A novel technique of schedule tracker for parabolic dish concentrator.

Tracking is important in a system that harnesses solar energy. Single axis tracking mechanism is cheaper and simple to develop but because of the limitation of tracking axis, this system is less efficient than dual axis. Dual-axis tracking systems necessitate a large number of equipment, sensors, motors, and a lengthy computer program to function properly. Therefore, in the present study, a novel method of solar tracking has been discussed where each tracking point has the impact of both the azimuth and altitude angle at a single point. This method is an average axis tracking method (AATM). HelioScope software was used to extract the hourly solar altitude and azimuth angles for each day and month for the site of Bhopal, India. The average method was then used to get the hourly average solar tracking angle (ASTA) for each month. The parabolic dish concentrator was designed in SolidWorks to apply and simulate the newly developed tracking points on SolTrace software. The graphical analysis was presented along with proper validation of the proposed method, and the single and dual axes were compared with AATM. The graphical study shows that the average axis tracking points have a smoother slop of wave than the single axis. From June to September, the proposed method's error was estimated between 0.85 and 0.95. It can be concluded that by making slight adjustments to the seasonal angle, this error could be minimized and the concept could be successfully applied to a parabolic dish or a solar PV system.

Pyrolytic conversion of human hair to fuel: performance evaluation and kinetic modelling.

There are several environmental and human health impacts if human hair waste is not adequately disposed of. In this study, pyrolysis of discarded human hair was carried out. This research focused on the pyrolysis of discarded human hair under controlled environmental conditions. The effects of the mass of discarded human hair and temperature on bio-oil yield were studied. The proximate and ultimate analyses and calorific values of disposed of human hair, bio-oil, and biochar were determined. Further, chemical compounds of bio-oil were analyzed using a gas chromatograph and a mass spectrometer. Finally, the kinetic modeling and behavior of the pyrolysis process were characterized through FT-IR spectroscopy and thermal analysis. Based on the optimized mass of disposed of human hair, 250 g had a better bio-oil yield of 97% in the temperature range of 210-300 °C. The different parameters of bio-oil were: pH (2.87), specific gravity (1.17), moisture content (19%), heating value (19.34 MJ/kg), and viscosity (50 CP). C (56.4%), H (6.1%), N (0.16%), S (0.01%), O (38.4%), and Ash (0.1%) were discovered to be the elemental chemical composition of bio-oil (on a dry basis). During breakdown, the release of different compounds like hydrocarbons, aldehydes, ketones, acids, and alcohols takes place. According to the GC-MS results, several amino acids were discovered in the bio-oil, 12 abundant in the discarded human hair. The FTIR and thermal analysis found different concluding temperatures and wave numbers for functional groups. Two main stages are partially separated at about 305 °C, with maximum degradation rates at about 293 oC and 400-4140 °C, respectively. The mass loss was 30% at 293 0C and 82% at temperatures above 293 0C. When the temperature reached 4100C, the entire bio-oil from discarded human hair was distilled or thermally decomposed.

Estimation of wind characteristics at different topographical conditions using doppler remote sensing instrument-a comparative study using optimization algorithm.

This study uses novel evolutionary algorithms and computational techniques to analyze wind potential on flat, complex coastal, and offshore sites utilizing mast as well as remote sensing data. The wind data were recorded using remote sensing technique and conventional technique. The optimum Weibull parameters are estimated using nine methods. The genetic algorithm, particle swarm optimization, and TLBO algorithms are compared and evaluated. The goodness of fit test, such as root mean square error test (RMSE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), coefficient of determination (R2), and chi-square test (X2), is used to evaluate the accuracy of the selected methods. Parameter estimates are used to compute wind densities. The TLBO and PSO algorithms outperformed genetic algorithms in terms of efficiency. This research compares remote sensing measurements to cup anemometer measurements.

Analysis of temperature distribution over pipe surfaces of air-based cavity linear receiver for cross-linear concentration solar power system.

