Publications related to Thermodynamics and the optimisation of energy systems: Strengths and Limits

First-principles thermodynamics of precipitation in aluminum-containing refractory alloys

Materials for high -temperature environments are actively being investigated for deployment in aerospace and nuclear applications. This study uses computational approaches to unravel the crystallography and thermodynamics of a promising class of refractory ...

Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd2024

Unique corrosion behavior of an archaeological Roman iron ring: Microchemical characterization and thermodynamic considerations

Stefano Mischler, Laura Brambilla

The corrosion mechanisms of a Roman iron bezel ring were investigated by in-depth characterization of its uncommon corrosion pattern and thermodynamic modelling. A silver foil and altered glass remnants were identified, covered with thick strata of magneti ...

2024

Electrochemical devices and computer science: water/thermal management of proton exchange membrane fuel cells and electrolyzers in different scales

Hossein Pourrahmani

The current restrictions on the registration of combustion engines in different countries and the harmful impacts of fossil fuels on the environment and human health have motivated decision-makers to use batteries and/or fuel cells as alternatives for comb ...

EPFL2023

Renewable energy integration and waste heat valorization in aluminum remelting for co-producing kerosene and methanol

François Maréchal, Daniel Alexander Florez Orrego, Meire Ellen Gorete Ribeiro Domingos, Réginald Germanier

The aluminium sector relies on natural gas for the conversion of recycled scrap into new feedstock, which results in substantial atmospheric emissions. Hydric resources are also impacted, as they serve as heat sinks for the waste heat generated during the ...

Associazione Italiana Di Ingegneria Chimica2024

Green hydrogen production using Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 bioanode and cuprous oxide-based photocathode

Michele Morgante

In recent years, many efforts have been made to find alternative renewable energy sources that can ideally replace the use of fossil fuels in all aspects. One of the new emerging energy technologies is the bioelectrochemical system, of which two types are ...

EPFL2024

Reversible photo-electrochemical device for solar hydrogen and power generation

Sophia Haussener, Alexandre Dominique M. Cattry, Saurabh Yuvraj Tembhurne, Matthieu Jonin, Mahendra Patel

A reversible photo-electrochemical device operating under concentrated irradiation could offer a stand-alone solution for producing solar fuel (in photo-driven electrolysis mode) and power (in fuel cell mode). This strategy would present the advantage of h ...

2024

Solar-assisted clean steam generator, a cleaner production approach for sustainable healthcare facilities

Fernando Porté Agel, Ahmad Arabkoohsar, Mohammad Jamshidmofid

Healthcare sector buildings, particularly hospitals, significantly contribute to global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Hospitals require a substantial amount of steam, including the essential hygienic or " clean steam, " that is currently ...

Elsevier Sci Ltd2024

Design and assessment of an evaporating water-cooled methanation reactor for a SOE-based power-to-methane system

Philippe Aubin

The transition towards clean renewable energy sources, where wind and solar are prone to variation, requires adequate energy storage. Power-to-methane (PtM) systems can be part of the solution. Specifically, solid-oxide-electrolyser (SOE) based PtM systems ...

EPFL2024

Contradict mechanism of long-term magnesium and sodium sulfate attacks of nano silica-modified cement mortars - Experimental and thermodynamic modeling

Qiao Wang

The mechanisms of external sulfate attack on cement mortars containing nano silica have been studied under full immersion conditions after 3 years. The sulfate degradation processes were compared between sodium sulfate and magnesium sulfate solutions with ...

Elsevier Sci Ltd2024

Beyond the average consumer: Mapping the potential of demand-side management among patterns of appliance usage

Claudia Rebeca Binder Signer, Matteo Barsanti, Selin Yilmaz

To support the decarbonisation of the power sector and offset the volatility of a system with high levels of renewables, there is growing interest in residential Demand-Side Management (DSM) solutions. Traditional DSM strategies require consumers to active ...

2024

Reliability and Long-term Performance of Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) Modules

Ebrar Özkalay

Solar photovoltaics (PV) is one of the most competitive renewable energy technologies in order to meet the increasing global energy demand and decrease CO2 emissions by competing effectively with fossil fuels. One of the important applications of PV energy ...

EPFL2024

Study of flexible operating conditions in variable-speed hydraulic turbines : advanced models and experimental validation

Martin Seydoux

The global imperative to transition from fossil fuel-based energy sources to renewable alternatives has become increasingly urgent in the pursuit of sustainable and renewable power generation. This paradigm shift necessitates innovative approaches to manag ...

EPFL2024

Energy Management of Price-Maker Community Energy Storage by Stochastic Dynamic Programming

Xue Zhang, Tianshu Yang

In this paper, we propose an analytical stochastic dynamic programming (SDP) algorithm to address the optimal management problem of price-maker community energy storage. As a price-maker, energy storage smooths price differences, thus decreasing energy arb ...

China Electric Power Research Inst2024

Increasing the Energy Efficiency of Gas Boosters for Hydrogen Storage and for Refueling Stations

Alfred Rufer

A new electrically driven gas booster is described as an alternative to the classical air-driven gas boosters known for their poor energetic efficiency. These boosters are used in small scale Hydrogen storage facilities and in refueling stations for Hydrog ...

MDPI2023

Growth and investigation of Argon thin films adsorbed on graphite by means of Ultrafast Electron Diffraction

Paolo Usai

Starting from our big universe to the microscopic world, phase transitions play an important role in nature. Just after the Big Bang our universe experienced multiple phase transitions, from high-temperature plasma to the matter we know today. Phase transi ...

EPFL2023

The thermodynamic and life-cycle assessments of a novel charging station for electric vehicles in dynamic and steady-state conditions

Jan Van Herle, Hossein Pourrahmani, Chengzhang Xu

The current study performs the thermodynamic and life-cycle assessments (LCA) of a novel charging station in two system designs. The goal is to design an efficient charging station for electric vehicles with high efficiencies and low environmental impacts ...

Nature Portfolio2023

First-Principles Thermodynamics of CsSnI3

Nicola Marzari, Lorenzo Monacelli

CsSnI3 is a promising ecofriendly solution for energy harvesting technologies. It exists at room temperature in either a black perovskite polymorph or a yellow 1D double-chain, which irreversibly deteriorates in the air. In this work, we unveil the relativ ...

AMER CHEMICAL SOC2023

Machine-learning the electronic density of states: electronic properties without quantum mechanics

Chiheb Ben Mahmoud

The electronic density of states (DOS) quantifies the distribution of the energy levels that can be occupied by electrons in a quasiparticle picture and is central to modern electronic structure theory. It also underpins the computation and interpretation ...

EPFL2023

Nature-Inspired Stalactite Nanopores for Biosensing and Energy Harvesting

Aleksandra Radenovic, Mukeshchand Thakur, Andrey Chernev, Lucie Navratilova, Nianduo Cai, Victor Carle Adrien Boureau, Yunfei Teng, Tzu-Heng Chen, Vasily Artemov

Nature provides a wide range of self-assembled structures from the nanoscale to the macroscale. Under the right thermodynamic conditions and with the appropriate material supply, structures like stalactites, icicles, and corals can grow. However, the natur ...

Wiley-V C H Verlag Gmbh2023

Advances in hydration and thermodynamics of cementitious systems

Patrick Juilland, Karen Scrivener, Aslam Kunhi Mohamed, Thomas Matschei, Fabien Jacques Michel Georget

Optimising the hydration of cementitious materials is crucial to leverage their full potential and avoid wasting resources, embodied energy and CO2. Understanding the fundamental mechanisms is key to reach these objectives. In this paper, we review progres ...

Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd2023