This thesis report investigates the effects of low Reynolds number on the power performance of a 3.74 m diameter horizontal axis wind turbine. The small wind turbine was field tested at the Cal Poly Wind Power Research Center to acquire its coefficient of performance, C­p, vs. tip speed ratio, λ, characteristics. A description of both the wind turbine and test setup are provided. Data filtration and processing techniques were developed to ensure a valid method to analyze and characterize wind power measurements taken in a highly variable environment. The test results demonstrated a significant drop in the wind turbine’s power performance as Reynolds number decreased. From Re = 2.76E5 to Re = 1.14E5, the rotor’s Cp_max changed from 0.30 to 0.19. The Cp vs. λ results also displayed a clear change in shape with decreasing Reynolds number. The analysis highlights the influence of the rotor’s Cl /Cd characteristics on the Cp vs. λ curve’s Reynolds number dependency. By not accounting for the effects of varying Reynolds number below the critical value for a rotor operating at constant λ, the design of the rotor planform may overestimate the actual performance of the turbine in real-world conditions. This problem is more evident in distributed-scale wind turbines, compared to utility-scale ones, because of the significantly shorter chord lengths, and therefore increased wind speed range where this effect occurs. Lastly, the wind turbine’s future control method and annual energy production are evaluated using the test results.

Many industrial processes have low-temperature waste heat sources that cannot be efficiently recovered. Low grade waste heat has generally been discarded by industry and has become an environmental concern because of thermal pollution. This has led to the lookout for technologies which not only reduce the burden on the non-renewable sources of energy but also take steps toward a cleaner environment. One approach which is found to be highly effective in addressing the above mentioned issues is the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), which can make use of low- temperature waste heat to generate electric power. Similar in principle to the conventional cycle, ORC is found to be superior performance-wise because of the organic working fluids used in the cycle. The focus of this study is to examine the ORC using different types of organic fluids and cycle configurations. These organic working fluids were selected to evaluate the effect of the fluid boiling point temperature and the fluid classification on the performance of ORCs. The results are compared with those of water under similar conditions. In order to improve the cycle performance, modified ORCs are also investigated. Regenerative ORCs are analyzed and compared with the basic ORC in order to determine the configuration that presents the best thermal efficiency with minimum irreversibility. The evaluation for both configurations is performed using a combined first and second law analysis by varying certain system operating parameters at various reference temperatures and pressures. A unique approach known as topological method is also used to analyze the system from the exergy point of view. Effects of various components are studied using the exergy-wheel diagram. The results show that ORCs using R113 as working fluid have the best thermal efficiency, while those using Propane demonstrate the worse efficiency. In addition, results from these analyses demonstrate that regenerative ORCs produce higher efficiencies compared to the basic ORC. Furthermore, the regenerative ORC requires less waste heat to produce the same electric power with a lower irreversibility.

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[pt] Na busca por uma energia mais sustentável e equitativa para o futuro, o uso de resíduos de biomassa de ação antrópica surge como fonte de matéria-prima para bio ou termoconversão, economicamente viável e ecologicamente sustentável. Neste sentido, macrófitas aquáticas tornam-se interessantes do ponto de vista de sua valorização a fonte de biomassa para produção de energia. Este estudo teve por objetivo a caracterização completa dos resíduos de podas de wetlands visando avaliar a potencialidade do uso dessas biomassas em processos de bio ou termoconversão. Considerou-se, para esta pesquisa, as biomassas provenientes de resíduos de podas de controle das macrófitas aquáticas Cyperus giganteus, Eichhornia crassipes e Salvinia auriculata, das wetlands de tratamento semi-terciário e terciário, de esgoto sanitário da ETE Ponte dos Leites, localizada no município de Araruama, RJ. As amostras das macrófitas foram submetidas a análises experimentais de suas propriedades físicas, químicas e térmicas, bem como estudo cinético (energia de ativação e fator pré-exponencial), a partir da análise das curvas termogravimétricas, considerando os modelos de Friedman, Kissinger e Ozawa. Além disso, uma avaliação da caracterização das biomassas foi realizada, utilizando-se a metodologia heurística de árvores de estado para propor possíveis rotas tecnológicas de conversão termoquímica e bioquímica das biomassas estudadas. Os resultados do comportamento térmico caracterizaram as biomassas como fonte de energia viável devido ao PCS variar entre 14,88 - 20,61 MJ.kg-1. As análises termogravimétricas confirmaram que as estruturas moleculares das macrófitas (Lignina: 9,99 - 26,83 por cento b.s, Celulose: 9,72 - 32,65 por cento b.s, Hemicelulose: 22,13 - 31,46 por cento b.s) afetam os mecanismos de decomposição térmica. Os rendimentos de processamento da pirólise variaram entre 71,73 por cento a 87,87 por cento, de acordo com a natureza da biomassa e diferentes taxas de aquecimento. Isso mostra a eficácia da técnica adotada na transformação dos resíduos vegetais analisados em matérias-primas para geração de energia, evidenciando o potencial energético das biomassas e confirmando a possibilidade de uso destas como matéria-prima em processos de bio e termoconversão. Com base na caracterização completa dos resíduos de podas de wetlands indica-se: combustão direta para a C. giganteus, biodigestão anaeróbia para a E. crassipes e pirólise para a S. auriculata, como rotas tecnológicas capazes de proporcionar a melhor valorização energética. / [en] In the search for a more sustainable and equitable energy energy for the future, the use of biomass residues from anthropic action arises as valuable source of raw material for bio or thermo-conversion, economically viable and ecologically sustainable. In this sense, aquatic macrophytes become interesting from the standpoint of their valorization as biomass source for energy production.The objective of this study was the fully characterization of wetlands pruning wastes in order to evaluate the use potential of these biomasses in bio or thermal-conversion processes. To this research biomasses of wastes prunning of aquatic macrophytes Cyperus giganteus, Eichhornia crassipes and Salvinia auriculata, from semi-tertiary and tertiary treatment wetlands, from sanitary sewage of the Ponte dos Leites ETP, located in Araruama, RJ, were considered. The macrophyte samples were submitted to experimental analyzes of their physical properties, chemical properties and thermal analysis, as well as a kinetic study (activation energy and pre exponencial factor), starting from the analysis of the thermogravimetric curves, considering Friedman, Kissinger and Ozawa models. Thermal behavior results characterized biomasses as a viable source of energy due to the PCS varying between 14.88 - 20.61 MJ.kg-1. Focused on the use in thermochemical and biochemical conversion processes, analyzes of the bromatological properties confirmed that the molecular structures of macrophytes (Lignin: 9.99 - 26.83 wt percent, Cellulose: 9.72 - 32.65 wt percent, Hemicellulose: 22,13 - 31.46 wt percent, depending on the species analyzed) affect the mechanisms of thermal decomposition. Pyrolysis processing yields vary from 87.87 to 71.73 percent, depending on the nature of the biomass and different heating rates. This shows the effectiveness of the technique adopted in the transformation of the analyzed vegetal residues into raw materials for energy generation, evidencing the energy potential of the biomass and, confirming the possibility of the use of these plants as raw materials in bio or thermo-conversion processes. Based on the fully characterization of wetland pruning wastes, the technological routes capable of providing the best energy recovery were: the direct combustion route for C. giganteus, anaerobic biodigestion for E. crassipes and pyrolysis for S. auriculata.

