Solar drying of jack fruit almonds

Dryers heated by solar energy have been constructed and used in drying whole and half jack fruit almonds. The samples were dried during the day in direct sun and in the conventional solar dryer prepared for this purpose. Another piece of equipment was built for reception and accumulation of sun energy in a body of water, which was used as a heat source for night drying. The drying with the sun energy was compared with artificial drying. The jack fruit almonds were dried whole, half, with pellicle and without it. The storage of solar energy in water was technically viable for use in night drying. The drying by combining solar dryers in the day and night periods were completed in approximately 35 hours, and were equivalent to artificial drying between 40��C and 70��C. Almond cut in half and the pellicle removed reduced the drying time.

Simulation of the energy performance of maize production integrated to pig farming

The study evaluated the energy performance of pig farming integrated with maize production in mechanized no-tillage system. In this proposed conception of integration, the swine excrement is used as fertilizers in the maize crop. The system was designed involving the activities associated to the pig management and maize production (soil management, cultivation and harvest). A one-year period of analysis was considered, enabling the production of three batches of pigs and two crops of maize. To evaluate the energy performance, three indicators were created: energy efficiency, use of non-renewable resources efficiency and cost of non-renewable energy to produce protein. The energy inputs are composed by the inputs and infrastructure used by the breeding of pigs and maize production, as well as the solar energy incident on the agroecosystem. The energy outputs are represented by the products (finished pigs and maize). The results obtained in the simulation indicates that the integration improves the energy performance of pig farms, with an increase in the energy efficiency (186%) as well as in the use of the non-renewable energy resources efficiency (352%), while reducing the cost of non-renewable energy to produce protein (‑58%).

Uusiutuvan energian k��ytt��mahdollisuudet Liikuntakeskus Pajulahdessa

T��m�� diplomity�� on tehty Lappeenrannan teknillisen yliopiston, Liikuntakeskus Pajulahden ja Nastolan Energias����ti��n yhteisprojektina. Ty��n tarkoituksena on tutkia aurinkos��hk��j��rjestelmien taloudellista kannattavuutta ostos��hk��n korvaamisessa Liikuntakeskus Pajulahden kiinteist��ss��. Ty��ss�� tehd����n laskelmat aurinkopaneelien tuotoista, tuotetun s��hk��n hinnasta, investointien takaisinmaksuajoista sek�� tuotetun aurinkos��hk��n synnytt��mist�� hiilidioksidip����st��v��henemist��. Lis��ksi tarkastellaan energiaveron vaikutusta pientuotantolaitoksen kannattavuuteen. T��m��n hetkisill�� aurinkos��hk��j��rjestelmien hinnoilla pystyt����n tuottamaan puhdasta, ymp��rist��yst��v��llist�� s��hk���� kilpailukykyiseen hintaan. Ty��ss�� tehd����n yleiskatsaus my��s muiden uusiutuviin energial��hteisiin perustuvien tuotantomenetelmien k��ytt��mahdollisuuksista. Yhten�� erityistarkastelunkohteena on Pajulahden monitoimihalliin vuonna 2008 suunniteltu vesist���� l��mm��nl��hteen�� k��ytt��v�� l��mp��pumppuj��rjestelm��, jonka toteutukseen ei saatu tarvittavia lupia. Tarkastelussa tutkitaan my��s aiemmin Suomessa toteutettuja vastaavia hankkeita ja niiden lupien saantia. Lis��ksi on haettu tosiasioihin perustuvia argumentteja keskusteluun vesist��l��mm��n hy��dynt��misest��. Tarkastelun kohteena oleva vesist��l��mp��hanke voidaan todeta olevan eritt��in kannattava, taloudellisesti sek�� ymp��rist��llisesti. Tutkimuksen pohjalta Nastolan Energias����ti��lle tuotetaan havainnollinen ja selke�� aineisto aurinkoenergian hy��dynt��mismahdollisuuksista Nastolan kunnassa.

