Assessing the effect of variable atmospheric conditions on the performance of photovoltaic panels: A case study from the Vaal Triangle

Author(s):  
AJ Swart ◽  
RM Schoeman ◽  
HC Pienaar
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6304
Author(s):  
Raluca-Andreea Felseghi ◽  
Ioan Așchilean ◽  
Nicoleta Cobîrzan ◽  
Andrei Mircea Bolboacă ◽  
Maria Simona Raboaca

Alternative energy resources have a significant function in the performance and decarbonization of power engendering schemes in the building application domain. Additionally, “green buildings” play a special role in reducing energy consumption and minimizing CO2 emissions in the building sector. This research article analyzes the performance of alternative primary energy sources (sun and hydrogen) integrated into a hybrid photovoltaic panel/fuel cell system, and their optimal synergy to provide green energy for a green building. The study addresses the future hydrogen-based economy, which involves the supply of hydrogen as the fuel needed to provide fuel cell energy through a power distribution infrastructure. The objective of this research is to use fuel cells in this field and to investigate their use as a green building energy supply through a hybrid electricity generation system, which also uses photovoltaic panels to convert solar energy. The fuel cell hydrogen is supplied through a distribution network in which hydrogen production is outsourced and independent of the power generation system. The case study creates virtual operating conditions for this type of hybrid energy system and simulates its operation over a one-year period. The goal is to demonstrate the role and utility of fuel cells in virtual conditions by analyzing energy and economic performance indicators, as well as carbon dioxide emissions. The case study analyzes the optimal synergy between photovoltaic panels and fuel cells for the power supply of a green building. In the simulation, an optimally configured hybrid system supplies 100% of the energy to the green building while generating carbon dioxide emissions equal to 11.72% of the average value calculated for a conventional energy system providing similar energy to a standard residential building. Photovoltaic panels account for 32% of the required annual electricity production, and the fuel cells generate 68% of the total annual energy output of the system.


2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. 7663-7679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan D. Willis ◽  
Julia Burkart ◽  
Jennie L. Thomas ◽  
Franziska Köllner ◽  
Johannes Schneider ◽  
...  

Abstract. The summertime Arctic lower troposphere is a relatively pristine background aerosol environment dominated by nucleation and Aitken mode particles. Understanding the mechanisms that control the formation and growth of aerosol is crucial for our ability to predict cloud properties and therefore radiative balance and climate. We present an analysis of an aerosol growth event observed in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago during summer as part of the NETCARE project. Under stable and clean atmospheric conditions, with low inversion heights, carbon monoxide less than 80 ppbv, and black carbon less than 5 ng m−3, we observe growth of small particles,  <  20 nm in diameter, into sizes above 50 nm. Aerosol growth was correlated with the presence of organic species, trimethylamine, and methanesulfonic acid (MSA) in particles ∼ 80 nm and larger, where the organics are similar to those previously observed in marine settings. MSA-to-sulfate ratios as high as 0.15 were observed during aerosol growth, suggesting an important marine influence. The organic-rich aerosol contributes significantly to particles active as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN, supersaturation  =  0.6 %), which are elevated in concentration during aerosol growth above background levels of ∼ 100 to ∼ 220 cm−3. Results from this case study highlight the potential importance of secondary organic aerosol formation and its role in growing nucleation mode aerosol into CCN-active sizes in this remote marine environment.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Krantz

By policy design, consumers are supposed to save money when they invest in solar energy. This paper presents a case study of what happens when a church goes solar and the finances go wrong. Following the installation of solar-photovoltaic panels, the Arizona church—in the Valley of the Sun, among the sunniest places in the country—decreased its energy consumption, but its electric bills went up. Through oral-history interviews of key stakeholders, the author investigates what happened, and what could be done to prevent other religious institutions and nonprofits from experiencing the church’s fate.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandy Hardian Susanto Herho ◽  
Dasapta Erwin Irawan

Sonic anemometer observation was performed on 29 - 30 September 2014 in Ledeng, Bandung to see diurnal variations of Turbulence Kinetic Energy (TKE) that occurred in this area. The measured sonic anemometer was the wind velocity components u, v, and w. From the observation result, it can be seen that the diurnal variation that happened was quite significant. The maximum TKE occurs during the daytime when atmospheric conditions tend to be unstable. TKE values were small at night when atmospheric conditions are more stable than during the daytime.


