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The layouts of most urban water systems are known. A head tank with an appropriate elevation is used to supply water through the network at a pressure equal (or higher) to that set by the relevant standards. Furthermore, equalization, fire and emergency storage are important benefits of tank use, as is the possibility of avoiding peak rate electricity fares. However, at the end of the last century, some tanks were reported to have a negative impact the quality of water, and recommendations were made to limit their volume and revise their geometry. Recently, alternative options have been considered. Equalization can be achieved with pumps with variable-frequency drivers, emergency situations can be avoided with electric oil generators and solar plants can be used to offset other generation types and reduce energy costs. Therefore, this article analyses the performance of tanks as an energy source, and tank and pump supply methods are directly compared; overall, direct supply through pumps is cheaper, more energy efficient and more environmentally convenient. Therefore, in the context of climate change, it seems reasonable to avoid water tanks as energy sources.
Elena Gómez Sellés; Andrei Briones-Hidrovo; Roberto Del Teso March; Francisco Javier Uche Marcuello; Enrique Cabrera Marcet. Rigid Versus Variable Energy Sources in Water-Pressurized Systems: An Economic and Environmental Analysis. Water Resources Management 2021, 35, 3203 -3220.
AMA StyleElena Gómez Sellés, Andrei Briones-Hidrovo, Roberto Del Teso March, Francisco Javier Uche Marcuello, Enrique Cabrera Marcet. Rigid Versus Variable Energy Sources in Water-Pressurized Systems: An Economic and Environmental Analysis. Water Resources Management. 2021; 35 (10):3203-3220.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElena Gómez Sellés; Andrei Briones-Hidrovo; Roberto Del Teso March; Francisco Javier Uche Marcuello; Enrique Cabrera Marcet. 2021. "Rigid Versus Variable Energy Sources in Water-Pressurized Systems: An Economic and Environmental Analysis." Water Resources Management 35, no. 10: 3203-3220.
Photovoltaic–thermal panels (PVT) have been widely studied in the last years and have proved to be a technically viable and profitable solution. This work analyses the integration of a set of thermoelectric generators (TEG) inside these panels in order to obtain additional power. The thermoelectric material takes advantage of the temperature gap between the hottest part of the system, the output flow from the collector, and the cold water feeding the solar system. An experimental test bench with a PVT having integrated TEGs and the same PVT in parallel without TEGs was mounted to compare both devices. The corresponding CFD simulation was also carried out to better understand the temperature map in the arrangement. Both experimental and computational results show that the manufacture of the panel with integrated TEGs should be carefully studied before becoming a commercial product. They also gave some guidelines for the improvement of the prototype in this integrated product.
Mª Pintanel; Amaya Martínez-Gracia; Mª Galindo; Ángel Bayod-Rújula; Javier Uche; Juan Tejero; Alejandro del Amo. Analysis of the Experimental Integration of Thermoelectric Generators in Photovoltaic–Thermal Hybrid Panels. Applied Sciences 2021, 11, 2915 .
AMA StyleMª Pintanel, Amaya Martínez-Gracia, Mª Galindo, Ángel Bayod-Rújula, Javier Uche, Juan Tejero, Alejandro del Amo. Analysis of the Experimental Integration of Thermoelectric Generators in Photovoltaic–Thermal Hybrid Panels. Applied Sciences. 2021; 11 (7):2915.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMª Pintanel; Amaya Martínez-Gracia; Mª Galindo; Ángel Bayod-Rújula; Javier Uche; Juan Tejero; Alejandro del Amo. 2021. "Analysis of the Experimental Integration of Thermoelectric Generators in Photovoltaic–Thermal Hybrid Panels." Applied Sciences 11, no. 7: 2915.
A real case study of an energy system based on a Solar Assisted Heat Pump (SAHP) fed by hybrid photovoltaic-thermal solar panels (PVT) and seasonal storage (SS) is presented in this paper. Exergy and exergy cost analyses are proposed as complementary methods for the assessment and better understanding of the efficiency of this cogeneration solar configuration. The system performance takes advantage of storage heat in summer, when the solar resource is high in Spain, and is then later consumed during the cold winter (heating season). The building is devoted to social housing, and it is currently under construction. The assessment is based on simulations developed using TRNSYS, a dynamic simulation software for energy systems. Results show that the unit exergy cost of the solar field is around 6. The cost of the seasonal storage is higher, about 13, and its formation is affected both by its own irreversibility and by the irreversibility of the PVT solar field. The cost of the heat delivered by the heat pump is around 15, being affected by all the upstream units and even by the grid. Besides, the analysis points out strategies for improving the system efficiency, such as increasing the size of the storage tank or improving the control strategy of the boiler.