Alueellisen l��mmitysj��rjestelm��n valinta hankesuunnitteluvaiheessa

Ty��n l��ht��kohtana oli tarkastella hankesuunnitteluvaiheen l��mmitysj��rjestelm��n valintaa ja siihen vaikuttavia tekij��it��. Ty��ss�� k��ytettiin Case-tarkasteluna Espoon Finnoon aluetta. Rakennusosakeyhti�� Hartela voitti Espoon Finnoon ensimm��isen (Finnoo I) asemakaava-alueen suunnittelu ja toteuttamisen ideakilpailun vuoden 2012 lopussa. Finnoo I alueelle rakennettaan noin 155 000 kerrosmetri�� eli huoneistot noin 4000 asukkaalle. Alueen ra-kennukset suunnitellaan energiatehokkaaksi, sek�� l��mmityksess�� ja s��hk��ss�� on tarkoitus k��ytt���� uusiutuvaa energiaa. Ty��ss�� k��siteltiin alueellista l��mmitysj��rjestelm���� ja sen vaihtoehtoetoja. Ty��ss�� tutkittiin my��s aurinkos��hk��n k��yt��n mahdollisuutta alueella. Ensin ty��ss�� mitoitettiin rakennusten energiankulutuksen muodostuminen alustavien suunnitelmien ja arvioitujen ominaiskulu-tusten avulla. Sen j��lkeen k��ytiin l��pi mahdolliset l��mmitysj��rjestelm��t, joita alueella voi-daan k��ytt���� ja arvioitiin niiden aiheuttamat elinkaarikustannukset koko laskenta-ajan jak-solla. Elinkaarilaskentaan valittiin viisi toteutuskelpoisinta j��rjestelm���� ja niist�� laskettiin elinkaarikustannukset. Lis��ksi laskettiin j��rjestelmien hiilidioksidip����st��t vuosittain. Ty��n tulosten pohjalta voidaan olettaa, ett�� kokonaisvaltaisesti yht�� ainoata parasta l��mmi-tysj��rjestelm���� alueelle ei ole, vaan kaukol��mp����, maal��mp���� ja hybridij��rjestelmi�� tulisi k��ytt���� alueella sekaisin. Lis��ksi alue on mahdollista rakentaa niin, ett�� alue k��ytt��isi nolla-l��mp��alueen periaatetta, niin ett�� rakennukset, jotka tuottavat l��mp���� liikaa myisiv��t ne sit�� rakennuksille jotka tarvitsevat sit��. Aurinkos��hk��n potentiaali alueella on hyv�� ja sit�� k��ytt��m��ll�� voidaan rakennusten E-lukua ja hiilidioksidip����st��j�� laskea.

Fundraising and investor relations in social enterprise: Marketing your way out of the pioneer gap in African off-grid renewable energy

Social enterprises apply the best of business for the pursuit of social or environmental mission while also generating revenues. Globally, nearly 1,3 billion people lack access to electricity, as well as another billion having access to only low quality and infrequent electricity. Off-grid renewable energy, like solar, will increasingly have a key role in the solution of the energy access issue. The pioneer gap in off-grid renewable energy consists of financing (or funding) gaps and capacity gaps, to do with both the early stage of the enterprises in question, as well as the early stage of the whole industry. The gaps are emphasised by specific characteristics of off-grid renewable energy business models and the requirements of operating in bottom-of-the-pyramid markets. The marketing perspective to fundraising is chosen to uncover the possible role enterprises themselves have in bridging the pioneer gap. The purpose of this thesis is to study how social enterprises operating in off-grid renewable energy in Africa utilise marketing activities in their investor relations in bridging the pioneer gap. This main research question is divided into the following sub-questions: ��� How does the pioneer gap affect fundraising for these enterprises? ��� How are the funding needs for these enterprises characterised? ��� How do these enterprises build trust in their investor relations? The theoretic framework is built on relationship marketing and investor relations, with an emphasis on creation of trust. The research is conducted as a thematical case study. Primary data is gathered via semi-structured interviews with six solar energy companies and two accelerators. According to the findings, the main components affecting trust-creation are diminished information asymmetry and perceived risk, mission alignment as well as a personal fit or relationship with the investor. Therefore, an enterprise can utilise e.g. the following marketing activities in their investor relations to bridge the pioneer gap: ensuring investor material, the enterprise story and presenting of them is clear, concise and complete to ���package��� the enterprise as an investment; taking investor needs and motivations into account as well as utilising existing investors as ambassadors.

