Research Article
Advanced Energy Technologies
Mina Bahraminasab; Hamed Moqtaderi; Atiyeh Kiaeinejad
Abstract
Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) represent an environmentally-friendly approach to generating electricity, but the need to study variation parameters to find improvement conditions has been an important challenge for decades. In this study, a single-chamber MFC was designed to investigate the key parameters ...
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Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) represent an environmentally-friendly approach to generating electricity, but the need to study variation parameters to find improvement conditions has been an important challenge for decades. In this study, a single-chamber MFC was designed to investigate the key parameters such as the concentration and type of bacteria, chamber temperature, electrode spacing, and substrate rotation speed that affected the performance of MFCs. Therefore, two types of bacteria, Shewanella oneidensis (S.one) and Escherichia coli (E. coli), were compared as microorganisms. Then, the function of MFC was investigated under the following condition: three temperatures (30 ℃, 45℃, and 60℃), three bacterial concentrations (0.5% (v/v) (4.5 mg/ml), 1% (v/v) (9mg/ml), and 1.5% (v/v) (13.5mg/ml)), electrode distances (2 cm, 3 cm, 4cm), and substrate speeds (100 rpm, 150 rpm, 200 rpm). Ultimately, (S.one) bacteria, a chamber temperature of 45 ℃, a bacterial concentration of 1% (v/v) (9mg/ml), a cathode-anode spacing of 3 cm, and a rotation speed of 150 rpm proved to be the most efficient parameter settings for the constructed microbial fuel cell. The maximum voltage and highest power density were 486.9 mV and 9.73 mW/ , respectively, with a resistance of 7500 ohms. These results are meaningful for determining and improving important parameters in an MFC device.
Review Article
Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Dnyaneshwar S. Malwad; Deepak C. Sonawane
Abstract
Preserving food from harvest to consumer level is a challenge in the agriculture sector. Drying is a crucial post-harvest technique that lowers moisture to levels suitable for storage. Solar drying is a traditional renewable energy drying process. Different solar drying methods have been developed ...
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Preserving food from harvest to consumer level is a challenge in the agriculture sector. Drying is a crucial post-harvest technique that lowers moisture to levels suitable for storage. Solar drying is a traditional renewable energy drying process. Different solar drying methods have been developed to speed up the drying process and maintain the product's nutritious content. Indirect solar drying is one of the efficient drying methods that has better control over the drying temperature. Indirect solar drying has developed into a desirable, effective, and environmentally responsible drying technique when combined with solar collectors and thermal storage. Flat plates, evacuated tubes, and concentrated solar collectors are used in indirect solar dryers along with direct air heating or thermal storage systems. This study aims to review the improvement in the drying rate with different air heating mechanisms. Flat plate collectors with liquid working fluid are employed to heat the air, whereas in evacuated tube collectors, the air is directly heated passing through the tubes. Working fluids, air temperature, air velocity, and solar radiation are important dryer parameters affecting the drying rate. The paper also discusses the usage of heat storage devices for continuous drying operations. The drying time is greatly reduced through integration with latent and sensible storage technologies. Products that have been dried using indirect solar dryer and appropriate drying models are tabulated. Aspects of indirect solar drying and challenges in drying time reduction are also reported.
Research Article
Advanced Energy Technologies
Abraham Olatide Amole; Adebimpe Oluwaseun Adeyeye; Daniel Oluwaseun Akinyele; Kehinde Adeleye Makinde; Stephen Oladipo
Abstract
The use of Diesel Generators (DGs) and gas turbines to power oil rigs is characterized by pollution due to the emission of harmful gases like carbon dioxide, very high noise levels, high maintenance costs, and the inability to start the platform if the DG fails. Offshore wind energy generation system ...
