Applications In Energy Systems Research Articles

Electronic structure, thermodynamics, and thermoelectric properties of YxAl1−xN semiconductor alloys for new promising optoelectronics and energy conversion: Ab Initio study

Key characteristics such as structural, electronic, thermodynamic, and thermoelectric of wurtzite yttrium aluminum nitride (YxAl1−xN) semiconductor alloys (with 0≤ x ≤ 0.375) were investigated using Ab Initio density functional simulation within powerful full-potential linear augmented plane wave (FP‒LAPW) method. The equilibrium structural parameters (a0, c0, c0/a0,V0) were determined using the revised GGA−PBEsol approach in perfect agreement with experiments. The lattice a0-parameter varies almost linearly with yttrium concentration with a bowing of −0.08597 Å, while the c0-parameter has a bowing of −0.5715 Å. The lattice dynamics of doped YxAl1−xN systems were analyzed based on formation energy and phonon frequencies. Electronic structures of wurtzite YxAl1−xN described from a modern nKTB−mBJ potential show bandgap engineering with a range of [6.10 eV–3.85 eV] for x varies from 0 to 0.375, covering emission wavelengths [203 nm–322 nm] in the ultraviolet spectrum. The electron charge density contours indicate ionic bonding in wurtzite YxAl1−xN. Using the quasi-harmonic Debye model, thermodynamic properties of YxAl1−xN alloys, including volume (V0), mass modulus (B0), specific heat (Cv), thermal expansion (α), entropy (S), Debye temperature (ΘD) and Grüneisen parameter (γ), were calculated and analyzed under temperature and pressure effects. Moreover, electronic transport properties, such as the Seebeck coefficient (S), electrical conductivity (σ/τ), power factor, thermal conductivity (κel/τ), and figure of merit (ZT), of YxAl1−xN alloys were determined using BoltzTraP code. YxAl1−xN (at x = 0.25 and T = 600 K) exhibited the largest magnitude of S, with a value of ∼213.9 μV/K, and ZT ∼ 0.72. It also had the lowest value of κ/τ ∼9.9 × 1013 W m−1.K−1.s−1. Wurtzite YxAl1−xN crystal appears to be an extremely interesting candidate for potential applications in optoelectronics (UV) and future green energy system.

Two-dimensional Pd-Cellulose with optimized morphology for the effective solar to steam generation

Nanosized plasmonic metallic nanoparticles such as Pd have gained significant attention due to their diverse applications in catalysis, sensing, and light-to-heat conversion. However, the development of scalable and environmentally friendly synthesis routes for such nanoparticles is crucial for the sustainable development of industrial applications. In this work, we address this challenge by synthesizing Pd-nanoparticles on the cellulose filter paper (Pd-Cellulose) via two scalable green synthesis routes: low-temperature thermal and plasma synthesis. We found that adjusting synthesis conditions allowed us to achieve an optimum morphology that maximizes light absorptance. The nature of the reduction species during synthesis significantly impacts the morphology and heat-transfer properties of the resulting material. Compared to thermally synthesized Pd-Cellulose, the absorbers synthesized with plasma have smaller particles size and higher coverage, which leads to higher broadband light absorptance and more intense heat transfer to the surroundings. The optimized Pd-based light absorbers were utilized in a solar-to-steam desalination system, resulting in an evaporation rate of 1.30 kg/m2h for the open system and a filtration rate of 0.7 kg/m2h for the closed system. Our findings provide insights into the green and scalable synthesis and optimization of Pd-based light absorbers and their potential application in sustainable renewable energy systems.

2D-Channel-Forming Catechol-Based Polyphosphates as Solid Polymer Electrolytes and Their Microstructure-Assisted Li-Ion Conductivity

Electrochemical energy storage devices are the much-required technology for potential applications in renewable energy systems from intermittent wind and solar sources and portable applications in electric vehicles. This paper describes the synthesis, characterization, and Li-ion conductivity of catechol-based copolymer of polyphosphates (P1–P4) for solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) applications in Li-ion batteries. The synthesized polymers are thermally stable with a high molecular weight and porous nature and their particles have a rodlike morphology. The Li-ion conductivity of one of the SPEs produced using P3 with 20 wt % of LiTFSI is 1.4 × 10–3 S cm–1 at 80 °C, while P1 having 40 wt % of LiTFSI shows the conductivity of 1.2 × 10–3 S cm–1 at 80 °C. The remaining polymers (P1–P4) show good conductivity at room temperature (∼10–4 S cm–1). The results demonstrate the highest Li-ion conductivity among those reported in the literature so far at 80 °C. The high conductivity achieved is attributed to the microstructure of polymer molecules dictated by the bulky and rigid groups as a co-monomer, which creates perpetual voids in the polymer matrices. Galvanostatic charge–discharge cycling studies on the coin cells fabricated using SPE1 exhibit constant overpotential values and stable cycling behavior for about 2000 cycles.