Integrated energy storage tank for large scale power-to-gas applications

The global interest towards renewable energy production such as wind and solar energy is increasing, which in turn calls for new energy storage concepts due to the larger share of intermittent energy production. Power-to-gas solutions can be utilized to convert surplus electricity to chemical energy which can be stored for extended periods of time. The energy storage concept explored in this thesis is an integrated energy storage tank connected to an oxy-fuel combustion plant. Using this approach, flue gases from the plant could be fed directly into the storage tank and later converted into synthetic natural gas by utilizing electrolysis-methanation route. This work utilizes computational fluid dynamics to model the desublimation of carbon dioxide inside a storage tank containing cryogenic liquid, such as liquefied natural gas. Numerical modelling enables the evaluation of the transient flow patterns caused by the desublimation, as well as general fluid behaviour inside the tank. Based on simulations the stability of the cryogenic storage and the magnitude of the key parameters can be evaluated.

Early detection of metabolic and energy disorders by thermal time series stochastic complexity analysis

Maintenance of thermal homeostasis in rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD) is associated with changes in their thermal balance. The thermodynamic relationship between heat dissipation and energy storage is altered by the ingestion of high-energy diet content. Observation of thermal registers of core temperature behavior, in humans and rodents, permits identification of some characteristics of time series, such as autoreference and stationarity that fit adequately to a stochastic analysis. To identify this change, we used, for the first time, a stochastic autoregressive model, the concepts of which match those associated with physiological systems involved and applied in male HFD rats compared with their appropriate standard food intake age-matched male controls (n=7 per group). By analyzing a recorded temperature time series, we were able to identify when thermal homeostasis would be affected by a new diet. The autoregressive time series model (AR model) was used to predict the occurrence of thermal homeostasis, and this model proved to be very effective in distinguishing such a physiological disorder. Thus, we infer from the results of our study that maximum entropy distribution as a means for stochastic characterization of temperature time series registers may be established as an important and early tool to aid in the diagnosis and prevention of metabolic diseases due to their ability to detect small variations in thermal profile.

Maal��mp��pumpun ja aurinkos��hk��j��rjestelm��n yhteisk��ytt�� pientalon l��mpim��n k��ytt��veden tuotannossa

T��ss�� kandidaatinty��ss�� tutkitaan maal��mp��pumpun ja aurinkos��hk��j��rjestelm��n yhteis-k��ytt���� pientalon l��mpim��n k��ytt��veden tuotannossa. Tarkoituksena on tuottaa p��ivitt��in tarvittava l��mmin k��ytt��vesi maal��mp��pumpulla, jonka tarvitsema s��hk�� tuotetaan aurin-kos��hk��j��rjestelm��n avulla keskim����rin kello 12���15. Aurinkos��hk��j��rjestelm��n tuotto simuloidaan kuvitteelliselle Lappeenrannassa sijaitsevalle omakotitalolle Homer-ohjelmistolla. Maal��mp��pumpun koko pidet����n vakiona ja vertai-lussa on 4, 5 ja 6 kW:n kokoiset aurinkos��hk��j��rjestelm��t. Yli 5 kW:n aurinkos��hk��j��rjestelm��ll�� saadaan katettua talon peruskuorman lis��ksi, my��s maal��mp��pumpun tarvitsema teho kyseisen�� ajanjaksona. 4 kW:n aurinkos��hk��j��rjestel-m��ll�� ja maal��mp��pumpulla saadaan tuotettua p��iv��ss�� riitt��v��sti energiaa nelj��n henkil��n tarvitsemaan k��ytt��veteen, mutta t��ll��in maal��mp��pumppua t��ytyy k��ytt���� pidempi ajan-jakso, jos l��mmitykseen halutaan k��ytt���� vain tuotettua aurinkos��hk����.