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The use of Diesel Generators (DGs) and gas turbines to power oil rigs is characterized by pollution due to the emission of harmful gases like carbon dioxide, very high noise levels, high maintenance costs, and the inability to start the platform if the DG fails. Offshore wind energy generation system provides a viable alternative means of powering the oil rig and can also be integrated to operate in parallel with gas turbines. However, offshore wind energy might fail if not properly designed due to the high variability of wind resources. Hence, the objective of this work is to design offshore Wind Turbine Generator (WTG) energy generation system, DG, and hybrid DG-WTG for the black start of an offshore oil rig. The designed energy systems are simulated using HOMER Pro. Furthermore, the performance of the simulated systems was evaluated using the electrical production, unmet load, and emission profile as the performance metrics. The results of the hybrid DG-WTG powered black start revealed that 150kW DG generated 322,071kWh/yr representing 6.77% of the total generation and 1.5MW WTG generated 4,434,632kWh/yr representing 93.2% of the total generation. The comparison of the emissions from DG and DG-WTG revealed that 294,058kg/yr, 1,945kg/yr, 80.9kg/yr, 9.02kg/yr, 720kg/yr, and 688kg/yr of CO2, CO, UH, PM, SO2, and NO, respectively, were released into the atmosphere by DG-WTG which is very low compared to 969,129kg/yr, 6,109kg/yr, 267kg/yr, 37kg/yr, 2373kg/yr, and 5739kg/yr of CO2, CO, UH, PM, SO2, and NO, respectively, released into the atmosphere by DG. The sensitivity analysis revealed that while the electrical production of 100kW and 50kW DGs decreased with an increase in WTG height, the electrical production of 1.5MW WTG increased with an increase in WTG height. It was further revealed that the higher the WTG height the smaller the quantity of the emission released into the atmosphere.
Research Article
Environmental Impacts and Sustainability
Ali Sayyadi; Mohamad Javad Amiri
Abstract
One of the environmental problems today is the rising land surface temperature and the formation of heat islands in metropolitan areas, which have arisen due to the unplanned expansion of these cities. Satellite imagery is widely used in urban environmental studies to provide an integrated view and reduce ...
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One of the environmental problems today is the rising land surface temperature and the formation of heat islands in metropolitan areas, which have arisen due to the unplanned expansion of these cities. Satellite imagery is widely used in urban environmental studies to provide an integrated view and reduce costs and time. In this study, Landsat satellite imagery in TM, ETM+, and OLI sensors from 1984 to 2020, remote sensing techniques, and GIS is used to analyze the data, and SPSS software is employed to examine the correlation between the data. The results indicate that the land surface temperature in District 1 of Tehran has increased during the last 38 years. Moreover, land use in District 1 has changed significantly over this period, and urban land use increased from 16% (1984) to 35% (2020) while vegetation declined from 32% to 14%. The results of linear regression analysis show a significant correlation between satellite images and weather station data. The significance coefficient (Sig) in all stations is less than 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval. Besides, the coefficient of variation (R) for all stations is above 80%, and the coefficient R2 has a desirable value. The findings suggest that the trend of rising temperatures in District 1 of Tehran has become an environmental problem and the changes in land use such as declining vegetation and increasing the acceleration of urbanization are among the factors that affect it.
Research Article
Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Satyaprasad Mohapatra; Akshaya Kumar Patra; Debswarup Rath
Abstract
The design of a Spotted Hyena Optimization Algorithm-Variable Parameter Tilt Integral Derivative with Filter (SHO-VPTIDF) controller for improved performance and enhanced devaluation of harmonic components of grid-connected photovoltaic systems is the main objective of the suggested manuscript. The SHO-VPTIDF ...
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The design of a Spotted Hyena Optimization Algorithm-Variable Parameter Tilt Integral Derivative with Filter (SHO-VPTIDF) controller for improved performance and enhanced devaluation of harmonic components of grid-connected photovoltaic systems is the main objective of the suggested manuscript. The SHO-VPTIDF controller is proposed by reformulating Tilt Integral Derivative Controller with Filter (TIDCF). The TIDCF is characterized by longer simulation time, lower robustness, longer settling time, attenuated ability for noise rejection, and limited use. This research gap is addressed by replacing the constant gains of TIDCF by variable parameter tilt integral derivative with filter. The VPTIDF replaces the constant gains of TIDCF with error varying control parameters to improve the robustness of the system. The photovoltaic system with nonlinearities causes power quality issues and occasional faults, which can be detected by using Levenberg-Marquardt Algorithm (LMA) based machine learning technique. The novelties of the proposed manuscript including improved stability, better robustness, upgraded accuracy, better harmonic mitigation ability, and improved ability to handle uncertainties are verified in a Matlab simulink environment. In this manuscript, the SHO-VPTIDF and the Direct and Quadrature Control based Sinusoidal Pulse Width Modulation (DQCSPWM) method are employed for fault classification, harmonic diminishing, stability enhancement, better system performance, better accuracy, improved robustness, and better capabilities to handle system uncertainties.
Research Article
Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Reza Roohi; Masoud Akbari
Abstract
The design of novel and effective receivers is one of the most challenging aspects of solar energy harvesters, especially for Parabolic Dish Collectors (PDCs). The variation of solar flux due to the solar time and sky clearance index can affect the output thermal energy of the collector. One of the major ...
