Shine Hours Research Articles

Estimation of reference evapotranspiration using artificial neural network models for semi-arid region of Haryana

The study was conducted to evaluate performance of artificial neural network (ANN) models for estimating reference evapotranspiration (ET0) for semi-arid region of Haryana state. Ten years (2011-2020) daily weather data of maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and sun shine hours was collected from the meteorological observatory at CCS HAU, Hisar. Multilayer perceptron feed forward back propagation ANN models were evaluated for different training algorithms (10), number of hidden layers (1-3) and number of neurons in hidden layers (1-30). Training algorithms compared in the study were heuristic techniques (GDA, GDX, RP), conjugate gradient (CGF, CGP, CGB, SCG), quasi-Newton (BFG, OSS) and Levenberg-Marquardt (LM). Results were compared against standard FAO Penman-Monteith method. The study revealed that best performance for ANN was found with LM algorithm in single layer of 13 neurons exhibiting RMSE, R, ME and RPD values 0.306, 0.986, 0.976 and 6.63, respectively. ANN models showed good performance in prediction of reference evapotranspiration.

Optimization of the Residential Solar Energy Consumption Using the Taguchi Technique and Box-Behnken Design: a Case Study for Jordan

In this paper, the Jordan's adoption of renewable energy, in general, and the solar energy, in particular, is overviewed. The solar energy development in Jordan, within the last decade, is highlighted from various aspects. Energy consumption and efficiency are major issues for nations such Jordan that have few natural resources and high energy costs, especially in the context of climate change. In Jordan, the industry with the highest energy use is residential construction. Residential building rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems may address the issue of rising power needs and the need for more sustainable energy systems. This research contrasted present and projected residential household power usage with the potential electricity consumption from PV systems placed on the available roofs of residential structures. Taguchi and Box-Behnken Design (BBD) approaches were used to predict and optimize the yearly power usage using a design tool in Minitab version 18. The findings showed that the yearly energy usage was significantly influenced by solar cumulative installed PV power, sun shine hours, and operation service factors. The investigation revealed that the combined ideal elements and reactions meet the highest demands of the annual power usage of 8.0940 MWh per capita. The annual increase of PV plants, connected to the Jordan electric grid, refer to the availability of this area to adopt more and more PV projects. The available land, moderate climate, and reliable electric grid are encouraging factors to accepting large PV projects. The result showed that the yearly energy usage was significantly influenced by solar cumulative installed PV power, sun shine hours, and operation service factors. The investigation revealed that the combined ideal elements and reactions meet the highest demands of the annual power usage of 8.0940 (MWh per capita).

Trend of Reference Crop Evapotranspiration and its Correlation with Climatic Parameters in Khulna and Rajshahi Districts of Bangladesh

Reference crop evapotranspiration (ETO) is an important hydro-meteorological phenomenon, which is influenced by changing climate. This study estimated the trends ETO and identified the correlation of changes in ETO with climatic parameters in Khulna and Rajshahi districts of Bangladesh. Daily observed climatic parameters of thirty years (1984– 2013) were used in CropWat model to estimate changes in monthly and seasonal ETO. Trend analysis of ETO and climatic parameters were done by Mann-Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimation. Correlation between ETO and climatic parameters were analyzed. The results showed a decreasing trend of ETO over most of the period of the year in Khulna and Rajshahi districts. On monthly basis estimation, decreasing trends of relative humidity, wind speed and sun shine hours in Khulna district, and decreasing trends of wind speed and sun shine hours in Rajshahi district played the dominant roles for the decreasing rate of ETO under recent climate change. On seasonal basis estimation, decreasing trends of relative humidity, wind speed and sun shine hours in Khulna district, and decreasing trends of wind speed and sun shine hours in Rajshahi district played the dominant roles for the decreasing rate of ETO under changing climatic condition. Changes in ETO were most strongly correlated with sun shine hours and most weakly with minimum temperature for both Khulna and Rajshahi. Wind speed was most strongly correlated with ETO for Dry/Rabi season. The findings of this study would be useful for agricultural water management of Bangladesh.
 Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 13(1&2): 1-12, 2020

