The Current
world demands abundant clean, safe, and affordable energy. Our planet
needs to sustain a healthy and protected environment. Together,
we find innovative solutions that advance our local, national and
global communities. Thus, the vision of IEES has been set out to provide a platform
for teaching-learning in advanced research and innovation in the fields of
energy and environmental technologies to contribute to nationa...
The Energy Studies has been identified
the following research areas on the basis of current national and global demands
and/or needs:
Energy Studies:
1.Future
energy resources and sustainability
2.Smart
energy systems
3.Energy
policy, auditing and management
1.
Future energy resources and sustainability:
Nuclear energy,
solar energy, and energy from biomass, water
current and wind are just a few of the promising alternatives for a cleaner and
greener future. Other
relatively new sources of energy such
as fuel cells, hydrogen fuel, geothermal energy, and ocean energy are
also being explored.
As the worldwide demand for power continues to surge, nuclear
energy is gaining increasing importance as a clean source that is expected to
address the global issue of climate change. There are currently 439
nuclear power reactors operating in 30 countries worldwide.
Almost everything in this world ultimately derives its energy
from the sun. The earth receives about 174 billion megawatts of power in the
upper atmosphere as a result of solar radiation. About 30% of the incident
solar radiation is reflected back, while the remaining, which amounts to 3.85 ×
1024 Joules every year, is absorbed by the atmosphere, oceans and landmasses. Heat
and light radiation from the sun can be harnessed through the use of
semiconductor solar panels, solar collectors, solar cookers, solar coolers, etc.
Biofuel is the general term for energy derived from materials
such as wood, leaves, straw, oilseeds, or animal wastes which are or were
recent, living matter, referred to collectively as biomass. Wood pellets,
charcoal, bioethanol, biodiesel, pyro-oil, syngas, biogas, etc. are all examples
of energy-rich materials derived from biomass.
Hydropower schemes and wind farms are
constructed to harness mechanical energy from the water and wind, respectively and
convert it into electrical energy. These hydropower schemes and wind farms are
then connected to electrical power transmission networks for the distribution
of power. On average, only 20 to 40 percent of the total energy capacity of hydropower
schemes and wind farms can be utilized.
Fuel cells are similar to batteries but use reactants from an
external source, as opposed to batteries that are self-contained. If the fuel
and oxidant levels in fuel cells are properly maintained, power can be
generated almost continuously. The efficiency of fuel cells is proportional to
the power being drawn from it. They are also lightweight and extremely
reliable.
Hydrogen is one of the clean energy sources. Hydrogen fuel can be produced through thermal processes, electrolytic processes, solar-driven processes and biological
processes. Hydrogen is an attractive fuel option
for transportation and electricity generation applications. It can be used in
cars, in houses, for portable power, and in many more applications.
The interior of the Earth contains a lot of heat. Shallow
regions contain hot water, rock and steam. Deeper inside, the magma is
intensely hot. This heat can be harnessed to produce electrical energy and
drive various applications. Harnessing geothermal energy requires no fuel and
minimal land. It is relatively cheap and a very sustainable source of energy
since the amount of heat contained in the earth bed is so vast that even if we
harness more energy than we require, it will still suffice for millions of
years to come.
The oceans are vast and contain huge amounts of energy in the
water currents, and thermal and salinity gradients. The energy from tides and
waves can be harnessed to produce electrical energy. The differences in
temperature that occur with varying depths can be used to drive heat engines,
which in turn produce electric power.
Sustainable development is a
kind of development that satisfies the needs of the present without adversely
affecting the ability of future generations to satisfy their needs. Development
considering - human, social, economic and environmental - is known as the four pillars of sustainability. Harnessing
solar/ wind energy to provide power for homes, offices, and other buildings or
to pump water is one
of the best examples of sustainable development. After all, solar/ wind is a
clean and free resource.
New sources of power generation will
undoubtedly be needed to meet skyrocketing world energy demand. RUET
researchers are positioned to lead efforts to support a scalable, innovative,
and clean energy portfolio that meets the world’s need for reliable energy
sources while considering the economic, environmental, health and climate
effects of energy generation. These technologies include, but are not limited
to:
Nuclear
energy
Solar
energy
Biomass
and Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) energy
Hydropower
Wind
energy
Fuel
cells
Hydrogen
fuel
Geothermal
energy
Ocean
energy
Sustainability study of future energy systems
2.
Smart energy systems:
A smart energy system is an
approach in which smart electricity, thermal and gas grids are combined with
storage technologies and coordinated to identify synergies between them in
order to achieve an optimal solution for each individual sector as well as for
the overall energy system. This means combining the electricity, thermal, and
transport sectors so that the flexibility across these different areas can
compensate for the lack of flexibility from renewable resources such as wind
and solar. The smart energy system is built around three grid infrastructures:
Smart electricity grids connect flexible
electricity demands such as heat pumps and electric vehicles to intermittent renewable resources such as wind and solar power.
Smart thermal grids (district heating and cooling) to
connect the electricity and heating sectors. This enables the utilization of
thermal storage for creating additional flexibility and the recycling of heat
losses in the energy system.