Energy efficiency of glassmaking production

Master���s thesis Energy efficiency of glassmaking production gives description of glassmaking production and possible energy saving measures. Due to the high electricity and fuel prices the problem of rational energy utilization rises sharply. In addition the environmental issues also require a great attention. This work represented the feasible increasing of the furnace efficiency as the most productive activity. Thesis also provides a detail description of utilizing waste heat boiler. Also possible boiler characteristics are calculated and represented at the end of the thesis. As well as brief description of the feasibility of using this method of energy saving. The solution of this problem has a huge importance. Due to the increasing of energy costs and limits of raw materials, glassmaking industry should overcome on high efficiency operation mode. Especially, if such measures is making a significant contribution in the safety of environment.

Study of the Oceanic Heat Budget Components over the Arabian Sea during the Formation and Evolution of Super Cyclone, Gonu

Oceans play a vital role in the global climate system. They absorb the incoming solar energy and redistribute the energy through horizontal and vertical transports. In this context it is important to investigate the variation of heat budget components during the formation of a low-pressure system. In 2007, the monsoon onset was on 28th May. A well- marked low-pressure area was formed in the eastern Arabian Sea after the onset and it further developed into a cyclone. We have analysed the heat budget components during different stages of the cyclone. The data used for the computation of heat budget components is Objectively Analyzed air-sea flux data obtained from WHOI (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) project. Its horizontal resolution is 1�� �� 1��. Over the low-pressure area, the latent heat flux was 180 Wm���2. It increased to a maximum value of 210 Wm���2 on 1st June 2007, on which the system was intensified into a cyclone (Gonu) with latent heat flux values ranging from 200 to 250 Wm���2. It sharply decreased after the passage of cyclone. The high value of latent heat flux is attributed to the latent heat release due to the cyclone by the formation of clouds. Long wave radiation flux is decreased sharply from 100 Wm���2 to 30 Wm���2 when the low-pressure system intensified into a cyclone. The decrease in long wave radiation flux is due to the presence of clouds. Net heat flux also decreases sharply to ���200 Wm���2 on 1st June 2007. After the passage, the flux value increased to normal value (150 Wm���2) within one day. A sharp increase in the sensible heat flux value (20 Wm���2) is observed on 1st June 2007 and it decreased there- after. Short wave radiation flux decreased from 300 Wm���2 to 90 Wm���2 during the intensification on 1st June 2007. Over this region, short wave radiation flux sharply increased to higher value soon after the passage of the cyclone.

Entwicklung und Anwendung einer Kraftwerks- und Speichereinsatzoptimierung f��r die Untersuchung von Energieversorgungsszenarien mit hohem Anteil erneuerbarer Energien in Deutschland

In dieser Arbeit wurde ein gemischt-ganzzahliges lineares Einsatzoptimierungsmodell f��r Kraftwerke und Speicher aufgebaut und f��r die Untersuchung der Energieversorgung Deutschlands im Jahre 2050 gem���� den Leitstudie-Szenarien 2050 A und 2050 C ([Nitsch und Andere, 2012]) verwendet, in denen erneuerbare Energien einen Anteil von ��ber 85 % an der Stromerzeugung haben und die Wind- und Solarenergie starke Schwankungen der durch steuerbare Kraftwerke und Speicher zu deckenden residualen Stromnachfrage (Residuallast) verursachen. In Szenario 2050 A sind 67 TWh Wasserstoff, die elektrolytisch aus erneuerbarem Strom zu erzeugen sind, f��r den Verkehr vorgesehen. In Szenario 2050 C ist kein Wasserstoff f��r den Verkehr vorgesehen und die effizientere Elektromobilit��t hat einen Anteil von 100% am Individualverkehr. Daher wird weniger erneuerbarer Strom zur Erreichung desselben erneuerbaren Anteils im Verkehrssektor ben��tigt. Da desweiteren Elektrofahrzeuge Lastmanagementpotentiale bieten, weisen die Residuallasten der Szenarien eine unterschiedliche zeitliche Charakteristik und Jahressumme auf. Der Schwerpunkt der Betrachtung lag auf der Ermittlung der Auslastung und Fahrweise des in den Szenarien unterstellten ���Kraftwerks���-parks bestehend aus Kraftwerken zur reinen Stromerzeugung, Kraft-W��rme-Kopplungskraftwerken, die mit W��rmespeichern, elektrischen Heizst��ben und Gas-Backupkesseln ausgestattet sind, Stromspeichern und W��rmepumpen, die durch W��rmespeicher zum Lastmanagment eingesetzt werden k��nnen. Der Fahrplan dieser Komponenten wurde auf minimale variable Gesamtkosten der Strom- und W��rmeerzeugung ��ber einen Planungshorizont von jeweils vier Tagen hin optimiert. Das Optimierungsproblem wurde mit dem linearen Branch-and-Cut-Solver der software CPLEX gel��st. Mittels sogenannter rollierender Planung wurde durch Zusammensetzen der Planungsergebnisse f��r ��berlappende Planungsperioden der Kraftwerks- und Speichereinsatz f��r die kompletten Szenariojahre erhalten. Es wurde gezeigt, dass der KWK-Anteil an der W��rmelastdeckung gering ist. Dies wurde begr��ndet durch die zeitliche Struktur der Stromresiduallast, die w��rmeseitige Dimensionierung der Anlagen und die Tatsache, dass nur eine kurzfristige Speicherung von W��rme vorgesehen war. Die w��rmeseitige Dimensionierung der KWK stellte eine Begrenzung des Deckungsanteils dar, da im Winter bei hoher Stromresiduallast nur wenig freie Leistung zur Beladung der Speicher zur Verf��gung stand. In den Berechnungen f��r das Szenario 2050 A und C lag der mittlere Deckungsanteil der KWK an der W��rmenachfrage von ca. 100 TWh_th bei 40 bzw. 60 %, obwohl die Auslegung der KWK einen theoretischen Anteil von ��ber 97 % an der W��rmelastdeckung erlaubt h��tte, g��be es die Beschr��nkungen durch die Stromseite nicht. Desweiteren wurde die CO2-Vermeidungswirkung der KWK-W��rmespeicher und des Lastmanagements mit W��rmepumpen untersucht. In Szenario 2050 A ergab sich keine signi���kante CO2-Vermeidungswirkung der KWK-W��rmespeicher, in Szenario 2050 C hingegen ergab sich eine geringe aber signi���kante CO2-Einsparung in H��he von 1,6 % der Gesamtemissionen der Stromerzeugung und KWK-gebundenen W��rmeversorgung. Das Lastmanagement mit W��rmepumpen vermied Emissionen von 110 Tausend Tonnen CO2 (0,4 % der Gesamtemissionen) in Szenario A und 213 Tausend Tonnen in Szenario C (0,8 % der Gesamtemissionen). Es wurden dar��ber hinaus Betrachtungen zur Konkurrenz zwischen solarthermischer Nahw��rme und KWK bei Einspeisung in dieselben W��rmenetze vorgenommen. Eine weitere Einschr��nkung der KWK-Erzeugung durch den Einspeisevorrang der Solarthermie wurde festgestellt. Ferner wurde eine untere Grenze von 6,5 bzw. 8,8 TWh_th f��r die in den Szenarien mindestens ben��tigte Wasserstoff-Speicherkapazit��t ermittelt. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit legen nahe, das technisch-��konomische Potential von Langzeitw��rmespeichern f��r eine bessere Integration von KWK ins System zu ermitteln bzw. generell nach geeigneteren W��rmesektorszenarien zu suchen, da deutlich wurde, dass f��r die ��ffentliche W��rmeversorgung die KWK in Kombination mit Kurzzeitw��rmespeicherung, Gaskesseln und elektrischen Heizern keine sehr effektive CO2 -Reduktion in den Szenarien erreicht. Es sollte dabei z.B. untersucht werden, ob ein multivalentes System aus KWK, W��rmespeichern und W��rmepumpen eine ��konomisch darstellbare Alternative sein k��nnte und im Anschluss eine Betrachtung der optimalen Anteile von KWK, W��rmepumpen und Solarthermie im W��rmemarkt vorgenommen werden.

