Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Mohammad Hosseinpour; Hassan Ali Ozgoli; Seyed Alireza Haji Seyed Mirza Hosseini; Amir Hooman Hemmasi; Ramin Mehdipour
Abstract
In this study, the partial alteration of fuel consumption of combined cycle power plants was investigated and analyzed using an innovative model. This system is applicable using the fuel derived from the biomass gasification process. For this purpose, energy modeling of an advanced gasification system ...
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In this study, the partial alteration of fuel consumption of combined cycle power plants was investigated and analyzed using an innovative model. This system is applicable using the fuel derived from the biomass gasification process. For this purpose, energy modeling of an advanced gasification system to supply a share of the gas fuel was fulfilled. The results demonstrated that by considering the reasonable capacities for the design, up to 10 % of natural gas fuel could be replaced with syngas. In addition, heat recovery of the plant stack in the Kalina low-temperature cycle enhanced the total efficiency by up to 1.7 %. Therefore, the competitive advantage of the proposed cycle was enhanced compared to conventional power generation systems. A parametric study of the components affecting the integrated cycle performance including alternative biomass fuels, moisture content of biomass fuel, steam-to-biomass ratio, and equivalence ratio of the gasifier was performed, and the permissible values of each factor were obtained. Thus, by utilizing the proposed approach, it is possible to gradually substitute the consumed fossil fuels of power plants with renewable resources to achieve the objectives of sustainable energy development.
Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Samir Tabet; Razika Ihaddadene; Belhi Guerira; Nabila Ihaddadene
Abstract
Dust accumulation on PV surface panels is a crucial factor affecting their performance. It is more frequently noted in the desert zones. The effect of dust on the electrical behavior of damaged PV panels was investigated in this study. Three panels are used: the degraded panels (with and without dust) ...
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Dust accumulation on PV surface panels is a crucial factor affecting their performance. It is more frequently noted in the desert zones. The effect of dust on the electrical behavior of damaged PV panels was investigated in this study. Three panels are used: the degraded panels (with and without dust) and the reference panels; they are located in an industrial zone with a continental climate (Bordj Bou Arréridj, Algeria). The I-V and P-V characterization and degradation mechanism visualization are used. Also, a numerical simulation was conducted to calculate the five parameters of the three modeled PV panels (diode ideality factor (a), series resistance (Rs), Shunt resistance (Rp), photocurrent (Ipv), and diode saturation current (I0)). These parameters were utilized for the first time to study the impact of dust on their degradation rate and the PV panel behavior. The degradation rate and the annual degradation rate of each parameter are affected by dust differently. The power degradation rate is increased by 5.45%. The Isc and Imax degradation rates are climbed by 6.97% and 6.0%, respectively. Vmax and Voc degradation rates decrease by 1.20% and 0.35%, respectively. Dust increased the rate of degradation for a, Iph, and I0 by 4.12%, 6.99%, and 68.17%, respectively. For Rs and Rp, the degradation rate was reduced by 4.51% and 20.01%, respectively. An appropriate netoiling approach must be considered because dust, even in non-desert areas and industrial zones, has a significant impact on the electrical characteristics degradation of a PV panel.
Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Anupama Subhadarsini; Babita Panda; Byamakesh Nayak
Abstract
The solar photovoltaic system is modeled in Simulink using Matlab. Boost converter, FOTIDC controller, and Reduced Switch Multilevel Inverter are all included in this PV system (RSMLI). With regard to solar photovoltaic systems, the focus of this study is on the Fractional Order Tilt Integral Derivative ...
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The solar photovoltaic system is modeled in Simulink using Matlab. Boost converter, FOTIDC controller, and Reduced Switch Multilevel Inverter are all included in this PV system (RSMLI). With regard to solar photovoltaic systems, the focus of this study is on the Fractional Order Tilt Integral Derivative Controller (FOTIDC). In the suggested control technique, Hybrid Genetic Particle Swarm Jaya Optimization is used to optimize the control parameters (HGPSJO). Jaya Optimization (JO) is a hybrid of the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Genetic Algorithm (GA), and GA/PSO algorithm optimization techniques, combining the best of each for improved control executions. Control performance is enhanced using a fractional calculus-based technique to redesign the Tilt Integral Derivative Controller (TIDC) in order to reduce noise and harmonic distortions. Harmonic distortion and voltage magnitude are reduced by applying the proposed control method to the PV system. Simulated Matlab environments are used to test the stability, robustness, and stability of the proposed system as well as its capacity to reduce harmonic distortions. It is also compared to other well-known control techniques in order to ensure that the real-time implementation is properly validated.
Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Zaiba Ishrat; Ankur Kumar Gupta; Seema Nayak
Abstract
The rapid rise in electrical energy demand and the depletion of fossil fuels have created a market for renewable energy. Among all the renewable energy resources, the most popular is solar energy, perceived as pollution-free, easily accessible, and low maintenance. In non-uniform solar irradiation or ...
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The rapid rise in electrical energy demand and the depletion of fossil fuels have created a market for renewable energy. Among all the renewable energy resources, the most popular is solar energy, perceived as pollution-free, easily accessible, and low maintenance. In non-uniform solar irradiation or partial shading conditions (PSC), the photovoltaic characteristics (PVC) of a solar panel system (SPS) exhibit multiple minor peaks (MP) with one global peak power point (GPPP). To extract the utmost energy from the SPS, the authors proposed an efficient hybrid algorithm integrating the advantages of machine learning and the classical algorithm fractional open circuit voltage (FOVA) to track the GPPP. To follow the GPPP of SPS under unstable environmental surroundings, this study tests ML-based hybrid MPPT algorithms, specifically squared multiple variable linear regression algorithms (SMVLRA), using Matlab/Simulink. Simulation through Matlab is employed to validate the efficiency of the SMVLRA-MPPT approach compared to existing popular conventional and modern MPPT algorithms, namely the Perturb and Observation algorithm (P&OA), the variable step size incremental conductance (VINC) algorithm, and an intelligent algorithm, Decision Tree Regression Algorithm (DTRA). The simulation results demonstrate that SMVLRA offers higher peak power and mean peak power efficiency in less tracking time, with lower error and almost negligible steady-state fluctuation under PSC. The proposed algorithm achieves 99.99% efficiency under standard test conditions (1000w/m2, 25°C), 99.95% under PSC1 (1000w/m2, 800w/m2, 25°C), and 98.89% under PSC2 (1000w/m2, 800w/m2, 600w/m2, 25°C)
Advanced Energy Technologies
Padmanabhan Sambandam; Parthasarathy Murugesan; Mohamed Iqbal Shajahan; Balaguru Sethuraman; Hussein Mohamed Abdelmoneam Hussein
Abstract
Environmental sustainability encompasses various problems including climate change, clean air, renewable energy, non-toxic environments, and capacity to live in a healthy community. Many researchers focus their attention on alternative energy sources, such as ethanol and hydroxy gas, to enhance environmental ...
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Environmental sustainability encompasses various problems including climate change, clean air, renewable energy, non-toxic environments, and capacity to live in a healthy community. Many researchers focus their attention on alternative energy sources, such as ethanol and hydroxy gas, to enhance environmental health and quality of life. The introduction of hydroxy gas as a clean source of energy is gaining significant traction. Also, ethanol has a greater octane number than gasoline. Therefore, the ethanol–gasoline blend has a higher octane number than conventional gasoline. A new combination of hydroxy gas, ethanol, and gasoline is environmentally benign while significantly improving the performance of gasoline engines. This paper tested hydroxy gas in a 197-cc gasoline engine power generator powered with ethanol–gasoline blend. The results demonstrated that thermal efficiency increased up to 23.6 % and fuel consumption decreased up to 36 % on a volume basis, which was a significant improvement over the base engine. Furthermore, the hazardous carbon monoxide reduction reached 11.45 % and the unburned hydrocarbon emissions reached 17.6 %.
Advanced Energy Technologies
Amrollah Dehghani Sanij; Taghi Torabi; Abbas khamseh; Alireza Boushehri
Abstract
This research aims to determine the influence of fundamental, applied, developmental research and Nanofabrication (NanoFab) centers on the final outcomes achieved by research and development activities, implying product development and value creation in nanotechnology. Data were collected through library ...
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This research aims to determine the influence of fundamental, applied, developmental research and Nanofabrication (NanoFab) centers on the final outcomes achieved by research and development activities, implying product development and value creation in nanotechnology. Data were collected through library studies and field studies in this study and research factors were also identified. To confirm the collected factors, structural equation technique and Smart PLS software were used and after confirming the research factors, the collected data were analyzed using fuzzy inference method and MATLAB software. The achieved results indicated that this field had the most performance despite the minimal influence of fundamental research on the final results of research and development activities and developmental research, while NanoFabs had the poorest performance with the highest influence on the final results of research activities. It is possible to conclude according to the research results that research and development activities at the fundamental and applied levels cannot easily be connected to the end ring, i.e., industry without NanoFab centers, and provide the final product and create value. Furthermore, providing NanoFab or NanoFabs with emphasis on the development of nanomaterial can significantly affect the development of renewable energies.
Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Abdurrahman Abubakar; Madihah Binti MD Salleh; Adibah Binti Yahya; Chong Chun Shiong; Shaza Eva Mohamad; Suraini Abd-Aziz Binti Abd-Aziz; Huszalina Hussin
Abstract
Oil Palm Frond (OPF) juice has been the focus of Malaysian bioenergy producers through acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation. However, due to the high concentration of phenolic compounds in the hydrolysate, usually gallicacid and ferulic acids, the fermentation medium turns acidic which hinders ...
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Oil Palm Frond (OPF) juice has been the focus of Malaysian bioenergy producers through acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation. However, due to the high concentration of phenolic compounds in the hydrolysate, usually gallicacid and ferulic acids, the fermentation medium turns acidic which hinders the growth of most microorganisms. A suitable method of phenolic compound removal with a minimal effect on the sugar stability of OPF juice has been employed using Amberlite XAD-4 resin. During the detoxification process, the effects of temperature and pH on the removal of phenolic compounds and sugar stability were also assessed. The Amberlite XAD-4 resin managed to adsorb about 32% of phenolic compound from the OPF hydrolysate at an optimum temperature of 50 °C and hydrogen ion concentration (pH) of 6. In addition, it maintained as much as 93.7 % of the sugar in the OPF juice. The effect of detoxifying OPF hydrolysate was further tested for biobutanol production in batch culture using strain Clostridium acetobutylicum SR1, L2, and A1. Strain L2 gave the highest improvement in biobutanol and total solvent production by 22.7% and 14.41%, respectively, in medium with detoxified OPF juice. Meanwhile, compared to non-detoxified OPF juice, the acid production of strain L2 significantly decreased by 2.99-fold when using detoxified OPF juice, despite a 1.2-fold increase in sugar consumption. Conclusively, using Amberlite XAD-4 resin to detoxify OPF hydrolysate at pH 6 and 50 °C removed the phenolic compound while increasing the strain L2 capability to improve biobutanol and total solvent production.
Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Sharareh Esmaeili; Kambiz Tahvildari; Barat Ghobadian; Masoud Dehghani-Soufi; Sanaz Mohammadzadeh Koumleh; Tirth Panchal
Abstract
The presence of increasing concerns and enforcement of growing regulations over environmental pollution are nowadays at play. The pollution arising from mineral oils is among the major concerns. With the gradual reducation of the world oil reserves, an increasing pressure comes into play for finding ...
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The presence of increasing concerns and enforcement of growing regulations over environmental pollution are nowadays at play. The pollution arising from mineral oils is among the major concerns. With the gradual reducation of the world oil reserves, an increasing pressure comes into play for finding sustainable alternatives. Being appealing alternatives, vegetable oils consist of different fatty acids; however, they cannot be applied directly to internal combustion engines owing to their poor oxidation stability and high pour point value. Biolubricants are considered to be a new generation of lubricants, which are renewable and biodegradable and are produced from the chemical modification of vegetable oils. There are few studies investigating the feasibility of using the mixture of fatty acids as biolubricant feedstock. In this study, epoxidation, oxirane ring opening with palmitic acid and p-Toluenesulfonic acid, esterification reaction with octanol, and reaction of the remaining hydroxyl group with stearic acid were applied to modify the mixture of oleic and linoleic fatty acids and produce biolubricant. For this purpose, the IR spectrums of each epoxide, monoester, diester, and triester products were obtained and analyzed. At the end of the experiments, monoester, diester, and triester were obtained with 94 % yield, with 96 % yield, and with 98 % yield, respectively. Eventually, the final product was found with physicochemical properties comparable with the physicochemical properties of the lubricant standard ISO VG10.
Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Mohammed Ibrahim Shaba; Aliyu Mohammed; Dauda Solomon Musa; Balami Ayuba Audu; Yunusa Baba Katamba
Abstract
Internationally exploited lubricants are derived from coal and petroleum. Due to their high consumption and effects of their long-term pollution on the environment, it is imperative to use renewable and cheap feedstock for the synthesis of bio-based lubricants. This study presents the synthesis and optimization ...
