Igor Skryabin

Titania solar cells: new photovoltaic technology

Titania solar cells are a new type of photovoltaic device invented by Professor Michael Gratzel at Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (Switzerland). Titania solar cells convert sunlight directly into electricity through a process similar to photosynthesis. It has performance advantages over other solar cells, which include the ability to perform well in low light and shade, and to perform consistently well over a wide range of temperatures. Titania solar cells can be fabricated to be either transparent or opaque in appearance. The simple materials, construction technique and processing equipment make Titania modules attractive for affordable power generation. Applications of such a module include many consumer and professional products, including vertically mounted solar tiles used as integrated building materials and, in future, used as power generating windows.

An experimental investigation on diesel and low heat rejection engines with dual biodiesel blends.

In this article, the effects of thermal barrier coated combustion chamber on the single cylinder direct injection diesel engine with dual biodiesel (combination of pongamia pinnata oil and neem oil) are experimentally investigated. The piston surface and cylinder head of the diesel engine are coated with Aluminium Titanate. The two biodiesels are mixed with diesel in various proportions and their performances are examined by using both base engine and low heat rejection engine. Specific fuel consumption of coated engine (CE) with diesel--pongamia pinnata--neem 1 (DPN 1) fuel (mixture of diesel 75%, pongamia pinnata oil ethyl esters 22.5%, and neem oil ethyl esters 2.5% by volume) is 13.9% lower than the baseline engine. The brake thermal efficiency of DPN 1 CE is 11.9% higher than baseline engine. Smoke opacity and hydrocarbon emission from CE are lower than the baseline engine. The DPN 1 CE emits 16.6% lower smoke than the diesel fuel in baseline engine. However, nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide emission are increased in the CE.

Flexible sliver modules

This paper presents the design, fabrication, testing, and integration with equipment of a flexible photovoltaic module. The modules are based on mono-crystalline silicon Sliver cells. Tests have been developed to specifically test flexible modules, including their flexibility, abrasion resistance, power to weight ratio, and partial shading. The results of a 0.1 m2 module with 13 W power output and 178 W/kg are presented.

Materials and manufacturing processes for high-efficiency flexible photovoltaic modules

An overview of the materials, processing techniques, and characterisation procedures for flexible solar modules is presented. Flexible modules are lightweight, roll-able, and/or foldable for storage and transport. The design approach selected by the Australian National University incorporates very thin, high-efficiency crystalline silicon solar cells embedded between flexible coversheets, and supported by silicone encapsulant and flexible electrical contacts. The modules can be fabricated using a number of approaches including constructing the circuitry separately to the packaging, or using the packaging as both a protective layer and a base for circuitry.

On the Economics of CHAPS System Based on the Photovoltaic Linear Concentrators in India

The techno-economic viability of a combined heat and power system (CHAPS) for urban areas in India is analyzed in this paper. This approach considers the electrical and thermal energy delivery subsystems for which the cost considerations were based on the present market values. A sensitivity study based on capacity utilization factor (CUF) was carried out to evaluate the unit cost of electricity produced. Other financial figures of merit like simple payback and internal rate of return were also calculated. It is observed that when the system utilization was 0.3, the payback of the system is attained within the CHAPS lifetime of 20 years. Based on the economic evaluation, it is evident that favorable financial benefits for a typical system with a collector area of 4.5 m2 will occur if the system cost is limited in the range of Rs 100,000 to Rs 120,000. A comparison with the actual CHAPS system cost based on the current market price is done and the difference is off set by the carbon credits earned by the CHAPS system during its lifetime due to CO2 mitigation. The carbon credits earned by the CHAPS system caused a reduction of the unit cost of electricity generated from Rs 11.02/kWh to Rs 9.0973/kWh. This study further helps to introduce the CHAPS system in the Indian market at an acceptable price for the consumers.

A hybrid solar linear concentrator prototype in India

The technical and economic potential of solar linear concentrator systems in India is being analysed by The Australian National University (Canberra) and Anna University (Chennai). The main objectives of this study are to identify the markets for solar linear concentrator systems in India, and to evaluate the field performance of a new prototype system under specific Indian climate conditions. The new hybrid linear solar concentrator prototype is being installed at the Anna University campus. This demonstration and training prototype follows the well-known ANU CHAPS system design, but on a smaller scale, to simultaneously provide electricity and hot water. The technical potential of the new linear concentrator will be assessed on the basis of available local skills to maintain and operate the system, the local cost of installation including locally-sourced materials, and the economic value of the energy produced over the expected system lifetime.

Market-acceptable cost for a hybrid solar linear concentrator in India—A sensitivity study

ABSTRACT A hybrid solar linear concentrator (HSLC) based on photovoltaic linear concentrator technology is capable of delivering both electricity and hot water for satisfying urban energy needs. The net output of such a system plays a major role in determining the benefit to cost ratio of such a system. Different approaches were tried in this article to consider the thermal energy in equivalent electrical energy terms to determine the net output of the system under select meteorological conditions. A sensitivity-based study is conducted based on these approaches considering the maintenance cost, payback, net present values and benefit to cost ratios. The capital cost of the system at Rs 200,000 to Rs 300,000 yielded a benefit to cost ratio of 1.79 to 3, respectively whereas the same cost structures had an internal rate of return of 10.4% and 5.2%, respectively. When compared to the actual market price of the HSLC system, carbon credits earned during the lifetime operation of the HSLC system were useful for the mitigation of the high investment costs.

Technical And Economic Potential Of Solar Linear Concentrators In India

The technical and economic potential of solar linear concentrators in India is being analysed by The Australian National University (Canberra) and Anna University (Chennai) under the Australia‐India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) and the Indian Ministry of Science and Technology funding. The main objectives are to identify the markets for solar linear concentrator systems in India and to evaluate the field performance of a new prototype under the specific Indian climate conditions. A hybrid linear solar concentrator prototype is being installed at the Anna University campus. Climate analysis has been conducted in India using the Collares‐Pereira‐Rabl model to estimate the DNI for a range of locations in India, with early results that show that the direct beam resource in India is in parts low in comparison with the diffuse component, and therefore, some areas of the country may be unsuitable for CPV systems.