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Thermal Conductivity Enhancement of Doped Magnesium Hydroxide for Medium-Temperature Heat Storage: A Molecular Dynamics Approach and Experimental Validation (2024)
Journal Article
Kur, A., Darkwa, J., Worall, M., Calautit, J., & Boukhanouf, R. (2024). Thermal Conductivity Enhancement of Doped Magnesium Hydroxide for Medium-Temperature Heat Storage: A Molecular Dynamics Approach and Experimental Validation. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(20), Article 11139. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252011139

Magnesium hydroxide, Mg(OH)2, is recognized as a promising material for medium-temperature heat storage, but its low thermal conductivity limits its full potential application. In this study, thermal enhancement of a developed magnesium hydroxide-pot... Read More about Thermal Conductivity Enhancement of Doped Magnesium Hydroxide for Medium-Temperature Heat Storage: A Molecular Dynamics Approach and Experimental Validation.

Potential use of district heating networks and the prospects for the advancements within urban areas of Nottingham as a case study (2024)
Journal Article
Tien, P. W., Feng, Y., Worall, M., Tokbolat, S., Boukhanouf, R., Calautit, J., & Darkwa, J. (2024). Potential use of district heating networks and the prospects for the advancements within urban areas of Nottingham as a case study. Energy Reports, 12, 3904-3929. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2024.09.050

Buildings in urban areas significantly contribute to global energy consumption, necessitating solutions to reduce energy demands and mitigate environmental impacts. This study investigates district heating networks in urban areas, using Nottingham as... Read More about Potential use of district heating networks and the prospects for the advancements within urban areas of Nottingham as a case study.

Investigation of model predictive control (MPC) strategy for seasonal thermochemical energy storage system in a district heating network (2024)
Journal Article
Wei, Z., Tien, P. W., Calautit, J., Darkwa, J., Worall, M., & Boukhanouf, R. (2024). Investigation of model predictive control (MPC) strategy for seasonal thermochemical energy storage system in a district heating network. Applied Energy, 376(Part A), Article 124164

This research investigates the integration of model predictive control (MPC) with seasonal thermochemical energy storage systems (STES) within district heating networks, focusing on the Nottingham district heating network as a case study. The primary... Read More about Investigation of model predictive control (MPC) strategy for seasonal thermochemical energy storage system in a district heating network.

A Review of Thermochemical Energy Storage Systems for District Heating in the UK (2024)
Journal Article
Roger-Lund, S., Darkwa, J., Worall, M., Calautit, J., & Boukhanouf, R. (2024). A Review of Thermochemical Energy Storage Systems for District Heating in the UK. Energies, 17(14), Article 3389. https://doi.org/10.3390/en17143389

Thermochemical energy storage (TCES) presents a promising method for energy storage due to its high storage density and capacity for long-term storage. A combination of TCES and district heating networks exhibits an appealing alternative to natural g... Read More about A Review of Thermochemical Energy Storage Systems for District Heating in the UK.

Multi-objective integrated optimization of geothermal heating system with energy storage using digital twin technology (2024)
Journal Article
Guo, Y., Tang, Q., Darkwa, J., Wang, H., Su, W., Tang, D., & Mu, J. (2024). Multi-objective integrated optimization of geothermal heating system with energy storage using digital twin technology. Applied Thermal Engineering, 252, Article 123685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2024.123685

Heat energy storage technology plays a significant role in energy systems, and the various technological solutions brought about by digitalization are especially valuable in the field of energy storage. This article proposes an innovative model based... Read More about Multi-objective integrated optimization of geothermal heating system with energy storage using digital twin technology.

A novel prediction model for integrated district energy system based on secondary decomposition and artificial rabbits optimization (2024)
Journal Article
Guo, Y., Tang, Q., Darkwa, J., Duan, X., Su, W., Jia, M., & Mu, J. (2024). A novel prediction model for integrated district energy system based on secondary decomposition and artificial rabbits optimization. Energy and Buildings, 310, Article 114106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2024.114106

Energy predictions for buildings are the basis for energy efficiency and the implementation of smart technologies to cope with operational and energy planning issues in buildings, playing a crucial role in the implementation of environmental protecti... Read More about A novel prediction model for integrated district energy system based on secondary decomposition and artificial rabbits optimization.

