Solar Panel Area Research Articles

Analysis of solar thermal systems and future development possibilities in Lithuania

Solar thermal systems with a total solar panel area varying from 2 to 204 m2 have been installed in Lithuania for over 20 years. The reviewed solar thermal domestic hot water systems in Lithuania produce up to 528 kWh per year per one square meter of solar collector absorber area. However, the performance of these systems varies depending on the type of energy users, equipment and design of the systems, as well as their maintenance. The aim of this paper was to analyse solar thermal systems from the perspective of energy production and economic benefit as well as to outline the differences of their actual performance compared to the numerical simulation results. A number of different solar thermal systems in Lithuania were selected for the analysis varying both in equipment used (flat type solar collectors, evacuated tube collectors) and type of energy user (domestic hot water heating, swimming pool, district heating). The simulation software Polysun 8.1 was used for evaluation of solar thermal system performance, as well as financial analysis of alternatives of these systems. The results of the analysis showed that in the analysed cases the gap between measured and modelled data of heat energy produced by solar thermal systems was up to approximately 11%. The calculation of internal rate of return showed that a grant is required in most cases for solar thermal projects to be fully profitable.

Multiobjective optimization using nondominated sorting genetic algorithm-II for allocation of energy conservation and renewable energy facilities in a campus

For energy conservation and CO2 emission reduction, renewable energy facilities, such as solar equipments and rooftop gardens, are considered effective for energy management of institutional buildings in a community. This study integrated an energy mixture facility model with a nondominated sorting genetic algorithm-II optimizer as a multiobjective optimal facility allocation model (MOFAM) for allocating renewable energy facilities on the rooftop of campus buildings.A case study was conducted on a college campus to demonstrate the feasibility of MOFAM. MOFAM offers simple steps and provides more allocation plans to satisfy decision-makers’ requirements for minimum investment cost, maximum CO2 reduction, and maximum investment returns. In addition, the result demonstrates that the multiobjective optimal model considering three objectives resulted in optimal solutions that include the optimal solutions generated from two-objective optimization. In this campus case, MOFAM helped decision-makers optimize the installation area of solar photovoltaic panels, the installation area of solar water heaters, and the area of rooftop gardens on campus rooftops to perform effective management for institutional buildings for conserving energy and CO2 reduction.

Implementation of Open Source GIS Tools to Identify Bright Rooftops for Solar Photovoltaic Applications – A Case Study of Creek Lanes, DHA, Karachi

The mega city of Karachi is still mainly dependent on conventional sources of energy to cater its daily electricity requirements. Dependence on conventional sources of energy for power production results in environmental degradation and depletion of fossil fuel resources. In particular, it also highlights an immense need of alternate sustainable solution for current electricity generation scenario. In this research work, an innovative methodology has been proposed to identify bright rooftops using open source geographic information system (GIS) tools which may be utilized for sustainable power generation in Karachi metropolis. First, bright rooftops have been extracted using open source Quantum GIS (QGIS) software. Edge extraction technique using gradient filter; an open source algorithm of QGIS has been utilized. Furthermore, image processing techniques have been used to extract and refine building rooftops. Then, rooftops have been polygonized and their area has been calculated using Measure Area function of QGIS. To assess the accuracy of the extracted rooftops, field validation work has been performed and sample rooftops have been physically measured. A comparison of extracted and physically measured sample rooftops yielded 90.45% accuracy. Reduction in total roof area has been made considering different roof uses and shading effect from nearby trees and buildings. Then, unshaded bright rooftops area of 4,626 m2 has been calculated which can be used for solar photovoltaic (PV) applications in Creek Lanes, DHA Phase 7 Karachi. An annual energy output of 2.1 MWh has been estimated using Crystalline Silicon (c-Si) solar PV panel and available rooftop area. The methodology adopted can be extrapolated to macro-scale as well. However, challenges and limitations for extrapolation of methodology have also been highlighted. Solar radiation studies that demonstrate the use of open source GIS tools for sustainable power generation for this region have been scarce. Thus, this study is a preliminary research work to highlight an immense solar electricity potential that exists for Karachi metropolis.

Comparison of DEA Rank Based Method with Assignment Weightage Method in Optimizing the Process Parameters for Solar Seed Sprayer

This paper presents a novel approach for the optimization of process parameters on solar seed sprayer with multiple responses based on comparing DEA Rank based Method with Assignment weightage Method. These two methods have a series of steps from of proposed approach which are capable of decreasing uncertainty caused by engineering judgment in the Taguchi method. Experiments are conducted by varying the solar parameters related to solar radiation and solar panel area. In this study, process parameters namely solar radiation, solar panel areas are optimized with the considerations of multi responses such as voltage and current. Two factors and three levels were taken to conduct the experiments with the range 300-600 mW/cm2 for solar radiation and with solar panel area from 6.45 cm2 to 9.67 cm2. The two methods show a good convergence with the experimental data and the optimum process parameters combinations where maximum voltage and maximum current are obtained.Keywords: Solar Energy; Seed Sprayer, DEA rank based method, Multi Response Optimization.

Analysis of Medium-Scale Solar Thermal Systems and Their Potential in Lithuania

Medium-scale solar hot water systems with a total solar panel area varying from 60 to 166 m2 have been installed in Lithuania since 2002. However, the performance of these systems varies depending on the type of energy users, equipment and design of the systems, as well as their maintenance. The aim of this paper was to analyse operational SHW systems from the perspective of energy production and economic benefit as well as to outline the differences of their actual performance compared to the numerical simulation results. Three different medium-scale solar thermal systems in Lithuania were selected for the analysis varying in both equipment used (flat type solar collectors, evacuated tube collectors) and type of energy user (swimming pool building, domestic hot water heating, district heating). The results of the analysis showed that in the analysed cases the gap between measured and modelled data of heat energy produced by SHW systems was approx. 11%. From the economical perspective, the system with flat type solar collectors used for domestic hot water production was proved to be most efficient. However, calculation of Internal Rate of Return showed that a grant of 35% is required for this project to be fully profitable.

