Moisture content is an important feedstock quality in converting it into energy through biochemical or thermochemical platforms. Knowledge of moisture sorption relationship is useful in drying and storage to preserve the quality of feedstocks. Moisture sorption isotherms for potential feedstocks such as corn stover and big bluestem are missing. EMC values of corn stover and big bluestem were determined using static gravimetric technique with saturated salt solutions (ERH 0.12–0.89) at different temperatures (20, 30, and 40°C).  Depending upon the ERH values, EMC values were ranged from 8.0 to 19.6 and 8.8 to 19.2% db for corn stover and big bluestem, respectively, and they followed typical type II isotherm found in food materials. Nonlinear regression was used to fit five commonly used three-parameter isotherm models (i.e., modified Oswin model, modified Halsey model, modified Chung-Pfost model, modified Henderson model, and the modified Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer (GAB) model) to the experimental data. Modified Halsey emerged as the best model with high <svg style="vertical-align:-0.0pt;width:10.7px;" id="M1" height="11.175" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 10.7 11.175" width="10.7" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g transform="matrix(.017,-0,0,-.017,.062,11.113)"><path id="x1D439" d="M599 650l-18 -160l-30 -2q-2 70 -11 94q-5 16 -26 24t-75 8h-94q-27 0 -33.5 -6.5t-12.5 -32.5l-43 -226h108q52 0 72.5 5t31 18t28.5 52h28l-40 -200h-28q-1 42 -6 56.5t-24.5 21t-70.5 6.5h-108l-32 -177q-13 -65 1 -80.5t88 -22.5l-8 -28h-279l6 28q61 5 77.5 20.5&#xA;t29.5 81.5l72 387l7.5 40.5t1 26.5t-4 18t-15.5 10t-24 6t-37 4l8 28h461z" /></g></svg>-statistic and <svg style="vertical-align:-0.1092pt;width:17.4px;" id="M2" height="15.975" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 17.4 15.975" width="17.4" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g transform="matrix(.017,-0,0,-.017,.062,15.775)"><path id="x1D445" d="M627 18l-10 -26q-79 6 -116 27t-69 76q-41 71 -71 138q-13 29 -27.5 39t-42.5 10h-46l-27 -145q-13 -74 -2.5 -88.5t78.5 -20.5l-6 -28h-271l5 28q66 6 82.5 21.5t30.5 87.5l71 387q12 66 2 78.5t-77 19.5l8 28h233q102 0 147 -29q65 -43 65 -129q0 -69 -45.5 -117&#xA;t-115.5 -72q40 -86 66 -133q39 -68 65 -101q28 -37 73 -51zM491 483q0 67 -33.5 101t-91.5 34q-35 0 -51 -10q-13 -8 -20 -48l-45 -245h49q71 0 113 28q79 52 79 140z" /></g><g transform="matrix(.012,-0,0,-.012,11.013,7.613)"><path id="x32" d="M412 140l28 -9q0 -2 -35 -131h-373v23q112 112 161 170q59 70 92 127t33 115q0 63 -31 98t-86 35q-75 0 -137 -93l-22 20l57 81q55 59 135 59q69 0 118.5 -46.5t49.5 -122.5q0 -62 -29.5 -114t-102.5 -130l-141 -149h186q42 0 58.5 10.5t38.5 56.5z" /></g></svg> values with low <svg style="vertical-align:-3.3907pt;width:20.875px;" id="M3" height="15.4" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 20.875 15.4" width="20.875" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g transform="matrix(.017,-0,0,-.017,.062,11.112)"><path id="x1D438" d="M609 650l-19 -162l-30 -2q2 69 -14 94q-9 18 -28.5 26t-74.5 8h-88q-30 0 -37 -6.5t-12 -36.5l-41 -212h103q48 0 69 5.5t32 19t26 50.5h29l-40 -198h-30q2 58 -11.5 70.5t-85.5 12.5h-99l-30 -167q-17 -87 3 -101q18 -15 111 -15q59 0 89 7t54 27q8 7 15.5 16t16 21.5&#xA;l14 20.5t15 23.5t13.5 21.5l29 -10q-52 -129 -71 -163h-500l6 28q66 4 83 17.5t28 73.5l77 409q11 61 -0.5 75.5t-78.5 18.5l10 28h467z" /></g><g transform="matrix(.012,-0,0,-.012,10.8,15.187)"><path id="x1D45A" d="M766 88q-40 -45 -83.5 -72.5t-63.5 -27.5q-39 0 -16 103l49 224q15 68 -10 68q-36 0 -112.5 -78.5t-105.5 -133.5q-27 -101 -38 -165q-35 -4 -77 -18l-6 6q42 153 70 288q12 55 10 78t-19 23q-38 0 -114 -80.5t-101 -131.5q-24 -68 -41 -165q-36 -3 -76 -18l-8 6&#xA;q56 202 87 347q7 33 -3 33q-8 0 -31.5 -17.5t-41.5 -35.5l-12 28q42 45 84 72t63 27q44 0 10 -124l-20 -75h2q92 121 193 178q36 21 64 21q62 0 28 -159l-8 -37h2q50 67 103.5 112t94.5 65q39 19 62 19q60 0 23 -156l-45 -189q-9 -39 2 -39q17 0 71 49z" /></g></svg> and <svg style="vertical-align:-3.3907pt;width:15.95px;" id="M4" height="15.4" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 15.95 15.4" width="15.95" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g transform="matrix(.017,-0,0,-.017,.062,11.112)"><use xlink:href="#x1D438" /></g><g transform="matrix(.012,-0,0,-.012,10.8,15.187)"><path id="x1D460" d="M352 391q0 -31 -27 -44q-14 -7 -24 6q-39 48 -84 48q-23 0 -39.5 -15t-16.5 -40q0 -43 73 -90q49 -32 70 -58t21 -57q0 -58 -62 -105.5t-129 -47.5q-40 0 -75.5 25t-35.5 52q0 28 32 46q7 4 15 3t11 -6q19 -31 48.5 -50.5t54.5 -19.5q34 0 54 19.5t20 42.5q0 43 -65 81&#xA;q-97 56 -97 123q0 50 51 96q19 17 58 32.5t62 15.5q37 0 61 -18t24 -39z" /></g></svg> and fairly random scattered residual plot for corn stover and big bluestem. These models can be used to predict the equilibrium moisture content of these feedstocks starting from harvesting, drying, preprocessing, transportation, storage, and conversion.

