Determining the Sun's influence on Lateglacial and Holocene climates: a focus on climate response to centennial-scale solar forcing at 2800 cal. BP

The influence of solar variability on the climate of the Lateglacial and Holocene periods has been the subject of increasing discussion during the last decade. In the Mid-Holocene, several studies have identified cold/wet events that occur at ca 2800 cal. BP and a link with a reduction in solar activity, inferred from the C-14 record, has been postulated. We present results from a multi-proxy study of peat humification, plant macrofossils and testate amoebae from a raised bog at Glen West, northwest Ireland, that indicate that dry bog surface conditions were experienced in the north of Ireland at the time of the solar anomaly starting at 2800 cal. BP. With the aid of C-14 wiggle-matching and tephrochronology, an abrupt shift to wetter conditions is dated to ca 2700 cal. BP, coinciding with a C-14 maximum but clearly post-dating the 2800 cal. BP event identified elsewhere in Europe. We explore the significance of this apparent lag in the Irish record, considering the possible role of the ocean in generating spatial and temporal complexities in the climate patterns of the North Atlantic region. We conclude that these complexities are likely to give rise to time-transgressive climate responses around the North Atlantic that will only be recognised by more critical chronological approaches.

Impacts of compressed air energy storage plant on an electricity market with a large renewable energy portfolio

Renewable energy generation is expected to continue to increase globally due to renewable energy targets and obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Some renewable energy sources are variable power sources, for example wind, wave and solar. Energy storage technologies can manage the issues associated with variable renewable generation and align non-dispatchable renewable energy generation with load demands. Energy storage technologies can play different roles in each of the step of the electric power supply chain. Moreover, large scale energy storage systems can act as renewable energy integrators by smoothing the variability. Compressed air energy storage is one such technology. This paper examines the impacts of a compressed air energy storage facility in a pool based wholesale electricity market in a power system with a large renewable energy portfolio.

Photodegradation of sertraline by solar radiation and influencing factors

Photodegradation is considered to be one of the most important processes of elimination of pharmaceutical drugs from natural water matrices. The high consumption and discharge of these substances, in particular antidepressants, to the aquatic environment supports the need to study degradation processes. This dissertation aimed at studying the direct and indirect photodegradation of sertraline, an antidepressant known for its persistence in the environment, and the evaluation of the influence of environmentally relevant factors in its photodegradation. The photodegradation experiments were developed under simulated solar light and the irradiation times converted to summer sunny days (SSD), an equivalent time in natural environmental conditions. The direct photodegradation was evaluated in solutions of sertraline prepared in ultrapure water and the indirect photodegradation was studied through the addition of photosensitizers (humic substances, Fe(III), nitrates and oxygen). Further irradiation studies were perfomed in aqueous samples collected from two wastewater treatment plants, Vouga river and Ria de Aveiro. The samples were chemically characterized (dissolved organic carbon, nitrates and nitrites and iron determination and UV/Vis spectroscopy). The quantification of sertraline was done by HPLC-UV and photoproducts from direct photodegradation were identified by electrospray mass spectrometry. An observed direct photodegradation rate of sertraline of 0.0062 h-1 was determined, corresponding to a half-life time of 111 h (equivalent to 29 SSD). A significant influence of photosensitizers was observed, the best results being achieved in irradiations of sertraline with humic acids, obtaining a half-life time of 12 h. This was attributed to the hydrophobicity of this substance and higher absortivity in the UV/Vis wavelength, which promote processes of indirect photodegradation. The degradation of sertraline in natural samples was also enhanced comparatively to the direct photodegradation, achieving half-life times between 10 and 25h; the best results were achieved in samples from the primary treatment of a wastewater treatment plant and Ria de Aveiro, with half-life times of 10 and 16 h, respectively. A total of six photoproducts formed during the direct photodegradation of sertraline were identified, three of which were not yet identified in the literature. The main factors contributing to the degradation of sertraline were analysed but this was not fully accomplished, requiring further studies of the composition of the natural matrices and the combined influence of distinct photosensitizers during the irradiation. Nevertheless, it was concluded that the photodegradation of sertraline is greatly influenced by indirect photodegradation processes, promoted by the presence of photosensitizers.

