Power Generation Capability Research Articles

Investigating the feasibility of nano-grid infrastructure integration into street lighting systems based on energy production and economic evaluation

To enhance efficient and sustainable energy usage in street lighting systems, a nano-grid infrastructure comprising an energy harvesting, storage, and management system is integrated. This paper investigated the feasibility in terms of energy production and economic evaluation of using various energy harvesting for photovoltaic, piezoelectric, and wind energy in a nano-grid street lighting system. The photovoltaic system was evaluated based on the factors of annual actual solar radiation, power losses, and system performance using the PVsyst software. The piezoelectric energy production was studied and designed. Optimal piezoelectric installation for maximum power generation was analyzed in terms of deformation and stress using ANSYS software. For wind power generation, the wind turbine characteristics, along with its location, were designed to optimize power output using computational fluid dynamic simulations in ANSYS software. After that, economic evaluation for the proposed energy harvesting systems for nano-grid street lighting system are analyzed and compared in terms of DPP, NPV, IRR, and LCOE. In addition, the optimization of using PV, a wind system, a hybrid PV—wind system for nano-grid street lighting systems was conducted using HOMER Pro software. The results indicated that generating power through PV, piezoelectric, and wind energy was feasible. However, economic evaluation unveiled the infeasibility of employing piezoelectric and wind energy systems due to their elevated investment costs relative to their power generation capabilities. The dynamics of power generation from PV and wind systems, along with street lighting consumption, significantly impacted the dimensions of energy harvesting and storage systems, as well as their economic feasibility. The hybrid PV-wind system exhibited strong economic feasibility.

A Comparative Study of Floating and Ground-Mounted Photovoltaic Power Generation in Indian Contexts

The escalating global demand for energy and growing environmental concerns have stimulated the development of renewable energy-based power systems. In this context, solar power has gained significant attention, notably in the form of floating photovoltaic systems. These systems, installed on water bodies, not only boost efficiency but also reduce water evaporation from reservoirs. This research explores the power generation capabilities of floating photovoltaic systems in comparison to ground-mounted photovoltaic systems, considering a 250-watt monocrystalline photovoltaic panel. This study utilizes typical meteorological year data to comprehensively analyze four distinct locations in India. By using a single-diode model, this study finds that floating photovoltaic systems provide 6-7% more power output than ground-mounted photovoltaic systems. This efficiency gain is because the floating photovoltaic panels operate at a lower temperature (4-6°C) than their ground-mounted photovoltaic counterparts, positively influencing the overall performance. Furthermore, the degradation and soiling of ground-mounted photovoltaic and floating photovoltaic systems were also compared. The financial analysis reveals that ground-mounted photovoltaic systems typically have a lower levelized cost of electricity and shorter payback periods. Even though the financial indicators of floating photovoltaic systems are not favorable compared to ground-mounted photovoltaic systems, these results show how vital floating photovoltaic technology is for achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and how it could be used as an efficient technique to reduce land requirements for solar photovoltaic solutions in various geographical conditions.

Design and characteristic analysis of a high-performance deformable piezoelectric wind energy harvester based on coupled vibrations

The current vortex-induced vibration piezoelectric wind energy harvesters have a narrow operating wind speed range, while galloping piezoelectric energy harvesters are at risk of damage from excessive amplitude at high wind speeds, a novel high-performance deformable piezoelectric wind energy harvester based on coupled vibrations (DPWEH) has been proposed. The alteration of the compound blunt body shape effectively modifies the shedding characteristics and intensity of vortices, subsequently influencing the vibration mode and output voltage of the system. The vibration mode transitions from galloping to coupled vibration, ultimately to vortex-induced vibration. The rigid wing and long elastic beam suppress galloping at high wind speeds. A thinner flexible wing can extend the duration of coupled vibration. A smaller wing width ratio and larger Y-type base wing width are beneficial for increasing the output voltage. By optimizing the parameters of the compound blunt body, the onset wind speed can be effectively reduced, the effective wind speed bandwidth can be expanded, and the DPWEH can undergo coupled vibration for an extended duration while stably generating electricity. The peak output power is 0.36 mW at a load of 150 kΩ. Moreover, the energy harvester demonstrates the prolonged power generation capability of signal transmitters and 100 LED lights.

