Indian Climatic Conditions Research Articles

Performance analysis of triple basin solar still with energy-exergy analysis approach

An experimental investigation was conducted on novel design of triple basin solar still with different modification in the climatic conditions of India. The triple basin solar still was modified with attachments of evacuated tubes (ETCs), heat pipes (HP), corrugated surfaces and energy storage materials called modified triple basin solar still (MTBSS). To get the more water in distillate output and higher water temperature solar still was designed with three basin area. From experimental results it was found that the total distillate output obtained by MTBSS during day and night was 16.46 l/m2 and 7.40 l/m2, respectively. The performance of MTBSS was also check by 4E (Energy, Exergy, Exergo-Economic, Exergo-Environmental) analysis for economical and environmental point of view. The generation of exergy for evaporation (Exe,bw-ig) and convection (Exc,bw-ig) for MTBSS (Modified triple basin solar still) were 24.03 & 1.30 (joule) respectively. The values of energy efficiency (ƞenergy) and exergy efficiency (ƞexergy) obtained for MTBSS were 31.89% & 3.04% respectively. An economic point of view, the CPL of water remains higher in MTBSS. The NPBT for MTBSS was 2.5 months. For environmental assessment, the CO2 mitigation for MTBSS was 0.48 t/year, based on the exergy approach. The additions of ETCs, H.P, corrugated surface, and ESMs with MTBSS are effective from an exergo-economic and carbon credit point of view.

Experimental study to understand the effects of deficit irrigation in maize

ABSTRACT Given the challenges posed by climate change and the scarcity of water, it is essential to adopt sustainable irrigation practices that do not compromise crop yields. Research studies are crucial to determine the optimal deficit soil moisture levels to be maintained for cultivation in different soil types. This study examines the response of maize grown on loamy sand soil under different water deficit moisture contents by monitoring the variation of the crop growth in terms of the leaf area index, biomass weight, root depth and yield. The daily soil moisture is measured to understand the actual evapotranspiration from the study plots. From the experiments, the optimal moisture content identified is 13%, and the plot maintained at this moisture content has shown the highest evapotranspiration, yield and biomass. The yield response factor of the maize grown in water deficit conditions is also observed to be very close to the value reported by FAO. As expected, the yield response factor is found to be sensitive to water stress. The deficit irrigation at the optimal moisture content of 13% could be recommended for maize cultivation in loamy sand soil in North Indian climatic conditions. Such considerations will be vital for achieving sustainable irrigation goals.

Design of novel IoT-based solar powered PV pumping systems for agricultural applications in diverse climatic zones of India

Irrigation is a crucial component of the agriculture industry. The gross domestic output of India is about 15 % derived from its farmers. Crop failure is common among farmers, primarily because of inadequate irrigation techniques and irregular power and water supplies. To begin with, a survey of farmers from various parts of India was undertaken in this regard, and the results indicated that most of them lacked an effective irrigation system. An inventive solar-powered irrigation system devised and deployed to address this problem includes an automated Internet of Things (IoT) system. This IoT system, which functions based on the moisture content of the soil, plays a crucial role in ensuring that the crops receive the right amount of water at the right time. Furthermore, the PV pumping system addresses irrigation issues in various Indian climate conditions, including composite, warm and humid, cold, moderate, hot, and dry. The locations chosen for these climate conditions are Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, Bangalore in Karnataka, Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh, Patna in Bihar, and Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh. Performance ratios range from 0.514 to 0.739, system and pump efficiencies from 61 % to 88.80 %, and 57.10 %–58.60 %, respectively.