C. Karunanithy

K. Muthukumarappan

A. Donepudi

Moisture Sorption Characteristics of Corn Stover and Big Bluestem

Energy is considered as a key source for the future and plays a pivotal role in its socioeconomic development by raising the standard of living and the quality of life, not only for India but also for the world. In view of the scarce fossil fuel reserves, solar energy is one of the important sources of renewable energy used in India because of the suitable climate conditions. It receives about 5485.17&#x2009;Wh/m<sup>2</sup> day of solar insolation with an annual total of about 19, 74, 661.2&#x2009;Wh/m<sup>2</sup>. Except for the monsoon months, solar radiation incidence is very encouraging, from the application point of view. For the efficient functioning and better performance of solar energy device, the information of solar radiation and its components at particular location is very essential for designing the solar energy devices. Therefore, over the years, several empirical correlations have been developed in order to estimate the more appropriate solar radiation in India as well as around the world. Here we present a review of different solar radiation models which predict global solar radiation and discussed the long-term plan to meet future energy demand with renewable energy due to economy growth.

A. K. Katiyar

C. K. Pandey

A Review of Solar Radiation Models&#x2014;Part I

Over the years, the production capacity for power generation has not been able to keep pace with the surge in electricity demand in the oil-rich State of Kuwait. To expand its power generation capacity, Kuwait's strategic energy plans focus on constructing gas turbine and fuel oil stations. This paper aimed to evaluate the prospect of photovoltaic solar energy (PV) in generating electricity as an alternative to decrease dependency on combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power stations. It applies the LCOE framework to evaluate the economic feasibility of installing a 100&#x2009;MW PV and CCGT power stations in Kuwait. The results indicate that under the assumption of 5&#x25; interest rate, the estimated LCOE of PV station (&#x24;0.19/kWh) is unfeasible in comparison to the generation cost of gas turbine station (&#x24;0.11/kWh). However, the analysis has emphasized that evaluation of future electricity generation plans must not be limited to the LCOE criteria and should incorporate the following factors: the effect of natural gas supply constraints on the production of gas turbine plants, the environmental concerns of CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, the peak load demand, and the domestic energy balance mix. The paper concludes that once these factors are addressed properly, the prospect of PV power stations becomes relatively feasible.

Mohammad Ramadhan

Abdulhameed Hussain

Dina Behbehani

The Prospect of Solar Energy in the Development of Power Stations in the State of Kuwait

We consider the problem of wind energy production by using a second-order semi-Markov chain in state and duration as a model of wind speed. The model used in this paper is based on our previous work where we have shown the ability of second-order semi-Markov process in reproducing statistical features of wind speed. Here we briefly present the mathematical model and describe the data and technical characteristics of a commercial wind turbine (Aircon HAWT-10&#x2009;kW). We show how, by using our model, it is possible to compute some of the main dependability measures such as reliability, availability, and maintainability functions. We compare, by means of Monte Carlo simulations, the results of the model with real energy production obtained from data available in the Lastem station (Italy) and sampled every 10 minutes. The computation of the dependability measures is a crucial point in the planning and development of a wind farm. Through our model, we show how the values of this quantity can be obtained both analytically and computationally.

