Two design analysis programs that model the performance of solar heated and passively cooled homes in the climate of BURUNDI are presented. The new programs, SOLBUDI and COLBUDI, are based on the design analysis programs SOLASEC and COOLASEC which have been modified to account for skylights, solar heat gains on wall and roof surfaces, as well as nocturnal radiation effects on the roof. Additionally, Bjumbura (∼ 800 meters in altitude) weather data and the thermal properties of building materials commonly used in Burundi are incorporated into the programs. Typical weather data for cities at mid-altitudes (∼ 1500 meters) and high altitudes (>2000 meters) are also presented. Due to the great variation in altitude (700 meters - 2600 meters) and climate in Burundi, both heating and cooling are required, hence the need for both heating (SOLBUDI) and cooling (COLBUDI) design analysis programs. Skylights, east windows, and west windows are the best sources of solar gain in Burundi due to the high solar angles, which are present all seasons. Thus, solar gains through these apertures must be controllable to prevent overheating during the warm season.

No description available.

Air-conditioning systems driven by solar energy have can save primary energy and reduce peak power consumption, which is particularly important for utility providers in the summer months. Additionally solar cooling is a promising application of solar thermal technology since the cooling load is well correlated to the overall solar availability. Liquid desiccant air-conditioning, which uses a salt solution to dehumidify air, can be used in a thermally driven air-conditioning system and offers many benefits for solar applications including the ability to store solar energy in the form of concentrated liquid desiccant. The current work focuses on the Queen’s University Solar Liquid Desiccant Cooling Demonstration Project. In previous work, a pre-commercial Liquid Desiccant Air Conditioner (LDAC) was installed and experimentally characterized using a gas-fired boiler to provide heat. As part of the current study a 95m2 solar array was added as a heat source. The Solar LDAC was tested for 20 days in the summer of 2012 to evaluate performance. The solar LDAC was found to provide between 9.2kW and 17.2kW of cooling power with an overall thermal Coefficient of Performance (COP) of 0.40 and electrical COP of 2.43. The collector efficiency was 53%, and 40% of the required thermal energy was provided by the solar array. A model was developed in TRNSYS to predict the performance of the solar LDAC and simulation results were compared to the experimental results with reasonable accuracy. The validated model was then used to simulate the annual performance of the solar LDAC in Toronto, Ontario; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Miami, Florida. The highest performance was achieved in Miami, where an overall thermal COP of 0.48 was predicted. It is proposed that additional improvements be made to the system by replacing inefficient pumps and fans, adding desiccant storage, and improving the control scheme. / Thesis (Master, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2012-10-29 16:34:02.906

PV/Thermal technology is the combination of solar thermal and photovoltaics - two mature and widely understood technologies. Combining the two technologies complicates existing standardized rating procedures and performance modeling methods. Currently a standardized performance test method does not exist for PV/Thermal (PV/T) panels. Existing and developing PV/T panels are commonly tested using separate standardized solar thermal and photovoltaic test procedures. Solar thermal performance is rated in terms of temperature difference whereas photovoltaic performance is dependent on absolute temperature level. The thermal and electrical performance of a PV/T panel is, however, coupled so performance equations derived using traditional test methods may not accurately reflect the performance of a combined PV/T panel over a wide range of conditions. The purpose of this work was to develop an efficiency equation for a PV/T panel which can be derived from a minimal amount of empirical test data and still accurately predict its thermal and electrical performance over a wide range of conditions. To accomplish this, a quasi- 3-dimensional steady-state model of a sheet-and-tube PV/T collector was developed and used to generate a broad data set from which a simplified PV/T performance equation was developed. Using this numerically generated data set, and introducing additional coefficients into the traditional solar thermal performance characteristic, a modified PV/T efficiency equation was derived which expressed the electrical and thermal efficiency in terms of ambient temperature, incident solar irradiation and the temperature difference between the inlet fluid and the ambient. It was also shown, for the case studied, that the efficiency equation can be produced from as few as 6 data points and still accurately predicts the performance at a wide range of operating conditions. A TRNSYS [1] model was developed to demonstrate how the performance equation can be used to simulate the annual performance of a PV/T collector in a domestic hot water system. It was shown that a performance equation, derived from 6 data points, performed as well as a performance map which used over 1000 data points. The annual thermal and electrical production predicted by both models was within 1.5% of each other. The PV/T efficiency equations were also shown to perform well for a range of electrical parameters, thermal properties and substrate thermal conductivity values. Future work is recommended to validate the PV/T performance equation using real empirically derived data for a range of collector designs. / Thesis (Master, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2013-01-22 15:40:03.337

As fossil fuels, the major source of energy used today, create the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide which causes global warming, alternative energy sources are necessary in the future. There is a need for different types of renewable energy sources such as hydropower, windpower, wave- power and photovoltaics since different parts of the world have different possibilities. The sun is a never ending energy source. Photovoltaics use the energy of the sun and converts it into electricity. There are different types of photovoltaics and a combination of them could provide humankind with energy in a sustainable way. In this thesis dye-sensitized solar cells are investigated. Materials for the counter electrode have been investigated and resulting in a polymer based cathode outperforming the traditionally used platinized counter electrode in a cobalt-based redox mediator system (paper I). The sensitizer of the TiO2 was investigated, in this study by modifications of the π-linker unit in an organic donor-linker-acceptor based dye. Four new dyes were synthesized, all four showing extended absorption spectra compared to the reference dye. However, it was found that increasing the absorption spectrum does not neces- sarily increase the power conversion efficiency of the solar cell (paper II). In the last part of this thesis, water-based electrolyte dye-sensitized solar cells were investigated. A hydrophilic dye with glycolic chains close to the center of regeneration was synthesized. The results show increased wettability by water-based electrolyte for the sensitized surface, increased regenera- tion and performance for the hydrophilic dye compared to a hydrophobic dye (paper III). The glycolic chains complex with small cations such as Na+ and K+ in the electrolyte, this proba- bly facilitate the regeneration of the hydrophilic dye even further (paper IV). In this thesis new materials for a more environmentally friendly dye-sensitized solar cell are investigated.