Amaya Martínez-Gracia; Sergio Usón; Mª Pintanel; Javier Uche; Ángel Bayod-Rújula; Alejandro Del Amo. Exergy Assessment and Thermo-Economic Analysis of Hybrid Solar Systems with Seasonal Storage and Heat Pump Coupling in the Social Housing Sector in Zaragoza. Energies 2021, 14, 1279 .
AMA StyleAmaya Martínez-Gracia, Sergio Usón, Mª Pintanel, Javier Uche, Ángel Bayod-Rújula, Alejandro Del Amo. Exergy Assessment and Thermo-Economic Analysis of Hybrid Solar Systems with Seasonal Storage and Heat Pump Coupling in the Social Housing Sector in Zaragoza. Energies. 2021; 14 (5):1279.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAmaya Martínez-Gracia; Sergio Usón; Mª Pintanel; Javier Uche; Ángel Bayod-Rújula; Alejandro Del Amo. 2021. "Exergy Assessment and Thermo-Economic Analysis of Hybrid Solar Systems with Seasonal Storage and Heat Pump Coupling in the Social Housing Sector in Zaragoza." Energies 14, no. 5: 1279.
Experimental tests of a small polygeneration plant unit based on hybrid renewable energy and desalination have been used to validate a novel model simulation of this plant. It provides electricity by coupling photovoltaic/thermal collectors and a micro-wind turbine, fresh water by means of hybrid desalination (membrane distillation, and reverse osmosis), and sanitary hot water coming from the photovoltaic/thermal collectors and an evacuated tubes collector. Plant was designed to operate in off-grid conditions and conventional energy storage systems were used (lead acid batteries and hot water tank). Simulation model was performed in TRNSYS environment and it was fully validated by comparing several key plant measurements. The analysis was focused on five typical days of summer, fall and winter. Some differences found in experimental and simulated values were analysed. To reduce those gaps, some modifications have been suggested to the model or the pilot unit respectively. As a result, a validated model in TRNSYS of the plant was obtained. This model can be used for the further scale up of new projects to cover any other scheduled demands of power and water in isolated areas, whenever is based on the combination of the abovementioned technologies.
J. Uche; A. Muzás; L.E. Acevedo; S. Usón; A. Martínez; A.A. Bayod. Experimental tests to validate the simulation model of a Domestic Trigeneration Scheme with hybrid RESs and Desalting Techniques. Renewable Energy 2020, 155, 407 -419.
AMA StyleJ. Uche, A. Muzás, L.E. Acevedo, S. Usón, A. Martínez, A.A. Bayod. Experimental tests to validate the simulation model of a Domestic Trigeneration Scheme with hybrid RESs and Desalting Techniques. Renewable Energy. 2020; 155 ():407-419.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJ. Uche; A. Muzás; L.E. Acevedo; S. Usón; A. Martínez; A.A. Bayod. 2020. "Experimental tests to validate the simulation model of a Domestic Trigeneration Scheme with hybrid RESs and Desalting Techniques." Renewable Energy 155, no. : 407-419.
In the face of climate-ecological breakdown, it is well known that the world aims at developing renewable energies in order to replace fossil fuels. However, there is a great concern regarding their environmental-ecological issues specially with those ones that have a deep interplay with its immediate environment such the case of hydropower. Despite efforts, the existing environmental-ecological methodologies and approaches are incapable to encompass the wide impacts of hydropower. To bridge this knowledge gap, the goal of this paper is twofold: first, to propose a methodological approach that combines and balances two well-known environmental-ecological assessments: life cycle (LCA) and ecosystem services assessment (ESA). This way, the proposal enables a deeper look into the environmental-ecological performance. Second, to determine the total environmental-ecological accounting and hence the net environmental performance of hydropower. In order to expose the applicability of the proposed methodological approach, case studies of a dam and run-of-river hydropower plant located in Ecuador were examined. Analysis found a net environmental performance (NEP) of −0.98 $/kWh and −0.08 $/kWh, respectively. These results clearly indicate a marked environmental-ecological difference between these two hydropower schemes, awareness of which may be helpful for further decision-making and developing new energy policies in pursuit of sustainable development goals. What is more, this methodological approach may be applied and extended not only to other renewable energy technologies, but also to any other project or activity where the exploitation and use of natural resources are involved.
Andrei Briones-Hidrovo; Javier Uche; Amaya Martínez-Gracia. Determining the net environmental performance of hydropower: A new methodological approach by combining life cycle and ecosystem services assessment. Science of The Total Environment 2019, 712, 136369 .