[pt] Neste trabalho tem sido investigado a presença de defeitos em células solares de banda intermediária (IB) de GaAs con pontos quânticos (PQs) de InAs. As três células estudadas contêm camadas de separação entre as camadas de PQs, as quais foram crescidas à diferentes temperaturas, e camadas delgadas de recobrimento dos PQs de diferentes espessuras. As eficiências de conversão de energia destas células foram medidas previamente, sendo que a célula com camadas de separação crescidas à 700 graus C e com camadas de recobrimento de 3 nm é a mais eficiente (6.9 por cento). As outras duas células com camadas de recobrimento de 6 nm apresentam menores eficiências: uma, com camadas separadoras crescidas à 700 graus C, com 5.1 por cento, e a outra, com camadas separadoras crescidas à 630 graus C, com 2.8 por cento. Estudos de DLTS e Laplace DLTS mostram que há um grande número de defeitos em altas concentrações na célula menos eficiente, enquanto nas outras duas células só é detetado o mesmo defeito EL2 em menores concentrações. Portanto, a redução dos defeitos induz o incremento da eficiência das células IB. Amostras adicionais foram crescidas e estudadas pelas mesmas técnicas, entre elas, três células solares com estruturas idênticas às das células IB, mas sem PQs, e quatro amostras GaAs mono-camada dopadas com carbono e silício, similares às camadas de contacto p e n das células IB. Do estudo das três células sem PQs foi possível determinar que alguns defeitos nas células IB são induzidos pelas condições de crescimento dos PQs ou são induzidos pela temperatura de crescimento das camadas separadoras. O estudo das amostras mono-camada indicou a presença de defeitos nos contatos p e n que podem armadilhar os portadores foto-excitados nas células sob operação e, portanto, limitar a eficiência delas. Os resultados deste trabalho contribuem para desenvolver novas estratégias para crescimento epitaxial de células IB no laboratório LabSem na PUC-Rio. / [en] Defects present in structures of intermediate band (IB) solar cells of GaAs with InAs quantum dots (QDs) grown by MOVPE have been investigated. The three studied IB solar cells differ in the growth temperature of the spacer layers that separate the InAs QD layers in the active region and the thickness of the thin layer that capping each QD layer. Previously, the energy conversion efficiencies of these cells were measured and the cell with the highest spacer layer-growth temperature (700 C degrees) and thinner capping layer (3 nm) showed the highest efficiency, about 6.9 percent. The cells with thicker capping layers (6 nm) showed lower efficiencies, one of them, with spacer layers grown at 700 C degrees, reaching 5.1 percent, and the other one, with spacer layers grown at 600 C degrees, reaching only 2.8 percent. In this work, DLTS and Laplace DLTS studies show that the cell with the lowest efficiency has the largest number and highest concentrations of defects, unlike the other two cells, which have only one trap, EL2, in lower concentrations. These results demonstrate that the different growth conditions are determinant for the formation of defects and that the defect reduction leads to the increase of the IB solar cell efficiencies. Other samples were also grown and studied by the same techniques: three solar cells with identical structure as the IB solar cells, but without QDs, and individually doped GaAs samples that represent the p and n contact sides of the IB solar cells. From the study of the cells without QDs, the origin of some defects in the IB solar cells was found to be related to the QD growth conditions or related to the spacer layer-growth temperature. The study of the GaAs samples indicated the presence of defects in the p and n sides that could trap photo-excited carriers collected through these contacts during cell operation and thus reduce the efficiency. The results of this work allow developing new strategies to improve the epitaxial growth quality of IB solar cells in the laboratory of semiconductors LabSem of PUC-Rio where the studied samples were grown.

Recently, remarkable advances have been made in the understanding of micro/nanoscale energy transport, opening new opportunities in various areas such as thermal management, data storage, and energy conversion. This dissertation focuses on thermally-sensed nanotopography using a heated silicon microcantilever and near-field thermophotovoltaic (TPV) energy conversion system. A heated microcantilever is a functionalized atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever that has a small resistive heater integrated at the free end. Besides its capability of increasing the heater temperature over 1,000 K, the resistance of a heated cantilever is a very sensitive function of temperature, suggesting that the heated cantilever can be used as a highly sensitive thermal metrology tool. The first part of the dissertation discusses the thermal characterization of the heated microcantilever for its usage as a thermal sensor in various conditions. Particularly, the use of heated cantilevers for tapping-mode topography imaging will be presented, along with the recent experimental results on the thermal interaction between the cantilever and substrate. In the second part of the dissertation, the so-called near-field TPV device is introduced. This new type of energy conversion system utilizes the significant enhancement of radiative energy transport due to photon tunneling and surface polaritons. Investigation of surface and bulk polaritons in a multilayered structure reveals that radiative properties are significantly affected by polariton excitations. The dissertation then addresses the rigorous performance analysis of the near-field TPV system and a novel design of a near-field TPV device.

