Browsing by Author "Zhu, Mingming"
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Item Open Access Advancements in sorption-enhanced steam reforming for clean hydrogen production: a comprehensive review(Elsevier, 2025-03-01) Farooqi, Ahmad Salam; Allam, Abdelwahab N.; Shahid, Muhammad Zubair; Aqil, Anas; Fajri, Kevin; Park, Sunhwa; Abdelaziz, Omar Y.; Abdelnaby, Mahmoud M.; Hossain, Mohammad M.; Habib, Mohamed A.; Hasnain, Syed Muhammad Wajahat ul; Nabavi, Ali; Zhu, Mingming; Manovic, Vasilije; Nemitallah, Medhat A.The sorption-enhanced steam methane reforming (SE-SMR) process, which integrates methane steam reforming with in situ CO2 capture, represents a breakthrough technology for clean hydrogen production. This comprehensive review thoroughly explores the SE-SMR process, highlighting its ability to efficiently combine carbon capture with hydrogen generation. The review evaluates the mechanisms of SE-SMR and evaluates a range of innovative sorbent materials, such as CaO-based, alkali-ceramic, hydrotalcite, and waste-derived sorbents. The role of catalysts in enhancing hydrogen production within SE-SMR processes is also discussed, with a focus on bi-functional materials. In addition to examining reaction kinetics and advanced process configurations, this review touches on the techno-economic aspects of SE-SMR. While the analysis does not provide an in-depth economic evaluation, key factors such as potential capital costs (CAPEX), operational expenses (OPEX), and scalability are considered. The review outlines the potential of SE-SMR to offer more efficient hydrogen production, with the added benefit of in situ carbon capture simplifying the process design. Although a detailed economic comparison with other hydrogen production technologies was not the focus, this review emphasizes SE-SMR's promise as a scalable and flexible solution for clean energy. With its integrated design, SE-SMR offers pathways to industrial-scale hydrogen production. This review serves as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and industry experts committed to advancing sustainable and efficient hydrogen production technologies.Item Open Access Cenosphere formation and combustion characteristics of single droplets of vacuum residual oils(Taylor and Francis, 2023-01-17) Setyawan, Hendrix Yulis; Zhu, MingmingThe ignition, combustion characteristics, and cenosphere formation of single droplets combustion of four vacuum residues (VRs) from different refineries with various asphaltene contents were studied experimentally. The single droplets of VRs were suspended at the tip of a silicon carbide fiber and heated in air at temperatures of 973 and 1023 K, respectively, in an electrically heated tube furnace. The ignition and combustion behavior of the VRs were recorded using a CCD camera, which enabled the determination of droplet size, ignition delay time, flame duration, and cenosphere size. The effect of initial droplet size, gas temperature, and asphaltene content on the ignition delay time, flame duration, cenosphere morphology, and particle size were investigated. The whole ignition and combustion process of single droplets of the VRs consisted of five stages in succession: (1) pre-ignition, mainly involving the evaporation of highly volatile components from the droplet surface; (2) steady combustion of fuel vapors evaporated from the droplet surface; (3) splashing combustion of fuel vapors evaporated from droplet interior; (4) disruptive combustion due to thermal decomposition of asphaltene; and (5) solid residue ignition and combustion. A visible and sooty flame was formed upon ignition and lasted during stages 2–4. The droplet size increased sharply in the stage 4 due to the thermal decomposition of asphaltene, which was more profound for VRs with higher asphaltene content and at higher gas temperatures. The ignition delay time increased with increasing initial droplet size and gas temperature but varied little as the asphaltene content in the VRs increased, suggesting that the ignition process of VRs was controlled by the vaporization of high volatile components on the droplet surface. The thermal decomposition of asphaltene produced solid residue, which was in the form of a cenosphere with the shell thickness being ca. 20 μm and a number of blowholes presented in the shell. The VRs with higher asphaltene content had more and bigger blowholes. The ratio of cenosphere particle size to initial droplet size is independent of the initial droplet size but almost increased linearly with the asphaltene content in the VRs.Item Open Access Direct numerical simulation of packed and monolith syngas catalytic combustors for micro electrical mechanical