2019 ◽  
Vol 80 ◽  
pp. 01007
Author(s):  
Mihaela Andreea Mitiu ◽  
Marius Viorel Olteanu ◽  
Gyorgy Deak ◽  
Natalia Simona Raischi ◽  
Danut Cociorva

This study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of installing a photovoltaic system for supplying the electric load of an environmental institute and to determinate the optimal tilt and azimuth angle of an 100 kW photovoltaic power plant located on the roof of institute. Those parameters plays an important role in maximizing the solar radiation collected by a PV panel. Simulations were made with PVsyst V6.39 for south-east orientation (100; 450) and south-west orientation (100; 450), and for the tilt angle the simulations were made at 100, 150, 370, 600 and 900. The simulation has been done to study the influence of the photovoltaic panels orientation on the amount of electricity produced each month of the year as well as on the total annual amount of electricity. Was experimentally determined by repetitive simulations in the range 300-400 for tilt angle and zero azimuth, optimal parameters for the position of photovoltaic panels. Was defined as the optimal position, the pair of values [zero azimuth, tilt angle 370] where the plant generates maximum energy in one year compared to any other set of values that defines the position of the photovoltaic panels.


2009 ◽  
Vol 62-64 ◽  
pp. 159-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.O. Otasowie ◽  
F.O. Edeko

This work investigates the microwave link degradation due to atmospheric conditions on the Akure-Owo Digital Microwave Link. Microwave line of sight measurements were carried out between January and December 2005 with a data acquisition software (PROCOMM PLUS SOFTWARE). The data collected were analyzed using MATLAB 7.0 SOFTWARE program to determine the months of the year that has the highest degradation due to atmospheric conditions and also the months of the year that has the highest bit error rates. The result showed that the months of January, June, July, August and September have the worst signal degradation of -0.97dbm, -2.0dbm, -3.97dbm, -3.97dbm, -1.97dbm. respectively. The result also showed that the bit error rates are good and acceptable throughout the months of the year. A model equation was developed to predict the signal strength received and the bit error rate in the microwave link investigated, when atmospheric conditions are taken into consideration. The results of the predicted model were validated by field data and the results obtained showed an error of -0.2% for the received signal level and zero error for the bit error rate which means that the developed model equations can be used to accurately predict the link degradation parameters.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheikh Dione ◽  
Mame Diarra Diouf ◽  
Bob Alex Ogwang ◽  
Elijah Adesanya Adefisan ◽  
Steve Woolnough ◽  
...  

&lt;p&gt; The alternation of seasons over tropical northern Africa is associated with the occurrence of devastating diseases such as meningitis, Lassa fever and malaria. These tropical diseases are associated with specific atmospheric conditions. Thus, meningitis is one of the most endemic diseases observed over this region with a prevalence period up to 7 months (December-June). Previous studies based on the link between atmospheric conditions and the occurrence of meningitis outbreaks have shown that this disease develops under dry and dusty atmospheric conditions which are difficult to represent in numerical weather and climate models. However, the onset, breakup, and sub-seasonal variability of meningitis outbreaks are not well documented. The objective of this study is to identify the local and synoptic drivers favoring the large occurrence of this disease over the meningitis belt in order to improve its predictability by numerical weather and climate models on intra-seasonal and seasonal timescales. This study focuses on two cases studies of meningitis epidemics over Niger in 2009 and 2015. The case study of 2009 started early with a duration of more than eight weeks. The second case study was shorter than the first one. It took three weeks and was observed at the end of the dry season. Based on ERA5 data, surface dust concentration observations and satellite data, a further analysis of the role of climate metrics on the triggering of meningitis epidemics on intra-seasonal timescales at local and large scale atmospheric conditions will be presented.&lt;/p&gt;


2017 ◽  
Vol 128 ◽  
pp. 24-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karim Menoufi ◽  
Hamdy F.M. Farghal ◽  
Ahmed A. Farghali ◽  
Mohamed H. Khedr

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