A Submersible Power Station: Part A Helium Power Conversion Unit

Nuclear power continues to hold great promise in the green revolution, however public opinion regarding its deployment is mixed. A submersible nuclear power station concept is presented here that is expected to allay many concerns that are holding back the growth of nuclear power. This submersible can move under its own power during emergencies and routine maintenance. Being stationed at sea it is earthquake proof. In the case of a tsunami it could decouple from the coast and sail to a location several miles to deeper waters in less than 30 min. Furthermore, it could be built, commissioned, maintained, refueled and scrapped in a country like the UK. This makes it proliferation-proof, a key concern with the wider deployment of nuclear power. In the present evaluation the philosophy and the electric power generation capability of the submersible power station are investigated. This includes a pre-feasibility visualization of the design. An evaluation is carried out into fitting it in a submersible of a size similar to the largest existing nuclear submarines. These designs may enable it to deliver 0.6 to 1 GW of electrical power.

Ocean current turbine power take-off design using fluid dynamics and towing tank experiments

This study investigates the performance and power generation capabilities of a small-scale hydrokinetic turbine by comparing numerical simulations with experimental measurements. The key difference between the two models comes from the initial numerical analysis which focused only on the permanent magnet DC motor (PMDC) motor’s parameters and did not account for the gear-head reduction that leads to discrepancies in current and torque predictions, especially at lower input voltages. In practice, friction losses within the gear-head increased the required current and torque, highlighting inefficiencies in the motor gear-head system. A modified experimental setup incorporated a magnetic coupling to address leakage issues and enhance system reliability. While the magnetic coupling resulted in a slight reduction in speed, current, and torque, it improved the overall integrity of the system which is essential for marine applications. The comparison between experimental results and Blade Element Momentum (BEM) simulations showed good agreement at lower speeds, but the simulations under-predicted power at higher speeds, likely due to the model’s limitations in capturing complex hydrodynamic phenomena. This shows the need for comprehensive analysis, integrating both numerical and experimental approaches to optimize turbine performance. Future research will focus on refining experimental methodologies and further improving turbine design and efficiency for hydrokinetic energy systems.

Ocean current turbine power take-off design using fluid dynamics and towing tank experiments

This study investigates the performance and power generation capabilities of a small-scale hydrokinetic turbine by comparing numerical simulations with experimental measurements. The key difference between the two models comes from the initial numerical analysis which focused only on the permanent magnet DC motor (PMDC) motor’s parameters and did not account for the gear-head reduction that leads to discrepancies in current and torque predictions, especially at lower input voltages. In practice, friction losses within the gear-head increased the required current and torque, highlighting inefficiencies in the motor gear-head system. A modified experimental setup incorporated a magnetic coupling to address leakage issues and enhance system reliability. While the magnetic coupling resulted in a slight reduction in speed, current, and torque, it improved the overall integrity of the system which is essential for marine applications. The comparison between experimental results and Blade Element Momentum (BEM) simulations showed good agreement at lower speeds, but the simulations under-predicted power at higher speeds, likely due to the model’s limitations in capturing complex hydrodynamic phenomena. This shows the need for comprehensive analysis, integrating both numerical and experimental approaches to optimize turbine performance. Future research will focus on refining experimental methodologies and further improving turbine design and efficiency for hydrokinetic energy systems.

A compliant mechanism actuated bistable hybrid mode triboelectric nanogenerator

Abstract Traditional contact-separation mode triboelectric nanogenerators (CS-TENGs) and lateral sliding mode TENGs exhibit distinct strengths and weaknesses in terms of their charge generation capability and durability. In this study, by leveraging a bistable compliant mechanism (BHM-TENG), we propose a hybrid mode TENG, which synthesizes the features of two traditional working modes to achieve both high durability and satisfactory performance. The proposed design exhibited a 78.6% surge in voltage output and a 142% surge in power density compared to CS-TENG. The design also maintains over 95% power generation capability after 100 000 cycles. Moreover, the compliant bistable mechanism offers a reliable actuation method at low frequencies, validated through experiments supported with a mathematical model. Real-world energy harvesting applications enabled by BHM-TENG are also discussed.