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Internationally exploited lubricants are derived from coal and petroleum. Due to their high consumption and effects of their long-term pollution on the environment, it is imperative to use renewable and cheap feedstock for the synthesis of bio-based lubricants. This study presents the synthesis and optimization process of Ethylene Glycol (EG) based bio-lubricant from palm kernel oil. Palm Kernel Methyl Ester (PKME) was synthesized at a reaction time of 60 min, a molar ratio of oil: methanol 1:6, a temperature of 60 oC, and catalyst of 1 % wt/wt (in-situ transesterification) via reactive extraction. Box–Behnken design (BBD) in response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to this experimental layout. The effects of molar ratio, reaction time, and temperature on the synthesis of palm kernel biolubricant (PKBL) were evaluated. The PKBL structure was characterized by Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FT-IR) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrophotometer (GC-MS) analysis, showing favorable lubricating properties. The PKME yielded 94.53 wt% based on the weight of the oil, while transesterification of the in situ derived PKME with EG yielded 93.08 wt% of the EG ester (Biolubricant). The maximum biolubricant recovery was 81.48 wt% obtained at a molar ratio of 3:1, time of 2.48 h, and temperature of 135 oC. The temperature and mole ratio were established to be the most significant terms. PKBL characteristics conformed to ISO VG criteria and had high potential for biolubricant feedstock.
Renewable Energy Economics, Policies and Planning
Somayeh Dehhaghi; Shahla Choobchian; Barat Ghobadian; Homayon Farhadian
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to present a renewable energy policy model in the agricultural sector of Iran. To achieve this goal, a questionnaire consisting of 57 items was designed. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed by Cronbach's alpha (0.916). Also, to analyze the validity and reliability ...
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The purpose of this study is to present a renewable energy policy model in the agricultural sector of Iran. To achieve this goal, a questionnaire consisting of 57 items was designed. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed by Cronbach's alpha (0.916). Also, to analyze the validity and reliability of the research tool, the Average Variance Extracted (AVE) and Composite Reliability (CR) were calculated. The validity of the questionnaire was determined using face validity, Content Validity Ratio (CVR), and Content Validity Index (CVI). The statistical population of the study consists of energy policymaking experts who were estimated at about 80 people. The sampling method was random and 70 samples answered the questionnaire using the Krejcie and Morgan table. Using structural equation modeling and the maximum likelihood method and using LISREL software, the model fit was estimated at a favorable level. Based on the findings, it was found that the priorities of the agricultural sector and the needs of this sector had not been considered in renewable energy policymaking. Policymaking is done top-down and stakeholders are not considered. Renewable equipment market policies are not adequate and the market is not properly managed. Interaction between policymaking institutions is not in good shape. The results of this study can help address the various shortcomings of the renewable energy policy as well as reduce the common inconsistencies in this area. Finally, suggestions were made for the development and promotion of policies in the field of renewable energy in the agricultural sector of Iran.
Advanced Energy Technologies
Mohammed Ali Sami Mahmood; Rodionov Yuriy Viktorovich; Alexandr Viktorovich Shchegolkov
Abstract
Researchers worldwide are studying thermal energy storage with phase change materials because of their substantial benefits in the enhancement of energy efficiency of thermal drying systems. A two-stage convective-vacuum impulsive drying plant is a technology for the manufacturing of chemical and food ...
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Researchers worldwide are studying thermal energy storage with phase change materials because of their substantial benefits in the enhancement of energy efficiency of thermal drying systems. A two-stage convective-vacuum impulsive drying plant is a technology for the manufacturing of chemical and food products with high quality and low energy costs. Energy consumption during the drying process is the main indicator in terms of economy. In this paper, a brief and focused review of the peculiarities of TEAs with PPCMs and opportunities of their application in such drying systems is done and discussed. The paper described the mentioned manufacturing system. The advantages of paraffin wax and thermal conductivity improvement techniques were demonstrated for their use as heat storage materials in CVID drying units. The results of similar previous studies were presented. The results of the experimental studies conducted by the researchers proved that the use of heat accumulators with PCMs increased the overall energy efficiency of drying systems. Finally, integration of TEAs based on modified PPCMs in the CVID system was recommended to intensify thermal energy, reduce thermal influence on the main indicators of the vacuum pump during the evacuation process, and decrease production costs.
Advanced Energy Technologies
Shafini Mohd Shafie; Zakirah Othman; A. Harits Nu'man; Nik Nurul Anis Nik Yusuf
Abstract
Penetration of renewable energy in the energy generation mix must be viewed from different angles. This issue shall not only cover the technological part, but also economic, environmental, and social criteria. The fuel cell provides huge potential with less reliance on fossil fuel-based electricity generation. ...
