Posters presented at the October 16, 2006 Deans’ Forum on Energy Security and Sustainability
Energy Research Applications: Buildings, Transportation
Buildings
32: Seeking Energy efficient Buildings - A Research Agenda
This poster summarizes recent and current research by Masters of Science and Ph.D. students in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies toward understanding and improving energy efficiency through building design and operations. The poster summarizes recent explorations including the performance of building integrated photovoltaic systems, new approaches to daylighting and case studies of green roofs.
Jim Jones, wolverine@vt.edu, 231-7647, Dept: Architecture, Mail code: 0205, Affiliation: faculty
41: Sustainability through Leadership
Environmental sustainability is an issue that the students of Virginia Tech can address through leadership in the following fields; Energy & Environment, Energy & Conservation, and Energy Buildings. The Environmental Sustainability group of the Tech Leadership Program is working to promote programs such as the Green Fee and the Campus Climate Challenge. Students can take the lead in energy and environmental issues, setting an example for others in the campus and town community. The university should invest in long-term energy efficiency and conservation programs such as the Talloires Declaration and LEED. These programs will allow the university to further invest in campus infrastructure such as energy buildings or green buildings. The long-term benefits of increased energy efficiency on campus far outweigh the up front costs. With all the current issues concerning the environment, it is crucial for the Virginia Tech leadership community to become involved and set an example that will change students’ perspectives on what the future can hold if we work to incorporate sustainability into our everyday lives. It is important to recognize that the students themselves can take on these issues and make changes at a local level that will have a global impact. The Environmental Sustainability group will work to inspire, motivate, and educate the Virginia Tech community on the issues of Energy & Environment, Energy & Conservation, and Energy Buildings so that we as a university and learning community can truly “invent the future.”
Caitlin Plunkett, cplunk04@vt.edu, (703) 498-8572, Affiliation: undergrad
Thomas Allen, tallen05@vt.edu, Affiliation: undergrad
Desiree Aaron, dcaaron@vt.edu, (757) 375-0662, Affiliation: undergrad
39: Impact of Emissions from Building Materials on Energy Use and Indoor Environment Quality
We are studying the impact of chemical emissions from building materials on indoor environmental quality and energy use, and developing low emitting materials for use in green buildings. Energy use in buildings comprises about one third of all energy used in the United States. In addition, the production, maintenance, renovation, and demolition and disposal of buildings represent 10% of US energy demand. In 1997, residential end-use consumption was responsible for about 15% of the total energy consumed nation-wide, of which more than 50% is related to heating. Despite the energy efficiency improvements achieved, building energy intensity remains a serious concern. The quality of indoor air has a bearing on health and impacts the quality of life. Indoor air quality can be improved by controlling the myriad pollutant sources, quantifying the economic impact of negative exposure, promoting environmentally sound design and construction practices, and through better education. Many chemicals encountered indoors (usually at substantially higher concentrations than outside) cause adverse sensory effects, giving rise to a sense of discomfort and other health impacts. The control of indoor air quality is often inadequate in spite of its significant effect on human health. This challenge is exacerbated with the drive to construct “air-tight” energy-efficient buildings and there is a conflict between strategies to reduce energy use and to create healthy buildings.
John Little, jcl@vt.edu, 231 8737, Dept: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Mail code: 0246, Affiliation: faculty
Ying Xu, xuying@vt.edu, 231 8737, Dept: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Mail code: 0246, Affiliation: graduate student
65: Architecture: The Reflection of Nature and Human Dwelling
Due to the growth of the global economy, the increase in the consumption of fossil fuel energy and natural resources has had many effects on the natural environment. One of them, the Green House Effect has dramatically changed the world’s climate. The unbalanced atmosphere has created many problems to the dwelling of mankind and other species. In the late 20th century, the green movement was begun to ensure that the development agenda informed the environmental agenda and was based upon a respect of ecological processes. Continuing in the new century, sustainable development becomes the new paradigm of the world economy development. In the architecture field, buildings use of energy is the highest percentage of the overall national energy production. On the other hand, buildings produce a lot of waste and pollution to the natural surrounding. Therefore, the knowledge of architecture sustainability is very important for the sustainable development. From these reasons, the poster possibly represents the utilization of clean energy sources and environmental friendly materials, the sufficient and efficient use of energy and resources, and the well management of waste and pollution. Moreover, the architecture still has a commitment to provide the quality of life for occupants and human community. The poster should reflect the dwelling of nature, human and architecture.