Introducing a novel method for simulating stochastic movement and occupancy in residential spaces using time-use survey data (2023)
Journal Article
Zhang, R., Zhou, T., Ye, H., & Darkwa, J. (2024). Introducing a novel method for simulating stochastic movement and occupancy in residential spaces using time-use survey data. Energy and Buildings, 304, Article 113854. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2023.113854

In the context of growing concerns over energy consumption and sustainability, accurate modelling of occupancy patterns within residential buildings is critical. In this study, a novel stochastic occupancy model is introduced for simulating human beh... Read More about Introducing a novel method for simulating stochastic movement and occupancy in residential spaces using time-use survey data.

Enhancement of thermal and mechanical properties of microencapsulated phase change materials with graphene oxide (2023)
Journal Article
Hu, M., Wang, D., Kokogiannakis, G., Darkwa, J., Li, Y., Wang, L., Xu, Q., & Su, W. (2024). Enhancement of thermal and mechanical properties of microencapsulated phase change materials with graphene oxide. Chemical Engineering Journal, 479, Article 147855. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2023.147855

The low thermal conductivity of microencapsulated phase change materials (MEPCMs) limits the latent heat charging and discharging rates for various applications. To overcome this limitation, we prepared MEPCM by co-surfactants of polyvinyl alcohol an... Read More about Enhancement of thermal and mechanical properties of microencapsulated phase change materials with graphene oxide.

The effect of nucleating agent on the multiphase change materials for energy storage in buildings (2023)
Journal Article
Sinaga, R., Darkwa, J., Worall, M., & Su, W. (2024). The effect of nucleating agent on the multiphase change materials for energy storage in buildings. Applied Thermal Engineering, 239, Article 122153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2023.122153

Phase change materials (PCMs) have the potential to be used for widespread energy storage applications in buildings. However, available PCMs can only function at fixed phase transitional temperatures, restricting their seasonal applicability. To this... Read More about The effect of nucleating agent on the multiphase change materials for energy storage in buildings.

Development of Composite Microencapsulated Phase Change Materials for Multi-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage (2023)
Journal Article
Su, W., Darkwa, J., Zhou, T., Du, D., Kokogiannakis, G., Li, Y., …Gao, L. (2023). Development of Composite Microencapsulated Phase Change Materials for Multi-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage. Crystals, 13(8), Article 1167. https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13081167

Phase change energy storage materials have been recognized as potential energy-saving materials for balancing cooling and heating demands in buildings. However, individual phase change materials (PCM) with single phase change temperature cannot be ad... Read More about Development of Composite Microencapsulated Phase Change Materials for Multi-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage.

Experimental investigations into thermal performance of phase change emulsion in a fin-and-tube heat exchanger (2023)
Journal Article
Wei, C., Shao, J., & Darkwa, J. (2023). Experimental investigations into thermal performance of phase change emulsion in a fin-and-tube heat exchanger. International Journal of Low-Carbon Technologies, 18, 175–183. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijlct/ctad001

Phase change emulsions (PCMEs) are always identified as potential working fluids that could be used to reduce circulating pump energy consumption in chill water air conditioning systems. But how PCME behaves in a fin-and-tube heat exchanger is still... Read More about Experimental investigations into thermal performance of phase change emulsion in a fin-and-tube heat exchanger.

Solid–Gas Thermochemical Energy Storage Materials and Reactors for Low to High-Temperature Applications: A Concise Review (2023)
Journal Article
Kur, A., Darkwa, J., Calautit, J., Boukhanouf, R., & Worall, M. (2023). Solid–Gas Thermochemical Energy Storage Materials and Reactors for Low to High-Temperature Applications: A Concise Review. Energies, 16(2), Article 756. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16020756

Thermochemical energy storage materials and reactors have been reviewed for a range of temperature applications. For low-temperature applications, magnesium chloride is found to be a suitable candidate at temperatures up to 100 °C, whereas calcium hy... Read More about Solid–Gas Thermochemical Energy Storage Materials and Reactors for Low to High-Temperature Applications: A Concise Review.

Enhancing the detection performance of a vision-based window opening detector (2022)
Journal Article
Tien, P. W., Wei, S., Calautit, J., Darkwa, J., & Wood, C. (2022). Enhancing the detection performance of a vision-based window opening detector. Cleaner Energy Systems, 3, Article 100038. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cles.2022.100038

In favourable climates and building types, employing natural ventilation can lead to significant energy savings and health benefits. However, in cold climates or conditions, the use of natural ventilation could result in significant heat loss and, co... Read More about Enhancing the detection performance of a vision-based window opening detector.