The purpose of this thesis is to consider PhotoVoltaic Power Converter (PVPC) technology, developed by Atira Technologiesʼ, and its prospects for military and space applications. This research will validate the hypothesis that PVPC technology enables a solar power system to produce usable power during low- and no-light conditions which standard solar power systems fail to provide. Solar cell panels are exposed to sunlight at different angles and with variable intensity, therefore the resulting output power varies depending on the illumination angle as well as the light intensity of each panel. Atira Technologiesʼ devised a novel buck-boost converter that is specifically designed to track the maximum power point of each solar panel. This would provide a significant increase in the overall available power by utilizing a switching topology in a subdued lighting condition. Although a small amount of power is generated, given enough time, a battery will reach its full charge, compared to no additional charging if the battery is using a panel without the circuit. In addition, this research will also show the vital sustaining information to substantiate PVPC's claim of usefulness and effectiveness to allow for longer time on station both in the field and in space so it can extend its missions.

No description available.

Dissertação apresentada para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Térmica, na Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, sob a orientação do Prof. Doutor Oliveira Fernandes

We are facing a climate crisis, and the world needs to generate electricity in more climate neutral ways. One alternative is to use solar energy. The highest efficiency can be achieved if the surface normal is pointed towards the sun, instead of just having it stationary. To solve this, people make a system called a solar tracker. In this project a prototype of a solar tracker is made, which can follow the sun in any direction. The solar tracker consists of a mechanical structure, two DC-motors that move the structure, and a microcontroller that implements the regulator to control the motors. All the mechanical parts were constructed and then printed using a 3D-printer. Manual control was implemented for making troubleshooting and testing easier. The electrical system is soldered on an experimental board and then mounted with the motor driver and mechanical construction on a bottom structure. There are a few interesting things that could be further developed. One is to implement sensors at the start point and end point of the sun tracking so that the tracker can return to the starting point after the sunset. It would be interesting to scale up the construction a bit and make some more useful measurements on larger panels to see if the system is energy effective enough to be useful; to make some outdoor tests and see how the sensors and control system work in a real-world environment; and to investigate and eventually develop its ability to adapt to cloudy weather.

Orientador: Carlos Frederico e Oliveira Graeff / Banca: André Sarto Polo / Banca: Fenelon Martinho Lima Pontes / Banca: Francisco das Chagas Marques / Banca: José Humberto Dias da Silva / Resumo: Este projeto consiste na produção e estudo das propriedades de novos materiais para a otimização de células solares sensibilizadas por corante (DSSC) baseadas em filmes de TiO2 nanoestruturado e corantes da família do N3. A pesquisa foi focada no estudo e na otimização de novos contra elétrodos baseados em CuS e CoS nanoestruturados, os quais apresentam grande interesse no setor de pesquisa e desenvolvimento industrial, pelas suas promissoras características eletrocatalíticas e pelos seus baixos custos. Além da obtenção das nanopartículas de CuS e CoS pela técnica hidrotermal assistida por micro-ondas, um grande esforço foi feito a fim de obter tintas precursoras ideais para a deposição dos filmes de CuS e CoS pela técnica de screen-printing, compatível com as modernas linhas de produção industriais. Portanto, foram desenvolvidos e otimizados métodos simples, rápidos e de baixo custo para obter filmes finos dos materiais estudados. Em particular tivemos um grande sucesso utilizando a estratégia do precursor químico dissolvido em solventes. Na primeira aplicação deste método, um precursor químico (Co(II) dietilditiocarbamato) foi utilizado em tintas à base de CH2Cl2. Foram obtidos elétrodos de CoS nanocristalinos e de alta eficiência. Todavia o uso do solvente orgânico clorado não é muito apropriado para grandes superfícies. Portanto, desenvolvemos um método baseado num precursor químico do CoS hidrossolúvel e de baixa toxidade. Com este método aprimorado foram obtidos bons re... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This project consists of the production and study of new materials for the optimization of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) based on nanostructured TiO2. The research was focused on the design and optimization of new counter electrodes based on CuS and CoS nanoparticles, which are very interesting in the research and development of DSSC, due to their promising electrochemical characteristics and for their lower costs. Along with the hydrothermal technique assisted by microwave, a great effort was made to obtain optimum precursor inks for deposition of CuS and CoS films by screen-printing technique, compatible with modern industrial production lines. Hereby facile, inexpensive and rapid methods for thin films have been developed and optimized for the deposition of CuS and CoS layers. In particular, we developed a chemical precursor process using solvent-based inks. In the first application of this approach, a chemical precursor CoS (Co (II) diethyldithiocarbamate) was used in CH2Cl2. Nanocrystalline CoS electrodes and high efficiency have been obtained, however the use of chlorinated organic solvent is not very suitable for large surfaces. Therefore, we developed a method based on a water-soluble (WS) chemical precursor. Good results have been obtained, in terms of stability and efficiency, with the WS precursor. The counter electrode developed with our methods were tested with alternative redox pairs such as Co2+/Co3+ and ferrocene. Such an application of CuS and CoS electro... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre