Utility Solar Energy Research Articles

Study on Method and Mechanism of Noble Metals Photoelectric Deposition by Directly Utilizing Solar Energy

The recovery of noble metals is crucial in terms of resource utilization and ecological environment. Herein, a green strategy for the recovery of three noble metals, Au, Ag, and Pt, by photoelectric deposition at the cathode without external voltage is described. The realizability and mechanism of noble metals deposition are investigated and analyzed in terms of the band structure and the reduction potential of metal ions using the special heterostructure ZnO/ZnS composites derived from metal–organic frameworks, as well as ZnO and Fe2O3 semiconductors. It is found that ZnO/ZnS has preferable photoelectrochemical performance than pure ZnO due to their effective electron–hole separation and appropriate band matching structure. To deposit metals Au, Ag, and Pt, the potential of electrons in the conduction band of ZnO/ZnS should be more negative than the reduction potential of these metals, allowing for the deposition of these metals while simultaneously undergoing an oxygen evolution reaction, mediated by the photogenerated holes on the surface of the photoanode, and the collection of conduction band electrons by the back electrode.

Prospects and Challenges of Utilizing Solar Energy for the COVID-19 Vaccine Cold Storage in Remote Clinics of Tropical Countries: Review

The rapid spread of COVID-19 pandemic has forced several countries in the world to store vaccines in cold storage towards ensuring their protection from being damaged and to maintain their stability. However, most remote clinics, especially those in the equator and islands, are faced with the challenges of hot climates and the inability to afford electricity resources needed to power the cold storage facility. Meanwhile, the hot equatorial region has abundant solar energy to power the vaccine cold storage but previous studies showed that several field workers do not have the ability to maintain the vaccine storage temperature as indicated by the manufacturer’s recommendations. Therefore, this literature review study examines the prospects and challenges of implementing solar-powered cold storage to provide cooling space for remote clinics. This is expected to contribute significantly to cold chain vaccine management technology. The findings showed that four technology integration schemes including Cold Storage Ice Maker, Cold Storage Ice Maker-PCM, Refrigerator-Ice Maker and, Absorbing Cooling-PV-Ice Maker have the potential to be applied in clinics situated in certain tropical regions.

Reducing the Costs of Paying for Consumed Electric Energy by Utilizing Solar Energy

The use of a low-power solar network and standalone power plants is the most promising for the needs of the housing and utilities sector, small industrial enterprises, social and public health facilities, recreation areas, remote objects, and agricultural industries; this will make it possible to reduce the load on the energy system at peak moments, as well as to decrease losses when transporting electric energy in its elements. It is assumed that the minimum value of the unit cost of generated electric energy is used as the criterion for configuring and selecting the parameters of solar power equipment, which will make it possible to set up an economically feasible additional power supply to the consumer, since it excludes the use of storage devices and rearrangement of the power supply system.

The Characteristic of Molten Heat Salt Storage System Utilizing Solar Energy Combined with Valley Electric

The Characteristic of Molten Heat Salt Storage System Utilizing Solar Energy Combined with Valley Electric

A Study On the Steam Program Developed By Utilizing Solar Energy

이 연구는 세계화, 정보화의 패러다임으로 21세기에는 예측할 수 없는 미래사회의 문제들을 해결하기 위해 창조적 발상, 풍부한 감성과 여러 영역에 대한 경험들이 필요하다. 디자인은 순수학문과 응용학문을 통합할 수 있는 다학문적 특성으로 어린이의 창의력 및 사고력 발달에 적합한 교육 방안을 제시할 수 있다. 이에 따라 디자인을 통한 융합인재교육의 방안을 제안하는데 목적을 두고 있다. 융합인재교육의 일차적 목적은 학생들에게 현대 사회를 살아가는데 필요한 과학적 지식과 기술을 가지게 하는 것이다. 그러므로 과학, 기술, 공학, 예술, 수학을 융합적으로 이해할 수 있도록 융합적 인재를 양성하는 교육이 되어야 한다. 이를 토대로 융합인재교육의 이론을 고찰하고 디자인적 관점에서 교육 프로그램과 구체적인 교수-학습 방안을 제안하였다. 교육 프로그램의 내용은 프로젝트 기반의 학습으로 이루어지며 초등학생에 적합한 에너지 낭비를 주제로 한다. 디자인적 사고를 통해 창의적 디자인을 하고, 감성적 체험 활동을 통해 과학기술 분야에 대한 흥미와 동기부여를 향상 시켜주는데 의의를 둔다. 더 나아가 융합인재소양과 지역사회에 대한 애착심을 기르게 한다. 프로그램에서 기대하는 효과로 다음과 같은 결론을 얻을 수 있었다. 첫째, 스스로 문제를 탐구하고 해결하여 주도적인 학습능력과 태도를 가질 수 있었다. 둘째, 통합적인 접근으로 창의적인 사고를 기를 수 있다. 셋째, 협력하여 완성하는 과정을 통해 소통을 하고 대인관계 형성에 기여한다. 이 논문은 교육프로그램의 제안으로 마무리 되며, 프로그램의 대한 적절성 여부는 질적 연구로 프로그램에 타당성을 검증하였다. 향후 디자인을 통한 융합인재교육 프로그램 설계의 자료로 도움이 되기를 기대한다.

Utilizing Solar Energy Instead of Fossil Fuels as Domestic Energy (Case Study: Dehloran City, Ilam Province, Iran)

Solar energy is the cleanest and the most environmental friendly available power source. The use of solar energy in the recent years has reached a remarkable edge. Solar energy collectors are special kinds of heat exchangers that transform solar radiation energy to internal energy of the transport medium. The main objective of this work is evaluation of the advantages of the solar energy for securing domestic energy in the city of Dehloran, Ilam province, Iran. The mean ambient temperature of this region in the summer and winter are in the range of 28–48.9°C and 16.4–24.9°C, respectively. Because of its sunny sky almost throughout the year, the temperature of this city is high. The results showed that by considering the specific condition of Dehloran city, utilizing solar collectors is useful for securing domestic energy in economical aspects.

Development of Hybrid Heat Pump System Utilizing Solar Energy

For the global warming prevention, attention has been paid to the renewable energy, such as heat pump, solar energy and so on. The heat pump with the low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant is more needed, while the heat pump with currently much used refrigerant, such as R410A, contributes to the global warming prevention. The carbon dioxide (CO2) refrigerant is one of the low GWP refrigerants. But, it has the problem with low refrigerating performance on physical properties. To solve it, we have investigated the ABSorption/CO2 compression hybrid heat pump. In hybrid heat pump, efficiency of the CO2 heat pump is improved by ABSorption heat pump that uses solar thermal energy for heat source. In this paper, the constitution of hybrid heat pump system and the downsizing of ABSorber are presented in detail. It is obtained through calculation that the volume of ABSorber is decreased by 30% than original one after downsizing process, which will be verified by experiment afterward.

Exergy Analysis of Direct and Indirect Combustion of Methanol by Utilizing Solar Energy or Waste Heat

The growing concern for energy, economy, and environment calls for an efficient utilization of natural energy resources for obtaining useful work. An important thermodynamic aspect in the assessment of the overall energy economy of any physical process is the combined energy and exergy analysis for the identification of process irreversibilities. This paper demonstrates the application of exergy analysis to gain a better understanding of methanol decomposition by using solar energy, based on a comprehensive kinetic model of methanol decomposition employing BASF K3−110 catalyst, then utilizing it in a power cycle and also an internal combustion engine. A comparison is presented between the direct and indirect combustion of methanol. The predictions in this study showed that combining solar thermal energy and methanol decomposition can upgrade the lower level of solar thermal energy to a higher one of chemical energy with syngas and decrease the chemical exergy loss associated in the indirect combustion of methanol. The exergetic efficiency could also be increased by about 6−7% compared with the conventional combustion of methanol.

世界各地の異なった日射条件下における太陽エネルギー利用発電システムの出力および発電単価の評価

世界各地の異なった日射条件下における太陽エネルギー利用発電システムの出力および発電単価の評価