Search results for " Solar Energy"
showing 10 items of 21 documents
A procedure to calculate the I–V characteristics of thin-film photovoltaic modules using an explicit rational form
2015
Abstract Accurate models of the electrical behaviour of photovoltaic modules are effective tools for system design. One or two diode equivalent circuits have been widely used even though some mathematical difficulties were found dealing with implicit equations. In this paper, a new model based on a simple rational function, which does not contain any implicit exponential form, is presented. The model was conceived in order to be used with thin-film photovoltaic modules, whose current–voltage curves are characterised by very smooth shapes. The parameters of the model are evaluated by means of the derivatives of the issued characteristics in the short circuit and open circuit points at standa…
An accurate one-diode model suited to represent the current-voltage characteristics of crystalline and thin-film photovoltaic modules
2020
Abstract In this paper a new one-diode model, conceived in order to be used to represent the current-voltage curves of both crystalline and thin-film photovoltaic modules, is presented. The model parameters are calculated from the information contained in the datasheets issued by manufactures by means of simple iterative procedures that do not require the assumption of simplifying hypotheses. Some innovative relations describing the dependence of the parameters from the solar irradiance and cell temperature are adopted in order to permit the model to reliably simulate the electrical behaviour of photovoltaic devices operating in real conditions. The ability of the model to calculate the cur…
Building integrated solar thermal design: assessment of performances of a low cost solar wall in a typical Italian building
2016
Abstract Present work deals with the topic of building integration of solar thermal collector (BIST) as a refurbishment measure. Such equipment, more than its main function as heating generator, plays a specific role as a building component (envelope finishes, thermal insulation layer, roof cover etc). Consequently, from a heat transfer point of view, an integrated component affects twice the global building balance: supporting the thermal plant (i.e. providing heat for final uses) and modifying the wall heat-transfer pattern (i.e. reducing thermal losses). In turn, the collector performance itself is influenced by the wall structure (back losses reduction). Present work proposes a method f…
Assessing the Energy-Saving Potential of a Dish-Stirling Concentrator Integrated into Energy Plants in the Tertiary Sector
2021
Energy consumed for air conditioning in residential and tertiary sectors accounts for a large share of global use. To reduce the environmental impacts burdening the covering of such demands, the adoption of renewable energy technologies is increasing. In this regard, this paper evaluates the energy and environmental benefits achievable by integrating a dish-Stirling concentrator into energy systems used for meeting the air conditioning demand of an office building. Two typical reference energy plants are assumed: (i) a natural gas boiler for heating purposes and air-cooled chillers for the cooling periods, and (ii) a reversible heat pump for both heating and cooling. For both systems, a dis…
Corrigendum to “A procedure to calculate the five-parameter model of crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules on the basis of the tabular performance…
2014
Only few manufactures provide the wide set of graphical data that are necessary to use high performance predictive tools for PV systems. On the other hand, reliable graphical data require accurate laboratory measurements that increase manufacturing costs. For this reason PV system designers have to choose between the use of cheap PV modules, lacking in technical data, and the reliable energy predictions that are possible only if the current–voltage characteristics are provided by the PV module manufacturers. This paper describes the procedure to evaluate the parameters of a one-diode equivalent circuit able to accurately epresent the electrical behaviour of a PV panel by means of the minimu…
A procedure to calculate the five-parameter model of crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules on the basis of the tabular performance data
2013
Abstract Only few manufactures provide the wide set of graphical data that are necessary to use high performance predictive tools for PV systems. On the other hand, reliable graphical data require accurate laboratory measurements that increase manufacturing costs. For this reason PV system designers have to choose between the use of cheap PV modules, lacking in technical data, and the reliable energy predictions that are possible only if the current–voltage characteristics are provided by the PV module manufacturers. This paper describes the procedure to evaluate the parameters of a one-diode equivalent circuit able to accurately represent the electrical behaviour of a PV panel by means of …
Membrane distillation: Solar and waste heat driven demonstration plants for desalination
2013
Abstract The development of small to medium size, autonomous and robust desalination units is needed to establish an independent water supply in remote areas. This is the motivation for research on alternative desalination processes. Membrane distillation (MD) seems to meet the specific requirements very well. This work is focused on experimental studies on full scale demonstration systems, utilizing a parallel multi MD-module setup. Three different plant concepts are introduced, one of them is waste heat driven and two of them are powered by solar thermal collectors. Design parameters and system design are presented. After the analysis of plant operation a comparison among the plants as we…
Development of a Membrane Distillation module for solar energy seawater desalination
2012
Abstract Membrane Distillation (MD) processes are gaining growing interest among novel desalination technologies, in particular for small scale applications also coupled with non-conventional energy sources. In the present work an original laboratory scale planar geometry Membrane Distillation unit was designed, built and tested for future coupling with solar energy. Though conceptually simple, the original geometry was developed in order to allow for multi-stage arrangement, compactness, internal heat recovery and possible integration with a polymeric heat exchanger for final brine heating by means of solar energy or waste heat. The laboratory scale unit was tested in order to investigate …
Conceptual study of the coupling of a biorefinery process for hydrothermal liquefaction of microalgae with a concentrating solar power plant
2017
A conceptual analysis of the coupling of a concentrating solar power plant with a chemical process for hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of microalgae to biocrude was performed. The two plants were considered coupled by molten salt recirculation that granted energetic supply to the chemical process. Preliminary estimations have been done considering a solar field constituted by 3 linear parabolic solar collectors rows, each 200 m long, using a ternary molten salts mixture as heat transfer fluid, and a chemical plant sized to process 10 kT/y of microalgae. Under adopted conditions, we have estimated a minimum selling prize of the biocrude that is similar to that achieved in non-solar HTL proce…
Assessment of the Usability and Accuracy of Two-Diode Models for Photovoltaic Modules
2017
Many diode-based equivalent circuits for simulating the electrical behaviour of photovoltaic (PV) cells and panels are reported in the scientific literature. Two-diode equivalent circuits, which require more complex procedures to calculate the seven model parameters, are less numerous. The model parameters are generally calculated using the data extracted from the datasheets issued by the PV panel manufactures and adopting simplifying hypotheses and numerical solving techniques. A criterion for rating both the usability and accuracy of two-diode models is proposed in this paper with the aim of supporting researchers and designers, working in the area of PV systems, to select and use a model…