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The design of novel and effective receivers is one of the most challenging aspects of solar energy harvesters, especially for Parabolic Dish Collectors (PDCs). The variation of solar flux due to the solar time and sky clearance index can affect the output thermal energy of the collector. One of the major approaches to producing a uniform performance for the PDCs is the utilization of Phase Change Materials (PCMs). The PCMs can absorb the solar flux at its peak instances. Subsequently, due to the thermal buffering effect, excess energy is released in cases with lower solar flux. In the present study, a novel design of receiver with multiple layers of thin PCM inserted between the passages of the working fluid is numerically simulated. The simulations are designed to determine the effect of operational parameters on the performance of the examined novel receiver. According to the results, by increasing the Heat Transfer Fluid (HTF) flow rate from 60 to 90 kg/h, the system efficiency is increased from 53.8 to 66.4 %.
Research Article
Advanced Energy Technologies
Mohammad Saleh Barghi Jahromi; Vali Kalantar; Mohammad Sefid; Masoud Iranmanesh; Hadi Samimi Akhijahani
Abstract
Paraffin waxes are widely used as commercial organic heat storage phase change (PCM) for many applications due to their suitable properties; high heats of fusion, nonpoisonous, stable properties, no phase separation, and the phase process only results in a small volume change. Meanwhile, it suffers from ...
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Paraffin waxes are widely used as commercial organic heat storage phase change (PCM) for many applications due to their suitable properties; high heats of fusion, nonpoisonous, stable properties, no phase separation, and the phase process only results in a small volume change. Meanwhile, it suffers from low thermal conductivity. Various techniques can be enhanced the thermal conductivity of PCMs by incorporating the dispersion of high-conductivity particles or nanomaterial in the PCM itself and employing metal foams. Using nanoparticles has the disadvantages of an expensive cost and particle deposition after various cycles. Hence, in this study, some experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of porous media like copper foam and iron wool as the filler instead of nanomaterials on improving the heat conductivity of PCM. The results show that the porous foam increases the heat transfer and during the charging operation, the temperature of the porous plate wall increases continuously at the same rate as the paraffin. In 2400 s, the temperature of pure PCM, iron wool and copper foam reaches 67.3, 72.5 and 73.27℃ , respectively. The optimal mode is the one where the copper absorber plate is connected to the copper foam, reducing the charging time by 600 s compared to pure PCM and saving 75% of energy. Connecting the copper absorber plate to the iron wool has a good thermal performance and stores 70.83% of energy, so the iron wool has an acceptable performance and is suitable for storage systems.
Research Article
Advanced Energy Technologies
Ala Moradi; Hajar Es-haghi; Seyed Hassan Hashemabadi; Majid Haghgoo; Zahra Emami
Abstract
Due to their high energy storage capacity, phase change materials (PCMs) have received significant attention as thermal energy storage systems. However, their low thermal conductivity reduces the rate of heat transfer. Incorporating nanoparticles into the matrix of PCM can be an efficient way to solve ...
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Due to their high energy storage capacity, phase change materials (PCMs) have received significant attention as thermal energy storage systems. However, their low thermal conductivity reduces the rate of heat transfer. Incorporating nanoparticles into the matrix of PCM can be an efficient way to solve their deficiency. In the current research, nano-enhanced phase change materials (NEPCM) based on Eicosane and incorporated nano graphite were prepared, and their thermal characteristics were evaluated. The SEM micrographs of graphite nano-powders, pure Eicosane, and prepared nanocomposites were analyzed. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal conductivity evaluation (TC) of samples were conducted to determine their heat capacity, thermal diffusivity, and thermal conductivity. The results illustrated that the more graphite nanoparticles, the more collision number between graphite and Eicosane. Therefore, nanocomposites' thermal conductivity and diffusivity are increased with nanophase. Furthermore, increasing crystal growth and reducing heat capacity for the high amount of nanoparticles in the composite were discussed.
Research Article
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.
Research Article
Advanced Energy Technologies
Mohammed Ali Sami Mahmood; Rodionov Yuriy Viktorovich; Shchegolkov Alexandr Viktorovich
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.
Research Note
Advanced Energy Technologies
Abbas Ahmadi; Mahsa Zaman; Siab Mamipour
Abstract
Clean solar energy is one of the best sources of energy. The large number of sunny days in Iran makes it ideal for solar power plants to generate electricity. This paper presents a short-term forecasting approach based on artificial neural networks (ANNs) for selected solar power plants in Iran and ranks ...
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Clean solar energy is one of the best sources of energy. The large number of sunny days in Iran makes it ideal for solar power plants to generate electricity. 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.