Experimental and theoretical analysis of photovoltaic performance and thermal behavior for bifacial PV-Trombe wall system with reversible louvers in summer

The traditional monofacial PV-Trombe wall can harness both solar photovoltaic (PV) and thermal energy in buildings, but its performance is hindered by the need for transparent PV glass panels, which reduces PV power generation performance. To address this issue, this paper introduces a novel bifacial PV-Trombe Wall that leverages the rear-side power generation capability of bifacial PV cells. Theoretical analysis of the PV power generation performance of the system highlighted key factors and relationships, indicating that at a coverage rate of 0.5, the increase in its power generation compared to traditional systems reaches a maximum of 17.46 %. Furthermore, an experimental setup was devised and tested to explore the system's PV performance and thermal behavior during the summer season. The experimental results show that the reflective function of reversible louvers had successfully reduced the maximum temperature and rate of temperature rise on the attached wall, effectively alleviating the issue of solar heat absorption in buildings during summer. Besides, the system with reversible louvers improved the overall PV efficiency from 15.40 % to 16.17 %, with a total power generation increase of 5.04 %. Therefore, the system can enhance PV power generation and efficiently decrease the building's cooling energy consumption during the summer.

Parametric analysis of a fully coupled USV-type wave energy converter: An approach based on wave-to-grid modelling

The integration of the wave energy converter and the unmanned surface vehicle (USV), which has the power generation capability and the mobile capability, is attracting increasing attention in concept design, control, and parametric study, as the integrated system can play a crucial role in the maritime sectors of commerce, science, and military. Enhancing the power generation of a USV-integrated wave energy converter contributes to prolonged USV operations or grid supply, but the power generation performance of this new-type device is significantly influenced by its various coupled subsystems, which requires a systematic methodology for distinguishing key design parameters. To address that problem, a comprehensive wave-to-grid model that reflects all subsystem coupling, energy losses, and constraints is developed to comprehensively describe system dynamics, and then a Taguchi method is employed to investigate the influence of selected design parameters on electric power generation. Results reveal that the piston area of the hydraulic cylinder and the accumulator pressure are the two most influential parameters affecting the time-averaged electric power of the proposed USV-type wave energy converter. The proposed methodology provides guidelines for technicians on how to design wave energy converters optimally.

Sweat‐powered, skin‐adhesive multimodal sensor for long‐term and real‐time sweat monitoring

AbstractThe importance of continuous healthcare management has significantly accelerated the development of wearable devices for monitoring health‐related physical and biochemical markers. Despite extensive research on wearable devices for physiological and biochemical monitoring, critical issues of power management and device/skin interfacial properties restrict the advancement of personalized healthcare and early disease detection. Here, we report a multimodal sweat monitoring device featuring a real‐time display and long‐term data analysis based on self‐powered format of sweat‐activated batteries (SABs). The polyvinyl alcohol‐sucrose (PVA‐Suc) hydrogel serves as the key component for the SAB, offering not only great long‐term adhesive properties for conformable wearability but also significant power generation capabilities. A maximum current density of 44.06 mA cm−2 and a maximum power density of 21.89 mW cm−2 can be realized for the hydrogel based SAB. The resulting device integrates an advanced colorimetric and electrochemical sensor array to measure pH levels, glucose concentrations, and chloride ion levels in human sweat, with data wirelessly transmitted by Near Field Communication. The self‐powering features and multiple mode sensing function offer sufficient power to support real‐time monitoring of metabolic biomarkers in sweat, with the ability to visually observe changes in the colorimetric sensors for long‐term data monitoring.