Smart gas grids connect the electricity, heating,
and transport sectors. This enables the utilization of gas storage for creating
additional flexibility. If the gas is refined to liquid fuel, then liquid
fuel storage can also be utilized.
IEES will foster and build knowledge in
smart energy systems by focusing on topics such as:
Carbon
capture, storage and reuse (CCSR) technology
Energy
storage.
Smart
grid and net metering
Intelligence
system related to energy capturing/ transportation/ storage/ utilization
and so on.
3. Energy policy, auditing and
management:
Energy policy has traditionally played a strong role in
setting the framework for regulations in the energy sector. Energy policy is the manner
in which a given entity (often governmental) has decided to address issues
of
energy development
including energy production,
distribution and consumption.Energy policies are the actions governments take to affect the demand
for energy as
well as the supply of it. These actions include the ways in which governments
cope with
energy supply,
disruptions and their efforts to influence energy consumption and economic growth. To achieve this goal,
measures such as technological progress, market regulation, and system guidance
have been taken to support the policy objectives
of promoting energy development
and ensuring a more adequate supply of energy, while encouraging energy conservation and efficiency, and controlling
rapid energy demand.
An energy audit is
an inspection survey and an analysis of energy flows for energy
conservation in a building. It may include a process or system to reduce
the amount of energy input
into the system without negatively affecting the output. Carried out by
experts, an energy audit involves
a comprehensive analysis of your premises, indicating how efficient your
current practices are and where you can reduce energy consumption and lower costs.
Energy management is the method of tracking and
optimizing energy consumption to conserve usage. Important steps for the technique of
energy management: (i) collecting and analyzing continuous data (ii) identify
optimizations in equipment schedules, setpoints and flow rates to improve
energy efficiency (iii) calculate return on investment (iv) execute energy
optimization solutions and (v) repeat step two to continue optimizing energy
efficiency.
IEES provides facilities for the development of knowledge in
energy policy, auditing and management by focusing on the following topics:
Energy policy (can be directed at four high-level
objectives: economic development, geopolitical security, environmental
enhancement, and public acceptability).
Energy planning and market
concept
Integrated resource planning
Sustainable energy planning
Energy
audits (preliminary, targeted and detailed energy audits)
The Environmental studies have been identified
the following research areas on the basis of current national and global demands
and/or needs:
Environmental
Studies:
1. Emissions
analysis, control and management
2. Climate,
ecology and socio-cultural change
3. Health
and environmental issues
1. Emissions analysis, control and management:
Air pollutants are responsible for a number of adverse environmental effects, such as photochemical smog, acid rain, death of forests, or reduced atmospheric visibility. Emissions of greenhouse gases from the combustion of fossil fuels are associated with the global warming of Earth’s climate. Certain air pollutants, including black carbon, not only contribute to global warming but are also suspected of having an immediate effect on regional climates. Putting more energy-efficient vehicles on the road to displace oil consumption, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, and improve the nation's energy security requires simultaneous advances in fuel formulation, combustion strategy, and engine design. Emission testing, measurement, analysis and detection services are provided to industry and automobiles that includes:
Stationary source emission measurement (stack emission measurements, vent emissions, GHG emission calculation, distillation column feed analysis and new emissions testing)
Particulate matter emission measurement
Bio-scrubbing
Engine emission research
Emissions control and management can be achieved by:
Reducing methane venting, fugitives and flaring represents one of the most significant emissions reduction opportunities for the industry. This can be reduced by advanced methane monitoring and detection, flare down from gas processing solutions to flare optimization, zero-bleed valves to control fugitives and leakage
By optimizing power management and after-treatment system control strategies, it is possible to achieve lower fuel consumption and emissions. NOx sensor technology, and NOx storage and regeneration process are also important for emission control and management.
2. Climate, ecology and socio-cultural change:
Managing the risks of anthropogenic climate change poses significant challenges at the nexus of natural and social sciences, ethics, engineering, and mathematics. Realizing this potential, however, requires an integrated assessment of system interactions leading to societal change. This will in turn require investments in mission-oriented basic research across the involved disciplines. Major initiatives within this theme include, but are not limited to:
Climate variability and change
Ecosystem productivity and biodiversity; stressors and resilience
Food and water security
Socio-cultural and behavioral aspects of energy production and environmental changes
3. Health and environmental issues:
The environment affects our health in a variety of ways. The interaction between human health and the environment has been extensively studied and environmental risks have been proven to significantly impact human health, either directly by exposing people to harmful agents, or indirectly, by disrupting life-sustaining ecosystems. However, huge economic development and population growth result in continuing environmental degradation. Intensification of agriculture, industrialization and increasing energy use is the most severe driving forces of environmental health problems. Climate change is impacting human lives and health in a variety of ways. It threatens the essential ingredients of good health - clean air, safe drinking water, nutritious food supply, and safe shelter - and has the potential to undermine decades of progress in global health. The environments in which we live immediately impact our health. The public health specialization is designed to ensure the creation and maintenance of environments that promote good public health. Making collaboration with other disciplines and sectors, students will identify and manage environmental health problems. IEES is working to facilitate team development and knowledge sharing in this emerging area.