Research Article
Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Chunhyun Paik; Yongjoo Chung; Young Jin Kim
Abstract
The power generation sector accounts for a significant portion of GHG emissions, and many countries strive for the large-scale adoption of renewable generation. Although the intermittent nature of renewables brings about complications in energy system planning, the share of renewable generations is increasing ...
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The power generation sector accounts for a significant portion of GHG emissions, and many countries strive for the large-scale adoption of renewable generation. Although the intermittent nature of renewables brings about complications in energy system planning, the share of renewable generations is increasing to the greatest extent. The wind generation has drawn increasing attention to expanding the use of renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions from the power generation sector, and the estimation of capacity factor is crucial in energy system modeling. This study develops a mathematical model for estimating the capacity factor of a wind farm with the consideration of outage probability of individual turbines. In addition, the power curves and wind speed distribution of the wind farm need to be estimated, which is demonstrated with a wind farm in Korea. It is asserted that the proposed method may render the wind farm capacity factor effectively. Thus, the results from this study can be useful for energy system modeling involving wind generations.
Research Article
Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Abdurrahman Abubakar; Madihah Binti MD Salleh; Adibah Binti Yahya; Chun Chong Shiong; Shaza Eva Mohamad; Suraini 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 garlic and ferulic acids, the fermentation medium turns acidic which hinders the ...
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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 garlic 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
Research Article
Environmental Impacts and Sustainability
Mahdi Pourbafrani; Hossein Ghadamian; Meisam Moghadasi; Masoud Mardani
Abstract
In this research study, a cost-effective and reliable weather station using a microcontroller system containing instruments and sensors for measuring and recording ambient variables was designed, fabricated, and tested. The dataset recorded and stored in the meteorological system can be applied to conduct ...
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In this research study, a cost-effective and reliable weather station using a microcontroller system containing instruments and sensors for measuring and recording ambient variables was designed, fabricated, and tested. The dataset recorded and stored in the meteorological system can be applied to conduct various research in the field of energy and environment, especially in solar systems. Employing a microcontroller system reduces costs and provides special features such as accessing data on the web-based spreadsheets and adding control devices. In this system, meteorological information including solar radiation, air temperature, wind velocity, and air relative humidity is measured and saved in user-defined time intervals such as 30 seconds. The total cost for measuring equipment, sensors, and microcontroller along with a data logger is about 110 USD. To demonstrate the importance of using local meteorological data, in the vicinity of the case studies, the dataset provided by the local weather station was compared with the meteorological data of two nearby national stations for one month. The results revealed that the values reported by the national stations were different from the actual values measured by the local weather station. The deviations for solar radiation, wind velocity, air temperature and humidity values were at least 5, 9, 7%, and more than 100%, respectively.
Research Article
Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
G. N. Tiwari; Prashant Bhardwaj; Sujata Nayak
Abstract
This study considers N-photovoltaic thermal-thermo electric cooler (PVT-TEC) air collectors connected in series for thermal and electrical performance. An improved Hottel-Whiller-Bliss (HWB) equation and mass flow rate factor were derived for the nth PVT-TEC air collectors. The derivation is based on ...
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This study considers N-photovoltaic thermal-thermo electric cooler (PVT-TEC) air collectors connected in series for thermal and electrical performance. An improved Hottel-Whiller-Bliss (HWB) equation and mass flow rate factor were derived for the nth PVT-TEC air collectors. The derivation is based on energy balance equation for each component of N-photovoltaic thermal-thermo electric cooler (PVT-TEC) air collectors connected in series. Further, thermal energy and electrical energy from PV module and TEC were analyzed based on a given design and climatic parameters along with the overall exergy of the proposed system on the hourly and daily bases. Numerical computations were conducted using MATLAB under Indian climatic conditions. The proposed thermal model is valid for all climatic and weather conditions. Based on the numerical computations carried out, the following conclusions were made:
The electrical power of PV module decreased with increase in the number of the n^th PVT-TEC air collectors as the electrical power of TEC increased.
The overall instantaneous exergy efficiency decreased with increase in the number of the n^th PVT-TEC air collectors.
Packing factor of TEC was found to be a very sensitive parameter for optimizing the number of PVT-TEC air collectors to ensure maximum overall exergy, and it was found to be β_tec=0.5. for N=7
Research Article
Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Sameer Hanna Khader; Abdel-Karim Khalid Daud
Abstract
This study proposes a novel approach to fast and direct determination of the Maximum Power Point (MPP) at any value of solar irradiation and cell temperature, without applying further mathematical processing to operate at that point. The current approach aims to reduce algorithm complexity, time consumption ...