AMA StyleAndrei Briones-Hidrovo, Javier Uche, Amaya Martínez-Gracia. Determining the net environmental performance of hydropower: A new methodological approach by combining life cycle and ecosystem services assessment. Science of The Total Environment. 2019; 712 ():136369.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAndrei Briones-Hidrovo; Javier Uche; Amaya Martínez-Gracia. 2019. "Determining the net environmental performance of hydropower: A new methodological approach by combining life cycle and ecosystem services assessment." Science of The Total Environment 712, no. : 136369.
In this paper, the analysis of the local exergy costs of a cullet glass heated by microwaves in a cubical cavity activated by a susceptor is presented. The analysis is based on a previously validated 3-D electromagnetic model, but goes further by applying the concepts of local exergy efficiency and local unit exergy consumption, what enables a local analysis (in time and space) of the process efficiency. Furthermore, local exergy cost quantifies in detail the path of the exergy cost formation during microwave heating, which is determined by the local irreversibilities taking place in this transient process. Four different susceptor positions have been also compared, in order to find out not only which one is the most efficient but also to justify in detail this result by the time and space evolution of efficiency, unit exergy consumption (both external microwave power and conduction contributions) and unit exergy cost. The best conclusion of the paper is that the local exergy cost approach can contribute to the design of more efficient energy conversion systems, as it could be noted in its application to a complex process like this 3-D example of microwave cullet heating.
Luis Acevedo; Sergio Usón; Javier Uche. Local exergy cost analysis of cullet glass heating by microwaves. Applied Thermal Engineering 2019, 152, 778 -795.
AMA StyleLuis Acevedo, Sergio Usón, Javier Uche. Local exergy cost analysis of cullet glass heating by microwaves. Applied Thermal Engineering. 2019; 152 ():778-795.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuis Acevedo; Sergio Usón; Javier Uche. 2019. "Local exergy cost analysis of cullet glass heating by microwaves." Applied Thermal Engineering 152, no. : 778-795.
An Artificial Neural Network (ANN) has been developed to predict the distillate produced in a permeate gap membrane distillation (PGMD) module with process operating conditions (temperatures at the condenser and evaporator inlets, and feed seawater flow). Real data obtained from experimental tests were used for the ANN training and further validation and testing. This PGMD module constitutes part of an isolated trigeneration pilot unit fully supplied by solar and wind energy, which also provides power and sanitary hot water (SHW) for a typical single family home. PGMD production was previously estimated with published data from the MD module manufacturer by means of a new type in the framework of Trnsys® simulation within the design of the complete trigeneration scheme. The performance of the ANN model was studied and improved through a parametric study varying the number of neurons in the hidden layer, the number of experimental datasets and by using different activation functions. The ANN obtained can be easily exported to be used in simulation, control or process analysis and optimization. Here, the ANN was finally used to implement a new type to estimate the PGMD production of the unit by using the inlet parameters obtained by the complete simulation model of the trigeneration unit based on Renewable Energy Sources (RES).
Luis Acevedo; Javier Uche; Alejandro Del-Amo. Improving the Distillate Prediction of a Membrane Distillation Unit in a Trigeneration Scheme by Using Artificial Neural Networks. Water 2018, 10, 310 .
AMA StyleLuis Acevedo, Javier Uche, Alejandro Del-Amo. Improving the Distillate Prediction of a Membrane Distillation Unit in a Trigeneration Scheme by Using Artificial Neural Networks. Water. 2018; 10 (3):310.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuis Acevedo; Javier Uche; Alejandro Del-Amo. 2018. "Improving the Distillate Prediction of a Membrane Distillation Unit in a Trigeneration Scheme by Using Artificial Neural Networks." Water 10, no. 3: 310.
The development of technologies such as efficient multi-generation system, lead to realizing the benefits of integrated energy infrastructure such as electricity, natural gas, and heating networks, and thus a rapid movement toward multi-energy systems (MES). In such systems, different energy carriers and systems interact together in a synergistic way. An Energy hub (EH) can be defined as the place where the production, conversion, storage and consumption of different energy carriers takes place, is a promising option for integrated management of MES. In this work we present the hourly Schedule along a year of a building energy hub, with local generation of heat and power, energy storage and electrical and thermal loads. We include PVT systems and a CHP system in the local generation of heat and power, and a gas boiler. A battery is considered as electrical storage and a water tank as thermal storage. The system is connected to the mail grids of power and gas. The typical thermal and electrical load of a building has been considered, with a heat pump that is considered as a deferral load. The model for all the components has been developed, and a yearly simulation has been carried out in which prices of electricity and gas have been considered.
