M.Ing. / Photovoltaic (PV) systems are considered as renewable resources of energy that are utilized in the conversion of direct and diffuse solar radiation to electric power. These systems are considered as environmentally friendly energy resources as they reduce pollution. These systems’ produced power depends on the radiation of the sun as well as the temperature, the impedance of the load, and the unfitted parameters in PV systems. In this field, the PV systems and DC-DC converters will be explored in both configuration (the open loop and closed loop systems), whilst their implementation will be designed as a closed loop system. The success of the system depends on the algorithm of the maximum power point tracking that catches the maximum sunshine radiation amount to generate the maximum electrical power. This system simulation and hardware implementation will be done through the Proteus program and real components integration ...

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Chemistry. Johannesburg, June 2017. / Due to a high global demand for energy, research groups have been focusing a lot of energy into finding alternative and cleaner energy sources. Solar power has all the attributes to be the energy of the future. Solar power is abundantly available and is a cleaner form of energy as compared to the market-leading fossil fuels. In this thesis, we consider new materials that can be used in hybrid solar cells. These new materials combine the properties of inorganic nanomaterials and polymers. The nanomaterials possess unique properties that can be exploited and the polymers allow for the thin films to potentially be light weight and flexible. Copper selenide was synthesized and characterized to produce particles with different sizes as a function of time. These size variations are shown to emit a spectrum of different colours. In addition the particles synthesized at various temperatures are reported. Temperature had an effect on the size of the particles with bigger sizes obtained as the temperature was increased. Also shown in the results is that Cu2Se nanocrystals were quite resistant to changes with the sizes marginally increasing with increasing time and temperature. A hybrid material using a conductive polymer polyvinylcarbazole (PVK) and copper selenide was synthesized and used as the active layer via a spin coating technique to fabricate a solar cell. Varying amounts (10% - 50%) of Cu2Se nanocrystals were used in the polymer nanocomposites. The 10% weight loading resulted in the highest efficiency of 0.74% whilst successive addition of the nanocrystals affected the polymeric structure of PVK thus resulting in solar cells with even lower efficiencies. Niobium selenide was synthesized via the colloidal method using TOP/HDA combination for the first time. The effect of time on the particles synthesized using a 1:1 mole ratio of Nb:Se was negligible with particles showing similar properties. The XRD of the samples revealed that they were amorphous thus making it difficult to conclusively say that niobium selenide was synthesized successfully. The samples were then annealed however only small improvements were observed. The concentration of the selenium was then increased in order to form the more common NbSe2 and NbSe3. The XRD showed the formation of NbSe2 and NbSe3 for 1:2 and 1:3 Nb:Se ratios respectively. In addition, the particles resembled 2D nanostructures readily observed in layered materials such as NbSe2 and NbSe3. However, some impurities in the form of oxides were still observed. Hybrid solar cells prepared from the amorphous 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 Nb:Se samples were fabricated. The NbSe3 composite had the best performing solar cell with the power conversion efficiency of 3.234% with the amorphous particles generating no current. / LG2017

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, School of Physics, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Johannesburg, 2016. / Organic Photovoltaic (OPV) is an environmental friendly technology that promises e cient and e ective harvesting of solar energy. The organic polymers used in the fabrication of OPVs are characterized by low weight, tunable electrical and optical properties. However, the low photo-conversion e ciency (PCE) and instability in air remains a major drawback that limits their commercialization. The project seeks to increase the PCE of a cheap photovoltaic device using plasmonic e ects and rare earth doped waveguides to modify the optical response in the active layer. Incorporating regularly shaped silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) in OPVs through the surface plasmon resonance will enhance tunable absorption and scattering of light. These NPs are prepared by reducing AgNO3 with N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and using 2,2- Poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) as a stabiliser at di erent reaction times. The Ag NPs have shown di erent shapes such as spherical and prism shapes of 14, 15 and 16 nm visualised by TEM. / MT2017

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The Gas-to-liquids (GTL) processes produce a large fraction of by-products whose disposal or handling ordinarily becomes a cost rather than benefit. As an alternative strategy to market stranded gas reserves, GTL provides middle distillates to an unsaturated global market and offers opportunities to generate power for commercial purposes from waste by-product streams, which normally are associated with increased expenses incurred from additional handling cost. The key concept investigated in this work is the possibility of integrating the GTL process with power generation using conventional waste by-product steam streams. Simulation of the integrated process was conducted with the aim of identifying the critical operating conditions for successful integration of the GTL and power generation processes. About 500 MW of electric power can be generated from 70% of the exit steam streams, with around 20 to 25% steam plant thermal efficiency. A detailed economic analysis on the LNG, stand-alone GTL, and Integrated GTL Power-Generation plants indicates that the integrated system is more profitable than the other options considered. Justifying the technology and economics involved in the use of the by-product streams to generate power could increase the net revenue and overall profitability of GTL projects. This technology may be transferable to GTL projects in the world, wherever a market for generated power exists.

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

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Concentrator solar cells operate under the conditions of non-uniform illumination and varying spectral content of incident sunlight. To predict the performance of such cells, an analytical model must account for varying carrier photogeneration rates within the cell. Further, the back surface junction fabricated to reduce recombination at the back contact must be included in the analysis.Most models of n+-p-p+ cells assume uniform generation rates within individual layers. In this study, a one-dimensional n+-p-p+ concentrator solar cell is modeled for all levels of illumination of incident sunlight. The photocarrier generation rate is considered as non-uniform in each layer of the cell. An absorption model is incorporated to permit the application for various spectral mixes of incident sunlight. The model also includes the effects of finite surface recombination velocities at the surfaces. Carrier transport equations for the three layers of the cell are developed and solved for the excess carrier concentrations under the assumptions of the model. Junction current density-voltage relationships for the two junctions of the cell are derived. The use of the current density equations in the evaluation of cell performance is discussed. / Department of Physics and Astronomy