Parametric study of a novel combination of solar chimney and radiative cooling cavity for natural ventilation enhancement in residential buildings (2022)
Journal Article
Suhendri, S., Hu, M., Su, Y., Darkwa, J., & Riffat, S. (2022). Parametric study of a novel combination of solar chimney and radiative cooling cavity for natural ventilation enhancement in residential buildings. Building and Environment, 225, Article 109648. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109648

The application of radiative cooling (RC) is expanding to a diverse research field, with some current studies trying to apply RC for natural ventilation. One proposed strategy is to use RC for the enhancement of solar chimney (SC) ventilation, and th... Read More about Parametric study of a novel combination of solar chimney and radiative cooling cavity for natural ventilation enhancement in residential buildings.

Experimental Investigation on Compressive Strength, Ultrasonic Characteristic and Cracks Distribution of Granite Rock Irradiated by a Moving Laser Beam (2022)
Journal Article
Kuang, L., Sun, L., Yu, D., Wang, Y., Chu, Z., & Darkwa, J. (2022). Experimental Investigation on Compressive Strength, Ultrasonic Characteristic and Cracks Distribution of Granite Rock Irradiated by a Moving Laser Beam. Applied Sciences, 12(20), Article 10681. https://doi.org/10.3390/app122010681

Efficient fracturing is the key issue for the exploitation of geothermal energy in a Hot Dry Rock reservoir. By using the laser irradiation cracking method, this study investigates the changes in uniaxial compressive strength, ultrasonic characterist... Read More about Experimental Investigation on Compressive Strength, Ultrasonic Characteristic and Cracks Distribution of Granite Rock Irradiated by a Moving Laser Beam.

Enhancement of Syngas Production in Co-Pyro-Gasification of Biomass and Plastic Waste Materials: Computational Study (2022)
Preprint / Working Paper
Darkwa, J., Kwawu, C., Corner, J., Kemausuor, F., Adei, E., Agyekum, K., & Boateng, I. D. Enhancement of Syngas Production in Co-Pyro-Gasification of Biomass and Plastic Waste Materials: Computational Study

The process of co-pyro-gasification of biomass and plastics appears to have the potential for increasing syngas production for power generation and thus minimizing the impact of plastic waste on the environment. This study was based on co-pyro-gasifi... Read More about Enhancement of Syngas Production in Co-Pyro-Gasification of Biomass and Plastic Waste Materials: Computational Study.

Evaluating urban heat island mitigation strategies for a subtropical city centre (a case study in Osaka, Japan) (2022)
Journal Article
Zheng, T., Qu, K., Darkwa, J., & Calautit, J. K. (2022). Evaluating urban heat island mitigation strategies for a subtropical city centre (a case study in Osaka, Japan). Energy, 250, Article 123721. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2022.123721

Urban heat island (UHI) effects were first observed in London in the 19th century. The urban heat island is identified by developing higher temperatures in urban areas than the surrounding rural areas that directly surround them. However, there are s... Read More about Evaluating urban heat island mitigation strategies for a subtropical city centre (a case study in Osaka, Japan).

The microencapsulation, thermal enhancement, and applications of medium and high-melting temperature phase change materials: A review (2022)
Journal Article
Sinaga, R., Darkwa, J., Omer, S. A., & Worall, M. (2022). The microencapsulation, thermal enhancement, and applications of medium and high-melting temperature phase change materials: A review. International Journal of Energy Research, 46(8), 10259-10300. https://doi.org/10.1002/er.7860

Microencapsulated phase change materials (MEPCMs) have made tremendous advancements in recent years, owing to their increased demand for a variety of energy storage applications. In this paper, current microencapsulation techniques, enhancement, and... Read More about The microencapsulation, thermal enhancement, and applications of medium and high-melting temperature phase change materials: A review.

Prospects of Bioenergy Production for Sustainable Rural Development in Ghana (2021)
Journal Article
Nelson, N., Darkwa, J., & Calautit, J. (2021). Prospects of Bioenergy Production for Sustainable Rural Development in Ghana. Journal of Sustainable Bioenergy Systems, 11(04), 227-259. https://doi.org/10.4236/jsbs.2021.114015

Biomass supplies about 80% of the energy needs for cooking and heating in rural Ghana. It is predominantly used in traditional and inefficient forms (firewood and charcoal), which presents environmental and health concerns. In order to better the liv... Read More about Prospects of Bioenergy Production for Sustainable Rural Development in Ghana.