Kongkun Charoenvisal, kongkun_c@vt.edu, (540)8087995, Dept: Architecture, Mail code: 0205, Affiliation: graduate student
74: Energy and the Whole Community
Planning for energy in communities focuses on three sectors: buildings, transportation, and electricity. Once thought of as separate, they are converging with potential energy benefits. Building energy design once focused only on thermal envelope considerations. Now, Green Building protocols and some codes adopt a " Whole Building" approach, recognizing the growing energy consumption by appliances, lighting, and equipment in buildings. But the role that buildings play in community energy use goes well beyond the building's use. The building can play a significant role in distributed power generation through roof-top photovoltaics, micro-turbines, and fuel cells. And the location and layout of buildings affects transportation use and opportunities for transit. This poster illustrates the expanded role of buildings and community design, the so-called "Whole Community" approach, which can improve building energy efficiency, develop distributed, and promote efficient transportation.
John Randolph, energy@vt.edu, 7714, Mail code: 0113, Affiliation: faculty
86: Passive Thermal Residences: Case Studies
How can small buildings, without the assistance of mechanical systems, maintain thermal comfort for their occupants for longer portions of the year? This line of inquiry aims to explore methods of broadening the balance point, to include a range of temperatures, in the design of skin-load-dominated buildings. Specifically, the presentation includes built examples of residences, designed by the author, utilizing stack-effect cooling towers, shared shade, and cross ventilation for passive cooling; and innovative insulation strategies, direct gain, thermal mass, infiltration minimization, night insulation, and novel thermostat set point strategies. Particular attention will be paid to the often-overlooked support roles of thermal mass, tight construction, thermal resistance, siting, and aperture size. Mistakes, shortcomings, and lost opportunities in the design, construction, and operation of the buildings are included in order to explore problems associated with energy efficient residences. Most importantly, these passive thermal strategies are expressed architecturally and fashioned under the common umbrella of design in an effort to add a layer of meaning to the spaces they serve.
Michael Ermann, mermann@vt.edu, 540.231.1225, Dept: Architecture, Mail code: 0205, Affiliation: faculty
Joe Wheeler, joewheel@vt.edu, 540.231.7237, Dept: Architecture, Mail code: 0205, Affiliation: faculty
88: The Building of Tomorrow
Buildings are responsible for on the order of 40% of energy consumption in the United States, and nearly 68% of all electricity use . As such, they represent a significant impact on energy security as well as an opportunity to substantially improve sustainability. The 1.8 million residences and 170,000 commercial facilities built each year in the United States, along with the over 120 million existing commercial and residential facilities, represent a level of energy performance that is only a fraction of what is achievable by the Architecture/Engineering/Construction industry today. The diversity and complexity of our building systems increases the challenges in incorporating energy efficiency technologies into our built environment. The Myers-Lawson School of Construction is dedicated to transforming the industry toward creating high performance facilities and infrastructure systems that meet today’s needs without compromising the ability of future stakeholders to meet their own needs. Energy-related research, education, and outreach within the School focuses on: • Developing building system models that support a holistic approach on system design and control strategies • Investigating impacts of building systems among each other and use them to increase efficiency (heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, daylighting, window and envelope systems) • Developing new materials and material systems to support energy efficient building systems and construction practices • Developing new, high performance facility technologies and practices • Understanding how new technologies are commercialized, diffused, and adopted by building stakeholders to improve the performance of their facilities • Developing new cost and performance models to better predict the costs and benefits of green building practices • Designing systems to support the integration of sustainability as an objective of public sector capital project decision making • Educating current and future design and construction professionals about how to implement sustainability in professional practice
Georg Reichard, reichard@vt.edu, 540-818-4603, Dept: Building Construction, Mail code: 0156, Affiliation: faculty
104: The Virginia Tech Solar Decathlon Project: A Consumer Diffusion Model of Best-Practices in Energy Efficient Housing
This work describes Virginia Tech’s involvement in the DOE Solar Decathlon competition in 2002 and 2005. It highlights the lessons learned from designing two completely off-grid homes and those lessons that are transferable to contemporary consumer housing. This research focuses on a highly-integrated set of technologies involved in the collection, storage, management, and efficient use of solar-derived energy that will support a no-compromise lifestyle. Advanced material selection and its use are discussed based on performance and the ability of the material to respond to being renewable, recyclable, or having low embodied energy content. A kinetically responsive wall system is also described that allows the building enclosure to alter its physical state based on energy flows. While the focus of the competition was on an off-grid solution, the research emphasizes the grid-intertie and distributed power nature of the project as a way to maximize the economic benefit and the life-cycle energy collection of the PV system.