Nanostructures and energy conversion

The unique properties of nanostructures associated with their low dimensionality give rise to new opportunities for research on nanoscale heat transfer and energy conversion. Inspired by Majumdar���s analysis of the novel aspects of heat, mass, and charge flow across the interface between hard and soft materials, some perspectives about research frontiers in nanoscale heat transfer and energy conversion are provided.

Urban microclimate and renewable energy use in cities

This paper presents an experimental measurement campaign of urban microclimate for a building complex located in London, the United Kingdom. The experiment was carried out between 19 July and 16 August, 2010 at the Elephant & Castle site. The wind and solar energy distributions within the London urban experimental site were assessed in detail for their potential use in areas of high-rise urban building complexes. The climatic variables were measured at every five minutes for the air temperature, the wind speed and direction, the air humidity and the global solar radiation for a period of four weeks. The surface temperatures were also measured on the asphalt road, pavement and building walls at every hour for the first week of the campaign period. The effect of the building complex on the urban microclimate has been analyzed in terms of the solar radiation, the air temperature and velocity. The information and observation obtained from this campaign will be useful to the analysis of renewable energy implementations in dense urban situations.

Simulation of thermal performance of horizontal slinky-loop heat exchangers for ground source heat pumps

This paper presents results obtained from a numerical simulation for the horizontal slinky-loop heat exchanger of a ground-source heat pump system. A three-dimensional numerical model was developed and the results of the thermal performance of various heat exchanger configurations are presented. The investigation was carried out on five types of loop pitch (loop spacing), three types of loop diameter, three values of soil thermal properties, and allowing continuous and intermittent operation. Comparison was made for the heat transfer rate, the amount of pipe material needed, as well as excavation work required for the horizontal slinky-loop heat exchanger. The results indicate that system parameters have a significant effect on the thermal performance of the system

Discrepancies in solar irradiation data for Stockholm and Athens

The aim of this study is to evaluate the variation of solar radiation data between different data sources that will be free and available at the Solar Energy Research Center (SERC). The comparison between data sources will be carried out for two locations: Stockholm, Sweden and Athens, Greece. For the desired locations, data is gathered for different tilt angles: 0��, 30��, 45��, 60�� facing south. The full dataset is available in two excel files: ���Stockholm annual irradiation��� and ���Athens annual irradiation���. The World Radiation Data Center (WRDC) is defined as a reference for the comparison with other dtaasets, because it has the highest time span recorded for Stockholm (1964���2010) and Athens (1964���1986), in form of average monthly irradiation, expressed in kWh/m2. The indicator defined for the data comparison is the estimated standard deviation. The mean biased error (MBE) and the root mean square error (RMSE) were also used as statistical indicators for the horizontal solar irradiation data. The variation in solar irradiation data is categorized in two categories: natural or inter-annual variability, due to different data sources and lastly due to different calculation models. The inter-annual variation for Stockholm is 140.4kWh/m2 or 14.4% and 124.3kWh/m2 or 8.0% for Athens. The estimated deviation for horizontal solar irradiation is 3.7% for Stockholm and 4.4% Athens. This estimated deviation is respectively equal to 4.5% and 3.6% for Stockholm and Athens at 30�� tilt, 5.2% and 4.5% at 45�� tilt, 5.9% and 7.0% at 60��. NASA���s SSE, SAM and RETScreen (respectively Satel-light) exhibited the highest deviation from WRDC���s data for Stockholm (respectively Athens). The essential source for variation is notably the difference in horizontal solar irradiation. The variation increases by 1-2% per degree of tilt, using different calculation models, as used in PVSYST and Meteonorm. The location and altitude of the data source did not directly influence the variation with the WRDC data. Further examination is suggested in order to improve the methodology of selecting the location; Examining the functional dependence of ground reflected radiation with ambient temperature; variation of ambient temperature and its impact on different solar energy systems; Im pact of variation in solar irradiation and ambient temperature on system output.