systems(Elsevier, 2023-08-19) Bazooyar, Bahamin; Zhu, Mingming; Manovic, Vasilije; Nabavi, Seyed AliIn this work, a catalytic combustor for micro electrical mechanical system for syngas was designed and analysed using Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) in conjunction with finite rate chemistry. The effect of catalyst (platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), palladium oxide (PdO), and rhodium (Rh)), bed type (packed with twelve catalyst shapes and four catalyst monolith), shapes (packed: cylinder, hollow cylinder, four cylinder, single cylinder, single cylinder, cross-webb, grooved, pall-ring, hexagonal, berl-saddle, cube, intalox-saddle, and sphere, monolith: triangular, rectangular, hexagonal, and circular), and operating conditions (inlet temperature and velocity, fuel/air ratio, different concentrations CH4-H2-CO) on combustion efficiency and pressure drop were studied using different parameters (combustion efficiency (η), pressure drop, effectiveness factor (Ψ), and fuel conversions (H2 and CH4 conversions)). Analysis under different operating conditions reveals that the designed combustor can operate effectively with syngas of varying compositions with a high combustion efficiency of over 85%. Combustion mainly takes place on the surface of the catalyst without gas phase reaction with pressure drops between 18 Pa and 155 Pa. The intalox saddle shape catalysts resulted in the bed effectiveness factor 0.93.1 The Damköhler for hydroxyl radicals (OH) over the entire length of the reactor is uniformly distributed and well below 3, suggesting uniform combustion.Item Open Access Effect of biochar addition on biogas production using konjac waste through mesophilic two-phase anaerobic digestion(Springer, 2024-08-29) Sugiarto, Yusron; Ahmad, Ary Mustofa; Setyaningsih, Yeni Ika; Maharsih, Inggit Kresna; Sunyoto, Nimas Mayang Sabrina; Setyawan, Hendrix Yulis; Zhu, MingmingPurpose: This study aimed to investigate the influence of biochar supplementation in the mesophilic two-phase anaerobic digestion process for konjac waste. Methods: Reactors with a working volume of 60 mL were utilised to incubate cultures containing biochar. In the first phase, the cultures were maintained at 32 °C and a pH of 5 to facilitate the production of hydrogen. In the second phase, the cultures were adjusted to 37 °C and a pH of 7 to promote methane production. The concentration of konjac flour waste varied between 0 and 500 g/L, while the ratio of biochar addition ranged from 0 to 25 g/L. Biogas production was measured daily using the volume displacement method, and the pH of the cultures was monitored both before and after the experiment. Results: The findings show that using biochar has a beneficial effect on biogas production from konjac flour waste. During the initial phase of the experiment, incorporating biochar with a concentration of 15 g/L led to substantial improvements, elevating the maximum H2 production rates by 9.6%. Furthermore, the addition of biochar led to an 84% increase in H2 yield during the initial phase. Similarly, in the second phase, introducing biochar with a concentration of 15 g/L resulted in a 22.2% increase in the maximum CH4 production rates and a 2.5 times increase in CH4 yield. Conclusions: Overall, this work confirms the beneficial effects of biochar on the H2 and CH4 production from konjac flour waste using the mesophilic two-phase anaerobic digestion method for sustainable energy.Item Open Access Operational and design factors in air staging and their effects on fouling from biomass combustion(MDPI, 2024-10-03) Elsebaie, Akram; Zhu, Mingming; Al-Abdeli, Yasir M.The global transition towards a carbon-neutral economy highlights the potential of biomass as a renewable fuel source. However, the sustainability of biomass energy systems is challenged by its complex fouling behaviours during combustion. This study investigates the impact of air staging on mitigating fouling in biomass combustion. By optimising the secondary-to-total air flowrate ratio (Qs/Qt) and the positioning of secondary air, this research investigates the impact of operational and design parameters on fouling deposits in biomass combustion. A fixed-bed combustor was used for the experiments, with hardwood pellets as fuel. This study employed TGA and SEM to analyse the fouling deposit samples’ chemical composition and morphology. First, visible inspection established that the inclination of fouling matter to accumulate on cooled deposition pipes is indeed sensitive to Qs/Qt. The results show that lower Qs/Qt ratios (<0.50) lead to heavier, stickier fouling. Peak temperatures in the fuel bed increase with higher Qs/Qt, enhancing the