Bob Schubert, silver@vt.edu, 231-5607, Dept: Architecture, Mail code: 0205, Affiliation: faculty
Robert Dunay, dunayr@vt.edu, 231-9935, Dept: Architecture, Mail code: 0205, Affiliation: faculty
Joe Wheeler, joewheel@vt.edu, 231-7236, Dept: Architecture, Mail code: 0205, Affiliation: faculty
Mike Ellis, mwellis@vt.edu, 231-9102, Dept: Mechanical Engineering, Mail code: 0238, Affiliation: faculty
David Clark, daclark@vt.edu, 540-841-3241, Dept: Architecture, Mail code: 0205, Affiliation: graduate student
Transportation
28: Biodiesel - Fuel from Oilseed Crops
According to Daimler-Chrysler, diesel engines provide a 30% reduction in fuel consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% compared to gasoline engines. These benefits are further increased when biodiesel fuels are used, reducing our dependence on fossil fuels for transportation needs. Biodiesel reduces emissions of particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide. When biodiesel is made from vegetable oils, the biofuel component is carbon neutral resulting is less or the same amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the air as was stored in the plants. Because of oxygenation during the transesterification process to convert vegetable oils into biodiesel, the latter has higher cetane numbers than petrodiesel, an indication of diesel quality (similar to octane). Biodiesel typically has good lubricity, an important factor with todays low sulfur diesel requirements. There are about 65 production plants currently in the U.S. with a capacity to produce 395 million gallons of biodiesel per year. Any crop that produces oil is a candidate for use as biodiesel feedstock. In Virginia soybean is the leading candidate for use as biodiesel feedstocks with >500,000 acres of production. Research has shown that canola is another crop with good potential since it can be grown here and produces more oil on a per acre basis. Compared to soybean, canola has a lower content of saturated fatty acids resulting in a lower cloud point and better cold weather performance, and a lower iodine value resulting in greater biodiesel stability.
Fred Shokes, fshokes@vt.edu, 757-657-6450, Affiliation: faculty, Tidewater AREC
Harbans Bhardwaj, hbhardwj@vsu.edu, 804-524-6723, Affiliation: faculty, Virginia State University
Dave Starner, nparec@vt.edu, 540-672-2660, Affiliation: faculty, Northern Piedmont AREC
Michael Roberts, mrob@vt.edu, 804-733-2686, Affiliation: Extension Farm Management, Prince George County
29: Canola - An Alternative Oilseed Crop for Virginia With Good Biofuel Potential
Canola (Brassica napus L.) is a member of the Brassicaceae or mustard family and is similar to oilseed Rape. Rape was modified in Canada to make it edible by eliminating erucic acid and glucosinolates. The result was Canada oil, low acid rape, commonly known as canola. Seed of canola typically has 40-42% oil content but higher amounts are possible through breeding. Two varieties that are adapted to Virginia soils and climate, VSX-1 and VSX-2, have been developed at Virginia State University. Winter type canola varieties could replace wheat in a soybean-wheat-corn rotation. Summer types that are adapted to Virginia are under development and could some day replace soybean in the rotation. Soybean averages around 32 bu/A (1600 lb/A) and could produce about 320 lbs of oil per acre; whereas canola averages about 40 bu/A (2000 lb/A) in Virginia, and could yield up to 800 lb of oil per acre. With a lower content of saturated fatty acids and lower cloud point, biodiesel from canola feedstocks has better cold weather performance than soydiesel. With a lower iodine value canola biodiesel also has greater stability than soydiesel. Byproducts of vegetable oil biodiesel include meal and glycerin. Based on amino acid content canola meal has about 10% lower digestability than soybean meal but is usable in swine and poultry feeds. If processed into a food grade, the glycerin component can be a valuable byproduct and constitutes about 1/10 of the bioprocessing output.
