Estimation of Solar Energy Using Different Empirical Models at Mid Hill, Nepal

Accurate knowledge of global solar radiation distribution is essential for designing, sizing, and performing an evaluation of solar energy system in any part of the world. However, it is not available in many sites of Nepal due to the high expense of the technical process. This study is focused on the performance of different models based on daily global solar radiation, sunshine hour, temperature, and relative humidity at mid-hill region Lumle, (lat. 28.29650N, long. 83.8179oE, and Alt. 1740.0 m.a.s.l.). This study is carried for the year 2018 to 2020. The performance of different models based on sunshine hour, temperature, and relative humidity were analyzed using the regression technique and statistical tools such as Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Bias Error (MBE), Mean Percentage Error (MPE), and Coefficient of determination (R2). After the analysis, the modified Angstrom model (M-9) based on temperature difference and relative humidity was found to be the best in terms of accuracy of least RMSE value and highest coefficient of determination. Finally, the empirical constants for model m-9 are a = 0.003, b = 0.523, c = 0.118 and, d = 0.002 obtained. The calculated empirical constants can be utilized for the prediction of GSR at similar geographical locations of Nepal.

Comparison of Transport Equation-Based Cavitation Models and Application to Industrial Pumps with Inducers

This paper investigates and compares four commonly used flow transport equation-based cavitation models and their applicability to predict the cavitation performance and bubble dynamics of an industrial centrifugal pump with a helical inducer. The main purpose of this study is to identify the most appropriate cavitation model and the associated empirical constants for calculating the cavitation performance of centrifugal pumps with inducers. Each cavitation model is reviewed in detail and the uniqueness of each model is outlined. These cavitation models are incorporated in a computational fluid dynamics code to study the vaporization and condensation transport rate of the fluid. Experimental tests are conducted on the pump to determine the true cavitation performance in terms of Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH). Experimental results are compared to simulation results for different cavitation models to validate accuracy and assumptions of each model, along with the empirical constants. Lastly, bubble formation, cavitation inception, and bubble growth predicted by each cavitation model are compared with the experimental results. A sensitivity analysis is conducted in order to determine the impact of each set of empirical constants to the condensation and the vaporization rate in the centrifugal pump. Results show that two of the cavitation models exhibit high dependency on the empirical constants in terms of change in vaporization rate. Modifications to empirical constants for two of the four cavitation models are suggested to obtain agreement with the experimentally observed cavitation behavior and better predict NPSH performance for the industrial pump studied.

CHARACTERISTICS OF WATER RING COMPRESSOR MACHINES VACUUM FISH PUMPING UNITS

The operation of the Samson KS910 pump under various conditions is investigated. The values of empirical constants in mathematical dependencies for calculating pump characteristics were found using the least squares method based on published experimental data. The results of calculating the productivity and power consumption of the Samson KS910 in the vacuum pump mode depending on the pressure in the working chamber at different values of the rotor speed and pressure in the working chamber are presented.

Prediction of daily global solar radiation using different empirical models on the basis of meteorological parameters at Trans Himalaya Region, Nepal

Global Solar Radiation (GSR) is the cleanest and freely available energy resource on the earth. GSR was measured for six years (2010 -2015) at the horizontal surface using calibrated first-class CMP6 pyranometer at Kathmandu (Lat. 27.70o N, Long. 85.5oE and Alt. 1350m). This paper explains the daily, monthly, and seasonal variations of GSR and also compares with sunshine hour, ambient temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation to GSR. The annual average global solar radiation is about 4.16 kWh/m2/day which is a significant amount to promote solar active and passive energy technologies at the Trans-Himalaya region. In this study, the meteorological parameters are utilized in the regression technique for four different empirical models and finally, the empirical constants are found. Thus obtained coefficients are utilized to predict the GSR using meteorological parameters for the years to come. In addition, the predicted GSR is found to be closer to the measured value of GSR. The values are justified by using statistical tools such as coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), mean percentage error (MPE), and mean bias error (MBE). Finally, the values of R2, RMSE, MPE, and MBE are found to be 0.792, 1.405, -1.014, and 0.011, respectively for the model (D), which are based on sunshine hour, temperature and relative humidity. In this model, the empirical constants, a = 0.155, b = 0.134, c = 0.014 and d = 0.0007 are determined which can be utilized at the similar geographical locations of Nepal. BIBECHANA 18 (2021) 159-169

Influence of Sunshine Hour and Relative Humidity on Total Solar Radiation at Nepalganj, Nepal

The solar energy is the abundantly available free and clean energy resources in Nepal. There are more than 300 sunny days because of Nepal lies in solar zone in a global map. The total solar radiation was measured by using CMP6 pyranometer at Nepalgunj (lat.:28.10oN, long.: 81.67oEand Alt. 165.0masl). The main objective of this study is to select the better empirical model and its empirical constants for the prediction of TSR for the year come. In this research, six different empirical models and meteorological parameters are utilized in the presence of regression technique for the years 2011 and 2012. Finally the different empirical constants are found. After the error analysis, the Swarthman-Oguniade model is found to perform better than others models. So the empirical constants of this model is utilized to predict the TSR of similar geographical sites of Nepal.

Cavitation Model Calibration Using Machine Learning Assisted Workflow

Conventional cavitation assessment methodology in industrial and scientific applications generally depends on cavitation models utilizing homogeneous mixture assumption. These models have been extensively assessed, modified and expanded to account for deficiencies of their predecessors. Unfortunately, none of the proposed models can be classified as the universal solution for all engineering applications, with usage mainly directed by experience or general availability of the models. In this study we propose a workflow through which the empirical constants governing the phase change of the Kunz mixture cavitation model can be calibrated for a given application or a series of problems, with machine learning as a tool for parameter estimation. The proposed approach was validated on a three-dimensional propeller test case with results in excellent agreement for the case in question. Results for thrust and torque were within 2% with cavity extents differing by up to 20%. This is a significant improvement when compared to previously proposed parameters. Despite the lack of generalization due to the limited nature of the dataset on which the model was trained, the proposed parameters entail acceptable results for similar cases as well. The overall methodology is applicable to other problems as well and should lead to more accurate cavitation predictions.