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This study proposes a novel approach to fast and direct determination of the Maximum Power Point (MPP) at any value of solar irradiation and cell temperature, without applying further mathematical processing to operate at that point. The current approach aims to reduce algorithm complexity, time consumption during the iteration, and oscillation to reach the point at which the panel generates maximum possible power. For avoiding or eliminating these drawbacks, the chopper duty cycle (D) at which the panel-generated power should be the maximum is determined using the panel datasheet with respect to voltage and power at different irradiation rates (G). Mathematical equations are derived for MPP voltage and power at any value of solar irradiation using the manufacturer Photovoltaic (PV) specification. The simulation results obtained by MATLAB/SIMULINK platform showed that the power had a linear change, while the voltage had a nonlinear one with narrow variations. The yield duty cycle controls the Modified Single Ended Primary Converter (MSEPIC) that regulates the load voltage through a wide range below and above the rated panel voltage. The simulation results showed the fast response of chopper operation with a negligible starting time required by the MPPT algorithm, no duty cycle oscillation, and shorter iteration time. Furthermore, the conducted approach is validated based on the data published in a reputed journal, and the obtained results gave rise to new aspects that helped reduce dependency on conventional MPPT algorithms and, consequently, enhance the system response, efficiency and cost reduction.
Research Article
Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Gopal Nath Tiwari; Shikha Singh; Yashwant Kumar Singh
Abstract
This paper presents an analytical expression for the temperatures of the plant, room air, and solar cell, as well as the electrical efficiency, for a photo-voltaic thermal (PVT) roof façade of a greenhouse integrated semi-transparent photovoltaic thermal (GiSPVT) system. The expression considers ...
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This paper presents an analytical expression for the temperatures of the plant, room air, and solar cell, as well as the electrical efficiency, for a photo-voltaic thermal (PVT) roof façade of a greenhouse integrated semi-transparent photovoltaic thermal (GiSPVT) system. The expression considers climatic variables such as solar intensity and ambient air temperature, as well as design parameters such as the area of the PV module, electrical efficiency under standard test conditions (STC), temperature coefficient, and various heat transfer coefficients. Using monthly numerical computations for different parameters in Indian climatic conditions, this study evaluates energy matrices such as energy payback time (EPBT), energy production factor (EPF), and life cycle conversion efficiency (LCCE) for various solar cell materials, including single-crystalline (c-Si), multi-crystalline (mc-Si), amorphous (a-Si), copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS), and cadmium telluride (CdTe), with and without thermal exergy. Considering that the life span of greenhouse materials varies from 5-30 years for low cost, medium, and high-tech greenhouses, different solar cell materials are recommended for different life spans of GiSPVT. Therefore, this study recommends suitable solar cell materials for known greenhousedesigns:(a) EPBT and LCCE for c-Si/ mc-Si are about 3.5 to 4.5 years and 13 to 22%, respectively, with respect to thermal exergy. Hence, these two solar cell materials are most suitable for high-tech greenhouses that are similar to crystalline solar cell in terms of life cycle. (b) EPBT and LCCE of CIGS are 1.17 years and 16.44%, respectively, with respect to thermal exergy. Hence, the solar cell material of CIGS is most suitable for low-cost greenhouses.
Research Article
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.
Review Article
Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Zaiba Ishrat; Ankur Kumar Gupta; Seema Nayak
Abstract
Solar power energy continues to be a renewable and sustainable source of energy in the coming year due to its cleaner nature and abundant availability. Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) is a technique used in solar power systems to extract maximum power from photovoltaic (PV) modules by tracking the ...
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Solar power energy continues to be a renewable and sustainable source of energy in the coming year due to its cleaner nature and abundant availability. Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) is a technique used in solar power systems to extract maximum power from photovoltaic (PV) modules by tracking the operating point of the modules. MPPT is essential for achieving optimal power output from a solar panel, particularly in variable weather conditions. Traditional MPPT techniques are subject to limitations in handling the partial shading conditions (PSC). To ensure the tracking of maximum power point while boosting the MPPT's overall efficacy and performance, Machine Learning must be integrated into MPPT. As per the reviewer work, ML techniques have the potential to play a crucial role in the development of advanced MPPT systems for solar power systems operating under partial shading conditions and to compare the performance of existing ML-MPPT in terms of accuracy, response time, and efficacy. These review papers technically analyze the result of ML-MPPT techniques and suggest the optimum ML-MPPT tactics that are Q learning, Bayesian Regularization Neural Network (BRNN), and Multivariate Linear Regression Model (MLIR) to achieve optimum outcomes in MPPT under PSC. Further, these techniques can offer efficiency greater than 95%, tracking duration less than 1sec, and error threshold of 0.05.In the future, the reviewer may propose simulation work to compare the optimal algorithms.