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Penetration of renewable energy in the energy generation mix must be viewed from different angles. This issue shall not only cover the technological part, but also economic, environmental, and social criteria. The fuel cell provides huge potential with less reliance on fossil fuel-based electricity generation. This paper aims to model the optimum design of fuel cell-based electricity generation in Malaysia. Economic and environmental aspects are indicators that contribute to designing an optimum model. Both Multi-Criteria Analysis and Analytic Hierarchy Process were employed in order to decide on the optimum site for the system. Truck transportation, biogas storage, and fuel cell system are among the most important criteria that provide final weighted criteria. Considering both criteria for the economic and environment concerns, the best optimum location is in Sarawak State. The findings of this study influence the decision-making and help researchers and decision-makers develop proper strategies in the renewable energy roadmap.
Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Ali Ebadi; Ali Akbar Abdoos; Mohammad Ebrahim Moazzen; Sayyed Asghar Gholamian
Abstract
Nowadays, the Permanent Magnet (PM) generator has become an instrumental tool for wind power generation due to its high performance. In this study, an optimal design is established to provide a cost-effective multiphase outer-rotor PM wind generator (OR-PMWG). The cost of the generation system (generator ...
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Nowadays, the Permanent Magnet (PM) generator has become an instrumental tool for wind power generation due to its high performance. In this study, an optimal design is established to provide a cost-effective multiphase outer-rotor PM wind generator (OR-PMWG). The cost of the generation system (generator and power converter) as well as the annual energy output must be optimized to ensure cost-effective PM wind generation. In fact, the main novelty of this paper lies in the presentation of an accurate model of OR-PMWG and the investigation of the design variables affecting annual energy output and the generation system cost (GSC). In this respect, a multi-objective framework is presented to make satisfactory agreement among all objectives. At first, the main optimal design objectives namely generation system cost and annual energy output are optimized separately and then, a multi-objective optimization is established, in which all the objectives are considered simultaneously. In order to tackle these optimization problems, Genetic Algorithm (GA) is adopted herein to determine the design variables. It is also shown that simultaneous optimization with 71.39 (MWh) AEO and 2651.51 (US$) GSC leads to a more optimal design for a PM wind generation system. In addition, the effectiveness of the presented optimal design is demonstrated by making a comparison between a prototype outer-rotor PM wind generator and the theoretical counterpart. Finally, a finite element analysis (FEA) is carried out for the validation of the outcomes obtained from the proposed optimal design.
Advanced Energy Technologies
Tuhid Pashaee Golmarz; Sajad Rezazadeh; Narmin Bagherzadeh
Abstract
In this paper, a three-dimensional, single-phase proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is studied numerically. Finite volume method was used for solving the governing equations and, consequently, the numerical results were validated by comparing them with experimental data, which showed good agreement. ...
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In this paper, a three-dimensional, single-phase proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is studied numerically. Finite volume method was used for solving the governing equations and, consequently, the numerical results were validated by comparing them with experimental data, which showed good agreement. The main objective of this work is to investigate the effect of a novel gas channel shape– by applying sinusoidal gas channel- on the cell performance and mass transport phenomena. Some parameters such as oxygen consumption, water production, protonic conductivity, and temperature distribution for two cell voltages were studied, and the results were compared with respect to conventional and new models. The results indicated that the new novel model showed better performance than the conventional model, especially at low cell voltages, causing an increase in oxygen consumption and water production. Therefore, based on a number of investigated relations, a higher rate of current density was obtained, thus enhancing the fuel cell performance. This is because the incoming species path to the gas channels in the new model becomes longer. Therefore, the diffusion of the species toward the electrochemical reaction area increased.
Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Md. Rashedul Alam; Iftekhar Uddin Bhuiyan; Nur Mohammad
Abstract
The output power of a Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) plant depends mainly on the solar irradiance on the photovoltaic (PV) modules. Therefore, short-term variations in solar irradiance cause variations in the output power of solar power plants, making solar photovoltaic grid integration unstable. Solar irradiance ...
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The output power of a Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) plant depends mainly on the solar irradiance on the photovoltaic (PV) modules. Therefore, short-term variations in solar irradiance cause variations in the output power of solar power plants, making solar photovoltaic grid integration unstable. Solar irradiance variations mainly occur due to the weather conditions of a given location, especially the movement of clouds and seasonal effects. Consequently, assessing the variability of solar irradiance over the course of a year is essential to identify the extent of these variations. Geographical dispersion and cloud enhancement are two important factors affecting output power variations in a PV plant. Geographical dispersion reduces such variations, while cloud enhancement increases them. This study utilizes two ground station-based solar Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) datasets to assess the viability of solar irradiance in the Chittagong division of Bangladesh. The analysis reveals a significant number of days with high short-term solar irradiance variation. In addition to solar irradiance, the frequency and voltage at the interconnection point are important for safe grid integration. It was observed that the grid frequency exceeded the range specified by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), but remained within the grid code range of Bangladesh. Grid voltage variation at the interconnection substation was found to be within the standard range during the daytime, but low voltage was observed at the grid level during the rest period. Therefore, it is crucial to implement necessary preventive measures to reduce short-term variations for the safe grid integration of large-scale variable SPV plants.
