Editorial

Abstract

technology develops and the way in which a person lives is improved, services and products become affordable to a greater number of people. The modern times brings not only comfort but also pollution. A lot of attention has been given to greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, air quality and how their effects can be mitigated and reversed. However, solid waste is also a source of pollution that must be addressed. According to the Unites States Environmental Protection Agency, 292.4 million tons of municipal solid waste was generated in 2018, the equivalent of 4.9 pounds per person per day. According to the same agency, 32.1% of that amount were recycled or composted. Energy recovery from combustion is a process used as one of the waste management strategies. Solid vegetable waste is shown to be a promising source of sustainable energy. Pyrolysis is a process that convert solid vegetable waste into chemicals as for example, crude oil and coal. Forest residues is gaining interest as a bioenergy feedstock that could avoid competition for land, reduce GHG emissions and contribute to meeting the renewable energy targets of the European Renewable Energy Directive. Pyrolysis and energy recovery from combustion is an attractive option for forest residue management in situations where allocating spaces for landfills is challenging and there is need of more efficient methods of generating energy from waste. Recent studies demonstrate that even forest residues with varying level of moisture can be a viable option for power generation using a Rankine cycle with cogeneration, where not only power is delivered but also heat is used in industrial processes.

The mission of Thermal Engineering is to document the scientific progress in areas related to thermal engineering (e.g., energy, oil and renewable fuels). We are confident that we will continue to receive articles’ submissions that contribute to the progress of science.