Perspectives on life cycle analysis of solar technologies with emphasis on production in India

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the solar power industry, business, and supply chain for 2019–2021, and installations are falling behind the mission plan. However, Indian PV manufacturers see it as a chance to engage in solar manufacturing to establish a competitive, sustainable, and robust domestic solar industry instead of import-based installations. Given the country's current environmental concerns, green and sustainable local manufacturing is the only viable alternative. By conducting a life cycle assessment (LCA), this study compared the environmental impacts generated by the five most promising photovoltaic technologies-mono-silicon, polysilicon, copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS), cadmium telluride (CdTe), and passivated emitter and rear contact (PERC) solar modules considering manufacturing in India. The study utilizes the ReCiPe method supported by Ecoinvent 3 databases and Simapro V9.0 software, and the functional unit for the data collection is in ‘per square meter’, which is later converted to ‘per kWh’ standard for comparison with the existing studies. The system boundary selected is from cradle to gate. The results demonstrate that cadmium telluride (CdTe) is the best technology for Indian climatic conditions in terms of environmental impact, with a global warming potential of 0.015 kg CO2 eq/kWh, stratospheric ozone depletion of 5.41E-09 kg CFC11 eq/kWh, human carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic toxicity of 6.67E-04 kg 1,4-DCB/kWh and 1.48E-02 kg 1,4-DCB/kWh, respectively and fine particulate matter formation of 3.96E-05 kg PM 2.5 eq/kWh assuming a lifetime of 25 years for these modules. CIGS follows CdTe in almost every environmental impact category.

Numerical Investigation on the Thermo-Mechanical Response of Geothermal Energy Pile in East Indian Climatic Condition

Numerical Investigation on the Thermo-Mechanical Response of Geothermal Energy Pile in East Indian Climatic Condition

Atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in India: geographical distribution, sources and associated health risk-a review.

Atmospheric distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and associated human health risks have been studied in India. However, a comprehensive overview is not available in India, this review highlights the possible sources, and associated cancer risks in people living in different zones of India. Different databases were searched for the scientific literature on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air in India. Database searches have revealed a total of 55 studies conducted at 139 locations in India in the last 14years between 1996 and 2018. Based on varying climatic conditions in India, the available data was analysed and distributed with four zone including north, east, west/central and south zones. Comparatively higher concentrations were reported for locations in north zone, than east, west/central and south zones. The average concentrations of ∑PAHs is lower in east zone, and concentrations in north, west/central and south zones are higher by 1.67, 1.47, and 1.12 folds respectively than those in east zone. Certain molecular diagnostic ratios and correlation receptor models were used for identification of possible sources, which aided to the conclusion that both pyrogenic and petrogenic activities are the mixed sources of PAH emissions to the Indian environment. Benzo(a)pyrene toxicity equivalency for different zones is estimated and presented. Estimated Chronic daily intake (CDI) due to inhalation of PAHs and subsequently, cancer risk (CR) is found to be ranging from extremely low to low in various geographical zones of India.

Investigation of Degradation in 20-Year-Field-Exposed PV Modules From India by Cross-Characterization Using Electroluminescence Imaging and Thermography

The reliability of photovoltaic (PV) modules is essential for ensuring a smooth operation over the anticipated timespan while operating outside. Examining the degradation in field-exposed photovoltaic (FEPV) modules will help to identify the possible degradation modes that can affect PV module performance and functioning. In this paper, to identify the major modes of degradation in Indian subtropical climate conditions, 20-year-old FEPV modules have been investigated by cross-characterization using dark lock-in thermography (DLIT) and electroluminescence (EL) imaging. Cross-characterization using EL and DLIT images has been helpful in investigation of various modes of degradations in FEPV modules in the presence of multiple degradations. Encapsulant and busbar ribbon interface degradations have been identified as the two main modes of degradation observed in Indian sub-tropical climate conditions. Minor degradations include finger interruptions and cell cracks. A major effect of degradation has been observed on the fill factor and short circuit current, which have decreased by up to 30% and 40%, respectively. The results presented in this paper can be used to understand degradation occurring in a sub-tropical climate and for the non-destructive analysis of degradations in the FEPV modules.

