ABSTRACT
The world has now looked towards installing more renewable energy sources type distributed generation (DG), such as solar photovoltaic DG (SPVDG), because of its advantages to the environment and the quality of power supply it produces. However, these sources' optimal placement and size are determined before their accommodation in the power distribution system (PDS). This is to avoid an increase in power loss and deviations in the voltage profile. Furthermore, in this article, solar PV is integrated with battery energy storage systems (BESS) to compensate for the shortcomings of SPVDG as well as the reduction in peak demand. This paper presented a novel coronavirus herd immunity optimizer algorithm for the optimal accommodation of SPVDG with BESS in the PDS. The proposed algorithm is centered on the herd immunity approach to combat the COVID-19 virus. The problem formulation is focused on the optimal accommodation of SPVDG and BESS to reduce the power loss and enhance the voltage profile of the PDS. Moreover, voltage limits, maximum current limits, and BESS charge-discharge constraints are validated during the optimization. Moreover, the hourly variation of SPVDG generation and load profile with seasonal impact is examined in this study. IEEE 33 and 69 bus PDSs are tested for the development of the presented work. The suggested algorithm showed its effectiveness and accuracy compared to different optimization techniques. © 2023 TÜBÍTAK.
ABSTRACT
Building Applied Photovoltaics (BAPV) such as Roof-top Solar PV has gained significant attention in recent years for harnessing the untapped potential of renewable energy sources. However, rooftop PV poses hurdles of space restriction and shadowing in densely packed urban residential neighborhoods. This study aims to design and assess the feasibility of an integrated grid-connected Rooftop and Façade Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) for meeting the energy demand of residential buildings on an academic campus. Three distinctive groups of residential typologies have been investigated in this study, categorized based on built area and occupants' past energy usage. Additionally, the variation in the measured Energy Performance index of the three different residential groups is illustrated to pave the path for the development of a typology-based residential energy benchmarking and labelling system. The Solar PV system has been designed for the maximum household energy demand recorded in CoVID-affected years due to high residential electricity usage in this period. The study showcases that integration of façade BIPV for low-rise residential buildings increases the system energy production to up to 62.5 % based on the utilized surface area for active PV. Furthermore, the Net Zero Energy Building (ZEB) potential for each typology has been achieved by integration of the proposed Solar PV, evaluated as a function of the Energy Performance Index (EPI) and Energy Generation Index (EGI). The designed nominal PV power of the proposed grid-connected plant is 5.6 MW, producing 7182 MWh annually, meeting the maximum residential energy demand in the studied academic campus in CoVID affected year. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.
ABSTRACT
As the global interest in renewable energy generation continues, the need to develop new and innovative solutions is being explored every day throughout the world by researchers and innovators. Hybrid renewable energy innovations are gaining progressive interest not only because of the threat of climate change but also due to the technological advancements seen in renewables. Ocean waves have immense potential as a renewable energy source, and related technologies have advanced continuously over the past few decades. In response, this paper extensively studies wave energy converters (WECs) based on the power take-off (PTO) technique, and presents a novel hybrid wave-plus-photon energy (HWPE) harvester called Wavevoltaics, based on wave and solar energy capture systems for coastal communities’ power needs, in line with decarbonization measures. The HWPE harvester uses a simple rack-and-pinion mechanism in combination with solar cell technology to convert the wave energy into usable electrical energy in a water column structural design. This novel HWPE device can be used to provide power for lighting and gadgets for coastal communities that rely heavily on fossil fuels for their lighting and electrical needs. Later in the paper, the challenges faced in hybrid wave energy development are presented.