Research on Highly Reliable Self-Powered Vibration Sensors for Geological Drilling

Vibration signals at the bottom of the drill string during geological drilling are crucial for lithological identification and drilling parameter optimization. However, existing downhole vibration sensors suffer from limitations in power supply and reliability. This study proposes a self-powered vibration sensor with high redundancy based on the triboelectric nanogenerator principle, which is capable of measuring both axial and transverse vibrations, thereby reducing the dependence on external power sources. The experimental results show that the sensor can measure axial vibration frequencies ranging from 0 to 11 Hz with an error of less than 4% and transverse vibration frequencies ranging from 0 to 5 Hz with an error of less than 5%. It can operate stably in temperatures from 0 to 180 °C and relative humidities from 0 to 95%. The sensor’s axial vibration measurement features six identical measurement structures, providing high redundancy and effectively enhancing its reliability. Furthermore, the sensor exhibits power generation capabilities. When an external load of 1 MΩ is applied to the axial measurement module and 10 MΩ to the transverse measurement module, the sensor achieves its maximum power output for both axial and transverse measurements, reaching 32.4 × 10−9 W and 2.1 × 10−9 W, respectively. Compared to traditional bottom-of-the-hole vibration sensors, this sensor possesses self-powering capabilities and high reliability, which can improve the operational efficiency and hold significant practical value for future applications.

Electricity security in Uganda: Measurement and policy priorities

Reliable, accessible, affordable, and sustainable electricity systems are fundamental to modern and progressive economies. For developing societies, particularly those with fragile power generation capabilities and electricity networks, the electricity security metrics are incomparable and remain untested. A Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) method that follows an entropy-based weighting system is employed to quantitatively evaluate and construct an Electricity Security Index (ESI) for Uganda. Results reveal that Uganda is “moderately” electricity secure. Out of the maximum possible score of 100, a year-on-year analysis indicates that the ESI score was highest in 2007 (56) and the lowest was registered in 2015 (39). Based on the VIKOR technique, it is observed that electricity reliability contributes the most to the ESI, while electricity access contributes the least. Although expansion of electricity generation capacity is necessary, energy policies should, in equal measure, prioritize adequate investments in robust and modern transmission and distribution infrastructure. A riveting policy implication is that governance quality enhances a country's electricity system by reinforcing the other dimensions of electricity security.

Deep Learning-Based Dust Detection on Solar Panels: A Low-Cost Sustainable Solution for Increased Solar Power Generation

The world is shifting towards renewable energy sources due to the harmful effects of fossils fuel-based power generation in the form of global warming and climate change. When it comes to renewable energy sources, solar-based power generation remains on top of the list as a clean and carbon cutting alternative to the fossil fuels. Naturally, the sites chosen for installing solar parks to generate electricity are the ones that get maximum solar radiance throughout the year. Consequently, such sites offer challenges for the solar panels such as increased temperature, humidity and high dust levels that negatively affect their power generation capability. In this work, we are more concerned with the detection of dust from the images of the solar panels so that the cleaning process can be done in time to avoid power loses due to dust accumulation on the surface of solar panels. To this end, we utilize state-of-art deep learning-based image classification models and evaluate them on a publicly available dataset to identify the one that gives maximum classification accuracy for dusty solar panel detection. We utilize pre-trained models of 20 deep learning models to encode the images that are then used to train and validate four variants of a support vector machine. Among the 20 models, we get the maximum classification of 86.79% when the images are encoded with the pre-trained model of DenseNet169 and then use these encodings with a linear SVM for image classification.

Virtual energy dispatching method for hybrid microgrid demand response based on Lyapunov optimization

Abstract The hybrid microgrid (HMG) possesses power generation, storage, and distribution capabilities, serving as an integrated foundational structure for advanced localized distribution networks. However, due to significant discrepancies in load demands and energy consumption among different users, the photovoltaic (PV) generation output and end-user load requirements exhibit unpredictability, resulting in relatively low self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) and self-consumption ratio (SCR) of the HMG PV system. To address this issue, this study proposes a virtual energy dispatching method for hybrid microgrid demand response based on Lyapunov optimization. Initially, a bidirectional virtual energy dispatching system model based on energy provider/buyer classification is constructed, optimizing load demands and energy management of both the load side and the main utility grid (MUG) while considering demand response. Subsequently, a Lyapunov optimization-based bidirectional virtual energy dispatching algorithm (LOBVED) is introduced, optimizing queueing systems in stochastic networks based on drift-plus-penalty technique to resolve the dynamic interactions among stability, performance, and energy self-sufficiency in the HMG environment, aiming to maximize the PV SSR and SCR of the HMG while ensuring the reliability of battery energy storage (BES) energy queues. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is validated through MATLAB simulations.

