The plasma membrane, which separates intracellular contents from extra cellular milieu, consists of a lipid bilayer comprising mainly phospholipids and cholesterol together with various functional proteins, which control the interaction of the cell with its environment. Cells are killed at elevated temperatures and previous work suggests that the plasma membrane may be a primary target in this hyperthermic cell death. The present study set out to test this hypothesis using a rat liver tumour cell hue (Hepatoma Tissue Culture cells). Several different experimental approaches were adopted. Supplementation of these cells with linoleic acid (18 : 2) for a 36 hour period increased the thermal sensitivity of cells at 43 C, though increased sensitivity was not evident at other times. Plasma membrane-enriched fractions were obtained from control cells and from cells supplemented with linoleic acid for a 36 hour period, then lipids were extracted and characterised. Whilst there was little difference in the cholesterol : phospholipid ratio, the phospholipid fatty acid composition of membranes from supplemented cells showed elevated levels of 18 : 2 and decreased levels of oleic acid (18 : 1) relative to control cell membranes. DPH fluorescence polarisation studies indicated that plasma membranes from supplemented cells were less 'ordered' than control membranes. Alkaline phosphodiesterase I, a plasma membrane-bound enzyme, appeared to be more thermolabile in supplemented cells suggesting that plasma membrane 'fluidity' may be an important factor in determining the thermal sensitivity of this membrane-bound enzyme. Hyperthermic cell death was potentiated by the presence of local anaesthetics, two of which, dibucaine and tetracaine, also produced less 'ordered' membranes. Morphological studies conducted on cells in the presence and absence of local anaesthetic at elevated temperatures indicated changes in cellular surface morphology on heating which were accelerated in the presence of the anaesthetic. The intermediate filament network of these cells did not appear to be a primary target of hyperthermic treatment. These studies suggest that the lipid composition and physical state of the plasma membrane are critical features involved in the expression of cell death, possibly through a modulation of membrane protein thermal sensitivity.

The effect of temperature on the sensitivity of poikilothennic cells to toxicant exposure was investigated, with particular attention to the relationship between temperature induced changes in cellular activity, and cell sensitivity to toxicants. Temperature was shown to have a significant influence on the metabolic activity and sensitivity to toxicants ofthree types ofpoikilothenns: E. coli, a consortium of cells isolated from activated sludge (ASBC), and a genetically modified bioluminescent fish cell line (BF-2Ilucl). The influence of temperature on the ASBC and BF-21/ucl cell sensitivity to toxicants appeared to be related to its effects on toxicant uptake and reactivity. However temperature induced changes in E. coli metabolic activity were shown to have a pronounced influence on its sensitivity to toxicants. The increased metabolic rate supported by higher temperatures was associated with decreases in E. coli sensitivity to narcotic toxicants as were the increases in E. coli metabolic activity that resulted from changes in respiratory substrate solution composition. Subsequent biosensor and growth assays demonstrated that E. coli responded to low concentrations of phenolic toxicants by increasing it respiration rate at the expense of growth. This suggests that the protective effect ofincreased metabolic activity at higher temperatures was related to the energetic costs of toxicant exposure. Additionally an impedance spectroscopy assay was developed and showed that 3,5-DCP caused only limited disruption ofE. coli membrane integrity. This study demonstrated for the first time that temperature effects on E. coli metabolic activity and on E. coli sensitivity to toxicants are directly linked. Further work is needed to develop a fuller understanding ofhow E. coli metabolic activity influences its sensitivity to toxicants.