combustion efficiency and affecting the fouling characteristics. SEM analysis further shows that higher Qs/Qt ratios produce finer, more dispersed fouling particles, whereas lower ratios result in larger, more cohesive particles. These findings provide actionable insights for enhancing the sustainability of biomass energy systems and minimising their environmental impact.Item Open Access A preliminary attempt of direct methanol synthesis from biomass pyrolysis syngas over Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts(Elsevier, 2023-05-25) Simanungkalit, Sabar Pangihutan; Jones, Isabelle; Okoye, Chiemeka Onyeka; Zhang, Zhezi; Zhu, Mingming; Zhang, DongkeThe possibility of direct methanol synthesis from biomass pyrolysis syngas (BPS) over Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts was investigated using a fixed bed reactor. A commercial benchmark catalyst and an in-house Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst prepared using the co-precipitation method, Cu/Zn/Al = 68/28/4 wt%, were tested for methanol synthesis from a model BPS containing 25% H2, 25% CO, 20% CH4, 20% CO2, and 10% N2. The experiments were performed under different conditions of temperature (220–260 °C), pressure (2–4 MPa) and time on-stream (TOS, 0–100 h). Methanol was successfully synthesised with the highest space-time yield of 0.185 g gcat−1 h−1. Higher pressures and lower temperatures favoured methanol production. The fresh and used catalyst samples were also characterised using N2-physisorption (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to investigate the mechanisms of catalyst deactivation. While CH4 present in the BPS did not affect catalyst performance, the high concentration of CO2 enhanced Cu oxidation, leading to decreased catalyst performance with increasing TOS. After 100 h TOS, the methanol yield obtained over the commercial and in-house catalysts decreased by around 9.2% and 4.3%, respectively. This research has provided new insights into the challenges of producing methanol from unconventional syngas and motivated future work to develop a robust catalyst that can serve syngas with H2-deficient and high concentrations of CO2.Item Open Access Properties and combustion characteristics of bioslurry fuels from agricultural waste pyrolysis(Taylor & Francis, 2024-07-30) Setyawan, Hendrix Yulis; Zhu, MingmingThe current research investigates the combustion characteristics of bioslurry fuel derived from the products of agricultural waste pyrolysis. The bioslurry fuel was prepared by mixing biochar and pyrolysis oil. The combustion characteristics of a suspended single droplet of the bioslurry were analysed. The results indicate that an increase in pyrolysis temperature (400–600°C) lead to higher concentrations of fixed carbon (56–60%), increased ash content (16–18%), and higher calorific values (25–32 MJkg−1). As the pyrolysis temperature rises, the biochar surface becomes more porous, lower volatile matter content and particle size. As biochar content increases, the bioslurry’s density, viscosity, and caloric value increase but stability index decreases. Higher biochar content in the bioslurry increases the ignition delay and burnout time while reducing the burning rate. The bioslurry fuel contained 30% biochar achieved a calorific value of 28 MJkg−1 and a viscosity of 600 cP, comparative to conventional fossil fuels.Item Open Access The role of biochar on alleviating ammonia toxicity in anaerobic digestion of nitrogen-rich wastes: a review(Elsevier, 2022-03-07) Cai, Yafan; Zhu, Mingming; Meng, Xingyao; Zhou, John L.; Zhang, Huan; Shen, XiaThis paper reviewed the mechanisms of biochar in relieving ammonia inhibition. Biochar affects nitrogen-rich waste's anaerobic digestion (AD) performance through four ways: promotion of direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) and microbial growth, adsorption, pH buffering, and provision of nutrients. Biochar enhances the DIET pathway by acting as an electron carrier. The role of DIET in relieving ammonia nitrogen may be exaggerated because many related studies don't provide definite evidence. Therefore, some bioinformatics technology should be used to assist in investigating DIET. Biochar absorbs ammonia nitrogen by chemical adsorption (electrostatic attraction, ion exchange, and complexation) and physical adsorption. The absorption efficiency, mainly affected by the properties of biochar, pH and temperature of AD, can reach 50 mg g−1 on average. The biochar addition can buffer pH by reducing the concentrations of VFAs, alleviating ammonia inhibition. In addition, biochar can release trace elements and increase the bioavailability of trace elements.Item Open Access The