Nursyarizal Mohd Nor

Integrated PV based solar insolation measurement and performance monitoring system

The focus of this project is to develop a PV monitoring system that requires the development of mathematical model to estimate the solar insolation based on PV output power. The sustainability and reliability of PV based electricity generating system depends on the solar insolation, and optimization is important to meet the demand of the load. It is important to measure solar insolation in order to obtain an optimum PV sizing and also the system must be attached to a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit will be able to give feedback, so that the performance of the system is kept at optimum level. The relationship between solar insolation and output voltage of PV module was determined by using suitable experimental set up, and the modeling equation was used to determine the level of solar insolation. Monitoring software was developed using Visualbasic.Net together with hardware package, which can transfer the voltage signal from the PV panel to the computer. The integrated system can be used by multiple users to remotely monitor the performance of the PV system via internet.

Novel hybrid photovoltaic and thermoelectric panel

The aim of this project is to develop a hybrid system to increase efficiency of electricity generation. Two sources of energy are used in this project. One of the energy is solar, that converts radiant light to electrical energy and heat energy which will convert heat to electricity. Photovoltaic (PV) cell and thermoelectric (TE) module is used in this project as tools to capture and convert the energy to electrical energy. This innovation has no emission and requires less maintenance.

Modeling and analyze a single-phase halbach magnetized tubular linear permanent magnet generator for wave energy conversion

Malaysia is a country that is surrounded by numerous oceans that are able to be a renewable energy resource for betterment of human life. This research is proposed to design, model and analyze a portable single-phase linear permanent magnet generator for wave energy conversion (WEC) that is works with the local wave parameters. In comparison with a rotary generator, the linear generator is found preferable due to the direct-drive technology that promises low maintenance and cost. This research proposed three linear permanent magnet generator designs with different types of permanent magnet layout. The results show that proposed permanent magnet configuration is able to provide better flux density as compared to other proposed designs.

Monitoring Heart Rate and Body Temperature Using Wireless Technology (Zigbee)

Wireless technology has increasingly emerged as one of the demanding technologies in healthcare industry. Monitoring patients’ condition is a crucial task in any hospital to ensure patients are in good and stable condition. Wireless sensor network is the solution and has been widely introduced in measuring vital signs of patients such as temperature, heart rate, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate and others from remote location. Zigbee Network or accurately known as IEEE 802.15.4/Zigbee on the other hand is known to be a low power consumption device with good and stable data transmission range, higher network flexibility and large number of nodes. This work is discussing on integrating heart rate and temperature sensors to a wireless transceiver Zigbee (Xbee) module and is used to measure patients’ conditions from remote location (nurse’s station). Series of tests have been conducted using these devices to measure patients’ heart rate and body temperature for different genders and age group at lying down position. This is to ensure that the devices developed are reliable, stable and producing the same results as conventional devices (thermometer and heart beat reader). Results obtained are very encouraging; the developed devices are producing stable readings and are capable of transmitting information at reasonable distance.

Analysis of a Tubular Linear Permanent Magnet Motor for Reciprocating Compressor Applications

This paper describes a design optimization to achieve optimal performance of a two novel single-phase short-stroke tubular linear permanent magnet motors (TLPMMs) with rectangular and trapezoidal permanent magnets (PMs) structures. The motors equipped with a quasi-Halbach magnetized moving-magnet armature and slotted stator with a single-slot carrying a single coil. The motors have been developed for reciprocating compressor applications such as household refrigerators. It is observed that the TLPMM efficiency can be optimized with respect to the leading design parameters (dimensional ratios). Furthermore, the influence of mover back iron is investigated and the loss of the motor is computed. Finite element analysis (FEA) is employed for the optimization, and the optimal values of the ratio of the axial length of the radially magnetized magnets to the pole pitch as well as the ratio of the PMs outer radius-to-stator outer radius (split ratio), are identified.

Optimal Chiller Loading Using Improved Particle Swarm Optimization

Reducing energy consumption is one of the most important for optimal electric-driven chiller operation. Therefore, even small reduction in power consumption will achieve significant energy savings. This paper adopts improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO), which is aiming to reduce energy consumption, and improve the performance of chillers. The method has been validated by real case study, and the results have demonstrated the effectiveness for saving energy and kept the cooling demand at satisfactory level.