Fred Shokes, fshokes@vt.edu, 757-657-6450, Affiliation: faculty, Tidewater AREC
Harbans Bhardwaj, hbhardwj@vsu.edu, 804-524-6723, Affiliation: faculty, Virginia State University
Dave Starner, nparec@vt.edu, 540-672-2660, Affiliation: faculty, Northern Piedmont AREC
Michael Roberts, mrob@vt.edu, 804-733-2686, Affiliation: Extension Farm Management, Prince George County
3: The Sustainable Mobility Laboratory
Sustainable mobility is a concept intended to describe ways of moving people and goods around while eliminating the ensuing environmental damage caused by vehicles and infrastructure. Rising prices and uncertain sources of oil present the massive challenge of shifting our entire transportation system to other sources of energy in the coming decades. In the U.S., the transportation sector is the largest emitter of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Furthermore, according to the World Health Organization, urban air pollution, whose main source is vehicle emissions, contributes to the deaths of over 700,000 people each year. In addition to consuming enormous amounts of resources and seriously degrading air quality, transportation also exacerbates many environmental and societal problems, such as water pollution, noise, erosion, and traffic. Resolving these problems will require an interdisciplinary approach that is hindered by the current definitions of areas of inquiry. To begin addressing the gaps in interdisciplinary education and research about mobility, technology, and the environment, we have created the Sustainable Mobility Lab. It is an inclusive, active website that introduces users to the diversity and challenges of the professionals engaged in sustainable mobility research and action. The Sustainable Mobility Lab contains three separate content modules: (1) race car simulation, (2) environment, and (3) mobility and your body. In the first module, the user designs a race car, selecting engine type, fuel, road surface, and weather, and then tests the car on a race track. The module integrates cutting-edge scientific and engineering models and data from the literature in an easily accessible format to allow users to explore the impacts of their choices. In the second and third modules, the user explores environmental and societal aspects of sustainable mobility. The Sustainable Mobility Lab’s interdisciplinary combination of transportation-related programs makes it a unique educational and research tool.
Linsey Marr, lmarr@vt.edu, 231-6071, Dept: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Mail code: 0246, Affiliation: faculty
Lisa Schweitzer, lschwei@vt.edu, 231-1128, Dept: UAP, Mail code: 0113, Affiliation: faculty
John Lindoes, jlinford@vt.edu, Dept: Comp Science, Affiliation: graduate student
18: The INTEGRATION Modeling Framework for Estimating Mobile Source Energy Consumption and Emission Levels
Transportation network improvements are commonly evaluated by estimating average speeds from a transportation/traffic model and converting them into emission estimates using an environmental model such as MOBILE or EMFAC. Unfortunately, recent research has demonstrated that average speed, and perhaps even simple estimates of the amount of delay and the number of vehicle stops on a roadway, is insufficient to fully capture the environmental impacts of alternative transportation scenarios. Specifically, for the same average speed, one can observe widely different instantaneous speed and acceleration profiles, each resulting in very different fuel consumption and emission levels. In an attempt to address this limitation, the paper presents the INTEGRATION model framework for quantifying the environmental impacts of transportation alternatives. The model combines car-following, vehicle dynamics, lane changing, energy, and emission models to estimate mobile source emissions directly from instantaneous speed and acceleration levels. The validity of the model is demonstrated using sample test scenarios that include traveling at a constant speed, traveling at variable speeds, stopping at a stop sign, and traveling along a signalized arterial. The study also demonstrates that an adjustment in driver aggressiveness can provide environmental benefits that are equivalent to the benefits of adaptive traffic signal control.
Hesham Rakha, hrakha@vt.edu, 540-231-1505, Mail code: 0118, Affiliation: faculty
Kyoungho Ahn, kahn@vt.edu, 540-238-8457, Mail code: 0118, Affiliation: postdoc
40: Fuel Economy Standards and Risk in the Automotive Industry
U.S. vehicles account for 10 percent of worldwide oil use and over 40 percent of U.S. oil consumption. The federal government regulates automobile efficiency through the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. One of the main arguments against CAFE standards is that they put U.S. automakers and autoworkers at a competitive disadvantage. This work examined the impact fuel economy standards have on automakers and autoworkers. Congress established the first CAFE standards in 1975 as a direct result of the Arab oil embargo. CAFE standards have kept fuel economy levels above the level market forces alone would have achieved and have served as a floor on fuel economy. The recent surge in gas prices has again inspired Congress to try and reduce our oil dependence. The automotive industry is an important part of the economy, accounting for 10 percent of all U.S. jobs. There are many risks in the industry that must be considered. Producing automobiles is a very capital intensive and complex process that is affected by long product cycles, government regulation, and a relatively elastic demand. CAFE standards should be set based on economic and engineering analysis and should give automakers time to respond. Although CAFE standards impact individual vehicle efficiency, they do not prepare automakers for future high gas prices or reduce automotive oil consumption. Domestic automakers are dependent on sport utility and truck sales. And because of a shift toward larger vehicles, our overall fuel economy has declined. To improve fuel efficiency and reduce future risks to the auto industry, the federal government should create a consumer incentive to complement the CAFE standards. This incentive should encourage all consumers to purchase more efficient vehicles. To avoid straining the federal treasury, a feebate system that rewards buyers of fuel-efficient vehicles and penalizes buyers of inefficient vehicles is recommended.
Irene Berry, iberry@vt.edu, (540)232-1067, Dept: Mechanical Engineering, Mail code: 0238, Affiliation: undergrad
42: Retroactive Conversion of a Commercial Vehicle to Drive-by-Wire
In the automobile industry, rapid technological advances are constantly improving the sustainability of our transportation network. However, the vast majority of vehicles use outdated technology. It is important to recognize which new technologies can be retrofit to older cars and have a significant impact on sustainability. Our research specifically focuses on providing older cars with the proper equipment to use active cruise control (ACC). ACC is any speed and/or direction control system on a vehicle that automatically reacts to the environment. The benefits of such a system include engine performance matching to road conditions and smoother traffic flow. Predictive cruise control (PCC) is a particular form of ACC estimated to decrease CO2 emissions by 10% on highways1 by adapting driving to road grades. Studies on traffic jam behavior suggest that if anywhere from 10-20% of vehicles on the road are equipped with ACC, it would eliminate traffic jams caused by high volume traveling at high speeds2. The first step of retrofitting an older car with ACC is converting the vehicle to drive-by-wire. Drive-by-wire allows a processing unit to control the vehicle. The researchers set out to retrofit a 2004 Cadillac SRX with a robust drive-by-wire system. The conversion was successfully completed and the drive-by-wire components preformed excellently, with some systems performing better than the stock driving systems. The system was tested with a primitive ACC program. This research proves that the concept of retrofitting vehicles with robust drive-by-wire technology is possible. The practicality of the overall system will no doubt improve as future design revisions are completed. If this technology was readily available to the public coupled with a sensor and software package for ACC , it would reduce emissions and fuel consumption. The opportunity to make a significant improvement to the sustainability of our vehicles is close at hand.
Shawn Kimmel, skimmel@vt.edu, 703-509-0537, Affiliation: graduate student
45: Power Electronics, Energy, and Environment
Power Electronics is key enabling technology for every aspect of electric energy, including its generation from alternative resources, its transmission and distribution, as well as its consumption. Study shows a projected modest increase in adoption rate of power electronics for loads alone by 2010 will result in 2.3 billion barrels of crude oil savings per year, hugely impacting the energy sustainability and environment. In order to fully realize the potentials of power electronics, significant technical and economical challenges remain. Fundamental and applied research on power electronics technologies are required to improve performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. This poster will explain the relationships between power electronics, energy and environment. It will highlight research activities and achievements at Center for Power Electronics Systems (CPES) in many different application areas including high efficient load management (IT, lighting, variable speed motor drives), transportation (electric cars, airplanes, and ships), and renewable energy systems. CPES is a global leader in power electronics research and only NSF engineering research center at Virginia Tech. We have five partner universities with Virginia Tech as the lead institution, over 80 industry sponsors, 32 faculty members covering 6 disciplines, 10 research staff, and 146 research students. With annual research funding of $7M, we conduct multidisciplinary research in power electronics, ranging from materials, semiconductor devices, packaging, thermal, and sensors, to circuits, controls, and application systems. Since its inception in 1998, CPES has graduated 88 PhD and 147 MS students, published over 1500 technical papers, generated 40 patents, and developed 14 new courses.