Optimizing durability of the thin white topping applying Taguchi method using desirability function

White topping is a relatively new rehabilitation technology for giving strength to Asphalt pavement. Time to time resurfacing is necessary for bituminous pavement in hot climate region of India where heavy vehicles, operating under frequent start/stop conditions. So, we can apply white topping where recurring problem arises due to rutting of bituminous pavement. In India, endeavors to develop both traditional and ultra-thin white toppings as well as thin white toppings were built on an experimental basis, but their outcomes have not been specifically tracked. The performance and existence of pavement is affected by a range of things such as the load imposed by means of the site visitors plying on it, the weather, indigenous materials used and renovation standards. To examine their overall performance below Indian site visitors and climatic conditions road roughness test, compressive power by way of taking concrete cores and visible inspection survey has been executed.Moreover, the necessity for the new sorts of concrete with higher durability and higher overall performance for precise purposes, as compared to the available sorts, is sensed greater than ever. The concrete durability, laid low with one kind of variables consisting of compressive strength, resistance and permeability, has already attracted the attention of many researchers. In this research the effects of adding white topping concrete, changes in the humidity and temperature of the rehabilitated surrounding atmosphere are investigated to observe whether they will cause any growth in compressive strength and resistance of concrete and/or any decay in its permeability. For this, the Taguchi method is carried out as a method of design of experiment to get the most excellent level for every variable, accompanied by applying the regression approach to model the variables. finally, the final most desirable degrees for the sturdiness are offered primarily based on the desirability function.

Thermal and Electrical Analysis of N-PVT-FPC Hybrid Active Heating of Biogas Plant

Abstract In order to increase biogas production during winter months/cold climatic conditions, a self-sustained N-photovoltaic thermal and flat plate collector (PVT-FPC) hybrid active heating biogas plant has been analyzed in terms of thermal energy and electrical energy. A general analytical expression for thermal and electrical energy of the biogas plant has been derived as a function of climatic and design parameters from one order coupled differential equations. Various photovoltaic thermal and flat plate collector (N-PVT-FPC) configurations have been considered for optimizing maximum electrical and thermal energy gain for a given total number of N-PVT-FPC collectors. Based on mathematical computation for Indian cold climatic conditions, it has been found that the N-PVT-FPC combination is always better than the flat plate collector-photovoltaic thermal (N-FPC-PVT) collector for maximum electrical and thermal energy. Overall exergy analysis of hybrid active heating of biogas plants has also been carried out.

Experimental investigation of double-glazed double-pass solar airheater (DG-DPSAH) with multi-v ribs having trapezoidal roughness geometry

In this study, roughness in the form of multi-V ribs having trapezoidal slots were crafted over the surface of absorber plate for enhancing the heat transfer rate in a solar air heater. An ex-perimental setup was designed and fabricated for demonstrating the performance of this plate with respect to smooth absorber plate. The setup has a double glazed-double pass air flow arrangement. The experiments were conducted under Indian climatic conditions (Latitude = 28.53˚N and Longitude = 77.39˚E) in September and October 2021 at various rates of air flow through the duct. The results of the roughened absorber plate were compared with the smooth absorber plate. It shows that the multi-V ribs with trapezoidal slots have higher efficacy as compared to smooth absorber plate in the order of 10.42% at an air flow rate of 0.078 kg/s. In addition, the present data of proposed roughness were also compared with data of various roughness available in the literature. It was found that the maximum thermo-hydraulic perfor-mance parameter of the proposed roughness texture is higher than other shapes of roughness texture. It was also found that the combination of double-glass cover and double-pass arrange-ment with the proposed roughness geometry increases the efficiency of the solar air heater at least by one order of the present solar air heating system.

Assessment of expected breeding value for milk production traits of Murrah buffaloes under different heat stress zones in Indian sub-tropical climatic conditions.

