TY - JOUR A1 - Rupp, Matthias A1 - Rieke, Christian A1 - Handschuh, Nils A1 - Kuperjans, Isabel T1 - Economic and ecological optimization of electric bus charging considering variable electricity prices and CO₂eq intensities JF - Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment N2 - In many cities, diesel buses are being replaced by electric buses with the aim of reducing local emissions and thus improving air quality. The protection of the environment and the health of the population is the highest priority of our society. For the transport companies that operate these buses, not only ecological issues but also economic issues are of great importance. Due to the high purchase costs of electric buses compared to conventional buses, operators are forced to use electric vehicles in a targeted manner in order to ensure amortization over the service life of the vehicles. A compromise between ecology and economy must be found in order to both protect the environment and ensure economical operation of the buses. In this study, we present a new methodology for optimizing the vehicles’ charging time as a function of the parameters CO₂eq emissions and electricity costs. Based on recorded driving profiles in daily bus operation, the energy demands of conventional and electric buses are calculated for the passenger transportation in the city of Aachen in 2017. Different charging scenarios are defined to analyze the influence of the temporal variability of CO₂eq intensity and electricity price on the environmental impact and economy of the bus. For every individual day of a year, charging periods with the lowest and highest costs and emissions are identified and recommendations for daily bus operation are made. To enable both the ecological and economical operation of the bus, the parameters of electricity price and CO₂ are weighted differently, and several charging periods are proposed, taking into account the priorities previously set. A sensitivity analysis is carried out to evaluate the influence of selected parameters and to derive recommendations for improving the ecological and economic balance of the battery-powered electric vehicle. In all scenarios, the optimization of the charging period results in energy cost savings of a maximum of 13.6% compared to charging at a fixed electricity price. The savings potential of CO₂eq emissions is similar, at 14.9%. From an economic point of view, charging between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. results in the lowest energy costs on average. The CO₂eq intensity is also low in this period, but midday charging leads to the largest savings in CO₂eq emissions. From a life cycle perspective, the electric bus is not economically competitive with the conventional bus. However, from an ecological point of view, the electric bus saves on average 37.5% CO₂eq emissions over its service life compared to the diesel bus. The reduction potential is maximized if the electric vehicle exclusively consumes electricity from solar and wind power. Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2020.102293 SN - 1361-9209 VL - 81 IS - Article 102293 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sattler, Johannes Christoph A1 - Röger, Marc A1 - Schwarzbözl, Peter A1 - Buck, Reiner A1 - Macke, Ansgar A1 - Raeder, Christian A1 - Göttsche, Joachim T1 - Review of heliostat calibration and tracking control methods JF - Solar Energy N2 - Large scale central receiver systems typically deploy between thousands to more than a hundred thousand heliostats. During solar operation, each heliostat is aligned individually in such a way that the overall surface normal bisects the angle between the sun’s position and the aim point coordinate on the receiver. Due to various tracking error sources, achieving accurate alignment ≤1 mrad for all the heliostats with respect to the aim points on the receiver without a calibration system can be regarded as unrealistic. Therefore, a calibration system is necessary not only to improve the aiming accuracy for achieving desired flux distributions but also to reduce or eliminate spillage. An overview of current larger-scale central receiver systems (CRS), tracking error sources and the basic requirements of an ideal calibration system is presented. Leading up to the main topic, a description of general and specific terms on the topics heliostat calibration and tracking control clarifies the terminology used in this work. Various figures illustrate the signal flows along various typical components as well as the corresponding monitoring or measuring devices that indicate or measure along the signal (or effect) chain. The numerous calibration systems are described in detail and classified in groups. Two tables allow the juxtaposition of the calibration methods for a better comparison. In an assessment, the advantages and disadvantages of individual calibration methods are presented. Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2020.06.030 VL - 207 SP - 110 EP - 132 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rupp, Matthias A1 - Handschuh, Nils A1 - Rieke, Christian A1 - Kuperjans, Isabel T1 - Contribution of country-specific electricity mix and charging time to environmental impact of battery electric vehicles: A case study of electric buses in Germany JF - Applied Energy Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.01.059 SN - 0306-2619 VL - 237 SP - 618 EP - 634 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hoffstadt, Kevin A1 - Pohen, Gino D. A1 - Dicke, Max D. A1 - Paulsen, Svea A1 - Krafft, Simone A1 - Zang, Joachim W. A1 - Fonseca-Zang, Warde A. da A1 - Leite, Athaydes A1 - Kuperjans, Isabel T1 - Challenges and prospects of biogas from energy cane as supplement to bioethanol production JF - Agronomy N2 - Innovative breeds of sugar cane yield up to 2.5 times as much organic matter as conventional breeds, resulting in a great potential for biogas production. The use of biogas production as a complementary solution to conventional and second-generation ethanol production in Brazil may increase the energy produced per hectare in the sugarcane sector. Herein, it was demonstrated that through ensiling, energy cane can be conserved for six months; the stored cane can then be fed into a continuous biogas process. This approach is necessary to achieve year-round biogas production at an industrial scale. Batch tests revealed specific biogas potentials between 400 and 600 LN/kgVS for both the ensiled and non-ensiled energy cane, and the specific biogas potential of a continuous biogas process fed with ensiled energy cane was in the same range. Peak biogas losses through ensiling of up to 27% after six months were observed. Finally, compared with second-generation ethanol production using energy cane, the results indicated that biogas production from energy cane may lead to higher energy yields per hectare, with an average energy yield of up to 162 MWh/ha. Finally, the Farm²CBG concept is introduced, showing an approach for decentralized biogas production. Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10060821 SN - 2073-4395 VL - 10 IS - 6 PB - MDPI CY - Basel ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Block, Simon A1 - Viebahn, Peter A1 - Jungbluth, Christian T1 - Analysing direct air capture for enabling negative emissions in Germany: an assessment of the resource requirements and costs of a potential rollout in 2045 JF - Frontiers in Climate N2 - Direct air capture (DAC) combined with subsequent storage (DACCS) is discussed as one promising carbon dioxide removal option. The aim of this paper is to analyse and comparatively classify the resource consumption (land use, renewable energy and water) and costs of possible DAC implementation pathways for Germany. The paths are based on a selected, existing climate neutrality scenario that requires the removal of 20 Mt of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year by DACCS from 2045. The analysis focuses on the so-called “low-temperature” DAC process, which might be more advantageous for Germany than the “high-temperature” one. In four case studies, we examine potential sites in northern, central and southern Germany, thereby using the most suitable renewable energies for electricity and heat generation. We show that the deployment of DAC results in large-scale land use and high energy needs. The land use in the range of 167–353 km2 results mainly from the area required for renewable energy generation. The total electrical energy demand of 14.4 TWh per year, of which 46% is needed to operate heat pumps to supply the heat demand of the DAC process, corresponds to around 1.4% of Germany's envisaged electricity demand in 2045. 20 Mt of water are provided yearly, corresponding to 40% of the city of Cologne‘s water demand (1.1 million inhabitants). The capture of CO2 (DAC) incurs levelised costs of 125–138 EUR per tonne of CO2, whereby the provision of the required energy via photovoltaics in southern Germany represents the lowest value of the four case studies. This does not include the costs associated with balancing its volatility. Taking into account transporting the CO2 via pipeline to the port of Wilhelmshaven, followed by transporting and sequestering the CO2 in geological storage sites in the Norwegian North Sea (DACCS), the levelised costs increase to 161–176 EUR/tCO2. Due to the longer transport distances from southern and central Germany, a northern German site using wind turbines would be the most favourable. KW - rollout KW - economics KW - Germany KW - negative emissions KW - carbon dioxide removal KW - climate neutrality KW - DAC KW - direct air capture Y1 - 2024 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2024.1353939 SN - 2624-9553 VL - 6 PB - Frontiers CY - Lausanne ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kahmann, Stephanie L. A1 - Rausch, Valentin A1 - Plümer, Jonathan A1 - Müller, Lars P. A1 - Pieper, Martin A1 - Wegmann, Kilian T1 - The automized fracture edge detection and generation of three-dimensional fracture probability heat maps JF - Medical Engineering & Physics N2 - With proven impact of statistical fracture analysis on fracture classifications, it is desirable to minimize the manual work and to maximize repeatability of this approach. We address this with an algorithm that reduces the manual effort to segmentation, fragment identification and reduction. The fracture edge detection and heat map generation are performed automatically. With the same input, the algorithm always delivers the same output. The tool transforms one intact template consecutively onto each fractured specimen by linear least square optimization, detects the fragment edges in the template and then superimposes them to generate a fracture probability heat map. We hypothesized that the algorithm runs faster than the manual evaluation and with low (< 5 mm) deviation. We tested the hypothesis