Renewable Energy Economics, Policies and Planning
Mosees Emetere; Wisdom O Joel
Abstract
Several researchers have reported the prospects of biofuel commercialization in several countries across the globe. With over 400 million tons of biomass and 150 million tons of agro-waste produced annually in most developing countries, the prospect of biofuel commercialization looks promising. However, ...
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Several researchers have reported the prospects of biofuel commercialization in several countries across the globe. With over 400 million tons of biomass and 150 million tons of agro-waste produced annually in most developing countries, the prospect of biofuel commercialization looks promising. However, it is crucial to adopt a forward-thinking approach and anticipate potential challenges that may arise, building upon the lessons learned from current obstacles. This paper review addresses the current issues that have discouraged some developing countries against embracing biofuels as an economical tool to mitigate poverty. Also, future challenges that may scuttle biofuel commercialization in developing countries was discussed to provide a workable blueprint towards wealth creation. This review identified policies and political unwillingness as fundamental challenges that must be overcome in developing countries to attract investors. Other identified salient challenges include mono-economy, poor technical know-how, poor technology, government hypocrisy, lack of funds, sustainable biomass resources, inadequate farmland, poor policies, and weak infrastructure. It is recommended that conscious short- and long-term planning be implemented to actualize biofuel commercialization in developing
Advanced Energy Technologies
Abbas Ahmadi; Mahsa Zaman; Siab Mamipour
Abstract
Clean solar energy is one of the best sources of energy. Solar power plants can generate electricity in Iran due to their large number of sunny days. This paper presents a short-term forecasting approach based on artificial neural networks (ANNs) for selected solar power plants in Iran and ranks the ...
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Clean solar energy is one of the best sources of energy. Solar power plants can generate electricity in Iran due to their large number of sunny days. This paper presents a short-term forecasting approach based on artificial neural networks (ANNs) for selected solar power plants in Iran and ranks the input variables of the neural network according to their importance. Two solar power plants in Hamadan province (Amirkabir and Khalij-Fars) were selected for the project. The output of solar power plants is dependent on weather conditions. Solar radiation on the horizontal plane, air temperature, air pressure, day length, number of sunny hours, cloudiness, and airborne dust particles are considered input variables in this study to predict solar power plant output. Forecasting model selection is based on considering zero and nonzero quantities of target variables. The results show that solar production forecasting based on meteorological parameters in the Khalij-Fars is more accurate than Amirkabir. The global solar radiation, air temperature, number of sunny hours, day length, airborne dust particles, cloudiness, air pressure, and dummy variables[1] are the order of the most important inputs to solar power generation. Results show simultaneous influences of radiation and temperature on solar power plant production.
[1]. The first half of the year is counted as one, and the second half is counted as zero.
Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Mojtaba Moravej; Fatemeh Namdarnia
Abstract
Solar water heaters are good tools for saving fuel. The main component of these water heaters is collectors, which are responsible for absorbing solar energy and transferring it to the working fluid with the least heat dissipation. The present study is an experimental study of the performance of the ...
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Solar water heaters are good tools for saving fuel. The main component of these water heaters is collectors, which are responsible for absorbing solar energy and transferring it to the working fluid with the least heat dissipation. The present study is an experimental study of the performance of the solar semispherical collector with 1 m2 of absorber area at different volumetric flow rates. Water was used as the working fluid with the volumetric flow rate between 0.005-0.0166 kg/s, and the experiment was conducted in the ASHRAE 93 standard conditions. The results showed that the efficiency of semispherical solar collector increased as the flow rate of the working fluid increased, such that the highest efficiency, which is 67%, belonged to mass flow rate 0.0166 kg/s. In addition, the difference between outlet and inlet temperatures decreased due to the system being closed during the test. In addition, according to the experiments, the reduction of radiation and wind speed did not have any significant effect on the efficiency and outlet temperature of the collector. Finally, parameters such as inlet and outlet temperature of collector, ambient temperature, ambient radiation intensity and their effect have been investigated empirically on the collector efficiency graph.
Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Mohammad Ahmadzadehtalatapeh; Shahrokh Khaki
Abstract
The application of phase change material (PCM) for energy conservation purposes in the residential buildings was investigated in the present study. Two types of building in terms of materials as the lightweight building (LWB) and heavyweight building (HWB) located in a high cooling load demanding region ...
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The application of phase change material (PCM) for energy conservation purposes in the residential buildings was investigated in the present study. Two types of building in terms of materials as the lightweight building (LWB) and heavyweight building (HWB) located in a high cooling load demanding region of Iran were considered for the study. Different types of PCM from organic and inorganic categories were examined to determine the most appropriate type of the buildings in terms of indoor air conditions and yearly required cooling load. The buildings in the existing form and with an added layer of PCM were simulated hourly, and indoor air conditions and yearly cooling loads were determined. EnergyPlus software was used for this purpose. The study revealed that the LWB with the added layer of calcium chloride hex hydrate (CCH) had the minimum yearly required cooling load with about 39.8 GJ, and 25.7% reduction in the yearly cooling load was observed and the HWB had the best performance in terms of yearly required cooling load with the added n-eicosone (N.EIC) layer with about 28.8 GJ, which is a 47.1% reduction in the yearly cooling load. After determining the proper PCM for the buildings, the recommended PCM was planned to be positioned in the external layer, mid-layer, and internal layer to examine the position effect on the yearly required cooling load
Advanced Energy Technologies
Tamer Nabil; Mohamed Khairat Dawood; Tamer Mansour
Abstract
Since the renewable resources of energy have become extremely important, especially wind energy, scientists have begun to modify the design of the wind turbine components, mainly rotor blades. Aerodynamic design considered a major research field related to power production of a small horizontal wind ...
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Since the renewable resources of energy have become extremely important, especially wind energy, scientists have begun to modify the design of the wind turbine components, mainly rotor blades. Aerodynamic design considered a major research field related to power production of a small horizontal wind turbine, especially in low wind speed locations. This study displays an approach to the selection of airfoil and blade design utilized in small horizontal wind turbines with low cut-in speed and with no gear box. Modeling of the flow depends on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and theory of Blade Element Momentum (BEM) methodologies. QBlade used (BEM) for wind turbine simulation and integrated with XFOIL for airfoils design to ensure the requested characteristics for wind turbine performance. MATLAB is used to calculate the final design parameters to be modeled in SOLIDWORK. The flow dynamics are explored with the aid of ANSYS Fluent 16. The application of specially designed blades grants start up at lower wind speeds. The designed blade is fabricated from polyurethane foam. Experimental study confirmed that, at low average wind velocity (4m/s), the fabricated small-scale horizontal wind turbines are considered to be a positive way to supply electricity with an average power rate of 9watt and efficiency of 8%.
Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Seyed Amir Hossein Zamzamian; Mohsen Mansouri
Abstract
The enhancement of the thermal performance of Vacuum Tube Solar Collectors (VTSC) was studied by using alumina nanofluid as working fluid. VTSC is a simple and commonly utilized type of collector. This study established the heat transfer experimental model of all glass VTSCs used in a forced-circulation ...
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The enhancement of the thermal performance of Vacuum Tube Solar Collectors (VTSC) was studied by using alumina nanofluid as working fluid. VTSC is a simple and commonly utilized type of collector. This study established the heat transfer experimental model of all glass VTSCs used in a forced-circulation solar water heating system using alumina nanofluid as base fluid. Al2O3 (with an average particle size of 15 nm) nanoparticles were provided and utilized to prepare nanofluids at a low mass concentration (0.5–1 wt.%). The thermal performances of VTSC were 15.3%, 25.7%, and 27.2% for the deionized water and Al2O3/water nanofluids with 0.5 and 1.0 wt. % as the working fluid, respectively. Generally, for Al2O3/water nanofluids with mass concentrations of 0.5 and 1.0 wt. %, the thermal performance increased by 67.9% and 77.7%, respectively, superior to that of vacuum tube using deionized water as the working fluid. Experimental results also showed that, for all three experimental tests, the thermal efficiency of the VTSC would increase by enhancing the average solar radiation.
Advanced Energy Technologies
Mohammad Zarei-Jelyani; Mohammad Sarshar; Mohsen Babaiee; Nima Tashakor
Abstract
Accurate lifetime prediction of lithium-ion batteries is a great challenge for the researchers and engineers involved in battery applications in electric vehicles and satellites. In this study, a semi-empirical model is introduced to predict the capacity loss of lithium-ion batteries as a function ...