Present study was conducted to investigate the impact of temperature humidity index (THI) on expected breeding value (EBV) for daily milk yield (DMY) and monthly test day fat% (MTDF%) and monthly test day SNF% (MTDSNF%) of Murrah buffaloes at ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal. 302,101 records of DMY and 9864 records each on MTDF% and MTDSNF% buffaloes spanned over 20years (1994 to 2013) from NDRI, Karnal, and meteorological were collected from ICAR-CSSRI, Karnal. The year was classified into three zones: non-heat stress (NHSZ), heat stress (HSZ), and critical heat stress zone (CHSZ) based on THI. The heritability (h2) estimates for DMY, MTDF%, and MTDSNF% in NHSZ were 0.432 ± 0.054, 0.090 ± 0.004, and 0.070 ± 0.002; in HSZ 0.491 ± 0.073, 0.112 ± 0.003, and 0.052 ± 0.001; and in CHSZ 0.524 ± 0.077, 0.116 ± 0.004, and 0.092 ± 0.003, respectively. The repeatability (r) for DMY, MTDF%, and MTDSNF% in NHSZ were 0.528 ± 0.006, 0.166 ± 0.007, and 0.135 ± 0.007; in HSZ 0.572 ± 0.007, 0.198 ± 0.006, and 0.077 ± 0.006; and in CHSZ 0.599 ± 0.008, 0.217 ± 0.004, and 0.156 ± 0.009, respectively. EBV for DMY and MTDF% was maximum in NHSZ (8.85kg and 7.85%) and in HSZ (7.27kg and7.78%) and lowest (6.90kg and 7.77%) at CHSZ. For MTDSNF%, EBV was highest during NHSZ (9.6403), declined to 9.6265 at HSZ, and marginally elevated to 9.6271 at CHSZ. Impact of climatic factors on milk production and constituent traits is vital, and proper management should be followed during the heat stress and critical heat stress periods to improve the production performance of Murrah buffaloes.

Nomogram based Postmortem-interval estimation compared with the Actual death-interval in Tropical environmental conditions

BackgroundEstimating an accurate postmortem interval (PMI) is essential for death investigators to confirm the offence timing and suspects' alibis. Compared to traditional methods, the Nomogram-based method is claimed to estimate nearly accurate PMI, but most of such studies are based on the Western population. Adequate data for bodies exposed to tropical climate of India and the Indian subcontinent are not available. AimTo assess the accuracy and goodness-of-fit of Nomogram based PMI estimation in bodies exposed to Indian climatic conditions after death. Material and methodsThis is a 3-year-long study on 200 bodies with known death times. The exact PMI was recorded from direct sources: family members, police and hospital records. Before autopsy, the ambient temperature, body weight, length, and rectal temperature were measured, and the details of clothing, sex, and age, were used on a nomogram to calculate the PMI (tN). One-way ANOVA correlation and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare the variables. Linear regression analysis was used to establish the relationship between the rectal temperature (Tr) and nomogram estimated PMI (tN) and the known PMI(t). The consistency and agreement between the tN and t were measured using Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Bland-Altman (BA) plot was used to compare the level of agreement between direct(t) and nomograms method PMIs. ResultsNomogram-based PMI estimation showed a statistically significant strong relationship with rectal temperature (R 0.77, R2 0.74, adjusted R2 0.76, t-stat 25.83 p < 0.000) and exhibited a relatively consistent agreement with the known death interval (ICC 0.935). Regressing the tN over t showed that the nomogram method can predict PMI with 95 % accuracy. The BA plot between Direct and Nomogram methods exhibited a consistent agreement in PMI estimation though the limits of agreement (LoA) were wide: range 39.09–121.18 min. ConclusionThe accuracy and reliability of the Nomogram method in PMI estimation is high and recommended for the South Indian population. However, the presence of systematic differences between tN and t can't be ruled out due to wider LoA in BA plot. Hence, these findings highlight the need for further investigation and potential refinement of the PMI estimation methods to enhance accuracy and reduce discrepancies.

Standardization of Rose Flower Propagation by Improving the Climatic Conditions in India

To get the better quality flowers, the agricultural / Horticultural practices have to be applied at proper time and in proper way. In the present investigation the planting time of rose root-stock was standardized alongwith the way of planting in the soil beds. Planting time was taken as January, February and March because plants are very sensitive to the temperature, photo period and the air moisture. Any deviation in then even a week or a fortnight may affect yield and quality of flowers in ease of flowering plants. Another important factor in plant growth is soil, where root established and moride nourishment to the plant. In this experiment, the rose cuttings were planted on ridges, flat beds. and in polythene bags. The observations recorded showed that cuttings when planted on ridges and in flat bed yielded better flower and good plant growth. February was found to be suitable time for the better and quicker growth time.

