Solar Compass最新文献

{"title":"Laboratory investigation of freshwater production from a modified solar pond and comparison with a conventional solar pond","authors":"Mehdi Sedaghat,&nbsp;Farshad Farahbod","doi":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100120","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100120","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Water scarcity, particularly in recent years, has led to numerous challenges for humans worldwide. Decreasing precipitation coupled with a growing global population has exacerbated this problem. This study compares and evaluates the performance of a modified and a conventional solar pond for desalination and freshwater production. The modified pond is equipped with coiled pipes at its base, through which titanium dioxide nanofluid circulates. Originally, the improved pond used metal oxide nanoparticles due to their high conductive heat transfer coefficient. The research reveals that the temperature of the top layer of brine is, on average, 29 % higher than the ambient temperature. Additionally, the temperature of the second surface layer of brine is, on average, 18 % higher than the first, while the third surface layer is 11 % higher than the second. Similarly, the fourth surface layer is approximately 10 % warmer than the third, and the bottom layer is about 5 % warmer than the fourth. The study indicates that the maximum evaporation rate occurred in July, reaching 5.6 L/m²/day for the conventional solar pond and 21.1 L/m²/day for the modified pond. Based on this study, the maximum exergy was observed at 2 PM, with values of 2.5 % and 9.7 % for the conventional and modified solar ponds, respectively. The study shows that the maximum ambient temperature at 2 PM on June 17th was 38.9 °C, while on December 17th, it was 16.1 °C. Furthermore, the minimum ambient temperature occurred at 7 AM, with values of 26.4 °C and 7.8 °C for June 17th and December 17th, respectively.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101173,"journal":{"name":"Solar Compass","volume":"14 ","pages":"Article 100120"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143815786","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Experimental investigation of indoor convective and radiative heat transfer coefficient for a thermally activated building system in tropical climate conditions","authors":"T. Vivek,&nbsp;C. Rakesh,&nbsp;K. Balaji,&nbsp;Ananth Pai","doi":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100119","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100119","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Thermally activated building systems (TABS) are one of the most commonly utilised structural cooling methods in construction industries. This method of structural cooling has pipes encapsulated in building surfaces. This investigation analyses the internal convective heat transfer coefficient (CHTC) and radiative heat transfer coefficient (RHTC) for TABS in tropical conditions. The overall heat transfer coefficient is experimentally evaluated with HFP01 heat flux sensors and wet bulb globe thermometers. Calculated and actual CHTC were compared with the interrelationship available in the referred literature and with the constant value recommended by the standard. The results from the measurements indicate that the average CHTC and RHTC are 2.66 W/m²K and 5.7 W/m²K, and it conforms with EN ISO 6946 standards for tropical climates. The CHTC was also quantified with many correlations developed in the scientific literature to determine the best model for the TABS environment. From statistical error analysis, it was determined that Khalifa and Marshall's model was suited with the most minor error of 3 % compared to the other models.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101173,"journal":{"name":"Solar Compass","volume":"14 ","pages":"Article 100119"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143823592","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Recent Advancements in CSP: Evaluating High-Temperature Heat Transfer Fluids, Corrosion Prevention, and Alloy Selection for Enhanced Energy Density","authors":"Mohd Naqueeb Shaad Jagirdar ,&nbsp;Satya Sekhar Bhogilla ,&nbsp;Ashmore Mawire ,&nbsp;Hakeem Niyas","doi":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100118","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100118","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Remarkable progress has been made in harnessing solar energy for electricity generation through Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants, which now exceed 6 GW in global installed capacity. The utilization of high-temperature heat transfer fluids (HTFs) has significantly improved system efficiencies; for instance, nitrate-based molten salts commonly operate at 300–565 °C, while newer chloride and carbonate salts can reach 700-800 °C enabling advanced supercritical CO₂ cycles with potential thermal-to-electric efficiencies of up to 50%. However, salts often cost $0.2-2.5 per kg and require carefully selected corrosion-resistant alloys. Meanwhile, liquid metals such as lead-bismuth can handle temperatures above 800 °C, offering high volumetric energy densities (often &gt;20,000 MJ/m³) and strong heat-transfer properties. Yet, they demand rigorous corrosion