This analysis is based on the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) of the air-based solar cavity linear receiver (CLR) of the cross-linear concentrated solar power plant. In this study, the temperature distribution along the pipe surface is investigated using a small section of a receiver. To study the variation of temperature over the surface of receiver pipes, a CFD model has been developed in Ansys Fluent. The analysis shows the effect of reflected radiation on the temperature variation over the front and back surfaces of the pipes, as well as the effect of this variation on heat transfer fluid (HTF) outlet temperature. The difference in the HTF outlet temperature and heat transfer rate between experimental data and CFD results has been identified. After rigorous examination, it has been observed that the effective range of length for heat absorbing pipe is from 60 to 600 mm (outlet) as HTF continues to absorb heat in this range. The average heat transfer rate was observed to be around 14108 W. Finally, the effect of variable mass flow rate over thermal efficiency of the receiver has been examined and it has been observed that once the mass flow rate exceeds 0.06 kg/s, further increasing the mass flow rate has little effect on improving the thermal efficiency because after an optimum value of mass flow rate would result in increase in heat loss from the pipe's back wall. In the present study, the results of the CFD analysis have been validated with an experimental test data.

Comparative evaluation of optimal Weibull parameters for wind power predictions using numerical and metaheuristic optimization methods for different Indian terrains.

The accurate selection of the wind speed distributions is crucial for a better utilisation of wind energy. The Weibull distribution is most commonly used distribution and hence its parameters need to be optimized. In this study five numerical methods, namely, maximum likelihood method (MLM), graphical method (GM), empirical method of Justus (EMJ), modified maximum likelihood method (MMLM) and wind atlas analysis and application program (WAsP) and three metaheuristic optimization algorithms, namely, social spider optimization (SSO), particle swarm optimization (PSO) and genetic algorithm (GA) are applied for estimating Weibull distribution parameters at three different locations (onshore-Kayathar, nearshore-Jafrabad and offshore-Gulf of Khambhat (GOK) in India and also comparison of numerical and optimization methods are employed to tune the optimal parameters. The accuracy of the methods was evaluated using three different statistical analysis techniques. As per the results, GOK has the maximum wind power density of 450.2 W/m2 compared to Jafrabad and Kayathar. It was observed that among the five methods used for Weibull parameters estimation, WAsP method presented a better curve fit with the histogram of the wind speed. The results shows that SSO and PSO presents a comparably better performance than GA in the term of accuracy on the basis of closeness to converged solution.

A review on comparative study of Savonius wind turbine rotor performance parameters.

One approach for reducing the level of environmental contamination threats around the world is to use renewable energy-harvesting equipment. Wind is a potential environmental resource that has become a desirable aspect of urban use due to advances in wind turbine design technology. Other variants have been developed based on the classic vertical-axis Savonius rotor model, which, according to experimental test findings and computational calculations, show higher operational characteristics performance. Generated power and shaft torque operational results are obtained by providing specific rotor blade shapes in these models, one of the most common designs, among small-scale rotor which uses a drag-based vertical axis whereas Savonius turbines having large-scale rotors not developed yet. This kind of rotor has the advantages of being simple to design, affordable, performing well at low speeds, and turns to flow direction independently. However, it was discovered that the Savonius rotor suffers through high quantity of negative torques created by the returning blade after a number of examinations into its performance. Many studies on various rotor types have been conducted to resolve the Savonius turbine's performance constraints. The research showed and analyzed the difficulties and modification in design parameters of rotor, as well as their major impact on rotor performance.

Comparative study of offshore wind energy potential assessment using different Weibull parameters estimation methods.

Wind energy is the second largest source of renewable energy, across the world. For designing and construction of wind farms, most critical information is consistent wind resource assessment forecasts and appropriate models of wind speed distribution for a particular site. The purpose of this study is to provide the wind characteristics and wind potential evaluation of offshore locations, in Gujarat in India, using the wind Weibull density function. The Weibull shape k and scale c parameters are computed using six distinct numerical approaches at two different heights, to determine wind power density. The LiDAR sensor was used to capture the time series wind data. The goodness of fit test, which includes the RMSE, R2, MAPE, and χ2 is considered to evaluate the performance of the selected methods. Wind power densities are calculated from the acquired results with the help of estimated parameter values, all the methods used in this study were found to be appropriate for Weibull distribution parameters estimation. The MLM has been determined to offer the most accurate evaluation of wind potential. The WPD computed from observed wind data was compared to the obtained power densities of the specified region. The evaluated data is a considered as preliminary characteristic of wind potential that aids in the wind energy conversion and determining the actual wind potential of a specific site.