ABSTRACT
In addition to ABET-defined course objectives, goals and outcomes, senior design projects also serve as unique bridges between the academia and the communities. Residents at City of Huntsville-Texas Aquatic Center, a city owned recreation center, have had lacked satisfactory shaded areas particularly when they waited for their children or friends while swimming classes were in session. The residents also needed an easy access to AC outlets for charging their smartphones, laptops and other electronic devices. This paper presents design, construction, and operation of two separate solar Photovoltaic (PV) charging stations at the City of Huntsville Aquatic Center as part of a senior design course requirements in a B.S. in Engineering Technology program. 3D-sketches, electrical circuits, Gantt charts, bill of materials and student experience are provided. This senior project initially began with four undergraduate students with multidisciplinary engineering technology majors in Fall 2019, then extended to Spring 2020 due to the scope of the project, and finally completed in August 2020 by two different senior students due to the graduations and Covid-19 pandemic related challenges. The funding for the project was provided by the City of Huntsville. The students and faculty members involved in the senior design project have served for the community outreach purposes. There are two objectives of this senior design project;(1) to provide more shading for guests and staff members in the aquatic center since the area is missing satisfactory shading, (2) to help the city for improving its sustainability efforts by providing renewable energy-based charging stations. Since the project was completed in Summer 2020, the PV charging stations have been used by aquatic center staff and guests extensively both during the day and evening programs since the charging stations also provide lighting through deep-cycle battery storage. This senior project provided students to use their knowledge and increase hands on and project management skills in a real-life environment. Students worked in the project were majored in interdisciplinary majors in the Department of Engineering technology including Engineering Design, construction management, safety management, and electronics and computer engineering technology. Students were also involved in professional meetings with city officials to discuss and present their project progress efforts. The Mayor's office and the aquatic center staff officials expressed their strong interest to work with B.S. in engineering technology senior students and faculty to design and implement more renewable energy projects in future. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2021
ABSTRACT
This paper presents HOMER simulation models for optimizing renewable energy system components in Off grid and Grid connected systems for Covid-19 hospitals. Load profiles of 100 bed and 50 bed Covid hospitals are established critically. Two simulation models are built for each load profile. Optimization of energy system components is conducted based on net present cost and cost of energy. In process of optimization, HOMER simulates all possible configurations and ranks feasible combinations according to TNPC, and lists feasible options. Ten combinations are identified for analysis in each model. The critical analysis of results revealed that, grid connected system proves to be most economic and reliable option for hospital loads. The cost of energy obtained in grid connected system is Rs.9/kWh, whereas for diesel generated connected system costing Rs.22/kWh. This difference is appeared mainly due to higher cost of diesel and variation in the solar and wind energy potential with time of the day. Thus it is concluded that, renewable energy sources can be effectively employed for energizing the Covid-19 hospital in association with grid. © 2021 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
Globally, vaccination plays a vital role in controlling the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the cold supply chain is essential for vaccine storage and logistics services. In a country like India, the last-mile logistics of vaccines is a challenging task. The cold chain is indispensable for the Covid-19 vaccine drive to the rural areas. The demand for cold storage increases rapidly due to the rapid Covid-19 vaccine drive. The conventional cold storage facility has a more significant threat to the grid power quality and environmental impacts. The energy demand and greenhouse gas emission of traditional cold storage lead to global warming. The micro cold storage facility has to be developed rapidly to accelerate the vaccine drive to the last mile of the county with reliable and affordable energy sources. In addition, climate change mitigation is ensured by the renewable energy utilization in the Covid-19 vaccine drive. The proposed novel micro cold storage aims to be silent, clean, mobile, without moving parts, and reliable for the last-mile vaccine logistics as a vaccine carrier to the remote rural areas. This paper deals with the novel design, development, and experimental investigation of solar photovoltaic powered thermoelectric-based micro cold storage as a Covid-19 vaccine carrier for rural areas. The design consideration of Covid-19 vaccine storage has been reported. The experimental results ensure the World Health Organization recommended vaccine storage (i.e., vaccine carrier) temperature range of +2 to +8 °C. Therefore, green energy and refrigeration system provide environmental sustainability by mitigating 700kg of annual carbon emission.