Comparative Experimental Study on Monofacial and Bifacial Photovoltaic Noise Barriers

Solar energy utilization in the transportation sector is important for reducing fossil fuel consumption and achieving the grant goal of carbon neutrality. The photovoltaic noise barriers (PVNB) are recognized as a potential alternative for electric vehicle charging. This study aims to evaluate the power generation capabilities of both monofacial photovoltaic noise barriers (mono‐PVNB) and bifacial photovoltaic noise barriers (bi‐PVNB) when applied along roads with different directions and shading conditions. Results show that the daily yields of bi‐PVNB facing west, southwest, south, and southeast are 754, 819, 1101, and 894 Wh, respectively. In contrast, the daily yields of mono‐PVNB are 459, 711, 968, and 764 Wh. The bifacial gains are, respectively, 64, 15, 14, and 17%. The influence of partial shading on PV power generation is tested, and sharp decrease is observed when horizontal shading reaches 20% and vertical shading reaches 40%. In summary, the bi‐PVNB shows satisfactory power generation ability with different orientation and shading conditions. Under Shenzhen climate, the annual power generation of bi‐PVNB along east–west, north–south, southeast–northwest, and southwest–northeast direction roads are predicted to be 304, 325, 342, and 335 MWh per kilometer.

Low-frequency electromagnetic harvester for wind turbine vibrations

In this paper we describe and fully characterize a novel vibration harvester intended to harness energy from the vibration of a wind turbine (WT), to potentially supply power to sensing nodes oriented to structural health monitoring (SHM). The harvester is based on electromagnetic conversion (EM) and can work with vibrations of ultra-low frequencies in any direction of a plane. The harvester bases on a first prototype already disclosed by the authors, but in this paper, we develop an accurate model parameterized by a combination of physical parameters and others related to the geometry of the device. The model allows predicting not only the power generation capabilities, but also the kinematic behaviour of the harvester. Model parameters are estimated by an identification procedure and validated experimentally. Last, the harvester is tested in real conditions on a wind turbine.

Evaluation of the impact of hydrological changes on reservoir water management: A comparative analysis the CanESM5 model and the optimized SWAT-SVR-LSTM

This research examines the impacts of climate change and socio-economic variables on the hydrological cycle, reservoir water management, and hydropower capacity at the Gezhouba Dam. The Gezhouba Dam serves as a crucial hydroelectric power station and dam, playing a vital role in regulating river flow and generating electricity. In this study, an innovative method is employed, combining the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), Support Vector Regression (SVR), and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) models. This model is optimized using the Developed Thermal Exchange Optimizer. This optimized combined model significantly enhances the reliability and precision of the forecasting inflow and reservoir levels. By utilizing the Canadian Earth System Model version 5 (CanESM5), we examine climate variables across various scenarios of Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) and Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP). Under the SSP5-RCP8.5 scenario, the most aggressive in terms of emissions, we project a temperature rise of 2.6 % and a precipitation decrease of 2.7 %. This scenario leads to the most substantial changes in the hydrological cycle and altered river flow patterns. The results show a direct correlation between precipitation and inflow (0.952) and a strong inverse correlation between temperature and inflow (0.893). The study predicts significant decreases in all flow metrics, with mean high flow (Q5) periods affecting hydropower generation, especially under the SSP5-RCP8.5 scenario. Additionally, the filling frequency rate (FFR) and mean filling level (MFL) are projected to decrease, with a more pronounced decline in the far future, indicating a potential compromise of the reservoir's water storage and power generation capabilities, especially under the SSP5-RCP8.5 scenario.