in 10 fractured proximal humeri and found that it performs with good accuracy (2.5 mm ± 2.4 mm averaged Euclidean distance) and speed (23 times faster). When applied to a distal humerus, a tibia plateau, and a scaphoid fracture, the run times were low (1–2 min), and the detected edges correct by visual judgement. In the geometrically complex acetabulum, at a run time of 78 min some outliers were considered acceptable. An automatically generated fracture probability heat map based on 50 proximal humerus fractures matches the areas of high risk of fracture reported in medical literature. Such automation of the fracture analysis method is advantageous and could be extended to reduce the manual effort even further. KW - Fracture classification KW - Shoulder KW - Probability distribution mapping KW - Morphing KW - Imaging Y1 - 2022 SN - 1350-4533 VL - 2022 IS - 110 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Henriques, A. A1 - Jurado, B. A1 - Grieser, M. A1 - Denis-Petit, D. A1 - Chiron, T. A1 - Gaudefroy, L. A1 - Glorius, J. A1 - Langer, Christoph A1 - Litvinov, Yu. A. A1 - Mathieu, L. A1 - Meot, V. A1 - Perez-Sanchez, R. A1 - Pibernat, J. A1 - Reifarth, R. A1 - Roig, O. A1 - Thomas, B. A. A1 - Thomas, B. A. A1 - Thomas, J. C. A1 - Tsekhanovich, I. T1 - Indirect measurements of neutron cross-secti at heavy-ion storage rings JF - Journal of Physics: Conference Series N2 - Cross sections for neutron-induced reactions of short-lived nuclei are essential for nuclear astrophysics since these reactions in the stars are responsible for the production of most heavy elements in the universe. These reactions are also key in applied domains like energy production and medicine. Nevertheless, neutron-induced cross-section measurements can be extremely challenging or even impossible to perform due to the radioactivity of the targets involved. Indirect measurements through the surrogate-reaction method can help to overcome these difficulties. The surrogate-reaction method relies on the use of an alternative reaction that will lead to the formation of the same excited nucleus as in the neutron-induced reaction of interest. The decay probabilities (for fission, neutron and gamma-ray emission) of the nucleus produced via the surrogate reaction allow one to constrain models and the prediction of the desired neutron cross sections. We propose to perform surrogate reaction measurements in inverse kinematics at heavy-ion storage rings, in particular at the CRYRING@ESR of the GSI/FAIR facility. We present the conceptual idea of the most promising setup to measure for the first time simultaneously the fission, neutron and gamma-ray emission probabilities. The results of the first simulations considering the 238U(d,d') reaction are shown, as well as new technical developments that are being carried out towards this set-up. Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1668/1/012019 VL - 1668 IS - Art. 012019 PB - IOP CY - Bristol ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Fleischhaker, Robert A1 - Evers, Jörg A1 - Dey, Tarak N. T1 - Phase modulation induced by cooperative effects in electromagnetically induced transparency JF - Physical Review A - Atomic, molecular, and optical physics N2 - We analyze the influence of dipole-dipole interactions in an electromagnetically induced transparency set up for a density at the onset of cooperative effects. To this end, we include mean-field models for the influence of local-field corrections and radiation trapping into our calculation. We show both analytically and numerically that the polarization contribution to the local field strongly modulates the phase of a weak pulse. We give an intuitive explanation for this local-field-induced phase modulation and demonstrate that it distinctively differs from the nonlinear self-phase-modulation that a strong pulse experiences in a Kerr medium. Y1 - 2010 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.82.013815 SN - 1050-2947 VL - 82 IS - 1 PB - AIP Publishing CY - Melville, NY ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Geimer, Konstantin A1 - Sauerborn, Markus A1 - Hoffschmidt, Bernhard A1 - Schmitz, Mark A1 - Göttsche, Joachim T1 - Test facility for absorber specimens of solar tower power plants JF - Advances in Science and Technology N2 - The Solar-Institute Jülich (SIJ) has initiated the construction of the first and only German solar tower power plant and is now involved in the accompanying research. The power plant for experimental and demonstration purposes in the town of Jülich started supplying electric energy in the beginning of 2008. The central receiver plant features as central innovation an open volumetric receiver, consisting of porous ceramic elements that simultaneously absorb the concentrated sunlight and transfer the heat to ambient air passing through the pores so that an average temperature of 680°C is reached. The subsequent steam cycle generates up to 1.5 MWe. A main field of research at the SIJ is the optimization of the absorber structures. To analyze the capability of new absorber specimens a special test facility was developed and set up in the laboratory. A high-performance near-infrared radiator offers for single test samples a variable and repeatable beam with a power of up to 320 kW/m² peak. The temperatures achieved on the absorber surface can reach more than 1000°C. To suck ambient air through the open absorber - like on the tower - it is mounted on a special blower