Site Suitability Analysis for Photovoltaic Power Plant Using Geographical Information System

Among the various renewable energy resources, solar energy potential is vastly and freely available in our country. Solar energy offers a clean, climate-friendly, abundant and inexhaustible energy resource to mankind. The costs of solar energy have been falling rapidly and are entering new areas of competitiveness. Solar Thermal Electricity (STE) and Solar Photo Voltaic Electricity (SPV) are becoming competitive against conventional electricity generation in tropical countries. In conventional methods, site selection based on integrating various performance indicators such as Temperature, DNI, Sunshine hours, Slope, Aspect and Land use are difficult. GIS provides an integrated approach to combine several factors and provides different scenarios for decision making. This paper describes the suitable site selection for installation of photovoltaic power plants using GIS. It involves three stages: the first stage requires the selection of study area based on power crisis in different districts. The second stage includes preparation of the layers such as Direct Normal Irradiance, Temperature, Sun Shine Hours Land use / land cover, Slope and Aspect for study area and at final stage weights for each layer is calculated with the help of Analytical Hierarchy Process and suitable sites for installation of photovoltaic power plants are derived using suitability analysis in GIS environment.

Application of Phase Change Materials in Solar Water Heating Systems for Thermal Energy Storage

One of the major drawbacks of solar water heating systems is unable to supply hot water during night time or off sunshine hours. The integration of phase change material with solar water heating systems is cost effective and efficient solution to overcome this major problem associated with solar water heating systems. The phase change material integrated with solar water heating system stores thermal energy during sun shine hours and this stored energy can be recovered during off shine hours or night time to produce hot water. The phase change material can be integrated with water tank of collector, evacuated tubes, external water tank for solar collector and flat plate collector by adding layers at the bottom of absorber plate. The integration of phase change material with SWH system not only overcome the drawbacks of SWH system but also enhance the efficiency of conventional SWH system. Many investigations for the application of TES materials integrated SWH system have been carried out and found a significant enhancement in the performance. This paper presents a comprehensive review of recent advances in the applications of PCM with SWH system for TES.

Investigation of solar air heater with phase change materials using packed bed absorber plate

Abstract In a research of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal and biomass, continued reduction of conventional power sources and their negative effects on the environment have created concern. Solar energy is the readily available energy source from four renewable sources and can easily be used up to the required applications. This research aims at improving the performance of solar air heater by using phase change material (PCM) packed in a pin fin on the absorber surface. Parameters such as outlet air temperature and heat loss are associated with thermodynamic efficiency. Paraffin wax is chosen to be the phase-change material to improve performance and also to keep the outlet air temperature constant even during solar intensity changes and hours off-sunshine. The results showed that thermodynamic performance has improved 3.085% and hot air discharging time has increase three hours during off shine hours for all temperature levels.

Productivity of Jute Influenced by Some Major Climatic Variables in South -Western Coastal Region of Bangladesh

Due to be in disaster prone geographic area because of climate change, Bangladesh is one of the vulnerable largest deltas in the world. Agriculture is the main influential factor for Bangladesh economy. Jute and various vendible of jute are good sources of earning foreign currency of Bangladesh. But in the last decades it seems that our Agricultural sector especially coastal belt has been affected drastically by climate change. It is to scientifically assess the vulnerability of the golden fibre of Bangladesh; Jute production due to the unfavourable climatic variables fluctuation in South Western coastal belt, a original field research has been done considering the influential climatic factors of temperature, rainfall, humidity, sun shine hours and sea level pressure of last 30 years (1981-2011) and their impacts on the production of Jute. During the producing season of Jute, it has been increased the maximum and average temperature. And it was about unchanged pattern of sea-level pressure of here but the most important factor for production rainfall has been increased by 53, 12 and 142 mm in Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat respectively. The production proclivity of the jute shows most of the time as increasing except in Khulna in 2009 it was affected by demolishing natural disaster; AILA, so the production was drastically felled down in 2009.