Fred Wang, wangfred@vt.edu, 231-8915, Dept: Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mail code: 0179, Affiliation: faculty
Fred Lee, fclee@vt.edu, 231-7716, Dept: Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mail code: 0179, Affiliation: faculty
Dushan Boroyevich, dushan@vt.edu, 231-4381, Dept: Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mail code: 0179, Affiliation: faculty
Khai Ngo, kdtn@vt.edu, 231-2360, Dept: Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mail code: 0179, Affiliation: faculty
Hardus Odendaal, hardus@ieee.org, 231-6560, Dept: Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mail code: 0179, Affiliation: faculty
Ming Xu, mingxu@vt.edu, 231-2969, Dept: Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mail code: 0179, Affiliation: faculty
G.Q Lu, gqlu@vt.edu, 231-8686, Dept: Materials Science and Engineering 00, Mail code: 0237, Affiliation: faculty
Rolando Burgos, rolando@vt.edu, 231-1175, Dept: Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mail code: 0179, Affiliation: faculty
Shuo Wang, shwang6@vt.edu, 231-7497, Dept: Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mail code: 0179, Affiliation: faculty
46: Design Process, Fuel Selection, and Vehicle Characteristics of the Virginia Tech E85 Hybrid Electric Vehicle
This poster documents the vehicle design process, fuel selection, and vehicle characteristics of the Hybrid Electric Vehicle Team (HEVT) of Virginia Tech’s E85 (85% ethanol) fueled hybrid electric vehicle. The poster displays the different fuel options available to HEVT for the Challenge X competition and outlines the team’s selection of E85 as the best fuel source. Lower petroleum use is highlighted as one of the deciding factors for the selection of E85. The vehicle is also hybridized to further reduce fuel consumption. E85 production methods are discussed, as well as what E85 means to the consumer.
Doug Nelson, Doug.Nelson@vt.edu, 231-4324, Dept: Mechanical Engineering, Mail code: 0238, Affiliation: faculty
Kurt Johnson, kj@vt.edu, 231-7457, Dept: Mechanical Engineering, Mail code: 0238, Affiliation: graduate student
Steve Boyd, sb@vt.edu, 231-7457, Dept: Mechanical Engineering, Mail code: 0238, Affiliation: graduate student
52: Advanced Technology Vehicle Fleet Impact Assessment Study
The latest conventional passenger vehicles using petroleum-based fuels have very low tailpipe and evaporative emissions relative to previous generation vehicles. On the other hand, fuel economy has hardly increased over the same period and fleet-average fuel economy has actually decreased since more vehicles are classified as light duty trucks (LDTs; sport utility vehicles and minivans) and are used for daily transportation. Growing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per year increases our dependence on imported oil (rising toward 60%) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from combustion of hydrocarbon fossil fuels. Also, most of the vehicle environmental impact (over 90%) comes from fuel or energy use. Advanced technology vehicles (ATVs), such as hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), flexible-fuel vehicles (FFV) using E85 or gasoline in any combination, and fuel cell vehicles (FCV) using compressed hydrogen gas (CHG), have several advantages compared to conventional vehicles; better fuel economy, less GHG emissions, and lower tailpipe emissions. Therefore, the objective of this study is to asses the overall environmental impact from a sales fleet vehicle application for these ATVs and alternative fuels compared to conventional vehicles and petroleum-based fuels. For this study, vehicle use patterns are surveyed from four selected regions; Atlanta, GA, San Diego, CA, Chicago, IL, and the mountain west, as a reference. Also, this study identifies those vehicles (including conventional gasoline vehicles) and their characteristics that have most significant impact on the analysis and conclusions. After this study, additional field testing for selected vehicles will be performed to collect and analyze data on fuel/energy use.