Central de produção de energia eléctrica a partir de energia solar térmica

Trabalho Final de Mestrado para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Mecânica

Otimização estocástica para a exploração de centrais de concentração solar considerando incerteza e risco

Dissertação para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Eletrotécnica

Modelling fixed plant and algal dynamics in rivers: an application to the River Frome

The development of eutrophication in river systems is poorly understood given the complex relationship between fixed plants, algae, hydrodynamics, water chemistry and solar radiation. However there is a pressing need to understand the relationship between the ecological status of rivers and the controlling environmental factors to help the reasoned implementation of the Water Framework Directive and Catchment Sensitive Farming in the UK. This research aims to create a dynamic, process-based, mathematical in-stream model to simulate the growth and competition of different vegetation types (macrophytes, phytoplankton and benthic algae) in rivers. The model, applied to the River Frome (Dorset, UK), captured well the seasonality of simulated vegetation types (suspended algae, macrophytes, epiphytes, sediment biofilm). Macrophyte results showed that local knowledge is important for explaining unusual changes in biomass. Fixed algae simulations indicated the need for the more detailed representation of various herbivorous grazer groups, however this would increase the model complexity, the number of model parameters and the required observation data to better define the model. The model results also highlighted that simulating only phytoplankton is insufficient in river systems, because the majority of the suspended algae have benthic origin in short retention time rivers. Therefore, there is a need for modelling tools that link the benthic and free-floating habitats.

LASER-TESTING RIG : Measurement System for evaluation of Shape of concentrating reflector for solar collector Absolicon X10

This Thesis project is a part of the all-round automation of production of concentrating solar PV/T systems Absolicon X10. ABSOLICON Solar Concentrator AB has been invented and started production of the prospective solar concentrated system Absolicon X10. The aims of this Thesis project are designing, assembling, calibrating and putting in operation the automatic measurement system intended to evaluate the shape of concentrating parabolic reflectors.On the basis of the requirements of the company administration and needs of real production process the operation conditions for the Laser testing rig were formulated. The basic concept to use laser radiation was defined.At the first step, the complex design of the whole system was made and division on the parts was defined. After the preliminary conducted simulations the function and operation conditions of the all parts were formulated.At the next steps, the detailed design of all the parts was conducted. Most components were ordered from respective companies. Some of the mechanical components were made in the workshop of the company. All parts of the Laser-testing rig were assembled and tested. Software part, which controls the Laser-testing rig work, was created on the LabVIEW basis. To tune and test software part the special simulator was designed and assembled.When all parts were assembled in the complete system, the Laser-testing rig was tested, calibrated and tuned.In the workshop of Absolicon AB, the trial measurements were conducted and Laser-testing rig was installed in the production line at the plant in Soleftea.

Energy Analysis within Industrial Hydraulics and Correspondent Solar PV System Design

Energy efficiency and renewable energy use are two main priorities leading to industrial sustainability nowadays according to European Steel Technology Platform (ESTP). Modernization efforts can be done by industries to improve energy consumptions of the production lines. These days, steel making industrial applications are energy and emission intensive. It was estimated that over the past years, energy consumption and corresponding CO2 generation has increased steadily reaching approximately 338.15 parts per million in august 2010 [1]. These kinds of facts and statistics have introduced a lot of room for improvement in energy efficiency for industrial applications through modernization and use of renewable energy sources such as solar Photovoltaic Systems (PV).The purpose of this thesis work is to make a preliminary design and simulation of the solar photovoltaic system which would attempt to cover the energy demand of the initial part of the pickling line hydraulic system at the SSAB steel plant. For this purpose, the energy consumptions of this hydraulic system would be studied and evaluated and a general analysis of the hydraulic and control components performance would be done which would yield a proper set of guidelines contributing towards future energy savings. The results of the energy efficiency analysis showed that the initial part of the pickling line hydraulic system worked with a low efficiency of 3.3%. Results of general analysis showed that hydraulic accumulators of 650 liter size should be used by the initial part pickling line system in combination with a one pump delivery of 100 l/min. Based on this, one PV system can deliver energy to an AC motor-pump set covering 17.6% of total energy and another PV system can supply a DC hydraulic pump substituting 26.7% of the demand. The first system used 290 m2 area of the roof and was sized as 40 kWp, the second used 109 m2 and was sized as 15.2 kWp. It was concluded that the reason for the low efficiency was the oversized design of the system. Incremental modernization efforts could help to improve the hydraulic system energy efficiency and make the design of the solar photovoltaic system realistically possible. Two types of PV systems where analyzed in the thesis work. A method was found calculating the load simulation sequence based on the energy efficiency studies to help in the PV system simulations. Hydraulic accumulators integrated into the pickling line worked as energy storage when being charged by the PV system as well.