Experimental study on tubular solar still using Graphene Oxide Nano particles in Phase Change Material (NPCM's) for fresh water production

Storing of energy in the form of latent or sensible heat is the best method in improving the performance of any thermal application. Desalination using renewable energy is the best method in getting potable water and due to its lower performance and yield it is not commercially available. The present investigation deals with improving potable water produced using nanomaterial in phase change material from a tubular solar still. Three different solar still namely TSS, TSS with PCM and TSS with NPCM were used in the present study and tested under the climatic conditions of Chennai, India. The thermal conductivity of graphene oxide nanoparticle in PCM acts as the key role in improving the thermal performance as the thermal conductivity of NPCM improved by 52% compared to that of PCM without nanoparticle. There is no significant improvement in the thermal conductivity of nano enhanced PCM with concentration beyond 0.3%. With a significant improvement in the thermal conductivity of NPCM, the water temperature increased by 7 °C and 3 °C as compared to TSS loaded with PCM and TSS without PCM respectively. The maximum enhancement in temperature of NPCM is found as 24% and the temperature is higher during off shine hours compared to that of PCM without nanoparticle. Similarly, with improved water temperature using NPCM as energy material, the evaporation rate from the absorber is improved by 41.3%, whereas, the average EHTC for TSS and TSS loaded with PCM alone is improved by 32.76 and 34.32% respectively. The total cumulative yield produced per m2 area from TSS, TSS with PCM, and TSS with NPCM is found to be 2.59, 3.35 and 5.62 kg respectively. Results also revealed that the daily efficiency of TSS with NPCM is improved to about 116.5% and comparatively higher than TSS with PCM and conventional tubular solar still.

Rice brown planthopper prediction model with sweepnet catches

The weather-based prediction model for brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens (Stal) was developed and validated using BPH sweep net catch data collected from Delhi during kharif 2017 and 2018. The BPH incidence started from 29th standard meteorological week (SMW) onwards (3BPH/20 sweeps) and attained its peak during 43rd SMW (213 BPH/20 sweeps) during kharif 2017. However, it declined thereafter and eventually disappeared after 47th SMW. The BPH sweep net catches revealed maximum and significant positive correlation with sun shine hours (SSH) of 2-lag week, and showed a significant negative correlation with evening relative humidity (RH2) and wind velocity (WV) of current and 1-lag week. On the other hand, BPH catches revealed a positive correlation with Tmax and morning relative humidity (RH1) of current, 1-lag as well as 2-lag week. Similarly, BPH catches had a negative association with Tmin and rainfall (RF) of current, 1-lag and 2-lag week. Of the weather factors RH1, RH2 and SSH were found to be the important factors that influenced BPH sweep net catches. The model was validated with the pest and weather data collected during kharif 2018 (R2 =0.733, RSME=2.16, MBE=-0.64 and MAE= 1.72.)

Assessment of Weather Parameters for Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) in Alfisols of Karnataka - a Regression Approach

In field trials of six years (2009-14) the influence of weather parameters on groundnut (The varieties: TMV-2, JL-24, K-134 and C-2) under varied sowing environments (July as normal sowing and August as late sowing months) was studied at Bengaluru, Karnataka in alfisols. Rainy days (RD), bright sun shine hours (BSS), total pan evaporation (EVP. in mm), growing degree days (GDD) and rainfall, the cumulative of all measured during crop period were found to influence significantly the growth and yield of ground nut in alfisols across the genotypes. Whereas, potential evapo-transpiration (PET) and length of growing period (LGP) during the cropping period did not show such significant influence. For achieving maximum yield, the optimum value of annual rainfall from the fitted quadratic curves, was found to be 650 mm. BSS, pan evaporation and GDD during the cropping period showed negative correlation with pod yield. Among the 11 multiple linear regression models established, model III was found to be the most reliable in judging the yield potential of groundnut in alfisols of southern Karnataka (Pod yield in kg/ha = -3058.24**+ 6.55 (RD) -2.01 ** (SSH) + 3.98* (GDD) -6.25 (evaporation in mm) + 8.01** (PET) -21.98** (LGP) + 3.38 ** (LAD) with R2 value of 0.86**. Model IV and XI were effective in predicting the yield (R2 =0.86**& 0.60**, respectively), however of the second order.

