Research Article
Impact of Enthalpy on the Exergo-environmental and Energy Performance of a Biomass Power Plant
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 5, October 2025
Pages:
115-124
Received:
19 May 2025
Accepted:
3 June 2025
Published:
19 September 2025
Abstract: Among green energy sources, biomass has significant advantages over fossil fuels in terms of cost and environmental impact. However, the presence of a high moisture content in biomass negatively affects its combustion energy, resulting in a lower flame temperature and an increase in the production of undesirable gaseous compounds, which can lead to operational and environmental problems. The biomass must therefore be dehydrated before it can be burnt to produce electricity. To optimise energy efficiency and minimise the costs associated with drying, it is essential to design an efficient thermal integration between the steam power plant and the biomass dehydration stage. In this study, enthalpy analyses are carried out on a biomass power plant that uses agricultural waste (dried banana peel) as fuel, with a view to assessing the energy efficiency, exergy and CO2 emissions produced. The Rankine-Hirn cycle was used to model the biomass power plant through exergy and environmental analysis. A custom code was designed in Matlab to obtain our results. The results of this study show that the optimal output enthalpy of the pump is 450 KJ.Kg-1 for a maximum value of the exergy efficiency of the biomass plant of 41%; the optimum enthalpy at the turbine outlet is 200KJ/Kg for an energy efficiency of 95%; the maximum energy efficiency is 88%, when the enthalpy at the turbine inlet reaches its optimal value at 3400 kJ.Kg-1. This system can be used to generate electricity in areas where access is limited.
Abstract: Among green energy sources, biomass has significant advantages over fossil fuels in terms of cost and environmental impact. However, the presence of a high moisture content in biomass negatively affects its combustion energy, resulting in a lower flame temperature and an increase in the production of undesirable gaseous compounds, which can lead to...
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Research Article
Numerical Investigation of Propagation Characteristics of TE Waves Incident Obliquely to Reentry Plasma Sheath with Bi-Gaussian Electron Density Profile Based on SMM
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 5, October 2025
Pages:
125-133
Received:
1 September 2025
Accepted:
13 September 2025
Published:
31 October 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajpa.20251305.12
Downloads:
Views:
Abstract: The analysis of the propagation characteristics of electromagnetic wave in reentry plasma layer is an important issue in fields of spacecraft control, communication and stealth technology, which has attracted the attention of many researchers in last decades. In this paper, the propagation characteristics of obliquely incident TE waves into reentry plasma sheath with bi-Gaussian electron density profile are investigated by using the scattering matrix method (SMM). Based on the matching condition of electromagnetic wave (EM) in multilayer plasmas, the scattering matrix equations of the oblique-incident TE waves are derived and the reflection, transmission and absorption characteristics with incident angle, plasma electron density distribution, and collision frequency are respectively studied. The computational results showed that the reflectance, transmittance, and absorptance change significantly with the incident angle, electron density profile, and collision frequency when the TE wave propagates obliquely into the plasma sheath. In addition, the higher the frequency, the more the reflection vibrations are, and the transmittance and the absorptance peaks move from low to high frequencies with increasing incidence angle, electron density profile and collision frequency. The present method and results may contribute to establish an alternate methodology to overcome the communication blackout by plasma formed around the vehicle during reentry into atmosphere.
Abstract: The analysis of the propagation characteristics of electromagnetic wave in reentry plasma layer is an important issue in fields of spacecraft control, communication and stealth technology, which has attracted the attention of many researchers in last decades. In this paper, the propagation characteristics of obliquely incident TE waves into reentry...
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Research Article
Modeling and Parametric Analysis of an Autonomous Micro-Hydropower Plant: Effect of Penstock Diameter and Tailrace Elevation on Generated Power
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 5, October 2025
Pages:
134-147
Received:
2 October 2025
Accepted:
14 October 2025
Published:
31 October 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajpa.20251305.13
Downloads:
Views:
Abstract: Autonomous micro-hydro power plants are emerging as a sustainable and appropriate solution to supply electricity, particularly in areas without access to the electricity grid. So, number of research projects have focused on modeling these systems, studying various technical aspects and developing simulation tools with the aim of improving their performance. However, most of these studies are based on the presence of natural basins or rivers. In the present study, we explore the modeling and simulation of an autonomous micro-hydropower plant, based on the use of artificial reservoirs fed by solar-powered motor pumps. To achieve our objective, we adopted a modeling approach under the MATLAB/SIMULINK environment, allowing us to simulate the system's behavior as a function of two key parameters, namely the penstock diameter and the reservoir altitude. The results showed that increasing the diameter of the penstock and the altitude of the reservoir significantly improved the electrical power generated, suggesting a direct influence of these factors on the overall energy performance of the system. These results are of major interest for the deployment of microhydropower plants in areas without rivers, particularly as part of decentralized electrification strategies. This study proposes an innovative approach to the design of hybrid water-solar systems suitable for isolated areas, highlighting the importance of an optimized technical configuration to maximize energy production.
Abstract: Autonomous micro-hydro power plants are emerging as a sustainable and appropriate solution to supply electricity, particularly in areas without access to the electricity grid. So, number of research projects have focused on modeling these systems, studying various technical aspects and developing simulation tools with the aim of improving their per...
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,
Francois Lanzetta,
Bernard Bali Tamegue,
Wandji William Nyamsi,
Mahamat Hassane Babikir