Doug Nelson, Doug.Nelson@vt.edu, 231-4324, Dept: Mechanical Engineering, Mail code: 0238, Affiliation: faculty
>Jeongwoo Lee, jeongwoo@vt.edu, 231-6801, Dept: Mechanical Engineering, Mail code: 0238, Affiliation: graduate student
59: Hydrogen Fuel Cell Auxiliary Power Unit for Transportation Applications
Finding alternatives to oil in the transportation sector is a critical task due to the diminishing supply of oil and the threat that global warming poses to the environment. The Hybrid Electric Vehicle Team (HEVT) of Virginia Tech has addressed both of these issues through the development of a demonstration hydrogen fuel cell auxiliary power unit (APU). HEVT’s fuel cell APU is designed to provide 12 V electrical power to a vehicle, replacing the inefficient engine/alternator with a more efficient system. In addition, the APU provides a mobile 120 V A/C supply that is ideal for use during camping, tailgating, and other events that require AC electrical power. Finally, this APU provides an excellent demonstration to educate the public on how an automotive hydrogen fuel cell system works. Hydrogen fuel cells provide for a promising alternative to oil for transportation energy needs. When made from renewable energy sources or clean nuclear energy, hydrogen serves as a clean energy carrier for automobiles. Adding to this cleanliness, the only emission from a hydrogen fuel cell is pure water. Experts have posed that the world will hit a peak in oil production sometime within the next 5 to 40 years. This pivotal period, known as Peak Oil, will mark when oil demand will exceed the world’s ability to produce oil leading to an unprecedented soaring of energy costs. Through alternative energy research, HEVT is working to help solve the world’s energy and environment problems, and train the future generation of engineers that will have no choice but to find solutions.
Doug Nelson, Doug.Nelson@vt.edu, 231-4324, Dept: Mechanical Engineering, Mail code: 0238, Affiliation: faculty
Bryan Shevock, bshevock@vt.edu, 231-6801, Dept: Mechanical Engineering, Mail code: 0238, Affiliation: graduate student
69: Exergy Analysis and Large-Scale Optimization for the Development and Operation of High-performance Aircraft
This work entails the development and application of exergy analyses and various decomposition strategies for the integrated large-scale synthesis/design and operational analysis and optimization of high performance aircraft. Work to date has focused not only on the energy-based subsystems and components of such aircraft but on the inclusion of such non-energy based subsystems as the airframe. Applications include both supersonic and hypersonic vehicles as well as morphing aircraft. Optimal syntheses/designs are arrived at by flying the vehicles through complex missions which test the overall vehicles ability to optimally meet all the mission requirements. Exergy analyses are carried out with varying degrees of fidelity from that required for the high-fidelity application of CFD to the airframe aerodynamics to that required in the high- to medium-fidelity semi-empirical and first principle models of both the energy and non-energy based subsystems of the vehicles.
Michael von Spakovsky, vonspako@vt.edu, 231-6684, Dept: Mechanical Engineering, Mail code: 0238, Affiliation: faculty
74: Energy and the Whole Community
Planning for energy in communities focuses on three sectors: buildings, transportation, and electricity. Once thought of as separate, they are converging with potential energy benefits. Building energy design once focused only on thermal envelope considerations. Now, Green Building protocols and some codes adopt a " Whole Building" approach, recognizing the growing energy consumption by appliances, lighting, and equipment in buildings. But the role that buildings play in community energy use goes well beyond the building's use. The building can play a significant role in distributed power generation through roof-top photovoltaics, micro-turbines, and fuel cells. And the location and layout of buildings affects transportation use and opportunities for transit. This poster illustrates the expanded role of buildings and community design, the so-called "Whole Community" approach, which can improve building energy efficiency, develop distributed, and promote efficient transportation.