TECHNO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF GRID-CONNECTED ROOFTOP SOLAR PV SYSTEM FOR SCHOOLS IN PALESTINE: A CASE STUDY OF THREE SCHOOLS.

The application of the On-grid PV power systems is currently experiencing significant increase and expanding vastly as an alternative source of energy provider for different buildings in Palestine. In the Palestinian territories most of the electricity is provided by the neighboring countries which imposes burden on the Palestinian economy due the insecurity of the electricity supply and fluctuation in its tariff especially in the last years. Palestine is very rich in the solar resources with an annual average of 5.4 peak sun shine hours and has a great potential for PV powered projects, this paper presents a 12-month-long performance evaluation of the 7.68 kWp grid-connected PV systems on the rooftop of each of the three schools in Palestine: Al-Razi Boys School, Almueh Boys School & Khawleh Bent Al Azwar Girls. The performance of implemented PV systems show that the average performance ratio was 78 %, the average annual energy produces by each system equal 10.930 MWh/year. The results of economic analyses are encouraging to intensify the use of such PV school systems since the payback period of such a system is less than 5 years, the cost of kWh produced is around 0.1 US $, the internal rate of return around 20%. Besides these results, this paper presents also the impacts of PV school systems on the electric grid represented in decreasing the losses, and raising the voltage level, and the effect of PV systems on the environment.

Estimation of Global Solar Radiation on Horizontal Surface from Sun Shine Hours and Temperature at Kombolcha, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

The detailed knowledge of the local solar radiation is important but, measuring instruments are not readily available in many places, particularly in Ethiopia. Therefore, this work focused on the application of climate data to compare sunshine and temperature based empirical equation of the global solar radiation in Kombolcha sites, Amhara region, Ethiopia. For data obtained in a period of 2008 to 2017 from the Kombolcha meteorological agency correlations be tested for errors using: Mean Bias error (MBE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Percentage Error (MPE), and correlation Coefficient (r). The latest computing MATLAB soft ware and excel spread sheet has been used for the entire analysis. The empirical equation having the least error was selected for Kombolcha sites. Therefore, according to accuracy the Hargreaves and Samani empirical equation is suitable for Kombolcha sites than Angstrom-Prescott empirical equation. The abundant average global solar radiation of 6.19 KWh/m²/day and 7.09 KWh/m²/day was estimated using sun shine and temperature based empirical equation respectively. This result showed that there is good solar potential in Kombolcha, Amhara region, Ethiopia.

Effect of water depth on a novel absorber plate of pyramid solar still coated with TiO2 nano black paint

In this study, the absorber plate of a new pyramidal basin type solar still is coated with TiO2 nanoparticles doped in black paint on the basin to analyze the performance under the various depth of water. Water depth is varied from 1 cm till 3.5 cm on a basin area of 0.25 m2 which is almost equal to the area of the glass cover. Instead of using other sensible storing materials inside the basin which probably increase the weight, a novel solar still with the absorber plate coated with TiO2 nanoparticle mixed with black paint to improve the performance. Experimental results revealed that the use of TiO2 nanoparticle in black paint improved the water temperature by 1.5 °C than that of absorber without nanoparticle. Similarly, the yield improved during the sunshine hours rather than the off shine hours. With increased depth of water in the basin, the water temperature is minimum which simultaneously resulted in the lower yield on absorber without coating whereas the yield from the still improved by 12% at maximum water depth using coated absorber plate. The accumulated yield from the solar still absorber plate with and without coating was found to be 6.6 and 6.2 kg/m2 respectively at 1 cm water depth. TiO2 nano black paint coated pyramid solar still improves the distilled yield by 6.1% as compared to the conventional basin type pyramid solar still. Similarly, the values of instantaneous efficiency based on operational and climatic parameters using linear and non-linear were determined. From the cost breakdown analysis, it is found that the present system is feasible as compared to the conventional pyramid solar still without coating.