A magnetic plucking frequency up-conversion piezoelectric energy harvester with nonlinear energy sink structure

In low and wide frequency vibration environments, the efficiency of vibration energy harvesters is relatively low. This paper presents a magnetic plucking frequency-up-conversion bistable Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (PEH) that features a Nonlinear Energy Sink (NES) structure for low and wide frequency vibration absorption. Based on the Euler-Bernoulli stepped beam theory, a theoretical model was derived from the Lagrange equation. The system's bandwidth and power generation capability were analyzed through frequency sweeping. This study thoroughly investigated the up-conversion working mechanism of the NES magnetically plucked PEH super-harmonic vibration. The results reveal that the system encompasses two power generation frequency bands: interwell periodic vibration and chaotic vibration. Under an excitation acceleration of 0.25 g, the interwell periodic vibration range during forward frequency sweep is from 3.30 to 4.31 Hz with an average power of 4.71 mW, and during reverse sweep, it is from 2.02 to 4.05 Hz with 2.43 mW. The coordination between NES and PEH is one of the crucial factors affecting power generation. Frequency mismatch can lead to asymmetrical displacement and alternating strong-weak voltage outputs.

Diamond‐Structured Fabric‐Based Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Energy Harvesting and Healthcare Application

AbstractWearable technology is experiencing remarkable progress, prompting the need for sustainable power sources like triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). However, integrating TENGs into fabrics and insufficient power outputs that allows for comfortable wear without obstructing user's movements presents a significant challenge. In this study, a novel kind of diamond‐structured fabric‐based triboelectric nanogenerators (DSF‐TENGs) is introduced utilizing an easy, economical, and scalable weaving method without any chemical modification. Owing to its 3D diamond pattern, surface interactions are enhanced for greater charge generation together with strengthened mechanical engagement for more effective charge transfer. The DSF‐TENG, with its unique self‐resilient structure, achieves impressive electric performance, including output voltage of ≈763 V, short‐circuit current of ≈20.4 µA, and power density of 2862.78 mW m−2, which is multiple times higher than most existing fabric‐based TENGs. It also offers excellent air permeability of 560 mm s−1, consistent electricity generation and sensing even after ten washing cycles, and incredible durability, withstanding over 30 000 cycles. Furthermore, DSF‐TENG is included in an insole that is capable of sensing gait patterns, walking speed, and fall detections of patients with Parkinson's disease. The remarkable power generation capabilities of DSF‐TENG indicate a strong potential for future developments in wearable electronics and healthcare applications.

Analysis of energy performance and load matching characteristics of various building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems in office building

Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) is a key technology for achieving zero-energy buildings by generating electricity and reducing energy consumption. Although many studies have analyzed the impact of BIPV on building energy efficiency, there is a lack of comprehensive comparative analysis of various BIPV systems. This study compared the impact of various BIPV systems on office building energy performance and provided optimal solutions for different climate zones. Simulation models for PV rooftop, PV window, and PV shading systems were developed and validated in EnergyPlus. The energy performance of BIPV systems in different Chinese climates was evaluated using these models. The results show that the PV window and PV shading have the most power generation capability in Beijing, and the PV rooftop has the most power generation capability in Kunming. Energy savings in Kunming are the highest with PV rooftop, PV windows, and PV shading at 111.78 %, 39.36 %, and 44.43 %, respectively. Finally, the study calculated the self-sufficiency rate (SSR) and self-consumption rate (SCR), and their ratio, along with the load matching ratio, were used to assess loading matching. Optimal BIPV schemes were identified for each climate zone, revealing that the PV rooftop combined with the PV shading system achieved the best load matching in Kunming, Guangzhou, Changsha, Beijing, and Harbin, with ratios of 82.00 %, 69.38 %, 70.88 %, 74.78 % and 67.27 %, respectively. These results provide a valuable reference for implementing the BIPV system to achieve zero energy consumption in office buildings under different climatic conditions in China.