system. An overview about the test facility and some recent results will be presented. Y1 - 2010 U6 - https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AST.74.266 N1 - 5th Forum on New Materials : CIMTEC 2010, Montecatini Terme, Italy 13-18 June 2010. Part C VL - 74 SP - 266 EP - 271 PB - Trans Tech Publications CY - Baech ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kern, Alexander A1 - Frentzel, Ralf A1 - Behrens, Jörg T1 - Simulation of the transient voltages in the auxiliary power network of a large power plant in case of a direct lightning strike to the high-voltage overhead transmission line N2 - Large power plants can be endangered by lightning strikes with possible consequences regarding their safety and availability. A special scenario is a lightning strike to the HV overhead transmission line close to the power plant's connection to the power grid. If then additionally a so-called shielding failure of the overhead ground wire on top of the overhead transmission line is assumed, i.e. the lightning strikes directly into a phase conductor, this is an extreme electromagnetic disturbance. The paper deals with the numerical simulation of such a lightning strike and the consequences on the components of the power plant's auxiliary power network connected to different voltage levels. KW - power generation KW - surges KW - conductors KW - arresters KW - power transmission lines KW - lightning Y1 - 2010 SN - 978-88-905519-0-1 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1109/ICLP.2010.7845756 N1 - 2010 30th International Conference on Lightning Protection (ICLP), 13-17 Sept. 2010, Cagliari, Italy SP - 749-1 EP - 749-7 PB - IEEE CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bouquegneau, Christian A1 - Kern, Alexander A1 - Rousseau, Alain T1 - Lightning safety guidelines N2 - This paper introduces lightning to the layman, noting the right behaviour in front of thunderstorms as well as protective measures against lightning. It also contributes to the prevention of lightning injuries and damages. This report was prepared by the authors inside the AHG1 Group for IEC TC81 (Lightning Protection). Y1 - 2010 N1 - Ground´2010 & 4th LPE, International Conference on Grounding and Earthing & 4th International Conference on Lightning Physics and Effects, Salvador - Brazil, November, 2010 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kern, Alexander A1 - Klöters, Georg A1 - Pferdemenges, Jörg T1 - Optimised protection against lightning for the signalling and safety systems of level crossings on non-electrified railway lines JF - RTR : European Rail Technology Review Y1 - 2010 SN - 0079-9548 VL - 50 IS - 2 PB - DVV Media Group CY - Hamburg ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kern, Alexander A1 - Schelthoff, Christof A1 - Mathieu, Moritz T1 - Probability of lightning strikes to air-terminations of structures using the electro-geometrical model theory and the statistics of lightning current parameters N2 - Planning the air-terminations for a structure to be protected the use of the rolling-sphere method (electro-geometrical model) is the best way from the physics of lightning point-of-view. Therefore, international standards prefer this method. However, using the rolling-sphere method only results in possible point-of-strikes on a structure without giving information about the probability of strikes at the individual points compared to others. KW - atmospheric modeling KW - probability distribution KW - lightning protection KW - standards KW - planning Y1 - 2010 SN - 978-88-905519-0-1 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1109/ICLP.2010.7845757 N1 - 2010 30th International Conference on Lightning Protection (ICLP), 13-17 Sept. 2010, Cagliari, Italy SP - 750-1 EP - 750-8 PB - IEEE CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Alexopoulos, Spiros A1 - Hoffschmidt, Bernhard T1 - Solar tower power plant in Germany and future perspectives of the development of the technology in Greece and Cyprus JF - Renewable Energy N2 - Since the 80s power production with solar thermal power plants has been a way to substitute fossil fuels. By concentrating direct solar radiation from heliostats very high temperatures of a thermal fluid can be reached. The resulting heat is converted to mechanical energy in a steam cycle which generates electricity. High efficiencies and fast start-up are reached by using air as a heat medium, as well as using porous ceramic materials as solar receiver of the concentrated sunlight. In Germany the construction of a 1.5 MWe solar tower power plant began in 2008. It is operational since December 2008 and started production of electricity in the spring of 2009. In Greece and Cyprus, countries with high solar potential, the development of this competitive solar thermal technology is imperative, since it has already been implemented in other Mediterranean countries. Y1 - 2010 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2009.11.003 SN - 0960-1481 VL - 35 IS - 7 SP - 1352 EP - 1356 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hoffschmidt, Bernhard A1 - Becker, Manfred A1 - Fend, Thomas T1 - Theoretical and numerical investigation of flow stability in porous materials applied as volumetric solar receivers / M. Becker ; T. Fend ; B. Hoffschmidt ... JF - Solar energy. 80 (2006), H. 10 Y1 - 2006 SN - 0038-092X N1 - Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems (SolarPACES’04) SP - 1241 EP - 1248 ER -