Research Article
Advanced Energy Technologies
Subramanian Kumaravel; Nagaraj MeenakshiSunadaram; Govindarajan Bharathiraja
Abstract
A piece of copper scrap was still sitting in the 1m × 1m base of the single-slope solar still. An automated system dripped salt water into the solar still's basin at a steady rate. Dripping salt water and energy storage materials like scrap copper and brass are used in the test. Copper scrap in ...
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A piece of copper scrap was still sitting in the 1m × 1m base of the single-slope solar still. An automated system dripped salt water into the solar still's basin at a steady rate. Dripping salt water and energy storage materials like scrap copper and brass are used in the test. Copper scrap in a basin with a drop of salt water to sustain the shallowest water level has an important impact on output, as demonstrated by studies. The high thermal capacity of the salt water in the basin reduces production. As additional salt water is added to the basin, the temperature difference between the water inside and the glass cover will increase. After considering the experimental results, the calculated yield is good, and the overall thermal efficiency remains at 71.3%. The production rate is also controlled by diffusion on the south-facing condensed cover. Water, glass, air, and their combined temperatures are measured and analyzed.
Research Article
Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Mohamed Chouidira; Nabila Ihaddadene; Razika Ihaddadenea; Mohamed El Hacena Jed; Younes Kherbiche
Abstract
The study explores the impact of surface orientation and tilt on incident solar irradiation. It was conducted in M'Sila, an Algerian province, from February to June. A number of experiments were carried out using an experimental setup consisting of a heliometer and a slant changer, which allowed for ...
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The study explores the impact of surface orientation and tilt on incident solar irradiation. It was conducted in M'Sila, an Algerian province, from February to June. A number of experiments were carried out using an experimental setup consisting of a heliometer and a slant changer, which allowed for the variation of the tilt angle. Nineteen tilt angles ranging from 0° to 90° were investigated for the four main directions: North, South, East, and West. The obtained outcomes were statistically analyzed. At east and south orientations, incident solar irradiance rose as a function of tilt angle, reaching a maximum at the optimal angle, and then gradually decreased. Generally, the incident solar irradiance decreased as the tilt angle increased in the case of west and north orientations. The tilt angle of the exposed surface as well as the sun's elevation in the sky affected the amount of intercepted energy significantly at each orientation (p<0.05). When the sun was low in the sky, the south orientation was most preferred for an inclination greater than or equal to 25°. The north-facing surfaces with steep slopes (β³ 55°) received the least amount of solar radiation. These results hold great importance, particularly in the building sector, as they can be utilized to achieve energy saving.
Research Article
Renewable Energy Economics, Policies and Planning
Adewale George Adeniyi; Kingsley O. Iwuozor; Ebuka Chizitere Emenike; Comfort Adeyanju; Samuel Ogunniyi
Abstract
Polystyrene waste is a significant environmental problem, and recycling and repurposing it can reduce its impact on the environment. Chicken feather biochar, on the other hand, is a by-product of the poultry industry and can be repurposed to produce bio-composites. The goal of this work was to turn waste ...
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Polystyrene waste is a significant environmental problem, and recycling and repurposing it can reduce its impact on the environment. Chicken feather biochar, on the other hand, is a by-product of the poultry industry and can be repurposed to produce bio-composites. The goal of this work was to turn waste chicken feathers into biochar and then, create composites with the biochar acting as the filler and a polystyrene-based resin acting as the matrix. The biochar was prepared with the aid of a top-lit updraft reactor. Composites were fabricated using different mixing ratios of biochar (10-40%) and polystyrene resin. The composites were then analyzed using FTIR, SEM-EDX, and hardness tests. SEM examination demonstrated that the biochar was distributed unevenly throughout the matrix. The alterations and shifts in peak positions shown by FTIR measurement indicated that there was a chemical interaction between the matrix and the biochar. It also revealed the hydrophilic nature of the composite. Hardness test showed that 20% biochar concentration gave the optimum hardness property (139 HRB). The EDX result demonstrated that the matrix as well as the composites consisted majorly of carbon atoms. The results of this study indicate the potential of using chicken feather biochar as a filler material to improve the mechanical and microstructural properties of recycled polystyrene-based bio-composites. This approach can provide a sustainable and environmentally-friendly solution to repurpose waste materials from poultry and plastic industries.