John Randolph, energy@vt.edu, 7714, Mail code: 0113, Affiliation: faculty
78: The Answer to Our Vehicle Energy Problem is Here: the Flex-Fuel, Plug-In Hybrid-Electric Vehicle
Our vehicle energy problem is characterized by poor fuel economy, over-reliance on petroleum fuels, urban air pollution, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Much research has focused on long term solutions, but hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are a long way off, require new fueling infrastructure, and may not be very efficient; all-electric vehicles require long recharge times; and other alternative fuel vehicles have similar problems. One technology option has emerged that addresses all of the current vehicle problems and is remarkably close to being available today: the flex-fuel plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (FFPHEV). The FFPHEV uses a flex-fuel engine that is designed to operate on gasoline or various ethanol-gasoline blends up to E-85; American automakers have developed this FF engine and sell 1 million of them each year. It is a hybrid having an electric motor to supplement the fuel engine. Hybrid vehicles are exploding on the market today. But the FFPHEV also has an extra bank of batteries so that its electric motor will dominate use is low-load urban driving. The extra batteries are recharged by plugging into the grid overnight. This poster illustrates the benefits and costs of an aggressive movement to this technology, including high gasoline fuel efficiency (up to 1000 mpg) and lower oil imports, lower per mile energy costs, zero to ultra-low urban vehicle emissions, reduced GHG emissions, and better use of the power grid and of renewable and distributed electricity sources.
John Randolph, 231-7714, Mail code: 0113, Affiliation: faculty
79: Branched Polysulfone Ionomers as Potential Membranes for Ionic Polymer Transducers as Low Energy DevicesB
Electromechanical transduction is the phenomenon which couples an electrical potential applied across a conducting material with a resulting mechanical response. Ionic polymer transducers (IPT), flexible devices based on this coupling of physical domains, are composed of ion-conducting polymer membranes saturated with an ion-conducting diluent, an interpenetrating electrode layer, and an electrically conductive surface layer. IPTs attract attention in the area of alternative energy sources due to their ability to produce electrical current (i.e. μAmps) under repeated mechanical deformation. The magnitude of the current that IPTs generate lends itself to employment in long-term power harvesting and for powering low-energy devices. The variable size, very low weight, and flexibility of IPTs could allow for configurations incorporating them into vehicle tires, clothing, biomedical devices, and even wind power harvesting. Additional benefits of IPTs in such applications are the ability to provide sensing data through the generated current and/or to act as low-force actuators under an applied electrical potential. The majority of existing IPT technology and applications are based on the ion-conducting membrane NafionTM. The goal of my research is to synthetically develop a branched ionomer that is more compatible with existing ionic liquid[1] and electrode[2] technology, displays higher saturated modulus, shows longer lifetime under actuation, and attains higher ionic conductivity (i.e. resulting in greater energy density) than is presently achieved using NafionTM. The ionomer under investigation is synthesized from an oligomeric sulfonated polysulfone[3] (A2) and tris(4-fluorophenyl) phosphine oxide (B3). Incorporation of oligomeric A2 units in A2 + B3 reactions of other systems[4,5] demonstrated a method to increase mechanical properties while also providing a highly-branched system with a high concentration of end-groups subject to further functionalization. Selection of the proper end-group chemistry may aid in tuning the surface and bulk properties for better compatibility with other IPT components. Overall this system presents an opportunity to observe how the introduction of controlled degrees of branching into an engineering grade ionomer affects the morphology, physical properties, and ability to perform as a transducer membrane in various low-energy and/or power harvesting applications. 1 Bennett, M.D., Leo, D.J. “Ionic liquids as stable solvents for ionic polymer transducers.” Sensors and Actuators A 2004, 115, 79-90. 2 Akle, B.J., Bennett, M.D., Leo, D.J. “High-strain ionomeric – ionic liquid composites via electrode tailoring.” J. ASME. 2004, 1-9. 3 Harrison, W., Hickner, M.A., Kim, Y.S., McGrath, J.E. “Poly(Arylene Ether Sulfone) Copolymers and Related Systems from Disulfonated Monomer Building Blocks: Synthesis, Characterization, and Performance – A Topical Review.” Fuel Cells 2005, 5, 201-212. 4 Lin, Q., Unal, S., Fornof, A.R., Yilgor, I., Long, T.E. “Highly Branched Poly(arylene ether)s via Oligomeric A2 + B3 Strategies.” Macr. Chem. Phys. 2006, 207, 576-586. 5 Unal, S., Yilgor, I., Yilgor, E., Sheth, J.P., Wilkes, G.L., Long, T.E. “A New Generation of Highly Branched Polymers: Hyperbranched, Segmented Poly(urethane urea) Elastomers.” Macromolecules 2004, 37, 7081-7084.
©2006
Virginia Tech Deans’ Task Force on Energy Security and Sustainability