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Accurate lifetime prediction of lithium-ion batteries is a great challenge for the researchers and engineers involved in battery applications in electric vehicles and satellites. In this study, a semi-empirical model is introduced to predict the capacity loss of lithium-ion batteries as a function of charge and discharge cycles, operational time, and temperature. The model parameters are obtained by minimizing the prediction errors of experimental capacity loss for each charge/discharge cycle at 25 oC, 35 oC, and 45 oC.The optimum values of the model parameters are obtained using genetic algorithm, one of the optimization tools in Matlab software. The model accurately predicts the capacity loss of lithium-ion battery for more charge and discharge cycles at 25 °C with an average error of 4 %. The mentioned cycles are used only to validate the prediction.
Advanced Energy Technologies
Mohammad Zarei-Jelyani; Shaghayegh Baktashian; Mohsen Babaiee; Rahim Eqra
Abstract
In recent years, many studies have focused on the active materials of anodes to improve the performance of LIBs, while limited attention has been given to polymer binders, which act as inactive ingredients. However, polymer binders have amazing influence on the electrochemical performance of anodes. ...
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In recent years, many studies have focused on the active materials of anodes to improve the performance of LIBs, while limited attention has been given to polymer binders, which act as inactive ingredients. However, polymer binders have amazing influence on the electrochemical performance of anodes. Herein, to investigate the binding performance between MCMB artificial graphite and the copper current collector, three binders such as PVDF, MSBR, and CMC+SBR were used to prepare the anode electrodes. The mechanical and electrochemical tests were conducted for different MCMB electrodes. The results show that the water-based binders (CMC+SBR and MSBR) made better adhesion properties for the coating on the current collector in comparison with the organic solvent-based binder (PVDF). MCMB anode fabricated with CMC+SBR binder shows the highest discharge capacity and the best rate performance at various C-rates of 0.2C, 0.5C, and 1C that result in the brilliant electrochemical performance. Therefore, artificial graphite anode materials using cheap aqueous CMC+SBR binder instead of toxic solvent like NMP and expensive PVDF improve electrochemical property and reduce the cost of LIBs.
Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Reza Roohi; Alireza Bahramian; Sepideh Samghani
Abstract
Ground thermal energy as a clean and sustainable energy source has received significant attention lately. Several strategies and hybrid configurations have been proposed to harvest geothermal energy for air conditioning and industrial purposes. The possibility of moist soil freezing in the vicinity of ...
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Ground thermal energy as a clean and sustainable energy source has received significant attention lately. Several strategies and hybrid configurations have been proposed to harvest geothermal energy for air conditioning and industrial purposes. The possibility of moist soil freezing in the vicinity of borehole tubes is known to be the source of several benefits and difficulties. The high storage capacity during the freezing process and the structural damage are the major advantages and disadvantages of the thawing phenomenon, respectively. In the present study, the numerical simulation of the freezing process around the U-tube configuration of boreholes accompanied by the solar energy injection as the auxiliary heat source is investigated. Lower values of cold stream temperature result in the higher amount of recovered heat, while increasing the injected heat temperature intensifies the heat regaining. Moreover, the energy absorbed by the ice layer around the tube is directly related to the cold stream temperature.
Advanced Energy Technologies
Mohammad Jafari; Hossein Ghadamian; Leila Seidabadi
Abstract
The study of the battery charge process as the only power storage agent in off-grid systems is of significant importance. The battery charge process has different modes, and the battery in these modes is dependent on the amount of charge. In order to charge the battery in off-grid systems, two charge ...
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The study of the battery charge process as the only power storage agent in off-grid systems is of significant importance. The battery charge process has different modes, and the battery in these modes is dependent on the amount of charge. In order to charge the battery in off-grid systems, two charge controllers including Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) and Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT) are commonly used. The charge rate (C-Rate) is different in these two models. Therefore, it is necessary to study the state of charge (SoC) in the PWM and MPPT models considerably. In this study, by using these two charge controller models, C-Rate is examined on portable and power plant scales. This research indicates that the PWM charge controller has better performance on the power plant scale than on the portable scale. The charging quality of the MPPT model is about 31 % and 7 % on portable and power plant scales, respectively, proved to be higher than that of the PWM charge controller. The PV panel performance has increased by 2 %-5 % through the application of the MPPT charge controller, compared with the PWM model. As the overall achievement of the experiment, according to the limitations of the MPPT charge controller, the PWM charge controller can be proposed on power plant scales, whereas the application of the MPPT model is appropriate for specific purposes.