Angel A. Bayod-Rújula; Yue Yuan; Amaya Martínez-Gracia; Jiangyu Wang; Javier Uche; Huanxin Chen. Modelling and Simulation of a Building Energy Hub. Proceedings 2018, 2, 1431 .
AMA StyleAngel A. Bayod-Rújula, Yue Yuan, Amaya Martínez-Gracia, Jiangyu Wang, Javier Uche, Huanxin Chen. Modelling and Simulation of a Building Energy Hub. Proceedings. 2018; 2 (23):1431.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAngel A. Bayod-Rújula; Yue Yuan; Amaya Martínez-Gracia; Jiangyu Wang; Javier Uche; Huanxin Chen. 2018. "Modelling and Simulation of a Building Energy Hub." Proceedings 2, no. 23: 1431.
Andrei Briones Hidrovo; Javier Uche; Amaya Martínez-Gracia. Accounting for GHG net reservoir emissions of hydropower in Ecuador. Renewable Energy 2017, 112, 209 -221.
AMA StyleAndrei Briones Hidrovo, Javier Uche, Amaya Martínez-Gracia. Accounting for GHG net reservoir emissions of hydropower in Ecuador. Renewable Energy. 2017; 112 ():209-221.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAndrei Briones Hidrovo; Javier Uche; Amaya Martínez-Gracia. 2017. "Accounting for GHG net reservoir emissions of hydropower in Ecuador." Renewable Energy 112, no. : 209-221.
Beatriz Carrasquer; Javier Uche; Amaya Martínez-Gracia. A new indicator to estimate the efficiency of water and energy use in agro-industries. Journal of Cleaner Production 2017, 143, 462 -473.
AMA StyleBeatriz Carrasquer, Javier Uche, Amaya Martínez-Gracia. A new indicator to estimate the efficiency of water and energy use in agro-industries. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2017; 143 ():462-473.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBeatriz Carrasquer; Javier Uche; Amaya Martínez-Gracia. 2017. "A new indicator to estimate the efficiency of water and energy use in agro-industries." Journal of Cleaner Production 143, no. : 462-473.
In this paper, the combined life cycle assessment of the water supply alternatives and the water use in a water-stressed watershed in Spain (the Segura) is presented. Although it is a dry area, agriculture and tourism are very profitable sectors with high water demands. Thus, external water supply alternatives including water transfers or desalination partly balance the reduced natural water availability to cover the existing water demands. In order to integrate both the impact of water supply alternatives and water use, the ReCiPe method was used to assess the water supply alternatives at the endpoint approach with the three specific damage categories: human health, ecosystem diversity and damage to resources availability. At the same time, the water use impact was calculated and grouped in the same categories. Firstly, one average cubic metre of water at the user's gate in the Segura Basin area was taken as the functional unit. As irrigation and drinking water constitute the principal water uses, it was considered that to separately analyse 1 m3 used for irrigation and 1 m3 destined to drinking purposes could provide interesting information. Then, these units were also considered as functional units. Then, three additional hypothetical scenarios were introduced: two of them defined by a strong variability in rainfall and the third by a sudden diminution of water transferred from a neighbouring basin. Regarding the facilities to provide 1 m3 at user's gate in the Segura Basin, results showed that the seawater desalination plants obtained the highest score for all the three considered damage categories, followed by the Tajo–Segura water transfer, the groundwater, the local surface waters and the water reuse. In relation to the water use impact, the damage to ecosystems diversity was very representative with respect to the one coming from water supply infrastructures because irrigation constituted 85 % of the total demand. The diversification of water supply alternatives within a region considerably increases any environmental impact, primarily stemming from the additional required infrastructures, and frequently from the use of external water sources for their uses. Thus, users and policy makers should be aware of the costs that a guaranteed water supply entails. In water-scarce territories, the use of external solutions such as desalination or water transfer either increase the environmental impact due to their high energy consumption or they are limited by existing climate variability. Therefore, they cannot be considered as the definite solution, which would be a balance between renewable sources and existing demands.
Javier Uche; Amaya Martínez-Gracia; Uriel Carmona. Life cycle assessment of the supply and use of water in the Segura Basin. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 2013, 19, 688 -704.
AMA StyleJavier Uche, Amaya Martínez-Gracia, Uriel Carmona. Life cycle assessment of the supply and use of water in the Segura Basin. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. 2013; 19 (3):688-704.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJavier Uche; Amaya Martínez-Gracia; Uriel Carmona. 2013. "Life cycle assessment of the supply and use of water in the Segura Basin." The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 19, no. 3: 688-704.
