Power enhancement in PV arrays under partial shaded conditions with different array configuration.

Solar Photovoltaic systems are used for electrical power generation, and they provide an alternative source to non-renewable energy sources like coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy. Photovoltaic arrays used in PV systems may be subjected to partial shading conditions, thereby affecting power generation because of higher power mismatch losses. Due to an uneven distribution of irradiation condition, some of the bypass diodes turned on and affect the power generation in a photovoltaic array. The mismatch losses are due to the output from PV panels subjected to different irradiations because of non-uniform partial shading conditions. The power loss can be reduced by uniformly distributing the partially shaded condition over the entire PV array. In this work different shaped 4 × 4 array configuration is proposed to overcome the effect of partial shading condition, thereby providing lower mismatch losses. Simulations under different partial shading conditions are carried out using MATLAB Simulink, and the experimental setupis carried out for the proposed array configuration for 4 × 4 PV array and the results are discussed.

Performance evaluation of natural Olea europaea (olive oil)-based blended esters with butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene: optimization using response surface methodology.

For power transformer applications, this study explores an alternative insulating liquid. With this aim, edible natural esters such as refined Olea europaea (olive oil), rice bran oil, soya bean oil, sunflower oil, and corn oil are investigated as suitable replacements for the mineral oil (MO) used in the transformer. In addition, olive oil and other natural esters are incorporated into the blend for further analysis to obtain a better insulating medium. Blended natural esters were also tested for performance enrichment by antioxidant inclusion. Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) were chosen as antioxidants for this study. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of key input factors [A-speed, B-time, and C-temperature] on the output response [Y-breakdown voltage]. It was determined that the optimal conditions for [Y] are [A-699.91 rpm, B-49.95 min, and C-88.75 °C]. In order to ensure the desirable properties, the natural esters were subjected to certain experimentations such as breakdown voltage (BDV), viscosity, fire point (FeP), and flash point (FhP). From the results, it is observed that the natural esters and blended natural esters can be used in the transformer as an alternate insulating medium and that the antioxidants have a significant effect on the properties of natural ester combinations.

Multi-analytical investigation of the physical, chemical, morphological, tensile, and structural properties of Indian mulberry (Morinda tinctoria) bark fibers.

In this study, micro-cellulosic fibers were isolated from the bark of Morinda tinctoria (MT) and characterized for the first time. The anatomical, physical, chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties of the M. tinctoria bark fiber (MTBF) were investigated. The mean diameter and density values were determined to be 32.013 ± 1.43 µm and 1.4875 g/cm³, respectively. Zeta potential analysis and particle size measurements provided the evidence of enhanced micro-particle behavior on the fiber's surface. Various structural characterizations confirmed the presence of polysaccharide structures, monosaccharide compositions, glycosidic residues (sugar linkages), and cohesive reactions of TMSA (Trimethylsilyl alditol) derivatives, indicating the fiber's potential for strong surface absorption properties. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed a crystallinity index of 51 % and a crystallite size of 3.086 nm for MTBF. Fourier transform infrared analysis indicated the presence of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin constituents, along with their corresponding functional groups. The calculated values of Young's modulus and tensile strength were determined to be 75.7 GPa and 746.77 MPa, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated the thermal stability of the extracted MTBF up to 240 °C. Based on these findings, the MT microfibrils derived from the bark can be considered as potential substitutes for existing synthetic composites, offering reinforcement for novel bio composites.

Experimental study of bifacial photovoltaic module with waste polyvinyl chloride flex and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene road side safety sticker as an alternative reflector: optimization using response surface methodology.

Bifacial photovoltaics (PV) are gaining rapid attention and their ability to generate more electricity is accelerating their deployment globally. However, literature on optimal bifacial PV is presented for the installation parameters of the system. In this study, we use response surface methodology (RSM) to investigate the flex and roadside reflector wastes as alternate reflectors for bifacial PV modules by using a statistical model. Our primary objective in this study is to examine the significant influence of key input factors (front irradiation, rear irradiation, temperature, thickness, and height) on the irradiance factor, total solar reflectance, and power extracted. The results show that the power extraction of the bifacial PV module using the waste flex material is 9%, higher than that of the road side sticker waste. The result indicates that among all other input factors, front irradiation is the most significant parameter.

A relative study on energy and exergy analysis between conventional single slope and novel stepped absorbable plate solar stills.

The innovation of novel absorbing materials using composite materials and nanotechnology is of new trends for many researches. Here, the present study is concerning to enhance the distilled water productivity of a proposed solar still (PSS) using novel absorbing materials. The absorbing material is composed of chitosan (obtained from waste shrimp shells), ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), and Chrysopogon zizaniodes (Vetiver). The combination of these materials is coined as CHEDZ, and it acts as a super absorbent polymer that is coated on the stepped solar still. Evaporation rate increases due to this absorbent, which further increases the yield of the still. In this present study, the PSS is compared with the conventional solar still (CSS) for the use of assessing the yield of freshwater in the same atmospheric circumstance. The experimental setup was performed through the period from December to February 2020 in the Indian climatic condition. The freshwater productivity was improved to 3.05 L/day while the yield of the CSS is 2.47 L/day. The increase in efficiency obtained from a PSS is 39.71% more than the productivity attained from the CSS. The energy efficiency of the PSS is 18.34% and the exergy efficiency is 0.45%.