mitigation and elevated capital expenditures. This paper provides an in-depth review of HTF selection, corrosion prevention strategies, material costs, and energy density aspects in CSP. It further examines the feasibility of liquid metals relative to molten salts, covering suitable alloy materials for storage. By highlighting practical performance data and cost considerations, this review offers key insights into advancements and challenges of CSP technology ultimately proposing pathways toward more efficient, high-temperature solar energy generation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101173,"journal":{"name":"Solar Compass","volume":"14 ","pages":"Article 100118"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143783904","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A novel experimental approach to achieve optical properties of algae panels improving visual-thermal comfort in office buildings","authors":"Fatemeh Delkhosh ,&nbsp;Mohammadjavad Mahdavinejad ,&nbsp;Ali Goharian ,&nbsp;Christian Hepf ,&nbsp;Thomas Auer","doi":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100116","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100116","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This research paper explores how microalgae photobioreactor panels (PBR) impact daylight performance and visual comfort in office buildings. It merges experimental testing and computational simulation to investigate the effects of spirulina platensis microalgae in PBR panels on daylight measurements and glare potential. Most building-related simulations do not utilize the actual radiance properties of microalgae. The novelty of this research lies in highlighting a specific framework to obtain the most accurate optical properties in simulation techniques, including specular transmittance, specular reflectance, diffuse transmittance, and diffuse reflectance. Additionally, it addresses simulation troubleshooting and the lack of information in previous research while simplifying changes in algae concentration. This approach aims to achieve a numerical ratio of the daily increase in microalgae concentration and the decrease in transmitted light, thereby addressing an important gap. A state-of-the-art approach is developed to create a comprehensive framework for transferring all optical properties from experimental data to simulation, maximizing the accuracy of results and the performance of spirulina microalgae. Using a ratio of 1:60 microalgae to water, 85 % of the space is glare-free throughout the year. After one day of growth, maintaining a constant microalgae-to-water density on the second day results in 95.5 % of the space being glare-free throughout the year. Both occupants on the second day of algae cultivation achieve visual comfort, characterized by imperceptible glare, consistently throughout the year. Considering that the density of the highest daylight efficiency was obtained on the first and second days of spirulina microalgae cultivation and the amount of glare was compatible with the occupant's eyes on the first day, so visual comfort can be provided to the residents without reducing the daylight efficiency. The study finds that PBR panels can effectively control glare, but their influence on daylight availability should be maximized.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101173,"journal":{"name":"Solar Compass","volume":"14 ","pages":"Article 100116"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143799397","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Smart glazing systems: An industrial outlook","authors":"Samantha Wijewardane ,&nbsp;Matthaios Santamouris","doi":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100114","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100114","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Windows play a pivotal role in the building envelope, significantly influencing energy performance, aesthetic appeal, and overall occupant comfort. The design of a glazing system that optimally integrates all relevant factors poses considerable challenges. Smart glazing technologies, capable of dynamically adjusting their optical properties in response to varying outdoor conditions, have shown a promising potential to enhance energy efficiency without compromising the architectural integrity of structures. This paper provides a thorough review of commercially available smart window technologies, examining aspects such as their underlying technologies, manufacturing processes, marketing strategies, energy performance metrics, aesthetic qualities, and the barriers they face in capturing a larger market segment. The smart glazing systems considered include Electrochromic (EC), thermochromic (TC), thermotropic (TT), photochromic (PC), SPD (Suspended Particle Devices) Smart windows, PDLC (Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal) and PNLC (Polymer Network Liquid Crystals) smart windows. In the discussion section, we summarize the principal findings and explore strategic pathways to address the current challenges hindering broader adoption of these advanced glazing solutions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101173,"journal":{"name":"Solar Compass","volume":"14 ","pages":"Article 100114"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143683753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evolution