Progress in Energy Storage Technologies and Methods for Renewable Energy Systems Application

This paper provides a comprehensive review of the research progress, current state-of-the-art, and future research directions of energy storage systems. With the widespread adoption of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, the discourse around energy storage is primarily focused on three main aspects: battery storage technology, electricity-to-gas technology for increasing renewable energy consumption, and optimal configuration technology. The paper employs a visualization tool (CiteSpace) to analyze the existing works of literature and conducts an in-depth examination of the energy storage research hotspots in areas such as electrochemical energy storage, hydrogen storage, and optimal system configuration. It presents a detailed overview of common energy storage models and configuration methods. Based on the reviewed articles, the future development of energy storage will be more oriented toward the study of power characteristics and frequency characteristics, with more focus on the stability effects brought by transient shocks. This review article compiles and assesses various energy storage technologies for reference and future research.

Effects of staggered dimple array under different flow conditions for enhancing cooling performance of solar systems

Enhancing cooling performance of internal channel with dimple array is promising technology for various solar energy systems. In this study, we investigate the use of dimple arrays within these coolant channels as a means of achieving higher cooling performance while minimizing pressure loss. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of dimple arrays under various flow conditions (laminar, transition, and turbulent). Flow measurements revealed that the dimple array promotes secondary flows and turbulent intensity, particularly under transitional flow conditions. Among the tested flow conditions, the highest thermal performance ratio of 1.8 was achieved at ReH = 2000 and 3000 (transition flow cases), resulting in a 47% increase in heat transfer compared to the laminar flow case (ReH = 1000). These results suggest that dimple arrays with transitional flow conditions could be an effective means of improving the cooling performance of solar energy systems and ultimately contribute to reducing carbon dioxide emissions and preventing climate change. Further research is needed to optimize the dimple array design for specific flow conditions cooling applications for solar energy systems.

Preface

It is our great pleasure to welcome you to the 2022 3rd International Conference on Smart Grid and Energy Engineering (SGEE 2022), held during November 25th-27th, 2022 in Nanjing, China (virtual conference). The conference is a continuation of the international academic conferences in 2020 and 2021, respectively.The primary goal of SGEE 2022 is to provide an international forum for researcher and practitioner to share ideas in all aspect of how to enhance the vocational capability related to Smart Grid and Energy Engineering under the changing and advancing domestic and international situation. Besides, the conference promoted scientific and academic information interchange among all the participants working all over the world. And it will be held every year to make it an ideal platform for people to share views and experiences in related fields.During the conference, we had about 100 participations both as speakers and participants, including researchers, teachers, students, industrial experts, and professionals. To make this conference on schedule, we had a three-part plenary including a keynote speech delivered by resources persons from different parts of China and other countries. All the keynote speakers have delivered expertise lectures by imparting the latest findings from their respective research domains. Among them, Prof. Yifei Wu from Xi’an Jiaotong University, China addressed a keynote speech on the title Research on Economical DC Interruption Technology. In his presentation, the economical DC interruption technology based on arc voltage enhancement was proposed, in which the complex current commutation module was avoided and reduced the cost and volume by more than 30% compared with the existing schemes. Base on the research, a series of 10kV DC circuit breakers based on arc voltage enhancement have been developed and applied in Jiangsu and other DC distribution demonstration projects. It was a wonderful opportunity for all the participants to interact with the experts and specialists to get their advice or suggestions.The proceedings of SGEE 2022 contain quantities of excellent papers grouped by topics. All submissions were performed double blind review to check their quality of content, level of innovation, significance, originality and legibility, covering but not limited to the following topics: Smart Grid Technologies, Power Transmission and Distribution, Renewable Energy, Electricity and Energy System Applications, etc.We would like to express our gratitude to all the participants for their fruitful work and excellent contribution to the success of SGEE 2022. Especially, we appreciate the enormous work of the editorial board and reviewers in the preparation of this volume. Also, our heartfelt thanks and appreciation go to the Editors and Managers, Journal of Physics: Conference Series for their help and kind cooperation during the preparation of the proceedings. We hope you will benefit from all the manuscripts of the proceedings and learn new and novel ideas.The Committee of SGEE 2022List of Committee member is available in this pdf.