Intelligent approach for optimal energy management of chiller plant using fuzzy and PSO techniques

This paper discusses the optimal energy management of chiller plant. Two intelligent approaches have been employed. Fuzzy is used to adjust the set-point and, while PSO is utilized to optimize the objective function after setting by Fuzzy. Moreover, Fuzzy is also utilized to adjust weighting factors in order to find the best values for the PSO local and global. This will improve PSO performance. The proposed method was combined two levels as Fuzzified PSO, and the model has been simulated and validated by a real case study which consists of 5 electric-driven chillers. The results have shown that the effectiveness of the proposed method compared to the conventional one, and it also has demonstrated a better power saving.

Investigation of Stability and Reliability of the Patient's Wireless Temperature Monitoring Device

Abstract Currently, wireless radio frequency (RF) communication and Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) has shifted its trend on human or item tracking capability to real time monitoring capability especially in healthcare industry. Monitoring patients condition is one of the crucial tasks in any hospital to ensure patients are in good and stable condition. Efforts have been made by many researchers to use WSN to measure temperature, heart rate, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate and etc. to monitor patients condition remotely in hospitals. This research focuses on integrating a temperature sensor to a wireless transceiver Zigbee network and is used to measure patients body temperature from remote location (nurses workstation. Few thermistor temperature sensors were used to determine reliability and their reading were compared against thermometer and the one with an accurate and stable reading was chosen. Zigbee network or accurately known as IEEE 802.15.4/Zigbee is known to be a low power consumption device with better transmission range, higher network flexibility and large number of nodes. Through the experimentation, Zigbee network is proven capable to provide stability in data transmission at longer range at different temperature environment.

Development of two-axis sun tracking system

The volatile fossil fuel price currently creates an opportunity for the development of alternative approaches in electricity generation. Comprehensive and concerted efforts are focused at developing solar electricity generating system (SEGS). One of the challenges faced by SEGS is the apparent trajectory of the sun. Often, SEGS designers use standard testing conditions, whereby the level of solar insolation is taken to be a constant value of 1000W/m2. The only value of solar insolation that is taken to be constant is known as solar constant, which is approximately 1353W/m2. Solar constant is the solar insolation received outside the earths atmosphere. This value drops significantly as the solar radiation passes through the atmosphere, where the typical range is between 150 W/m2 and 1000W/m2. The reducing intensity of solar insolation is also due to the apparent trajectory of the sun. The suns path changes daily, and in this project, a novel design of the sun tracker has been tested and is able to do two...

Battery Storage for the Utility-Scale Distributed Photovoltaic Generations

Batteries are essential for efficiently utilizing the energy from the photovoltaic (PV) modules. However, integration of batteries with PV plants at large scale needs more attention in terms of size, location, and times for the charging and discharging of the batteries. This paper addresses these aspects. It presents a mixed integer optimization using genetic algorithm for determining the optimum size and placement of battery-sourced distributed PV generation (B-SDPVG) in distribution networks. The total energy loss index is formulated as the main objective function and simultaneously, the bus voltage deviations and penetrations of the B-SDPVG are calculated. The yields from the PV plants are estimated using 15 years of weather data modeled with the aid of beta probability density function. Furthermore, a novel charge–discharge control model is developed for determining the choice of the charging and discharging of batteries at each hour. By considering different time varying voltage-dependent load models, the proposed algorithm is applied on the IEEE 33 bus and the IEEE 69 bus test distribution networks. The numerical results of two distribution networks with time-varying loads show the advantages of the proposed methodology. It was revealed that integration of battery storage and intelligent scheduling for charging and discharging of batteries produced much better results and improved the quality of distribution networks. The supply of power from the B-SDPVG during the peak load hours and at night was made possible for each load model. The proposed charge–discharge control model for scheduling the charging and discharging of the batteries was found dynamic. Results of this paper can be of potential importance in planning for the integration of battery storage in distribution networks.