This paper presents a two-steps optimization procedure of a polygeneration unit. The unit simultaneously provides power, heat, cooling and fresh water to a Spanish tourist resort (450 rooms). The first step consist on the synthesis and design of the polygeneration scheme: a “superstructure” was constructed to allow the selection of the appropriate choice and size of the plant components, from both economic and environmental considerations. At that first step, only monthly averaged requirements are considered. The second step includes hourly data and analysis as well as energy storage systems. A detailed modelling of pre-selected devices is then required to also fulfil economic and environmental constraints. As a result, a better performance is obtained compared to the first step. Thus, the two-steps procedure explained here permits the complete design and operation of a decentralized plant producing simultaneously energy (power, heat and cooling) but also desalted water (that is, trigeneration + desalination). Remarkable benefits for the analyzed case study are found: a Net Present Value of almost 300,000 €, a primary energy saving ratio of about 18% and more than 850 ton per year of avoided CO2 emissions.
Carlos Rubio-Maya; Javier Uche; Amaya Martínez. Sequential optimization of a polygeneration plant. Energy Conversion and Management 2011, 52, 2861 -2869.
AMA StyleCarlos Rubio-Maya, Javier Uche, Amaya Martínez. Sequential optimization of a polygeneration plant. Energy Conversion and Management. 2011; 52 (8-9):2861-2869.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCarlos Rubio-Maya; Javier Uche; Amaya Martínez. 2011. "Sequential optimization of a polygeneration plant." Energy Conversion and Management 52, no. 8-9: 2861-2869.
A new and systematic procedure to select and size a polygeneration plant fuelled by natural gas, solar energy and gasified biomass is presented in this paper. The proposed procedure is based on the superstructure definition, containing a long list of possible configurations for a polygeneration plant simultaneously producing electricity, heat, cold and fresh water. Based on that superstructure, a mathematical programming model was developed and applied to a Spanish tourist resort. Three key aspects were optimized in the mathematical programming problem: energy savings, greenhouse gases (GHG) emission reduction and economic feasibility. The results show, firstly, that the simultaneous production of electricity, heat, cold and fresh water is reliable upon the established assumptions. Secondly, that today higher economic profitability is yet achieved with only natural gas-based technologies, although higher energy savings and GHG reduction are obtained through the gradual increase of renewable energy sources.
Carlos Rubio-Maya; Javier Uche-Marcuello; Amaya Martínez-Gracia; Angel A. Bayod-Rújula. Design optimization of a polygeneration plant fuelled by natural gas and renewable energy sources. Applied Energy 2011, 88, 449 -457.
AMA StyleCarlos Rubio-Maya, Javier Uche-Marcuello, Amaya Martínez-Gracia, Angel A. Bayod-Rújula. Design optimization of a polygeneration plant fuelled by natural gas and renewable energy sources. Applied Energy. 2011; 88 (2):449-457.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCarlos Rubio-Maya; Javier Uche-Marcuello; Amaya Martínez-Gracia; Angel A. Bayod-Rújula. 2011. "Design optimization of a polygeneration plant fuelled by natural gas and renewable energy sources." Applied Energy 88, no. 2: 449-457.
This paper presents a reliable and economic manner to provide desalted water for the tourist sector, starting from a poligeneration scheme which also provides energy, heat and cold to the end consumers. The proposed scheme is constituted by a power plant (internal combustion engine), a desalination system (RO unit), absorption chiller, and the complementary heat exchangers, as well as some auxiliary equipment required for the system. Water, power could be sold to their respective networks, so increasing the plant profitability. The energy and economic analysis of the scheme shows that nowadays thermodynamic (energy) and economic optimums are yet quite far, since process integration is always profitable from the point of view of energy efficiency but not always from Economics. However, last figures could be improved if water, electricity and natural gas prices are not taken from Spanish regulatory framework. Furthermore, if future CO2 emissions reduction is taken into account, plant profitability could be increased even more. Anyway, the economic results obtained for water are quite encouraging for the future of those schemes to solve the water and energy scarcity in Mediterranean and other highly-populated and/or tourist areas.
C. Rubio; J. Uche; N. Dejo. Optimization of desalted water production in a poligeneration scheme for the tourist sector. Desalination 2008, 223, 464 -475.
AMA StyleC. Rubio, J. Uche, N. Dejo. Optimization of desalted water production in a poligeneration scheme for the tourist sector. Desalination. 2008; 223 (1-3):464-475.
Chicago/Turabian StyleC. Rubio; J. Uche; N. Dejo. 2008. "Optimization of desalted water production in a poligeneration scheme for the tourist sector." Desalination 223, no. 1-3: 464-475.