Energy Science

Keywords: firewood, efficiency, pollution.

Testing solid fuel furnaces and making recommendations to the developer and user for efficiency and combustion purity.

Due to the nature of the popular bottom air intake fireplace, furnaces, stoves and boilers that use wood logs as fuel are sources of significant air pollution. A modern UZ fireplace allows the user to increase the purity of combustion, therefore, increases efficiency of combustion. It is possible to measure pollution and losses in real time by analyzing flue gas.

Measurements can be taken under laboratory conditions as well as at the customer's site. The result is a cleaner combustion process and lower fuel consumption.

Additional information: http://katlalabor.emu.ee

Keywords: energy storage, renewable energy, prosumer.

More and more consumers produce, at the same time, electrical energy from renewable energy sources. By renewable energy sources we mean wind generators and solar PV panels. We are dealing with grid-connected microgrids. From the consumers’ viewpoint it is important to consume as much locally produced energy as possible. This will decrease energy bills or stop them overall. At the same time, possibilities to sell electricity to the utility grid and to earn money will increase. From the government viewpoint the importance of increasing self-consumption is the following: the need for utility grid maintenance and repair works will decrease and CO₂ emissions will lessen.

We will find an appropriate configuration for your prosumer that enables you to maximize self-consumption and achieve an economical effect. The size of the prosumer and the sphere of activity is not essential.

Keywords: remote measurements.

Measurements in the conditions of an animal farm, real-time transmission of data and video recordings via the Internet, database management. Analysis of measurement results, presentation of statistical indicators.

Drone-based monitoring of crop growing conditions, transmission of data to the farmer.

Keywords: solid, liquid and gaseous biofuels, analysis of biofuels and biochemicals, biochemical conversions, thermochemical conversions.

Consultations 

• 2nd and 3rd generation liquid biofuel production technologies and their development.
• Determination of biogas potential in different biomasses.
• Torrefaction experiments with different biomasses.

Analysis of biofuels

• Determination of biomass composition - determination of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, ash and moisture content.
• Determination fibre content and biochemical composition of biomass – determination of sugars by NREL method from biomass.
• Analysis of samples from the bioethanol production process - sugars, ethanol and inhibitors by HPLC.

Laboratory of Biofuels and Biochemicals of the Institute of Technology analyses and evaluates the physical and chemical properties of both diesel and spark ignition engine fuels, engine oils, and hydraulic oils/liquids. The laboratory has the capability to perform analysis of liquid fuels and assess their compliance with the standards in use in the European Union. The analysis of liquid fuels, engine oils and hydraulic oils/liquids includes the following quality properties:

• Density
• Active sulfur compounds   
• Distillation caractheristics   
• Kinematic viscosity at  40°C and 100^°C
• Viscosity index
• Saturated vapor pressure (mini method)
• Flash point
• Pour point
• Total contamination in middle distillates, diesel fuels and fatty acid methyl esters
• Ash and sulfated ash content
• Corrosiveness to Copper  by Copper Strip test
• Bound and free water content     
• Water soluble acids and bases, pH     
• Acid and iodine value of fatty acid methyl esters

Keywords: herbaceous bioenergy crops, short rotation coppice, production, biomass refinery, bioeconomy, energetic efficiency.

Special agricultural crops and existing co-products of traditional agricultural management are often planned to use for bioenergy purposes in order to facilitate local nutrient cycle and independent energy supply. The profit of such activities that is comparable with typical agricultural business can be achieved only in case of right selection of most pest-resistant crops that are high-productive in local weather conditions. The suitability of particular crops for different bioenergy technologies plus the economic and energetic balance sheets must be incorporated in the business plan. Long-term practice with different raw materials enables to minimize the risks and supports both the economic and ecological benefits of bioenergy production.