of solar driven desiccant systems for energy-efficient air conditioning: A review","authors":"Juri Sonowal ,&nbsp;B. Kiran Naik ,&nbsp;DVN. Lakshmi ,&nbsp;P. Muthukumar ,&nbsp;R. Anandalakshmi","doi":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100115","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100115","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Desiccant air conditioning systems promise to be a cost-effective, low-grade energy-driven, sustainable system demonstrating huge potential as an alternate method for indoor thermal comfort. The heat and mass transfer performance of a desiccant system depends on the thermo-physical properties of the desiccant materials and the efficiency of the dehumidifier and regenerator. The highest amount of energy consumption is during regeneration. This paper presents feedback on the experimental research on different desiccant systems and their integration with external systems as an energy-saving approach. The review focuses on state-of-the-art desiccant materials, solid and liquid desiccant systems, hybrid systems, and methods of solar-driven regeneration. The details of different dehumidifier/ regenerator components have been presented. Finally, a comprehensive summary has been provided for future research and developments. The review reveals that desiccant composites are economically more viable desiccant materials due to their flexibility to tailor the properties by basic methods. Novel hybridization methods have been proposed that would considerably reduce energy consumption as well as provide long-term stable dehumidification and regeneration performance. Major challenges lie in the practical verification of many of the proposed techniques.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101173,"journal":{"name":"Solar Compass","volume":"14 ","pages":"Article 100115"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143683374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimization of DCM boost chopper performance controlled by optimal PIDF regulator for stand-alone PV system","authors":"Ella Nkouna Paul Lionnel ,&nbsp;Arnaud Obono Biyobo ,&nbsp;Paul Owoundi Etouke ,&nbsp;Yves Paulin Dangwe Sounsoumou ,&nbsp;Reagan Jean Jacques Molu ,&nbsp;Serge Raoul Dzonde Naoussi","doi":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100113","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100113","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper proposes a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) strategy for a photovoltaic (PV) panel, combining the Perturb and Observe (P&amp;O) technique, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), and an optimal Duty Cycle Modulation (DCM) circuit. The Boost chopper, regulated by a Proportional-Integral-Derivative controller with a first-order low-pass filter (PIDF), serves as an interface between the photovoltaic source (PV) and the load, maximizing the extraction of energy produced by the solar panel. The results obtained in virtual simulation in the MATLAB/Simulink environment are satisfactory: we observe in standard conditions, namely temperature <em>T</em> = 25 °C and solar irradiation of 1000W/m², a response without overshoot, a zero static error, a system stability time of 0.32 s, 0.13 s and 0.15 s respectively for three respective load values ​​(R₀ = 50 Ω, R₀₁ = 37.5 Ω and R₀₂ = 25 Ω) in steady state. In transient state, taking into account the variation in solar irradiation, it can be seen that despite the fluctuations, the system manages to remain stable, attesting to the robustness of the controller used. To control the DCM Boost chopper. The comparative study carried out with other MPPT techniques such as (VSS-P&amp;O, MIC, FOCV, FSS-RBFA, VSS-RBFA, AFLC, PSO and CS) applied to conventional boost converters attests that the proposed new prototype offers quite satisfactory performances compared to the latter.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101173,"journal":{"name":"Solar Compass","volume":"14 ","pages":"Article 100113"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143683373","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Time series forecast of power output of a 50MWp solar farm in Ghana","authors":"Alhassan Sulemana Puziem ,&nbsp;Felix Amankwah Diawuo ,&nbsp;Peter Acheampong ,&nbsp;Mathew Atinsia Anabadongo ,&nbsp;Dampaak Abdulai","doi":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100111","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100111","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The energy industry in Ghana is working towards the strategic objective of accelerating the development and use of energy efficiency and renewable energy technology to attain a 10 % penetration of the country's electricity mix. However, due to the inherent unpredictability of solar energy compared to conventional sources, adjustments in power system planning and operations will be required to achieve these targets. The variations in solar energy output can cause problems for the grid infrastructure, especially for large-scale solar farms, potentially leading to poorer power flow quality. An autoregressive model (AR) serving as a benchmark model was developed as a reference for the Facebook prophet model. The Prophet