Evaluation of a high temperature solar thermal seasonal borehole storage

A solar thermal system with seasonal borehole storage for heating of a residential area in Anneberg, Sweden, approximately 10 km north of Stockholm, has been in operation since late 2002. Originally, the project was part of the EU THERMIE project “Large-scale Solar Heating Systems for Housing Developments” (REB/0061/97) and was the first solar heating plant in Europe with borehole storage in rock not utilizing a heat pump. Earlier evaluations of the system show lower performance than the preliminary simulation study, with residents complaining of a high use of electricity for domestic hot water (DHW) preparation and auxiliary heating. One explanation mentioned in the earlier evaluations is that the borehole storage had not yet reached “steady state” temperatures at the time of evaluation. Many years have passed since then and this paper presents results from a new evaluation. The main aim of this work is to evaluate the current performance of the system based on several key figures, as well as on system function based on available measurement data. The analysis show that though the borehole storage now has reached a quasi-steady state and operates as intended, the auxiliary electricity consumption is much higher than the original design values largely due to high losses in the distribution network, higher heat loads as well as lower solar gains.

The amount of solar energy made available for the production of a sabia (Mimosa caesalpinaefolia Benth.) seed has a determinating effect on its becoming dormant

The amount of solar energy made available for the production of a sabid seed varied as a function of the time of the year, the face of the plant in which, the position in the plant on which and the position in the pod in which it was produced.Variation in solar energy availability as a consequence of the time of the year was a direct consequence of latitude. At 21degrees5'22 S the highest amounts of Global Solar Radiation (GSR) reaching the site where the experiment was conducted took place during the months from November through February. During these months there were no marked differences between any two of the amounts of GSR reaching faces North (N), South (S), West (W) East (E). From February through November (period during which the sabid plants of this study flowered and the resulting seeds matured and were harvested) the total GSR's were the lowest and marked differences were found between faces N and S, with face N receiving much more GSR than face S. During that period, faces W and E received practically the same amount of GSR and it was much less than that received by face N and much more than the one received by face S.The amount of biological energy made available for the development of a seed seemed also to vary according to a dry matter partitioning strategy by the plant -the central third of the plant seemed to be the one receiving the highest amounts of energy, followed either by the upper or the lower third of the plant- it was not very clear which third of the plant immediately followed the central one. The partitioning of biological energy at the pod level also seemed to follow a strategy by which the central seeds would be the ones to receive more, followed by the proximal seeds and these by the distal ones.This availability of energy seemed to have a direct effect on seed size, weight and on the percentage of seeds which showed a degree of dormancy deep enough to prevent their germinating under the conditions of a standard germination test.The implications of these results for the improvement of methods for the overcoming of dormancy of sabia seeds are discussed.

Radiação solar em ambiente protegido cultivado com tomateiro nas estações verão-outono do Rio Grande do Sul

O crescimento e desenvolvimento de uma planta dependem da intensidade, qualidade e duração da radiação solar. Por esse fator ser de importância vital às plantas, o presente trabalho objetivou fazer uma avaliação sobre sua variação, bem como sobre a sua disponibilidade no interior do ambiente protegido durante o ciclo do tomateiro nas estações verão-outono em Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul. O experimento foi conduzido de janeiro a junho de 2003 no Campus da Universidade Federal de Pelotas (latitude 31°52'S; longitude 52°21'W e altitude de 13m), em estufa plástica disposta no sentido Leste-Oeste, com área de 180m². A cultivar utilizada foi Flora-dade, semeada em 24/01/03, transplantada no dia 28/02/03, sendo a última colheita em 12/06/03. Avaliou-se a radiação solar global externa (Rgext) e interna (Rgint), transmitância, radiação fotossinteticamente ativa (RFA) e o albedo da cultura a partir de sensores eletrônicos conectados a um datalloger. Durante o ciclo da cultura, o total de Rgext foi 1161,21MJ m-2, enquanto a Rgint foi 881,85MJ m-2. A Rgint e a RFA apresentaram valores médios diários de 8,5MJ m-2 dia-1 e 3,4MJ m-2 dia-1, respectivamente. A transmitância média da cobertura plástica à radiação solar global foi de 76%. O albedo médio diário da cultura foi 0,23, com albedo de 0,17 nos estádios iniciais, 0,26 no período de máximo crescimento e 0,23 no final do ciclo.