Review Article
Renewable Energy Economics, Policies and Planning
Moses E Emetere; Wisdom 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 countries.
Research Article
Advanced Energy Technologies
Mubarak A. Amoloye; Sulyman A. Abdulkareem; Adewale George Adeniyi
Abstract
The drive to move away from fossil fuels and related products has drawn significant attention to biomass and biomass-related products in recent times. This study reports the effect of three forest biomass sources namely acacia auriculiformis, terminalia randii, and delonix regia as combustion fuels in ...
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The drive to move away from fossil fuels and related products has drawn significant attention to biomass and biomass-related products in recent times. This study reports the effect of three forest biomass sources namely acacia auriculiformis, terminalia randii, and delonix regia as combustion fuels in a retort heated, low-temperature and top-lit updraft gasifier on biochars produced from two agricultural wastes: corn husk and corn cob. The combustion fuels were characterized using Thermogravimetric/Differential thermogravimetric analysis. Their TGA data were fitted to 16 kinetic models using the Coats-Redfern method. Characterization of the products was performed using Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy. Results revealed similar decomposition trends for combustion fuels. Different kinetic models predicted decomposition mechanisms of combustion fuels for the regions considered. Negative correlation was found between biochar yields and increasing carbonization temperatures with yields ranging from 64.6-37.8 % and 28.4-24.5% for corn husk and cob, respectively. Results indicate similar effects of combustion fuels on functional groups contained in biochar samples.
Review Article
Environmental Impacts and Sustainability
Amir shasavari; Azadeh Karimi; Morteza Akbari; Mohammad Alizadeh
Abstract
Rising energy production and consumption, particularly from fossil fuels, pose substantial threats to both global climate and human well-being. Conventional fossil fuel technologies, as primary energy sources in power plants, predominantly generate pollutants during power generation. Conversely, renewable ...
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Rising energy production and consumption, particularly from fossil fuels, pose substantial threats to both global climate and human well-being. Conventional fossil fuel technologies, as primary energy sources in power plants, predominantly generate pollutants during power generation. Conversely, renewable energy technologies are anticipated to contribute to pollution primarily during equipment manufacturing. The combustion of traditional fuels gives rise to significant volumes of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and hazardous substances, leading to escalated costs for individuals and the worldwide populace. External costs attributed to coal-fired power plants range from 4.0 to 9.5 cents per kilowatt-hour, nearly three times higher than those of gas-fired power plants, and multiple times greater than the expenditures linked with renewable energy technologies. The substitution of non-renewable fuels with clean energy sources stands as an efficacious approach to curtailing atmospheric pollution and the concomitant external expenses. On a global scale, an annual savings of up to 230 billion dollars is potentially attainable by achieving a 36% share of clean energy within the global energy mix by 2030. This topic has garnered the attention of policymakers worldwide. Consequently, this study undertakes an examination of the environmental ramifications and social costs associated with diverse energy sources.
Review Article
Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Dorsa Razeghi Jahromi; Ali Minoofar; Ghazal Ghorbani; Aslan Gholami; Mohammad Ameri; Majid Zandi
Abstract
Floating photovoltaic solar systems offer numerous advantages, including reduced land usage, diminished water evaporation, and lowered thermal losses compared to terrestrial installations. If widely adopted, this system has the potential to generate a staggering 10,600 TWh of electricity. The widespread ...
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Floating photovoltaic solar systems offer numerous advantages, including reduced land usage, diminished water evaporation, and lowered thermal losses compared to terrestrial installations. If widely adopted, this system has the potential to generate a staggering 10,600 TWh of electricity. The widespread implementation of this technology could curtail water evaporation by approximately 30%. Floating solar power plants operate at temperatures about 20°C cooler than their terrestrial counterparts, enabling floating panels to yield up to 33.3% more energy. Furthermore, floating photovoltaic systems exhibit an 18.18% greater efficacy in curbing greenhouse gas emissions compared to their land-based counterparts. The heightened adoption of this system is driven by diverse factors, including escalating energy demand, ecological concerns, land-use constraints, and water scarcity, all contributing to sustainability. Despite the manifold benefits of these systems, there exist drawbacks associated with this technology, such as heightened panel corrosion, challenges in cleaning, and potential adverse environmental impacts that need to be addressed. This study meticulously examines the merits and challenges of floating photovoltaic systems in comparison to land-based installations through the content analysis method, meticulously categorizing pertinent research within the existing literature. Tailored approaches to cooling and cleaning, suited to the distinct installation conditions and environments of these systems, are concisely outlined. Through a comprehensive literature review and a meticulous comparison of cooling methods, it has been ascertained that the application of such strategies for floating solar plants yields an efficiency increase of 5-7% in the short term. Consequently, this study furnishes an initial guide for researchers and designers engaged in the development of both floating and land-based solar photovoltaic systems.