Guglielmo D'Amico

Filippo Petroni

Flavio Prattico

Reliability Measures of Second-Order Semi-Markov Chain Applied to Wind Energy Production

The study of B100 biodiesel oxidation stability, and its conservation, is extremely important to control its quality, especially regarding storage. Many spices have shown antioxidant effect and are the targets of study. Knowing the oxidation process in greater detail allows a reliable storage period to be stipulated for the biodiesel without its degradation until the time of use. Results have shown that according to the accelerated stove method, the optimal mixture, composed of 100&#x25; of oregano extract, can confer a 535-day shelf life to biodiesel without evident oxidation. According to the results obtained by the Rancimat method, the ideal mixture consists of 100&#x25; rosemary, resulting in 483 days of storage. The application of the process variable showed that the accelerated stove method was more suitable to determine oxidative stability of biodiesel.

Rodolfo Lopes Coppo

Dion&#xed;sio Borsato

Jaqueline La&#xed;s Pereira

H&#xe1;gata Cremasco da Silva

FAME Storage Time in an Optimized Natural Antioxidant Mixture

The paper presents results of thermal performance analysis of a solar air heater with v-down discrete rib roughness on the air flow side of the absorber plate, which supplies heated air for space heating applications. The air heater operates in a closed loop mode with inlet air at a fixed temperature of 295&#x2009;K from the conditional space. The ambient temperature  varied from 278&#x2009;K to 288&#x2009;K corresponding to the winter season of Western Rajasthan, India. The results of the analysis are presented in the form of performance plots, which can be utilized by a designer for calculating desired air flow rate at different ambient temperature and solar insolation values.

Rajendra Karwa

V. Srivastava

Thermal Performance of Solar Air Heater Having Absorber Plate with V-Down Discrete Rib Roughness for Space-Heating Applications

Using the low-temperature processing of different organofunctional silanes like TEOS, GPTS, and MPTS to incorporate within TiO<sub  >2</sub> network, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) processed at low temperatures were obtained. The UV-cured MPTS-modified layer exhibited better performance over the TEOS and GPTS, where better mechanical stable layer is achieved in addition to better interconnection between the TiO<sub  >2</sub> nanoparticles. The <i  >J-V</i> characteristics of the DSC composed of silane-based layer showed that the improved cell performance was due to the high photocurrent density accompanied with more dye adsorption and higher charge injection from TiO<sub  >2</sub> to FTO substrate resulting from the formation of an ohmic contact with the substrate. The highest conversion efficiency attained for MPTS-TiO<sub  >2</sub> layer cured with UV and followed by heating at 300<sup  >&#x2218;</sup>C was <svg     style="vertical-align:-0.3003pt;width:74.362503px;" id="M1" height="11.2875" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 74.362503 11.2875" width="74.362503"  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
	
		
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</svg>&#x25;, which is 2.8 times better than the GPTS-based layer.

Naji Al Dahoudi

Qifeng Zhang

Guozhong Cao

Low-Temperature Processing of Titanium Oxide Nanoparticles Photoanodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Over the past few decades, there has been a recognition of the growing need for different forms of energy outside of fossil fuels. Since the latter half of the twentieth century individuals, corporations, and governments have become increasingly aware of the effects of the emissions of carbon and other harmful pollutants on the environment. With this greater concern has come increasing activity to combat these harmful emissions by using alternative fuel sources to power homes, businesses, and cities. As can be seen from recent trends in their installed capacity, it is clear that renewable energy resources will continue to be more commonly used in the future. As renewable energy increases, a decrease in a range of harmful pollutants from the energy sector will also occur. This paper provides a case study to estimate the potential environmental and health benefits of an increased shift from fossil fuels to renewable fuels for electrical production in Oklahoma. Results illustrate and quantify the specific reduction that wind energy can and will have on air quality, as well as provide a quantification of the associated potential health benefits.

J. Scott Greene

Mark Morrissey

Estimated Pollution Reduction from Wind Farms in Oklahoma and Associated Economic and Human Health Benefits

This work examines the production of briquettes for household use from biomass in combination with plastic materials from different sources. Additionally, the combustion characteristics of the briquettes in a common open fireplace were studied. It is clear that the geometry of the briquettes has no influence on the smoke emissions. When the briquettes have a small amount of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the behavior in the combustion is steadier because of the increase of oxygen supply. The smoke levels are between the 3rd and 4th grades of the smoke number scale. Measuring the carbon monoxide emission, it was observed that the burning of the plastic in the mixture with biomass increases the carbon monoxide emissions from 10&#x25; to 30&#x25; as compared to carbon monoxide emission from sawdust biomass emissions which was used as a reference.

F. Zannikos

S. Kalligeros

G. Anastopoulos

E. Lois

Converting Biomass and Waste Plastic to Solid Fuel Briquettes

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<p><em>Journal of Renewable Energy</em> publishes papers relating to the science and technology of renewable energy generation, distribution, storage, and management. It also covers the environmental, societal, and economic impacts of renewable energy.</p>


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title

Journal of Renewable Energy publishes papers relating to the science and technology of renewable energy generation, distribution, storage, and management. It also covers the environmental, societal, and economic impacts of renewable energy.

Journal of Renewable Energy