The Dynamic Sliding Mode Controller with Observer of Coincident Perturbations and States for Buck Converter of Fuel Cell Source

Buck converter has been widely used in the DC renewable energy system application. The Fuel Cell (FC) based DC renewable energy is offered as a high-performance and low-emission power supply, which replaces conventional DC sources. Its relevant control system has regulated the output voltage under input voltage and load resistance variations to track the desired reference signal. To control the current sensorless-based buck converter with matched and mismatched uncertainties, the system must be modeled in such a way that by measuring the output voltage, both the inductor current and system perturbations can be estimated. The purpose of the work is suggestion of a novel dynamic sliding mode controller (DSMC) based on observer of coincident perturbations and states (CSPO) to enhance its controllability and tracking performance. The significance of the work lies in low cost and reduced losses due to the inductor current measurement. Lacking an exact value for inductor current, it is not possible to estimate and compensate the perturbations caused by parametric uncertainties in the buck converter. These objectives were achieved by modeling in the canonical form. The canonical model somehow converts both the matched and mismatched perturbations into the matched perturbation, in which the system states and perturbations can be merely estimated using only an output voltage value and a CSPO. The most important results are the fastness and robustness of the DSMC to control the buck converter and compensate the effect of mismatched uncertainties and nonlinear disturbances and chattering phenomenon.

A single switch hybrid quadratic converter for grid‐integrated renewable energy system

SummaryTo interface the electricity grid with renewable energy system applications, the system voltage is to be stepped up to a higher level. Here, the interfacing converter along with the transformer unit becomes an essential stage. Due to this traditional approach and the presence of a transformer, the size and cost of the entire unit are higher and reduce the efficiency of the system drastically with large space requirements, especially under light load conditions. To overcome this limitation, various dc‐dc converters have been proposed by researchers; however, the components' utilization and operation range of duty cycles are higher to obtain a higher voltage level. This particular paper proposes a novel single‐switch hybrid quadratic converter (HQC) for a grid‐integrated renewable energy system. The main objective of this proposed approach is to minimize the components count utilized in the converter with lower device stress to achieve higher gain; hence, it improvises the efficiency. The operational waveforms and mathematical relations based on the corresponding equivalent circuit are discussed in detail. To understand and analyze the merits of various performance parameters, the detailed comparative performance of the proposed HQC with existing converters is summarized in this paper. Finally, to validate and verify the novelty, the 500‐W experimental prototype was built and experimental results were captured and presented in this paper. It is observed that the proposed HQC can yield an efficiency of more than 95% under a lower range of duty cycles.

Residual stress mitigation in directed energy deposition

Directed Energy Deposition (DED), a class of additive manufacturing techniques, has seen rapid growth over the last decade for potential applications in aerospace, medical devices, and energy systems. Despite notable progress in the research and development of AM, control and mitigation of residual stress during DED remains a challenge. In this work, we propose a novel approach that can be used for the mitigation of residual stresses in additively manufactured components. Specifically, we propose to mitigate the residual stress state of as-deposited components using alloy design, engineering of solid-state transformations, and the introduction of both hard and soft metallic phases. We demonstrate this strategy with a model system consisting of pure Fe and Fe–Cu. Experimental results indicate that residual stresses can be successfully manipulated by adjusting the alloy composition as a soft metallic phase can accommodate plastic deformation. Moreover, our findings suggest that the solid-state transformations experienced by the Fe and Fe-rich phases contribute to the observed differences in magnitude and location of residual stresses. This study is the first to suggest using residual stress as an engineering criterion in the design of alloys for metal additive manufacturing.

Power Electronic Applications in Power and Energy Systems

Modern environmental policies, carbon emission reduction targets, stimulus funding for economy recovery, end-use energy efficiency, objectives for higher reliability, and service quality in energy systems are a few of the factors driving forces behind the integration of advanced control and communication technologies into energy systems [...]