Σκοπός αυτής της διπλωματικής εργασίας είναι να εμβαθύνουμε στη λειτουργία φωτοβολταϊκού πλαισίου μονοκρυσταλλικού πυριτίου και μέσα από τα αριθμητικά δεδομένα των μετρήσεων και των υπολογισμών, να αποφανθούμε πώς η λειτουργία σε πραγματικές συνθήκες μπορεί να επηρεάσει την παραγόμενη ισχύ του. Στα πλαίσια αυτά, πραγματοποιήθηκαν μετρήσεις ρεύματος και τάσης, στο χώρο του τμήματος των Ηλεκτρολόγων Μηχανικών και Τεχνολογίας Υπολογιστών, με φωτοβολταϊκό πλαίσιο μονοκρυσταλλικού πυριτίου ισχύος αιχμής 80 W. Οι μετρήσεις γίνονταν μια φορά την εβδομάδα κατά τη διάρκεια ενός έτους περίπου (2008-2009) και στόχος ήταν να διεξαχθούν μετρήσεις υπό διάφορες συνθήκες ακτινοβολίας και θερμοκρασίας και για αρκετές γωνίες κλίσης ώστε να αποκτήσουμε μια ολοκληρωμένη εικόνα της ενεργειακής του συμπεριφοράς. Στη διάρκεια των μετρήσεων αλλάζαμε την τιμή ενός μεταβλητού φορτίου, για να πάρουμε τη χαρακτηριστική ρεύματος τάσης του συγκεκριμένου πλαισίου και επιπλέον σημειώναμε την ακτινοβολία, τη θερμοκρασία του περιβάλλοντος, του κυττάρου και της πίσω όψης του, καθώς και της κλίσης τοποθέτησης. Ακόμα ελέγχαμε πώς επηρεάζει τη χαρακτηριστική καμπύλη I-V, και κατά συνέπεια την απόδοση, τυχόν φυσική σκίαση από παρακείμενο αντικείμενο. Ο προσανατολισμός των πλαισίων ήταν πάντα προς το Νότο, ώστε να έχουμε περισσότερες ώρες ηλιοφάνειας, μίας και η Ελλάδα είναι χώρα του βόρειου ημισφαιρίου. Κατά την επεξεργασία των μετρήσεων καταλήξαμε στην βέλτιστη κλίση τοποθέτησης του πλαισίου ανά εποχή και είδαμε πως η ακτινοβολία επιδρά θετικά στην απόδοση του σε αντίθεση με τη θερμοκρασία του κυττάρου που τη μειώνει όταν αυτή αυξάνεται. Τέλος, έγινε μια σύγκριση των τιμών που δίνει ο κατασκευαστής σε εργαστηριακό περιβάλλον με τις τιμές των μετρήσεων για να διαπιστώσουμε τις απώλειες που έχουμε όταν το μονοκρυσταλλικό πλαίσιο λειτουργεί σε πραγματικές συνθήκες. / The aim of this diploma thesis is to take a better look at the operation of a monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic module and through the numerical data of measurements and the calculations, to come to a conclusion about how the operation in real conditions can influence his produced power. Measurements of current and tendency have been made in the area of the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering using a monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic module of peak power 80 W. The measurements took place once a week for about a year (2008-2009) and our goal was to obtain measurements under various conditions of radiation and temperature and for some angles of bent so that we acquire a completed picture of its energy behavior. During the measurements we changed a variable load, in order to form the characteristic curve of current and tendency of the module and we also noted down the radiation, the environmental, the cell and the back side temperature of the module, as well as the bent of placement. Moreover, we checked how a possible natural shading from an adjacent object influences the characteristic I-V curve, and as a result the efficiency of the module. The orientation of the module was always South, in order to gain more hours of sunlight, since Greece is a country of the northern hemisphere. While processing the measurements, we found the optimal bent of placement per season for the module and we saw that the radiation affects positively its efficiency contrary to the cell temperature that decreases the efficiency when increased. Finally, we compare the electrical specifications in laboratorial environment that the constructor gives, with the measurements in order to realise the losses that we have when the monocrystalline module functions in real conditions.

<p>The purpose of this study is to develop a flexible computer tool to predict the power produced by a photovoltaic (PV) panel. The performance of the PV panel is dependent on the incident solar radiation and the cell temperature. The computer tool predicts voltage-current curves, power-voltage curves, and maximum power point values. Five different models are implemented to predict the temperature of the panel, and comparison between the different thermal models is good. A thermal capacitance approach that uses a simple relationship for the forced convection heat transfer coefficient is used to predict the cell temperature. Both the electrical and temperature models are verified through comparisons using PVWatts and validated by comparisons to measured values. The model is flexible in the sense that it can be applied to PV arrays of any size, at any location, and of different cell types. After being verified and validated, the model is used to investigate the effects of cooling on the photovoltaic panel to improve the panel efficiency and increase its power output. Typical results show that for every degree Celsius rise in temperature, the efficiency of the solar panel is reduced by 0.5%. The effect of cooling and the resulting increase in energy production in two different climatic zones are studied and discussed. </p>

This thesis aims to increase photovoltaic (PV) panel power efficiency by employing a cooling system based on water circulation, which represents an improved version of water flow based active cooling systems. Theoretical calculations involved finding the heat produced by the PV panel and the circulation water flow required to remove this heat. A data logger and a cooling system for a test panel of 20W was designed and employed to study the relationship between the PV panel surface temperature and its output power. This logging and cooling system includes an Arduino microcontroller extended with a data logging shield, temperature sensing probes, current sensors, and a DC water pump. Real-time measurements were logged every minute for one or two day periods under various irradiance and air temperature conditions. For these experiments, a load resistance was chosen to operate the test panel at its maximum power point. Results indicate that the cooling system can yield an improvement of 10% in power production. Based on the observations from the test panel experiments, a cooling system was devised for a PV panel array of 640 W equipped with a commercial charge controller. The test data logger was repurposed for this larger system. An identical PV array was left uncooled and monitored simultaneously to compare the effect of cooling, demonstrating that the cooled array provided up to an extra 132W or 20% of maximum power for sunny weather conditions. Future expansion possibilities of the project include automated water level monitoring system and water filtration systems.

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