outperformed the AR model in percentage-based metrics, with a Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of 12.1 % and a Median Absolute Percentage Error (MdAPE) of 13.8 % , both lower than the AR model's 16.28 % and 17.23 % respectively. However, the AR model demonstrates stronger performance in absolute error metrics, suggesting it better captures magnitude changes, whereas Prophet excels in relative error metrics, indicating better robustness to scale and variability. It is expected that the results of this study will improve Bui Power Authority (BPA) confidence in the effective decision-making of energy generation and supply. Moreso, this study also contributes to existing research, particularly in Ghana, providing insights to optimize energy production, improve grid stability, and enhance revenue streams.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101173,"journal":{"name":"Solar Compass","volume":"14 ","pages":"Article 100111"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143437829","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Performance assessment of sustainable evacuated tube heat pipe solar collector driven seawater desalination system","authors":"Manish Sonkar,&nbsp;B. Kiran Naik","doi":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100112","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100112","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study proposes a solar-powered humidification and dehumidification freshwater extraction system, analyzing its efficiency through heat transfer modeling. Despite extensive research on thermal desalination using various renewable energy sources, limited attention has been given to solar energy applications, particularly for humidification-dehumidification-based freshwater extraction and seawater recovery. The proposed system aims to be both economical and energy-efficient, leveraging low-grade solar energy for heating and utilizing natural water bodies as thermal reservoirs. The humidifier and condenser components were validated individually using data from existing literature, yielding an estimated maximum error of ±12 %. A parametric analysis highlights the impact of the exit temperature from an evacuated tube heat pipe solar collector on the system's performance, showing membrane energy exchange, water condenser energy exchange, and freshwater condensation rate of 0.91 kW/m², 0.21 kW/m², and 0.154 L/h-m², respectively, within the specified conditions and operating range. Performance analysis indicates that using cooling water from seawater, alongside enhanced effectiveness of condenser and optimized fluid flow rate ratio, improves the system's performance. The exit temperature from the solar collector emerges as a primary influence on the overall performance, and the correlation matrix of performance parameters is identified as a significant factor in system effectiveness. This research offers insights into solar-driven seawater recovery across various regions, acting as a reference for identifying solar energy hotspots.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101173,"journal":{"name":"Solar Compass","volume":"14 ","pages":"Article 100112"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143480163","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Simulation studies and experimental validation on solar multi - effect desalination system","authors":"Thilagan K.,&nbsp;Advaith S.,&nbsp;Mani A.","doi":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100110","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100110","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A solar energy-based multi - effect desalination (MED) system simulation model is developed for each system-level component using sea water as a working fluid. The solar flat plate collector arrays are modelled on the TRNSYS 18 platform. Thiruvananthapuram weather data is made to link with a flat plate module. Flash chamber, multi - effect evaporator, condenser and ejector are modelled in the MATLAB 2016b platform. Output from solar flat plat collector field and weather data from TRNSYS 18 platform are live linked with the platform using TRNSYS - MATLAB live link plugin mode. Thermophysical properties of sea water are modelled based on temperature, pressure and salinity. The simulation helps to understand the MED’s systematic behaviour using sea water properties. Besides, this gives an in-depth understanding of the component-level behaviour of solar MED system with respect to incident solar energy. Also, this system-level model is capable of predicting distillate output from the system with different operating conditions. Using this model, the simulation results are validated with the experiments conducted on a solar MED system with 10 m³ of fresh water as a capacity in Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari, India. It is observed that the average freshwater production rate was 300 kg.h^{protect relax special {t4ht=−}1} during peak production between 10:00 to 15:00 h both in simulation and experimental systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101173,"journal":{"name":"Solar Compass","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 100110"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143386685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}