Abstract: The course and results of experimental studies of efficient methane separation from mining gases mixture, performed at a pilot plant, are presented in the paper. It was indicated and justified that appropriate modifications should be realized in the vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA) method along with (PSA) method for improving of efficient technology of methane recovery from coal mine methane gas. Those studies were preceded by experiments at laboratory scale. The results of experiments at pilot scale created bases for preliminary assumptions for the planned project of industrial scale installation. The pilot plant was made in the Coal Mine "Pniówek" J.S.W. S.A., Silesian Basin, Poland, where in the raw gas from drainage methane gas from coal beds are: on average about 53 vol% CH₄, as well as nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide. On the basis of experimentally established optimum work conditions of the pilot plant the gas was enriched forming the methane-rich gas 96 vol% CH₄. Then the efficiency of methane separation reached 90-92% while the re-circulated methane to feed gas ratio changed within q=1.0 – 1.2. High-methane gas of such good quality, obtained at so high recovery efficiency, can be introduced to the high-methane gas network.

Abstract: Flame and effective gas temperatures are key variables that need to be accurately determined before analysis of heat transfer in the radiant section of fired heaters can be meaningfully undertaken. To facilitate the calculation of these temperatures, appropriate equations were derived using two Computer Matlab programmes specially written for the purpose. A third programme was also written for the solution of the derived equations using the Newton-Raphson method. The whole calculation procedure was illustrated by an example worked out for an actual process heater used in a crude oil topping unit.

Abstract: In this paper, production of biodiesel from mixed feedstock oil (MFO) by three-step method and optimization of the process were studied by using regressive analysis. The random mixer of different oil was used for biodiesel preparation. The MFO contains 12 wt% free fatty acid (FFA) and its viscosity was 67.5 mm²/s. Because of higher FFA content transesterification method can’t be applied, so three-step method was conducted for biodiesel preparation. In the three-step method, the first step was saponification of the oil followed by acidification to produce FFA and finally esterification of FFA to produce biodiesel. In the saponification reaction, various reaction parameters such as oil to sodium hydroxide molar ratio and reaction time were optimized. Produced sodium soap was acidified with excess molar ratio of HCl to produced FFA. In the esterification reaction, produced FFA was reacted with methanol in presence of acid catalyst and the FFA content was reduced to 0.98wt%. A factorial design was studied based on viscosity for esterification reaction and developed to obtain the higher yield of biodiesel. Finally various properties of biodiesel such as FFA content, viscosity, specific gravity, cetane index, pour point etc. were measured and compared with biodiesel and petro-diesel standard.

Abstract: The Technology Roadmapping Method (TRM) is a widely used method in the industry for the development of long term planning strategies, enabling to align market, product and technology over time. This article presents a survey about the uses of this tool regarding to studies on renewable energy in the World and Brazil. The TRM has proven useful efforts in organizing and guiding Reseach, Development and Innovation (R, D & I) in order to achieve the desired goals for each example. In Brazil, the highlight was the works of the SENAI/PR and CGEE.

Abstract: The possibility of development of new coating materials based on oligopiperylene styrene modified with alkoxysilane and galvanic sludge as a pigment-filler is presented in this article. The nanostructure of the coating surface and the influence of the composition and nature of the components of paint and varnish materials on its property are studied. These materials are intended for protection buildings from the effects of adverse factors.