A Review on Estimation of soil Macronutrients using Satellite Image Processing

Major portion of Indian economy depends on agriculture. More than 40 % of the Indian land is used for agriculture which contributes to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country and also provides employ to the population of the country. Increment in the population day by day increases the requirement for the increment in the yield of the agricultural products. There are several factors which is responsible to control the agricultural product yield. Among them Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium are the macronutrients are the vital elements of the soil . Due to the instability in the climatic condition of India and also due to other biotic and abiotic factors macronutrients get varies. To increase the crop yield, the perfect handling of macronutrients i.e., nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are required. As the technology is developing day by day, the application of remote sensing in agriculture is becoming promising. The satellite images of agricultural land can be processed and analysed to provide vital information for efficient agricultural practices. This paper is the review of the present state of art in the field of satellite image processing techniques for the estimation of the macronutrients of the agricultural land. This review will promote the acceptance of hyperspectral image technology for the investigation of soil NPK.

Interpretation of IS/IEC and IEEE Standards for Dielectric Type Testing of Instrument Transformers

The requirements of Instrument Transformers are given in standards IS16227-1, IEC 61869-1 and IEEE Std. C57.13.5. Indian Standard IS 16227-1 is in line with IEC 61869-1. Most of the utilities in India are the following IS: 16227-1/IEC 61869- 1. Many failures of the high voltage instrument transformers are being reported by the utilities. In this connection, a review of the requirements/test procedure and acceptance criteria specified by IEC 61869-1 and IEEE Std C57-13.5 for dielectric-type tests are reviewed in this paper which may help decision-making for adopting a particular standard for dielectric-type tests on instrument transformers considering Indian climatic conditions.

Capturing genetic variability in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) germplasm, released varieties, and advanced breeding lines under heat stress environment in North Indian climatic condition

Temperatures beyond optimal level are detrimental to growth and production in chickpeas. Aiming at capturing genetic variabilityand identifying potential heat-tolerant chickpea genotype, a panel of 110 chickpea lines were evaluated in field under normal sown(non-stress) and late sown (heat-stress) environments for various phenological, yield and yield-related traits over two consecutive yearsunder field conditions. Significant genetic variability for the phenological and yield related) was recorded under both non-stress andheat-stress conditions for both years. Seed yield/plant had strong positive correlations with number of pods/plant and harvest indexunder heat stress, indicating selection of plants with high pods/plant and seed yield/plant could help develop a heat-tolerant chickpealine. Based on the yield and yield-related traits, JG74, JAKI9218, Pusa 547, GNG1958, RVG202, RSG11, RSG931, RSG10, GG2, and Pusa240genotypes were classified as promising lines under heat stress environment. The identified diverse heat-tolerant genotypes may beused as a potential source in chickpea breeding programme for enhancing heat tolerance and useful genetic variability.

The role of indigenous plant species in controlling the erosion of top soil in sub-tropical environment: In-situ field observation and validation

Due to soil erosion, agricultural land productivity has declined in monsoon-dominated region of India. In this perspective, food security is threatened due to large-scale erosion and its associated declining tendency of fertility. So, people are trying to maximize production by considering HYVs (high-yielding varieties) seed, the large amount of fertilizer, and the agricultural system's alteration. For this reason, the intensity and amount of erosion have increased eventually. In the Indian context, most of the research regarding soil erosion has been done with the help of various established empirical and semi-empirical methods. These methods were developed universally and were less accurate in the Indian climatic context. This research establish a new (Indian soil erosion model: ISEM) on soil erosion considering the Indian climatic condition. This model was validated with the measured soil erosion and is much more reliable regarding optimal capacity than other established models. There is currently no such model for soil erosion in the Indian climate. So, our study has validated the innovative technique to soil erosion modelling that we created and presented. We used vegetation indices from several plots, including those with indigenous species land, external species land, and shrub land, to correlate the projected soil erosion using ISEM. The r2 values for the native, outside, and shrub land are, respectively, 0.5112, 0.2827, and 0.3028. From this, we can easily understand the optimal capacity of the model and the suitable measures in the plantation programme.