Desinfecção solar de água para comunidades de baixa renda

The use of solar energy for water disinfection, and is accessible to disadvantaged communities because of its low cost, has the advantage of using disposable materials such as bottles of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). We present a study that used two methods of disinfection: the methodology proposed by the project Solar Water Disinfection (SODIS), which consisted of water disinfection by solar radiation and temperature and the methodology which the temperature of the water for disinfection. In both, we seek to eliminate microorganisms that cause serious diseases such as dysentery, typhoid, cholera, etc. Water samples were collected in the community of Bass, where the population has low income and the incidence of waterborne diseases is high. The experiments were divided into two stages. In step 1 we studied the feasibility of disinfection and in step 2 the feasibility of the pilot plant to obtain adequate levels of disinfection temperatures desired. The results showed the efficiency of the disinfection process, reaching an average of 80 to 100% death of microorganisms, but regrowth was observed in some samples. Finally on the good results of stage 1, is designed and built and tested in an experimental pilot plant, which has shown to be feasible to promote water disinfection through the use of solar energy. The water after treatment is in accordance with the limits established by Brazilian legislation for clean water, maintaining a positive performance for the disinfection and acceptable levels of bacterial regrowth

Utilização de um secador solar para desintoxicação da torta de mamona

It´s been motivating motivated by the current rulers as an energy solution the use of the biodiesel as source of energy, that doesn't damage the environment and promotes the development of the areas where the base plant are grown. The process of production of the biodiesel, starting from the castor oil plant and its derivers, generates a known product as castor oil plant pie that has been used as fertilizer. Once disintoxicated, it can serve as animal ration, because it contains high content of proteins, presenting larger joined value. The disintoxication process, can be obtained through the process of drying the pie with the construction and use of models of dryers capable to elevate the temperature of the castor oil plant pie to approximately 60ºC.In this temperature the product tends to eliminate the ricina, with the aid of an aqueous solution of hydroxide of calcium, or still reach higher temperatures to make the disintoxication without a chemical treatment. It was made a bibliographical research about known processes of disintoxication of the castor oil plant pie from the autoclave use to the drying direct exposure to the sun. Starting from the state of the art and identification of the object, it was chosen solar dryers to eliminate the ricina. It was applied two types of solar dryers: the one of solar direct exposure, and the one with concentrador. The castor oil plant pie was separated in samples, with measurement of its initial mass, codified and placed in the dryers. The results were presented in graphs and tables forms, with the values of temperatures noticed. It was noticed the variations of temperature and the relationships analyzed related with the ricina content eliminated from the pie. The analysis of the ricina content was accomplished by Embrapa - Campina Grande, by eletroforese method. The analysis of the result of considering the content of ricina of the samples. It was observed that, we obtained lower rate of ricina in samples that had larger drying time and average value temperature above 60ºC. Comparing with the ones submitted to higher temperatures and in a shorter period of time. It was possible to evaluate the efficiency of the dryers in the desintoxication process of the samples, as well as the type of more appropriate dryer for the drying pie process. Finally, it was concluded that the solar dryer with concentrador presents higher values temperatures than the direct exposure one. So, it´s being more opportune applied in the castor oil plant pie drying process. However, more than one hour for drying time is needed

Construção e avaliação térmica de um fogão solar tipo caixa

The present work presents a contribution in the study of modelings of transference of heat for foods submitted to the experimental tests in the considered solar oven, where the best modeling for the beefburger of chicken in study was evaluated, comparing the results, considering this food as a half-infinite(1er object considered model) and,after that, considered the chicken beefburger as a plain plate in transient regimen in two distinct conditions: not considering and another model considering the contribution of the generation term, through the Criterion of Pomerantsev. The Sun, beyond life source, is the origin of all the energy forms that the man comes using during its history and can be the reply for the question of the energy supplying in the future, a time that learns to use to advantage in rational way the light that this star constantly special tax on our planet. Shining more than the 5 billion years, it is calculated that the Sun still in them will privilege for others 6 billion years, or either, it is only in the half of its existence and will launch on the Earth, only in this year, 4000 times more energy that we will consume. Front to this reality, would be irrational not to search, by all means technical possible, to use to advantage this clean, ecological and gratuitous power plant. In this dissertation evaluate the performance of solar cooker of the type box. Laboratory of Solar Energy of the Federal University of the Great River of North - UFRN was constructed by the group (LES) a model of solar stove of the type box and was tested its viability technique, considering modeling foods submitted when baking in the solar oven, the cooker has main characteristic the easiness of manufacture and assembly, the low cost (was used material accessible composition to the low income communities) and simplicity in the mechanism of movement of the archetype for incidence of the direct solar light. They had been proposals modeling for calculations of food the minimum baking time, considering the following models of transference of heat in the transient state: object the halfinfinite, plain plate and the model of the sphere to study the necessary temperature for the it bakes of bread (considering spherical geometry). After evaluate the models of transmission of heat will be foods submitted you the processes of to it bakes of, the times gotten for the modeling with the experimental times of it bakes in the solar oven had been compared, demonstrating the modeling that more good that it portraies the accuracies of the results of the model

Desenvolvimento do açaizeiro de terra firme, cultivar pará, sob atenuação da radiação solar em fase de viveiro

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)