Population dynamics of early shoot borer, Chilo infuscatellus Snellen on sugarcane as influenced by weather conditions

A field experiment on population dynamics of early shoot borer, Chilo infuscatellus Snellen on sugarcane was carried out during 2016-17 crop season at the research farm of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Regional Research Station, Karnal. Studies on population dynamics revealed thathighest incidence (3.81 per cent in CoH 160, 4.60 per cent in CoH 119 and 3.12 per cent in CoS 767) of C. infuscatellus was recorded during 24th SMW. Correlation of C. infuscatellus population with various environmental factors revealed that there was a significant positive correlation with maximum temperature (Tmax.) and had a non-significant and positive correlation with minimum temperature (Tmin.) and sun shine hours (SSH) (r= 0.513, 0.287 and 0.452) on CoH 160, (r= 0.504, 0.321 and 0.431) on CoH 119 and(r= 0.537, 0.276 and 0.445) on CoS 767, respectively whereas it has non-significant and negative correlation with relative humidity (morning), relative humidity (evening) andrainfall (r= -0.172, -0.206 and -0.147) on CoH 160, (r= -0.147, -0.172 and -0.130) on CoH 119 and(r= -0.187, -0.223 and -0.160) on CoS 767. Multiple regression analysis of C. infuscatellus population with weather parameters showed that there was 77 per cent (CoH 160), 75 per cent (CoH 119) and 76 per cent (CoS767) variability in dead heart formation due to various environmental factors. The population dynamics revealed by this study have far reaching significance in pest management strategy as integrated control measures may be focused only during the period wherein population exceeds economic threshold level (ETL).

Variability of Diurnal Temperature Range During Winter Over Western Himalaya: Range- and Altitude-Wise Study

The current trends in diurnal temperature range, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, mean temperature, and sun shine hours over different ranges and altitudes of Western Himalaya during winter have been studied. Analysis of 25 years of data shows an increasing trend in diurnal temperature range over all the ranges and altitudes of Western Himalaya during winter, thereby confirming regional warming of the region due to present climate change and global warming. Statistical studies show significant increasing trend in maximum temperature over all the ranges and altitudes of Western Himalaya. Minimum temperature shows significant decreasing trend over Pir Panjal and Shamshawari range and significant increasing trend over higher altitude of Western Himalaya. Similarly, sunshine hours show significant decreasing trend over Karakoram range. There exists strong positive correlation between diurnal temperature range and maximum temperature for all the ranges and altitudes of Western Himalaya. Strong negative correlation exists between diurnal temperature range and minimum temperature over Shamshawari and Great Himalaya range and lower altitude of Western Himalaya. Sunshine hours show strong positive correlation with diurnal temperature range over Pir Panjal and Great Himalaya range and lower and higher altitudes.

Relationship of Bacterial Leaf Blight Disease of Cotton with Different Weather Parameters Under South Gujarat Condition of India

Abstract Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus Gossypium in the family Malvaceae. Bacterial blight of cotton, also know as angular leaf spot, boll rot, and black leg, is a potentially destructive bacterial disease of cotton production. The disease caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. malvacearum (Smith) Dye (synonyms Xanthomonas malvacearum (E.F. Sm) Dowson) is one of the most important and serious disease in cotton crop. Main objective of present research is to study the progress of the bacterial blight disease of cotton (BLB), caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. malvacearum (Smith) Dye, with relation to the environmental parameters. This is a common disease affecting the growth, development and yield of cotton. A field trial was conducted to determine the influence of environmental factors, viz. rainfall periods, temperature, sun shine hours and humidity on the development of disease. Bacterial blight disease was recorded with its appearance and subsequently at weekly interval till it prevailed on G. Cot. Hy.12 (Non Bt). The incidence of bacterial blight disease (BLB) was noticed during 28 to 49th standard week with the maximum disease intensity in third week of September (23.5% PDI). None of the abiotic factors had significant influence on bacterial blight disease progress and development.

