Trends in Renewable Energy
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Prospects for Bioethanol Production from Macroalgae
Get PDFMacroalgae (mainly marine macroalgae, i.e. seaweeds) are considered as a very promising source for bioethanol production, because they have high carbohydrate contents, superior productivity, and wide adaptability. Macroalgae are generally grouped into three major categories: red, green, and brown algae. Each category has thousands of species, and each species possesses its unique cellular structure, biochemistry, and constitutes. Converting macroalgae to bioethanol involves pretreatment, saccharification, fermentation, and distillation; and the establishment of economic pretreatment methods is always the first key step for bioethanol production. In present, dilute-acid or alkali hydrolysis is typically used to treat macroalgal biomass. Macroalgae can be depolymerized under mild conditions as they have low lignin content. The resulting polysaccharides can be converted to ethanol through enzymatic hydrolysis, followed by adding bacteria, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and recombinant Escherichia coli KO11. Compared with the separate hydrolysis and fermentation process, the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process often provided higher ethanol titer and conversion efficiency. However, the research on bioethanol production from macroalgae is still in its early stage due to both technical and economic barriers, significant amount of research and development work is needed prior to the commercialization of bioethanol manufacture from macroalgae.Citation: Chen, J., Bai, J., Li, H., Chang, C., & Fang, S. (2015). Prospects for Bioethanol Production from Macroalgae. Trends in Renewable Energy, 1(3), 185-197. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.17737/tre.2015.1.3.001
Designing Broadband over Power Lines Networks Using the Techno-Economic Pedagogical (TEP) Method - Part II: Overhead Low-Voltage and Medium-Voltage Channels and Their Modal Transmission Characteristics
Get PDFBased on the techno-economic pedagogical (TEP) method proposed in [1] that is suitable for designing Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) networks in transmission and distribution power grids, this paper examines the broadband potential of overhead low-voltage/broadband over power lines (LV/BPL) and medium-voltage/broadband over power lines (MV/BPL) networks.In this paper, on the basis of the set of linear simplifications and techno-economic metrics already presented in [1], TEP method demonstrates to undergraduate electrical and computer engineering (ECE) students the behavior of overhead LV/BPL and MV/BPL networks in terms of their modal transmission characteristics when different overhead LV/BPL and MV/BPL topologies occur.The contribution of this paper is four-fold. First, the factors influencing modal transmission characteristics of overhead LV/BPL and MV/BPL networks are investigated with regard to their spectral behavior and end-to-end channel attenuation. Second, the impact of the multiplicity of branches at the same junction is first examined. In the light of cascaded two-way power dividers, TEP method is extended so as to cope with more complex BPL topologies offering a new simplified and accurate circuital approximation. Third, apart from the broadband transmission characteristics of the entire overhead distribution power grid, a consequence of the application of TEP method is that it helps towards the intraoperability/interoperability of overhead LV/BPL and MV/BPL systems under a common PHY framework in the concept of a unified distribution smart grid (SG) power network. Fourth, TEP method can be demonstrated to undergraduate ECE students as case study in order to stimulate their interest for Microwave Engineering and Circuit/System Engineering courses.Citation: Lazaropoulos, A. (2015). Designing Broadband over Power Lines Networks Using the Techno-Economic Pedagogical (TEP) Method - Part II: Overhead Low-Voltage and Medium-Voltage Channels and Their Modal Transmission Characteristics. Trends in Renewable Energy, 1(2), 59-86. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.17737/tre.2015.1.2.00
A Journal Run by Scientists
Get PDFWhile looking for a reputable publisher to propose my own journal, Mr. Beall's blog (http://scholarlyoa.com) astonished me. An accumulated list of over 740 Predatory Publishers (Beall 2012a, Beall 2012b) contains many names, which often show up in my email box.Is there any uncorrupted publishers? Yes, there are decent open-access publishers. Blue chip companies hosting hundreds of journals which charge $2000-5000 per accepted manuscript. Few small publishers charge a reasonable amount of money, but only can host less than ten journals due to limited sources.Can scientists operate our own journal? We surely can. We are trained to be able to learn anything. This kind of successful stories is rare, but always inspiring us. By launching this journal, I want to show our scientific attitudes.Our Scientific AttitudesA scientific journal should be run by scholars, scientists, researchers, and engineers. Since we are not businessmen, we mind scientific values.Making a good journal is the most important thing. I have seen that a SCI journal decreased its impact factor from 1.5 to 0.3 within 5 years, and understood how hard to maintain a reputable publication. The goal of this journal is to pass EI Compendex review within 5 years, and be included in SCI index within 7 years.In order to make a good journal and achieve these goals, it needs the collaborative effort among our editorial board members, authors, reviewers, and all contributors.We show respect for scholars. The first two volumes of the journal are free of any charge to authors. The length of this Article Processing Charge (APC) waive period may be extended, if the editorial board thought it's necessary.We show respect to our editors, editorial board members, and reviewers. After the APC waive period, we will waive APC for manuscripts submitted by our editorial team, and provide 50% discount to reviewers.Citation: Zhang, B. (2015). A Journal Run by Scientists. Trends in Renewable Energy, 1(1), 1-2. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.17737/tre.2015.1.1.00