Sharif Digital Repository

In the present study a comprehensive thermodynamic model and degradation based optimization framework for energy management of anode supported solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stacks are carried out. The optimization framework determines optimum operating conditions to maximize system productivity (energy generation over system lifetime) considering degradation mechanisms. The main degradation mechanisms in anode supported SOFCs are nickel coarsening and oxidation. In this study, the optimum operating conditions regarding these degradation mechanisms to achieve maximum productivity at different target lifetimes are derived. The results show that target lifetime has a significant impact on system... 

A cooperative task allocation and search algorithm is proposed to find and localize a group of ground-based moving targets using a group of Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) working in a decentralized manner. It is assumed that targets have RF emissions. By using an algorithm including Global Search (GS), Approach Target (AT), Locate Target (LT), and Target Reacquisition (TR) modes, UAVs cooperatively search the entire parts of a desired area, approach to the detected targets, locate the targets, and search again to find the targets that stop transmitting their RF emissions during the localization process, respectively. In the GS mode, UAVs utilize a cost function to select the best zone for... 

A cooperative task allocation and search algorithm is proposed to find and localize a group of ground-based moving targets using a group of Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) working in a decentralized manner. It is assumed that targets have RF emissions. By using an algorithm including Global Search (GS), Approach Target (AT), Locate Target (LT), and Target Reacquisition (TR) modes, UAVs cooperatively search the entire parts of a desired area, approach to the detected targets, locate the targets, and search again to find the targets that stop transmitting their RF emissions during the localization process, respectively. In the GS mode, UAVs utilize a cost function to select the best zone for... 

A numerical framework was carefully developed to simulate the combustion of heavy-fuel-oil (HFO) in a large-scale boiler. The present numerical solutions were compared with the measured data of a laboratory benchmark test and on-site operational data of the chosen HFO-fired boiler. Next, the developed framework was used to perform sensitivity analyses aiming to reduce the NO emission from the HFO-fired boiler without any adverse effect on its combustion performance. Practically, this study focused on re-adjustments of 24 working burners, which could control combustion in the HFO-fired boiler. The early outcome showed that the boiler NO emission and its combustion performance could be... 

This paper focuses on multi-objective optimisation (MOO) to optimise the planar solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stacks performance using a genetic algorithm. MOO problem does not have a single solution, but a complete Pareto curve, which involves the optional representation of possible compromise solutions. Here, two pairs of different objectives are considered as distinguished strategies. Optimisation of the first strategy predicts a maximum power output of 108.33 kW at a breakeven per-unit energy cost of 0.51 $/kWh and minimum breakeven per-unit energy cost of 0.30 $/kWh at a power of 42.18 kW. In the second strategy, maximum efficiency of 63.93%at a breakeven per-unit energy cost of 0.42... 

A soil microbial fuel cell was investigated that uses soil and groundwater to generate electricity. The cathode surface area and materials are always important for increasing power. Power density was shown to be a linear function of cathode surface area. Biofilm formation on the graphite cathode was observed to be helpful in enhancing power output and maximum performance reached 89.2 mW/m2. As an application for the insertion-type soil microbial fuel cell, nitrate removing was investigated in cathode. Nitrate was reduced in an aerobic cathode at the rate of 37.5 mg nitrate/lit/day and 55 mg nitrate/lit/day in anaerobic cathode  

Norouzak oil seeds that are the source of bio-diesel (Norouzak) fuel grow mostly in Gonabad and Kashmar located in Khorasan, north east of Iran. Spray characteristics of Norouzak bio-diesel have been experimentally and theoretically studied in this work. Norouzak fuel is added to the conventional diesel fuel, and mixture formations of several blends have been investigated and compared with each other. Moreover, by varying ambient and injection conditions, behaviors of spray of different blends have been explored. Microscopic and macroscopic properties of spray such as Sauter Mean Diameter (SMD), Ohnesorge number, spray tip penetration, spray cone angle, spray projected area and volume have... 

In proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) operations, the electrochemical reactions produce a rise in temperature. A fuel cell stack therefore requires an effective cooling system for optimum performance. In this study, miniature heat pipes were applied for cooling in PEMFC. Three alternatives were considered in tests: free convection, forced convection cooling with air, and also water. An analytical model was developed to show the possibility of evoking heat from inside a fuel cell stack with different numbers of miniature heat pipes. An experiment setup was designed and then used for further analysis. The proposed experiment setup consisted of a simulated fuel cell that produced heat... 

The objective of present study is to analyze the dynamic modeling of bioelectrochemical processes and improvement of the performance of previous models using quantitative data of bacterial transport parameters. The main deficiency of previous MFC models concerning spatial distribution of biocatalysts is an assumption of initial distribution of attached/suspended bacteria on electrode or in anolyte bulk which is the foundation for biofilm formation. In order to modify this imperfection, the quantification of chemotactic motility to understand the mechanisms of the suspended microorganisms’ distribution in anolyte and/or their attachment to anode surface to extend the biofilm is implemented... 

MILD combustion is a promising technique for low heating value fuels. In this paper, spray MILD combustion of diluted liquid fuel is numerically studied. The modelling framework is based on the RANS approach, the EDC combustion model with a skeletal chemical mechanism, and the Lagrangian tracking of droplets. The validated numerical model is used to simulate the combustion of ethanol diluted with water is studied for different oxidizer temperatures and O2 concentrations under MILD condition. Results indicate that a low-level fuel dilution up to 5 percent has tendency toward expansion of MILD region, but higher degrees fuel dilution within the range of 5–20 percent results in a reduction of... 

The fast development of technologies in the smart grids provides new opportunities such as co-optimization of multi-energy systems. One of the new concepts that can utilize multiple energy sources is a hybrid fuel station (HFS). For instance, an HFS can benefit from energy hubs, renewable energies, and natural gas sources to supply electric vehicles along with natural gas vehicles. However, the optimal operation of an HFS deals with uncertainties from different sources that do not have similar natures. Some may lack in term of historical data, and some may have very random and unpredictable behavior. In this study, we present a stochastic mathematical framework to address both types of these... 

In this research, the effect of alternative fuels and the inlet charged air temperature is numerically investigated on the performance of a turbocharged spark-ignition engine. For this purpose, a one-dimensional engine and turbocharger model is created in an engine simulation and performance analysis software and validated with former experimental results. Then, the model is run with four fuel types, including two gasoline types with different octane numbers and two ethanol–gasoline blend fuels—E25 and E85. In each case, the inlet charged air temperature is changed from cold to hot condition and performance characteristics such as the spark advance timing, brake torque, brake-specific fuel... 

Passenger cars (PCs) not only are a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Iran but also pose severe energy security challenges due to their dependence on gasoline. This study aimed to understand the future trends of the gasoline demand and GHG emissions from PCs in Iran and assess the effectiveness of mitigation policies. The data were collected from multiple sources and used to develop the survival rate function of PCs. The study used back-calculation to compensate for the short period of stock data availability. The use intensity of PCs was estimated based on the gasoline consumption statistics. Econometric models were developed to project the future PC stock and use...