Dye-sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC), also known as Grätzel cells, have been identified as a cost-effective, easy-to-manufacture alternative to conventional solar cells. While mimicking natural photosynthesis, they are currently the most efficient third-generation solar technology available. Among others, their cost is dominated by the synthetic dye which consists of efficient Ruthenium based complexes due to their high and wide spectral absorbance. However, the severe toxicity, sophisticated preparation techniques as well as the elevated total cost of the sensitizing dye is of concern. Consequently, the current global trend in the field focuses on the exploitation of alternative organic dyes such as natural dyes which have been studied intensively. The main attractive features of natural dyes are their availability, environmental friendly, less toxicity, less polluting and low in cost. This contribution reports on the possibility of using sepia melanin dye for such DSSC application in replacement of standard costly ruthenium dyes. The sepia melanin polymer has interesting properties such as a considerable spectral absorbance width due to the high degree of conjugation of the molecule. This polymer is capable of absorbing light quantum, both at low and high energies ranging from the infrared to the UV region. The comprehensive literature survey on Grätzel solar cells, its operating principle, as well as its sensitization by natural dyes focusing on sepia melanin has been provided in this master’s dissertation. The obtained results in investigating the morphology, chemical composition, crystalline structure as well as optical properties of sepia melanin samples using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Energy x-ray diffraction, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy as well as Photoluminescence (PL) for Grätzel solar cell application have been reported. These results represent an important step forward in defining the structure of melanin. The results clearly show that sepia melanin can be used as natural dye to DSSC sensitization. It is promising for the realization of high cell performance, low-cost production, and non-toxicity. It should be emphasized here that natural dyes from food are better for human health than synthetic dyes. / Physics / 1 online resource (xii, 101 leaves) : illustrations / M. Sc. (Physics)

Dye-sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC), also known as Grätzel cells, have been identified as a cost-effective, easy-to-manufacture alternative to conventional solar cells. While mimicking natural photosynthesis, they are currently the most efficient third-generation solar technology available. Among others, their cost is dominated by the synthetic dye which consists of efficient Ruthenium based complexes due to their high and wide spectral absorbance. However, the severe toxicity, sophisticated preparation techniques as well as the elevated total cost of the sensitizing dye is of concern. Consequently, the current global trend in the field focuses on the exploitation of alternative organic dyes such as natural dyes which have been studied intensively. The main attractive features of natural dyes are their availability, environmental friendly, less toxicity, less polluting and low in cost. This contribution reports on the possibility of using sepia melanin dye for such DSSC application in replacement of standard costly ruthenium dyes. The sepia melanin polymer has interesting properties such as a considerable spectral absorbance width due to the high degree of conjugation of the molecule. This polymer is capable of absorbing light quantum, both at low and high energies ranging from the infrared to the UV region. The comprehensive literature survey on Grätzel solar cells, its operating principle, as well as its sensitization by natural dyes focusing on sepia melanin has been provided in this master’s dissertation. The obtained results in investigating the morphology, chemical composition, crystalline structure as well as optical properties of sepia melanin samples using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Energy x-ray diffraction, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy as well as Photoluminescence (PL) for Grätzel solar cell application have been reported. These results represent an important step forward in defining the structure of melanin. The results clearly show that sepia melanin can be used as natural dye to DSSC sensitization. It is promising for the realization of high cell performance, low-cost production, and non-toxicity. It should be emphasized here that natural dyes from food are better for human health than synthetic dyes. / Physics / 1 online resource (xii, 101 leaves) : illustrations / M. Sc. (Physics)