Investigation on the performance enhancement of single-slope solar still using green fibre insulation derived from Artocarpus heterophyllus rags reinforced with Azadirachta indica gum.

The fruits and vegetable waste has become the highest compared with the production rate. These types of wastes had reached up to 70% by 2019-2020 as estimated by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Improvisation of the performance of still using fibre insulation (Artocarpus heterophyllus rags and Azadirachta indica gum (AHRAIG)) has been carried out in this study. Potable water demand in arid areas is a vast problem where fresh water is very expensive. The proposed solar still (PSS) retains the basin temperature and raises the rate of evaporation. Rags are latex-like filament extracted from the waste of the jackfruit peels and an adhesive agent from Azadirachta indica tree. A comparison is made among still without insulation (SWI), still with polystyrene insulation (SPI) and still with fibre insulation (SFI) in producing the fresh water under same ambient conditions. The experiments result a promising yield of 9.3% rate of rise of potable water produced using AHRAIG insulation related to conventional still. The energy efficiency is premeditated as 26.45%, while the exergy efficiency is 4.07%. The production of the potable water reached 2.58 L/m2 for still with polystyrene insulation, 3.26 L/m2 for fibre insulation and 1.93 L/m2 for still without insulation, respectively.

Investigation of performance enhancement of solar still incorporated with Gallus gallus domesticus cascara as sensible heat storage material.

In this research work, the conventional single slope still (CSS) with egg shells of breed Gallus gallus domesticus cascara as sensible heat storage (SHS) material are studied experimentally to enhance the yield. In this experimental investigation, the proposed single slope still (PSS) with SHS material was made in comparison with the CSS to evaluate the productivity of fresh water under the same ambient conditions. Comparatively, this PSS has higher thermal conductivity than the CSS. The yield obtained from the PSS is 2.46 L/m2, while the yield from the CSS is 2.07 L/m2. The average rate at which the rise of output fresh water obtained from the PSS is 18% more than the fresh water output obtained from the CSS. The daily energy efficiency of the PSS is 26.07%, and for the CSS, it is only 22.25%. The daily exergy efficiency of the PSS is 2.36%, and for the CSS, it is only 1.67%. Since using the egg shell will employ as organic waste management and modification in this still is economical, less initial, and maintenance cost.

Improvising the efficiency of single-sloped solar still using thermally conductive nano-ferric oxide.

The world is facing a severe shortage of freshwater, and so we are in urge to fetch new technologies to resolve water scarcity. To desalinate saline water, the single-sloped solar still (SSSS) has proven to be a viable option with much affordability. This research work concentrates on the usage of nanomaterial on the absorbent layer to improve the thermal conductivity of the basin area and thus the distillate produced per hour. The micro-coated and nano-Fe2O3 particles were employed and analyzed. The experiment proved that the implementation of this idea had a better productivity rate. The nanoparticles and microparticles were added at weight proportions of 10%. The experiment was conducted on two consecutive days. On the first day, the saline water was maintained at 0.5 cm depth, while on the next day, the saline water level was maintained at 1 cm. The cumulative yield for micro absorbent layer solar still (MALSS) was 3.23 kg/m2 and nanoabsorbent layer solar still (NALSS) was 4.39 kg/m2.

Enhancement of PV/T-integrated single slope solar desalination still productivity using water film cooling and hybrid composite insulation.

This context is about enhancing the freshwater production of a single slope solar desalination still (SSSDS) using water film cooling over the glass cover and using hybrid natural fibre composite (HNFC) insulation. In contrast to the conventional insulations, we proposed the HNFC insulation; this composite was made of natural fibre Pharsalus vulgaris (6 %) and nano-silica (1 %) with unsaturated polyester resin. In this study, conventional SSSDS and proposed SSSDS with enhanced evaporation and condensation have been designed. The same was built with native materials. A conventional and proposed type SSSDS was subjected to the same experimental condition. The experimental result showed that using water film cooling over glass cover and HNFC insulation at 0.5 cm depth caused a 35% increase in the amount of distilled water when compared with the conventional type SSSDS with polystyrene-Styrofoam (thermocol) insulation. Water film cooling over glass cover and HNFC insulation at 1 cm depth caused a 21% increase in the amount of distilled water when compared with the conventional type SSSDS with thermocol insulation. The conventional type solar desalination still with thermocol insulation at 0.5 and 1 cm depth yields are 1.665 and 1.171 l/m2/day, respectively, and the proposed solar desalination still with water film cooling over glass cover and HNFC insulation at 0.5 and 1 cm depth yields are 2.253 and 1.420 l/m2/day, respectively.