impact velocity is the most significant among various factors influencing the wear rate of these coatings. An ANN model based on experimental data that performs self-learning by updating weightings is proposed in this work. It takes into account training and test procedure to predict the erosion performance under different erosive wear conditions. This technique helps in saving time and resources for a large number of experimental trials and successfully predicts the wear rate of the coatings both within and beyond the experimental domain.

GRA Coupled with Fuzzy Linguistic Reasoning for Quality Productivity Improvement in Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM)

Agarwal, Deepak Kumar (2012) GRA Coupled with Fuzzy Linguistic Reasoning for Quality Productivity Improvement in Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM). BTech thesis.

PDF 1264Kb

Abstract

In the present work, the use of the grey relational analysis and fuzzy logic combined with Taguchi method has been proposed for optimizing Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) process with multiple responses involved. The study aims at simultaneous optimization of quality and productivity. Quality and productivity are correlated inversely. If product quality is intended to be increased then extent of productivity is to be compromised and vice versa. Therefore, a compatible balance is necessary between productivity and product quality. The study addresses a case study related to EDM in which material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness (Ra value) of the machined work surface have been optimized.