Sustainable ecosystem design for electro-fuels derived from waste streams

未来的运输将由船上的电能储存和可持续的化学燃料混合提供动力。为了可持续，燃料必须来自可持续的来源，并且在为车辆提供动力的化学转化过程中不排放有害排放。已经提出了一些解决方案，包括使用电解水、生物衍生燃料和合成燃料(有时称为电子燃料)产生的氢气。所有这些方案各有利弊，在该行业可能并列存在，以满足不同的需求。在这个项目中，我们将调查利用废物行业排放的废气的机会。气体排放，主要是各种废物流分解产生的甲烷，具有很高的温室气体特征，对全球变暖有很大贡献。将这些废物转化为燃料，有可能提供净碳负值的可持续能源。将采取系统办法，调查废流、转化过程和最终用途的总影响，以便对各种备选方案进行有力的影响评估。将使用过程建模技术来调查废物处理方案，包括能源、资本和运营成本。将确定创新系统级解决方案的机会，以加强这一过程，并可能导致实验室工作，以进一步研究潜在的解决方案。该项目涵盖广泛的主题和复杂系统概念的相互作用。应聘者应该能够在系统层面上思考，并在模拟和实验室环境中都能适应。

Future transport will be powered by a mixture of on board electrical energy storage and sustainable chemical fuels. To be sustainable, the fuel must originate from a sustainable source and not emit harmful emissions during the chemical transformation process to motive power on the vehicle. A number of solutions have been proposed, including the use of hydrogen derived from the electrolysis of water, bio derived fuels and synthetic fuels (sometimes referred to electrofuels). All these options have merits and demerits and may be present in the sector side by side fulfilling different needs.In this project, the opportunity to use the emissions from the waste industry will be investigated. Gaseous emission, mainly methane from the decomposition of various waste streams have a very high greenhouse gas signature and in contribute significantly to global warming. Conversion of these waste products to a fuel has the potential of delivering a sustainable energy source that is net carbon negative. A systems approach will be taken, investigating the total impact of the waste stream, conversion process and end use to provide a robust impact assessment of various options. Process modelling techniques will be used to investigate waste treatment options including energy, capital and operational costs. Opportunities for innovative system level solutions to enhance the process will be identified and may lead to laboratory work to further investigate potential solutions.This project covers a broad subject and the interplay of complex system concepts. A candidate will be expected to be able to think at a systems level and be comfortable in both the simulation and laboratory environments.