Sustainable Water Harvesting for Improving Food Security and Livelihoods of Smallholders under Different Climatic Conditions of India

In India, the per capita availability of water is projected to be 1465 m3 and 1235 m3 by the years 2025 and 2050, respectively, and hence, India would be a water-stressed country as per the United Nations’ standard of less than 1700 m3 per capita water availability. India is predominantly an agricultural-dominant country. Rainfed agriculture in the country contributes 40% of food grain production and supports half of the human population and two-thirds of the livestock population. The country has 15 different agro-climatic zones, and each agro-climatic region has its own constraints of water availability and management along with the potential for their optimum utilization. Such situations warrant the formulation of regional-level strategies. Efforts were made to integrate and evaluate the feasibility of water harvesting and its utilization at twelve different sites representing six different agro-climatic conditions spanning pan India. It was found that water harvesting through tanks/ponds is a feasible approach and can increase the crop production as well as diversification. The results reveal that the range of crop diversification index increased from 0.49–0.85 to 0.65–0.98; the crop productivity index increased from 0.28–0.66 to 0.66–0.90; the cultivated land utilization index increased from 0.05–0.69 to 0.34–0.84; and the crop water productivity index increased from 0.20–0.51 to 0.56–0.96, among other production and diversification indices, due to additional water availability through rainwater harvesting intervention. Moreover, the gross return increased from INR 43,768–704,356 to INR 220,840–1,469,108 ha−1, representing a 108 to 400% increase in the returns due to the availability of water. The findings of this study suggest that the water harvesting in small ponds/tanks is economical and feasible, requires less technological intervention, and increases crop diversification in all the studied agro-climatic conditions, and hence, the same needs to be encouraged in the rainfed areas of the country.

Time Lag Characteristics of Building Envelop Materials on Peak Energy Demand in Typical Hot and Humid Climate of India

Abstract Using a one-dimensional model for transient heat conduction through building enclosure walls, the present research examines the effects of thermophysical building envelop parameters on transient heat exchange, peak cooling, and heating load for northern part of India. For space cooling and heating applications, the thermal performance of four distinct walling systems commonly employed in the climatic conditions of India was examined. Results demonstrate that when the thermal conductivity of the wall increases, the time lag reduces. As wall thickness rises from 230 mm to 310 mm, there is an increase in the time lag during cooling and heating modes. Additionally, the results show that the time lag between conduction and solar load increases as wall thickness increases. As wall thermal mass increased by 20% in cooling mode, the time of peak load was shifted by 2 h. When operating in cooling mode in contrast to heating mode, high thermal mass is more effective in shifting the time of occurrence of peak energy consumption.

Parametric Studies on a Two-Stage Evaporative Cooler During Tropical Climates in India

Abstract This research study aims to work out the best possible performance parameters for a two-stage direct–indirect evaporative cooler (IDEC) when it is operated in Indian climatic conditions. A numerical simulation model has been developed to estimate temperature, relative humidity, cooling capacity, and saturation efficiency for a direct evaporative cooler (DEC), when it is operated during hot and humid and hot and less humid conditions in Chennai city. Simulation results have been corroborated with those obtained from experiments. Simulation techniques have also been extended for a fin and tube heat exchanger, which acts as IDEC. Both DEC and IDEC are combined and developed into a two-stage evaporative cooler in which performance studies have been carried out. Performance parameters are optimized for all three modes of evaporative cooling. These studies reveal that the DEC system with optimized parameters has a better approach to wet bulb temperature (WBT). Hence, cooling effectiveness of DEC depends on the ambient air WBT of Indian localities. IDEC systems perform better in places where ambient air WBT is less, either hot and less humid or hot and dry climates. Two-stage evaporative cooling is the preferred technique for Chennai weather when compared with direct and indirect cooling methods. In this cooler, spray water temperature approaches the WBT of IDEC cooled air, whereas it is reduced well below ambient air WBT and approaches ambient air dew point temperature. Also, when ambient air is cooled in this new cooler, dry bulb temperature (DBT) of IDEC cooled air can be reduced below ambient air WBT.