A hybrid deep learning - CFD approach for modeling nanoparticles’ sedimentation processes for possible application in clean energy systems

Sedimentation directly affects the thermal performance and efficiency of thermal systems such as boilers, heat exchangers, and solar collectors. This work investigates the effect of nanoparticles deposition inside a tube with possible application in parabolic solar collectors. This study combines the lattice Boltzmann (LBM) and the control finite volume (CFV) methods for a realistic simulation of nanoparticles deposition for the first time. While the bulk flow is solved using the CFV method, the flow behavior in the deposition layer is evaluated using the LBM model. Nanoparticle movements are also captured using dynamic mesh refinement in CFV in order to accurately predict their behavior. The numerical results are then used for training a deep feed-forward neural network with appropriate boundary conditions (DFNN-BC) to visualize and predict the transient sedimentation behavior. The prediction includes (i) representation of nanoparticles in the LB domain while it is trained during the particle movement in the FV domain and (ii) extension of the computational domain in space, which is three times bigger than the training domain. DFNN-BC is used to study the heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics for Reynolds numbers ranging from 12 to 50 where the working fluid is a nanofluid. The results indicated that using DFNN-BC can reduce the calculation time by 80% compared to the case where the entire domain is solved numerically. The results show that deposition has a maximum effect of 0.32% on the average velocity ratio (AVR) at Re = 12. This variation is related to the viscosity and shear stress of the fluid. With an increment in Reynolds number, the AVR decreases to 0.12%. This is because of the decrement in the number of sedimented nanoparticles. In addition, increasing the velocity significantly affects the rate of sedimentation and volume fraction ratio. It is also seen that the fluid's velocity and density increase by 8.69% and 6.53%, respectively, whereas the viscosity decreases by 7.74%. The findings of this study provide a better understanding of the details of the sedimentation process, such as particle behavior and variation in parameters near the surface, like concentration, thermal conductivity, and viscosity of the sedimentation and the formation of a deposition layer in fluid–particle multiphase flows. This, in turn, is expected to lead to cost savings in maintenance through more precise predictions of service periods for heat transfer equipment.

A Review of Membrane-Based Desalination Systems Powered by Renewable Energy Sources

The rising demand for clean water and the environmental challenges associated with fossil fuels have encouraged the application of renewable and greener energy systems in desalination. Moreover, the small footprint and high productivity favored the membrane-based process in the water industry. In the past few decades, noticeable work has been performed on the development and applicability of membrane-based desalination processes powered by renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, tidal, and geothermal. Several integrated membrane desalination processes for producing clean water with sustainable and clean energy are introduced. This review details the source and performance efficiencies of existing renewable energy technologies and their application in membrane-based desalination processes, with a special focus on current advancements and challenges. This study reviews the interconnections between water, energy, and the environment and explores future energy-efficient desalination options for energy savings and environmental protection.

Sliding Mode Controllers in Energy Systems and Other Applications

The process of obtaining the necessary electrical energy to satisfy the needs of society is becoming an increasingly difficult issue in current times [...]

Editorial: Advanced data-driven methods and applications for smart power and energy systems

Editorial: Advanced data-driven methods and applications for smart power and energy systems

The Impact of New Energy Technologies on the Level of Energy Justice

The modern concept of energy transition implies following a matrix in which the key elements are decarbonization, digitalization, decentralization and democratization of the energy sector. At the same time, the aspiration is to carry out the entire process in a fair way, taking care of the balance of the energy trilemma. Bearing in mind the requirements set in this way, it is clear that they can hardly be achieved using only conventional energy technologies, regardless of whether they are based on the use of fossil or renewable energy sources. This is the reason why new energy technologies are being developed quickly, which should make it easier to achieve the objectives. However, not all new energy technologies have the same impact on improving the level of energy justice in society; some of them may even cause the opposite of the desired effects. The paper analyzes small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) and large battery systems for energy storage (BESS). These two types of technologies were selected due to their near mass application in energy systems. Also, the strong influence of various lobby groups that strive to impose these solutions as mandatory elements of modern energy systems is noticeable. The aim of the research is to assess the impact that these two technologies could have on society, but also on the geopolitical position of the country where they are implemented. One of the key criteria for the analysis was the effect of applied energy solutions on complex forms of social and organizational technologies (eg impact on the development of educational infrastructure).