Correlation coefficient between early blight severity, infection rates and meteorological factors in potato under different fungicidal spray

Early blight caused by Alternaria solani is a severe constraint in potato production. The severity of this disease has been increasing day by day for last few years in India due to changes in weather. Disease severity and area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) was recorded in each treatment plot. The early blight disease had significant negative correlation with maximum relative humidity during 2012-13 and in year 2013-14 minimum temperature was significantly correlated. The severity of early blight showed significant positive correlation with maximum temperature and highly significant positive correlations with sun shine hours in year 2013-14 in all tested treatments. The study showed that minimum temperature and rainfall revealed negative but non-significant correlation in all treatments except untreated control in year 2012-13. The maximum tuber yield 223.70 and 222.00 q/ha in first and second years, respectively, were recorded with spray of Fenamidone @ 0.2% at disease initiation and 2nd spray of Mancozeb @ 0.25% followed by Mancozeb @ 0.25% at 15 days intervals in both respective years.

Experimental investigation on a solar dryer integrated with condenser unit of split air conditioner (A/C) for enhancing drying rate

Abstract In an indirect forced circulation solar dyer, solar thermal energy is primarily used for drying the commodities while electrical energy is used for operating the blower/fan to force air through the collector and drying chamber. In few applications, electrical energy is also being used in auxiliary heater to speed the drying process and assist drying during non sun shine hours. The aim of this research work is to eliminate the use of electricity in the indirect solar dryers by utilizing split A/C condenser unit that is placed outdoors. This idea will eliminate the electrical energy requirement for blower/fan to force air in the drying chamber and enable to use thermal energy dissipated from split A/C system as auxiliary heating source. For this purpose, an integrated solar dryer that uses hot air from split A/C condenser was fabricated in house and the drying behavior of sultana grapes was investigated in the present work. Drying experiments were carried out in the locality of Tiruchirappalli (78.6°E & 10.8°N), Tamil Nadu, India during summer months of April and May 2016. The use of split A/C condenser outlet cooling air reduced the drying time of grapes by 16.7% compared with open sun drying method. A possibility of 13% increase in solar dryer efficiency was demonstrated due to the integration of solar dryer with A/C condenser unit compared to the conventional indirect solar dryer. From the experimental results, it was found that the exponential model is capable of describing the drying characteristics of seedless grapes. Predicted values of moisture ratio were in good agreement with experimental values. The exergy analysis indicated increased heat availability inside the dryer chamber.

Designing and modelling of grid connected photovoltaic system (case study: EEU Building at Hawassa City)

Renewable energy sources are integral part of the present energy system because of the various problems, associated with conventional energy sources. Solar and wind are the major renewable energy sources. The renewable energy sources are sufficient enough to meet the world energy requirement. In this paper, a comprehensive analysis on energy output calculation of the photo-voltaic (PV) system is presented. The solar radiation effect is articulated based on monthly average sun shine hours. After local area solar potential is assessed, small plant is developed and designed for EEU building electric power supply, which is connected to the grid. Therefore, there is huge reduction in grid supply demand. The study uses different metrological data and simulates the grid connected PV technologies to end users, for decision making in PV energy investment. Performance ratio and specific energy is calculated as indicator for the plant feasibility in the area.

Development of ANN Based Model for Solar Potential Assessment Using Various Meteorological Parameters

Abstract Solar potential assessment is very useful for various applications like solar heating, agriculture, solar lighting system and solar power plant erection etc. The objective of the current study is to identify theoretical potential of solar radiation for solar energy applications in hilly state Himachal Pradesh. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is used to predict solar radiation using site specific measured data of Hamirpur for training and testing. The input variables used are temperature, rainfall, sunshine hours, humidity &barometric pressure to predict solar radiations. To identify the effect of various input parameters on solar radiations three ANN based models have been developed represented by ANN-I5, ANN-I4& ANN-I3.To obtain best prediction result, the number of input parameters of the input layer have been varied between 3 to 5 and hidden layer neuron have also been varied between 10 to 20. The best mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) calculated for these models (ANN-I5, ANN-I4 & ANN-I3) are 16.45%, 18.77% and 19.39% respectively. The ANN-I5 (temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, rainfall and sun shine hours), model has shown good prediction accuracy as compared to other two models. This study shows that various numbers of meteorological parameters mostly affect the forecasting of solar radiation. The method in this paper can also be used to identify the solar energy potential of any location worldwide where it is not possible to install direct measuring instrument.