Alternative Energy

Strong acids under severe reaction conditions are known to rapidly hydrolyze cellulose with moderate selectivity towards glucose; however, enzymes in nature convert saccharides into glucose at higher selectivity using mild conditions dictated by carboxylate acids/carboxylate bases at the active...

One key parameter in Chemical Looping Combustion (CLC) is the oxygen transport capacity of the CLC materials between the two process reactors; in practice, it may be limited by a combination of many factors, including the metal content of the inert binder, the oxygen uptake and release kinetics and...

Abstract Renewable energy, including wind and solar, could supply a significant amount of electrical energy in the United States and around the world. However, despite the benefits of wind and solar, integration of these intermittent sources into the electrical grid system poses major challenges to...

Saccharification of fermentable sugars is one of the most critical steps in producing bio-ethanol from lignocellulosics through Consolidate Bioprocessing (CBP). However, the extreme pH and ethanol concentration are commonly considered to be the potential inhibitory factors for the application of...

Ordered mesoporous Zr-doped TiO 2 /ZnO material is currently being investigated for band gap tuning and higher loadings of photo-sensitizer. Utilization of such mesoporous materials thereby offers an opportunity to sensitize semiconductor with higher sensitizer loadings leading to effective charge...

Chemical looping process is effective in converting carbonaceous fuels into hydrogen and electricity while generating a sequestration-ready CO 2 stream. The process scheme is enabled by the cyclic reduction and oxidation reactions of an oxygen carrier (OC). The properties of OCs are of critically...

A detailed model of a real solar thermal power plant has been built using a steady state power plant simulation software. The plant includes numerous parabolic trough collectors tracking the sun on a single axis. A heat transfer fluid flows in the focal line of the troughs collecting solar heat...

Due to the complex morphology and small length scales of many fuel cell materials, experimental quantification of the key properties of these materials can be expensive and quite difficult to conduct, if not impossible. As a result, modeling efforts become an imperative approach to evaluate the...

A multiyear DOE-supported study was completed to identify, determine, and understand fundamental burn characteristics and properties of alternative fuel sources to replace coal for energy generation, with emphasis on impacts in cement processing. Portland cement manufacturing involves the...

Zinc-based rechargeable batteries are one of the most attractive electrical energy storage systems due to its advantages such as low cost and green. On the other hand, short cycle life due to internal short circuit is the most critical disadvantage. We have carried out experiments in flow-assisted...