Review Article
Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Mohamed R. Gomaa; Njoud H. Alhabahbh; Mohammed Abbas Al-Nawafleh
Abstract
This research reviews various studies on the effect of using nanofluids in evacuated tube solar collectors (ETSC). The initial segment of this study elaborates on the importance of using the ETSCs and categorizes these collectors in terms of classification and application. The second segment evaluates ...
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This research reviews various studies on the effect of using nanofluids in evacuated tube solar collectors (ETSC). The initial segment of this study elaborates on the importance of using the ETSCs and categorizes these collectors in terms of classification and application. The second segment evaluates the physical properties of nanofluids incorporated in the solar system collector and presents some applications of nanofluids. The last segment of the research reviews the works of a group of researchers who have already applied nanofluids to evacuated tube solar collectors for various purposes, including increasing the heat transfer coefficient and improving efficiency. Among the prevalent nanofluids employed in solar applications, Al2O3, CuO, and TiO2 feature prominently, whereas Ag, WO3, and CeO2 find limited application in the solar context. Furthermore, nanofluids within the size range of 1–25 nm, 25–50 nm, and 50–100 nm constitute 54%, 25%, and 11% of the applications, respectively. Particularly noteworthy, the single-walled carbon nanotubes/water (SWCNT/water) heat pipe showcases the most remarkable efficiency enhancement, achieving an impressive 93.43% improvement.
Research Article
Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Debswarup Rath; Akshaya Kumar Patra; Sanjeeb Kumar Kar
Abstract
The primary objective of the proposed work is the design of a Hybrid Teaching Learning-based Horse Herd Optimization Algorithm regulated Fractional Order Tilt Derivative Acceleration with Filter (TLBO-HHOA regulated FOTDAF) controller for enhanced performance and enhanced devaluation of harmonic components ...
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The primary objective of the proposed work is the design of a Hybrid Teaching Learning-based Horse Herd Optimization Algorithm regulated Fractional Order Tilt Derivative Acceleration with Filter (TLBO-HHOA regulated FOTDAF) controller for enhanced performance and enhanced devaluation of harmonic components of the grid-connected photovoltaic system. The solar photovoltaic system incorporates constituents such as a photovoltaic array, interleaved fractional order boost converter (IFOBC), Reduced Switch Multilevel Inverter (RSMI), and TLBO-HHOA regulated FOTDAF controller. IFOBC is preferred over boost converter because of its low ripple voltage, faster transient response, high efficiency, low duty cycle, reduced EMC, and improved reliability and stability. In this control strategy, the control logic is formulated by using a Tilt Integral Derivative Controller (TIDC), whose control parameters are considered as a function of the error to improve the robustness. The validation, better performance, and superiority of TLBO-HHOA regulated FOTDAF are established by comparative result analysis using modern controllers. This study implements TLBO-HHOA-regulated FOTDAF and applies Support Vector Pulse Width Modulation (SVPWM) technique. The proposed model managed to achieve improvements in overall system response and reduced harmonic distortions as well as better accuracy, improved stability, improved robustness, and better capabilities to handle system uncertainties.
Research Article
Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Santosh s.s B; Mohamed Thameem Ansari M; Kantarao P
Abstract
In the present day, a significant portion of the world's energy demand can be satisfied through the utilization of renewable energy sources. Solar energy, in particular, holds a pivotal position owing to its numerous merits. However, it faces a challenge known as mismatch response within the photovoltaic ...
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In the present day, a significant portion of the world's energy demand can be satisfied through the utilization of renewable energy sources. Solar energy, in particular, holds a pivotal position owing to its numerous merits. However, it faces a challenge known as mismatch response within the photovoltaic (PV) modules of an array when subjected to partial shading. This issue restricts power output, leads to the formation of local hot spots, and results in the underutilization of PV modules within the array. One of the most effective solutions to address this problem is optimizing the PV array (PVA) configuration to maximize output power under partial shading (PS) conditions. In this research paper, we commence with a thorough numerical analysis under uniform shading conditions. Following that, we scrutinize the performance of six traditional PVA configurations and three hybrid PVA configurations under PS conditions. The results consistently indicate that the Total Cross Tied (TCT) configuration outperforms others in all shading scenarios in terms of mitigating mismatch power loss, enhancing the fill factor, and improving overall efficiency.
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