Maximizing photovoltaic power generation of a space-dart configured satellite

Many small satellites are power constrained due to their minimal solar panel area and the eclipse environment of low-Earth orbit. As with larger satellites, these small satellites, including CubeSats, use deployable power arrays to increase power production. This presents a design opportunity to develop various objective functions related to energy management and methods for optimizing these functions over a satellite design. A novel power generation model was created, and a simulation system was developed to evaluate various objective functions describing energy management for complex satellite designs. The model uses a spacecraft-body-fixed spherical coordinate system to analyze the complex geometry of a satellite׳s self-induced shadowing with computation provided by the Open Graphics Library. As an example design problem, a CubeSat configured as a space-dart with four deployable panels is optimized. Due to the fast computation speed of the solution, an exhaustive search over the design space is used to find the solar panel deployment angles which maximize total power generation. Simulation results are presented for a variety of orbit scenarios. The method is extendable to a variety of complex satellite geometries and power generation systems.

Seasonal Thermal Energy Storage - A Size Selection

The paper presents a theoretical investigation of using a Seasonal Thermal Energy Storage facility (STES) to cover the heat demand of a complex of four buildings. The STES is placed in the ground and connected to both the local district heating network and solar panels. A number of scenarios were investigated to find an adequate size of the STES (tank size and solar panel area.) The results obtained show that the use of a STES could reduce heat consumption by 22100% depending on the architecture solution chosen.

Pre-Feasibility Design and Simulation of Hybrid PV/Fuel Cell Energy System for Application to Desalination Plants Loads

A potential solution for stand-alone power generation is to use a hybrid energy system in parallel with some hydrogen energy storage. Renewable energy sources (solar, wind, etc) are attracting more attention as alternative energy sources to conventional fossil fuel energy sources. This is being used widely for substitution of oil-produced energy and will help to minimize atmospheric degradation. One third of the world population does not have access to clean water sources and most of these people are not connected to the electrical grid at the same time.In this paper, a hybrid Photovoltaic (PV)-fuel cell generation system employing an electrolyzer for hydrogen generation is designed and simulated. The system is applicable for a desalination plant loads. Reverse osmosis (RO) is an electrically driven technology characterized by significantly low specific power requirements. In the meantime, coastal arid areas are blessed with exceptionally high solar radiation most of the year. Normally, those areas have no access to municipal water network and the local power grid. Thus, the water problem can also be seen as an energy problem since seawater, brackish water or freshwater of unknown quality are abundantly available but significant amounts of energy are required in order to make it suitable for drinking. Photovoltaic (PV) powered water purification is an opportunity to solve this issue. It can provide potable water and on top, small independent minigrids that supply people with electricity, too.The proposed configuration, even if it is not entirely autonomous still requires a smaller area of solar panel to operate. By cons, there remains the problem of the source of hydrogen. If hydrogen is not produced by electrolysis but by reforming hydrocarbons, this means CO2 emissions, with resources that are not inexhaustible. Moreover, 95% of the hydrogen currently produced using this method. For a massive use of hydrogen consumption, it will consider new production methods, such as the construction of nuclear power plants dedicated to hydrogen production with such high-temperature electrolysis.

A new modeling method of solar energetic proton events for ISO specification

Solar energetic protons degrade performance and reliability of spacecraft systems due to single-event effects, total dose effects and displacement damage in electronics components including solar cells. On designing a solar cell panel, a total fluence of solar energetic protons (SEPs) which cause solar cell damage is needed to estimate power loss of the solar cells over mission life. Nowadays a solar panel area of spacecraft is increasing as spacecraft mission life becomes longer (15–18 years). Thus an accurate SEP model is strongly required for the cost-minimum design from the aerospace industry. The SEP model, JPL-91 proposed by Feynman et al., is currently used widely for solar cell designing. However, it is known that the JPL-91 model predicts higher fluences of protons than values actually experienced in space, especially after 7 years on orbit. In addition, the model is based on several assumptions, and also needs Monte-Carlo simulations for calculating fluences. In this study, we propose a new method for modeling SEPs especially focused on solar cell degradation. The newly-proposed method is empirical, which constructs a model based directly upon proton flux measurement data taken by instruments onboard spacecraft. This method has neither assumptions nor dependence on SEP event selection, both of which are needed in JPL-91. The model fluences derived from this method show lower fluences in longer missions compared to JPL-91. This method has been proposed to ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and has been discussed for a new standard SEP model.

The Beat

The Beat

Calculation of the transmittance-absorptance product for flat-plate collectors with convection suppression devices

Photovoltaic (PV) systems transfer solar energy into electric form. PV-T is a hybrid system that converts solar radiation into electrical and thermal energy. For residential users with limited solar panel area, there are two options to achieve economic use of solar energy. One is to install both PV and solar water heater (SWH) systems, called PV-SWH, another one is to apply the PV-T system. In this work, a residential household energy cost model is built up that includes electric vehicle (EV), energy storage system (ESS), and the back-up electricity system in PV-SWH or hybrid PV-T. The model is used to explore operation strategies to minimize user’s energy cost. The case study results suggest that the hybrid PV-T system provides more benefits for the end user from long-term perspective. Compared with typical operation without optimization, the cost saving with the proposed strategy is evident.