Iterative Blade Element Momentum Theory for Predicting Coaxial Rotor Performance in Hover

This paper presents a new blade element momentum theory (BEMT) for a coaxial rotor in hover. The new BEMT iteratively solves the upper and lower rotor induced velocities to account for the mutual rotor-to-rotor interaction. The upper rotor induced velocity is affected by the lower rotor thrust and induced velocity, whereas the lower rotor induced velocity is affected by the upper rotor thrust and induced velocity. Two empirical constants are included in each rotor calculation. This new BEMT provides the performance of each rotor as a function of the rotor separation distance. The new BEMT is validated with measurement data for two coaxial rotor experiments. The first experiment validates the thrust to power coefficients at a given separation distance. The second experiment validates each rotor's figure of merit, thrust, power, interference loss factors, etc. as a function of the rotor separation distance. It is shown that the BEMT captures the trends and magnitudes of the performance as a function of the rotor separation distance compared to the measurement data. Detailed radial distributions of aerodynamic properties are also presented at several separation distances.

Evaluation of Global Solar Radiation using Sunshine Hour, Temperature and Relative Humidity at Low Land Region of Nepal

The accurate knowledge of solar energy potential is essential for agricultural scientists, energy engineers, architects and hydrologists for relevant applications in concerned fields. It is cleanest and freely available renewable energy measured using CMP6 Pyranometer. However, it is quite challenging to acquire accurate solar radiation data in different locations of Nepal because of the high cost of instruments and maintenances. In these circumstances, it is essential to select an appropriate empirical model to predict global solar radiation for the use of future at low land, Nepalgunj (28.102°N, 81.668°E and alt. 165 masl) for the year 2011-2012. In this paper, six different empirical models have been used based on regression technique, provided the meteorological data. The empirical constants (a = 0.61, b = 0.05, c = -0.0012 and d = -0.017) are obtained to predict Global solar radiation. The values of statistical tools such as mean percentage error, mean bias error, root mean square error, and coefficient of determination obtained for Abdalla model are 1.99%, 0.003 MJ/m2/day, 2.04 MJ/m2/day and 0.74 respectively. Using the error analysis, it is concluded that the Abdalla model is better than others. So the empirical constants of this model are utilized to predict the global solar radiation to the similar geographical sites of Nepal for the years to come and it can be used to estimate the missing data of solar radiation for the respective sites.

CO-to-H2 conversion and spectral column density in molecular clouds: the variability of the XCO factor

ABSTRACT Analysing the Galactic plane CO survey with the Nobeyama 45-m telescope, we compared the spectral column density (SCD) of $N_{\rm H_2}$ calculated for the 12CO (J = 1–0) line using the current conversion factor $X_{\rm ^{12}CO}$ to that for the 13CO (J = 1–0) line under the LTE (local thermal equilibrium) assumption in the M16 and W43 regions. Here, SCD is defined by $\mathrm{d}N_{\rm H_2}/\mathrm{d}v$ with $N_{\rm H_2}$ and v being the column density and radial velocity, respectively. It is found that the $X_{\rm ^{12}CO}$ method significantly underestimates the H2 density in a cloud or region, where SCD exceeds a critical value (∼3 × 1021 [H2 cm−2 (km s−1)−1]), but overestimates in lower SCD regions. We point out that the actual CO-to-H2 conversion factor varies with the H2 column density or with the CO line intensity: it increases in the inner and opaque parts of molecular clouds, whereas it decreases in the low-density envelopes. However, in so far as the current $X_{^{12}{\rm CO}}$ is used combined with the integrated 12CO intensity averaged over an entire cloud, it yields a consistent value with that calculated using the 13CO intensity by LTE. Based on the analysis, we propose a new CO-to-H2 conversion relation, $N_{\rm H_2}^* = \int X^*_{\rm CO} (T_{\rm B}) T_{\rm B}\ \mathrm{d}v$, where $X^*_{\rm CO} (T_{\rm B})=(T_{\rm B}/T_{\rm B}^*)^\beta X_{\rm ^{12}CO}$ is the modified spectral conversion factor as a function of the brightness temperature, TB, of the 12CO (J = 1–0) line, and β ∼ 1–2 and $T_{\rm B}^*=12\!-\!16$ K are empirical constants obtained by fitting to the observed data. The formula corrects for the over/underestimation of the column density at low/high CO line intensities, and is applicable to molecular clouds with TB ≥ 1 K (12CO (J = 1–0) line rms noise in the data) from envelope to cores at sub-parsec scales (spatial resolution).

Estimation of Average of Global Solar Radiation Depending on Sunshine Duration Hours for Iraqi Metrological Stations

In this study, the global solar radiation for the locations of fourteen Iraqi metrological stations was studied and calculated. This was performed because most of the Iraqi stations lack solar radiation measuring devices. The equation postulated by Angström (1924) and modified by Prescott (1940) was utilized for the estimation of the solar radiation for the fourteen Iraqi metrological stations depending on sunshine duration measurements of these stations. Empirical constants of Angstrom-Prescott equation that are adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) were used for obtaining the results. The utilized data reported in this study were taken from the Republic of Iraq Meteorological Office (RIMO). The calculations and diagrams were carried out and the results were obtained by making advantage of Excel's program capabilities.