use of ammonia recovered from wastewater as a zero-carbon energy vector to decarbonise heat, power and transport – a review(Elsevier, 2025-01-01) Powders, Mark Thomas; Luqmani, Benjamin A.; Pidou, Marc; Zhu, Mingming; McAdam, Ewan J.Ammonia (NH3) is an energy vector with an emerging role in decarbonising heat, power and transport through its direct use as a fuel, or indirectly as a hydrogen carrier. Global ammonia production is having to grow to enable the exploitation of NH3 for energy decarbonisation, which it is projected will consume >50 % of manufacturing capacity by 2050. Ammonia recovered from wastewater can be directly exploited as a sustainable source of ammonia, to reduce the demand for ammonia produced through the energy intensive Haber-Bosch process, while fostering a triple carbon benefit to the water sector, by: (i) avoiding the energy required for aeration of biological processes; (ii) reducing nitrous oxide emissions associated with ammonia oxidation, which is a potent greenhouse gas; and (iii) producing a zero-carbon energy source that can decarbonise energy use. While previous reviews have described technologies relevant for ammonia recovery, to produce ammonia as a zero-carbon fuel or hydrogen carrier, wastewater ammonia must be transformed into the relevant concentration, phase and achieve the product quality demanded for zero carbon heat, power and transport applications, which are distinct from those demanded for more conventional exploitation routes (e.g. agricultural). This review therefore presents a synthesis of established and emerging technologies for the extraction and concentration of ammonia from wastewater, with specific emphasis on enabling the production of ammonia in a form that can be directly exploited for zero carbon energy generation. A précis of technologies for the valorisation of ammonia as a clean energy or hydrogen resource is also introduced, together with discussion of their relevancy and applicability to the water sector including implications to energy, carbon emissions and financial return. The exploitation of ammonia recovered from wastewater as a zero carbon energy source is shown to offer a critical contemporary response for the water sector that seeks to rapidly decarbonise existing infrastructure, while responding to ever stricter nitrogen discharge limits.Item Open Access Thermodynamic analysis of decarbonizing NGCC power plants by the tail-end green ammonia-driven calcium looping(Elsevier, 2025-01-01) He, Song; Zeng, Xuelan; Zheng, Yawen; Zhu, Mingming; Wang, Dan; Wang, JunyaoThis work proposes a novel ammonia driven tail-end calcium looping (CaL) process to capture carbon emission from natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) power plants for net-zero energy. Two integration schemes are introduced, including sensible heat thermochemical recuperation (SHTR) and carbonation heat thermochemical recuperation (CHTR) driven by combustion of partially cracked ammonia as a zero-carbon fuel. Results show that energy penalties can be reduced from 9.6 % in the NGCC power plant with the CaL-Oxy method to 1.8 % in the SHTR scheme and 1.4 % in the CHTR scheme, respectively. Comparing with the NGCC base power plant and the NH3-based thermochemical recuperation power plant, energy savings can be achieved at 5.44 MJLHV/kg CO2 in the SHTR scheme and 6.73 MJLHV/kg CO2 in the CHTR scheme. Additionally, exergy analysis shows that the reduction of exergy destruction in the carbonation and calcination processes determines the thermodynamic performance enhancement. Cascaded heat recovery of carbonation heat and the heating supply method of calcination narrow the energy level difference, contributing to the reduction of exergy destruction. Sensitivity analysis indicates that reorganizing a more efficient thermodynamic cycle can offset the energy consumption of CO2 capture from flue gas, resulting in an optimized negative energy penalty at −0.8 %.Item Open Access The viability of carbon capture at airports using innovative approaches(Cranfield University, 2022-08-01) Miyoshi, Chikage; Zhu, Mingming; Burgess, Paul; Girkin, Nicholas T.; Clough, Peter T.This report examines the feasibility and opportunities for carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) at airports using innovative new technologies. CCUS provides a range of approaches that could help airports to move towards net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. CCUS technologies can be categorised into those that depend on engineering, and those that are nature-based. The feasibility and opportunities of both approaches were examined in the context of four case study airports, using GHG emissions data from 2019.