Back Cover

This picture describes Raman scattering process of molecules adsorbed on nanostructured particles. The SERS has been proven to be a versatile technique in application of energy systems. SERS allows nondestructive detection of reaction intermediate species, which is crucial for in situ characterization of reaction. In this review, the principles of SERS, fabrication methods of SERS‐active substrates are discussed. The current advances in SERS applications, notably in Li‐ion batteries, Li‐S batteries, Li‐O2 batteries, water splitting and fuel cells, are reviewed. More details are discussed in the article by Li et al. on page 355–369.image

Performance enhancement strategies of fibrous solar cells for wearable hybrid energy systems

This review focuses on the prospective strategies and methods to improve the stability and reliability of fibrous solar cells (FSCs) and discusses the recent development of FSCs and their applications in hybrid energy systems.

Oscillating rheological behavior of Turbatrix aceti nematodes

We present an experimental investigation of the rheological aspects of collective motion by the swimming Turbatrix aceti nematodes. We discover that these nematodes can significantly change the rheological properties of the suspension due to their body oscillations and form synchronized waves, which produce strong fluid flows. The strength of the collective state changes the shape of the interface where they swim in synchronization. We unravel that the effective viscosity of the nematode suspension at higher shear rates shows steady viscous behavior with time, where no significant effect of nematode activity is observed. For the first time, we have reported that at low shear rates, the activity effect is significant enough to generate oscillating viscous effects. In addition, we also measured the influence of the nematode concentration on suspension viscosity. This work opens a new way for understanding the rheological aspects of active matter under low and high shear rates. We illustrate these dynamics by showing that the force generated by these nematodes is sufficient to change the suspension rheology. The various aspects of nematodes, especially their large size and ease of culturing, make them a good model organism for experimental investigation as active fibers with oscillations. The oscillating behavior regulates the interfacial phenomenon and produces oscillatory rheological dynamics at low shear rates. The results of our work can be utilized to further study the novel metamaterials with negative viscosity, which have applications in healthcare and energy systems.

Quadruple Boost Switched Capacitor-Based Inverter for Standalone Applications

Conventional energy sources will not be sufficient to meet future electrical demands, and also pollute the environment. Therefore, to meet their electrical energy needs, and maintain clean and green environmental conditions, people are focusing more on renewable energy sources. Small-scale PV solar standalone AC loads or grid integration applications need high voltage at a desired level, transformer/inductor less operation, high gain DC-DC front-end converters, and DC-AC converters. To achieve all the above objectives, this paper proposes a step-up quadruple boost nine-level inverter, it works on switched capacitor technique with a reduced count of components for the application of renewable energy systems. The proposed topology balances the capacitor voltages with the control scheme itself without using any sensors. A level-shifted pulse-width modulation (LPWM) technique can be used in the control strategy of the proposed topology. This paper covers the operational modes of the proposed topology, voltage stress calculations, capacitors calculations, and losses calculations at various stages and compared with recent literature, that reveals this topology is more advantageous in terms of less total standing voltage, switch count, cost factor, better efficiency and the number of gate driver circuits. The theoretical performance can be validated through MATLAB/Simulink-based simulation and their results are validated through prototype experimentation. Further, the experimental results contain modulation index variations, frequency modulation, switching frequency variations, input voltage variations, and load variations. Finally, the max efficiency of 96.5% is achieved for the experimental prototype of the proposed topology.

Medium-Voltage Seven-Level Multiplexed Converter for AC Applications

After several decades of technological evolution, power electronics applications have become extremely important for electric/hybrid propulsion systems, smart grids, renewable energy systems, energy saving, and bulk energy storage, besides the typical applications in industrial automation and high-efficiency energy systems. In all these applications, a power conversion system with high efficiency and power density is required without sacrificing the system's power quality. The paper describes the specific characteristics and the scalar modulation strategy of a new multi-level multiplexed inverter topology for medium-voltage AC applications. The proposed power converter configuration is intended for high-power applications aiming to reduce the active device's voltage rating and losses exhibiting a resulting low switching frequency of the power switches. The proposed modulation strategy aims to reduce the computational burden and simplify the implementation process, which are at the basis of any possible industrial adoption. Simulation results and full Hardware-In-the-Loop verification support the analysis. The Hardware-In-the-Loop assessment has enabled the development of a suitable modulation strategy, and the testing of the power converter is a safe environment.