13 Altemative energy supplies (solar energy)
06/01361 Hybrid copper-indium disulfide/polypyrrole
photovoltaic structures prepared by electrodeposition
Bereznev, S. et al. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 2005, 87, (1
4), 197 206.
Photovoltaic structures on the basis of photoactive polycrystalline
CuInS2 (CIS) in combination with electrically conductive polymer
polypyrrole (PPy) were prepared using the electrodeposition tech-
nique. In order to prepare stable PPy films with a good adherence to
the surface of CIS, the appropriate concentrations of reagents, current
densities and electrodeposition potentials were selected experimen-
tally. Electrochemical polymerization of pyrrole to PPy on the CIS
surface is faster under white light irradiation, and the polymerization
starts at a lower potential than in the dark. Significant photovoltage
and photocurrent of the fabricated CIS/PPy structures have been
observed under standard white light illumination. The best structure
showed an open-circuit voltage of 509 mV, a short-circuit current
density of 6.45 mA/cm 2, fill-factor 0.47 and photoconversion efficiency
of 1.53% under white light illumination of 100 mW/cm 2.
06•01362 Improving the performance of solar desalination
systems
Abdel-Rehim, Z. S. and Lasheen, A. Renewable Energy, 2005, 30, (13),
1955 1971.
Two modifications for solar desalination systems are presented. The
first modification, using a packed layer that installed in the bottom of
the basin to increase the efficiency of the still. A packed layer is formed
from glass balls which is considered as simple thermal storage system.
The second modification, using rotating shaft installed close to the
basin water surface. The target of using the rotating shaft to break the
boundary layer of the basin water surface, thus increasing the water
vaporization and condensation, the performance of the present solar
desalination system may also be increased. The numerical analysis
presented the equations of the direct coupling of the selected PV-solar
panel, DC-motor and inverter for small PV-system. The characteristics
of PV array and the DC-motor are presented for the specific PV DC
power. The performance of the two modified solar stills and the
conventional one is compared. Three experiments were carried out
using the climate conditions of Cairo site, Egypt. Transient tempera-
tures of the two modified solar stills and the conventional one are
measured from sunrise to sunset with the same operating parameters.
The energy equations that governed the present solar desalination
system are presented. Energy absorbed by glass cover, basin water,
packed layer and the required power of the rotating shaft are
calculated to obtain the water productivity and efficiency of the
present systems. The results show that the two modifications enhanced
the performance of the solar desalination system. The efficiency of the
modified solar desalination system using packed layer thermal energy
storage was increased by 5% at May, 6% at June, and 7.5% at July,
while it was increased by 2.5% at May, 5% at June, and 5.5% at July for
the modified one using rotating shaft and PV-system.
06•01363 Influence of electrolyte in transport and
recombination in dye-sensitized solar cells studied by
impedance spectroscopy
Fabregat-Santiago, F. et al. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells,
2005, 87, (1 4), 117 131.
The main features of the characteristic impedance spectra of dye-
sensitized solar cells are described in a wide range of potential
conditions: from open to short circuit. An equivalent circuit model has
been proposed to describe the parameters of electron transport,
recombination, accumulation and other interfacial effects separately.
These parameters were determined in the presence of three different
electrolytes, both in the dark and under illumination. Shift in the
conduction band edge due to the electrolyte composition was
monitored in terms of the changes in transport resistance and charge
accumulation in TiO2. The interpretation of the curren~potential
curve characteristics, fill factor, open-circuit photopotential and
efficiency in the different conditions, was correlated with this shift
and the features of the recombination resistance.
06•01364 Lauric and myristic acids eutectic mixture as
phase change material for low-temperature heating
applications
KcIc, S. et al. International Journal of Energy Research, 2005, 29, (9),
857 870.
Lauric acid (mp: 42.6°C) and myristic acid (mp: 52.2°C) are phase
change materials (PCM) having quite high melting points which can
limit their use in low-temperature solar applications such as solar space
heating and greenhouse heating. However, their melting temperatures
can be tailored to appropriate value by preparing a eutectic mixture of
lauric acid (LA) and myristic acid (MA). In the present study, the
thermal analysis based on differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
technique shows that the mixture of 66.0 wt% LA forms a eutectic
mixture having meltin~ temperature of 34.2°C and the latent heat of
fusion of 166.8 J g . This study also considers the experimental
establishment of thermal characteristics of the eutectic PCM in a
vertical concentric pipe-in-pipe heat storage system. Thermal perform-
ance of the PCM was evaluated with respect to the effect of inlet
temperature and mass flow rate of the heat transfer fluid on those
characteristics during the heat charging and discharging processes. The
DSC thermal analysis and the experimental results indicate that the
LA-MA eutectic PCM can be potential material for low-temperature
solar energy storage applications in terms of its thermo-physical and
thermal characteristics.
06/01365 Performance analysis of a double-pass
photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) solar collector with CPC and
fins
Othman, M. Y. Hj. et al. Renewable Energy, 2005, 30, (13), 2005 2017.
The use of PV/T in combination with concentrating reflectors has a
potential to significantly increase power production from a given solar
cell area. A prototype double-pass photovoltaic-thermal solar air
collector with CPC and fins has been designed and fabricated and its
performance over a range of operating conditions was studied. The
absorber of the hybrid photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) collector under
investigation consists of an array of solar cells for generating electricity,
compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) to increase the radiation
intensity falling on the solar cells and fins attached to the back side of
the absorber plate to improve heat transfer to the flowing air. Energy
balance equations have been developed for the various nodes of the
system. Both thermal and electrical performance of the collector are
presented and discussed.
06/01366 Performance of a solar dryer using hot air from
roof-integrated solar collectors for drying herbs and spices
Janjai, S. and Tung, P. Renewable Energy, 2005, 30, (14), 2085 2095.
A solar dryer for drying herbs and spices using hot air from roof-
integrated solar collectors was developed. The dryer is a bin type with a
rectangular perforated floor. The bin has a dimension of 1.0 mx2.0
mx0.7 m. Hot air is supplied to the dryer from fibreglass-covered solar
collectors, which also function as the roof of a farmhouse. The total
area of the solar collectors is 72 m 2. To investigate its performance, the
dryer was used to dry four batches of rosella flowers and three batches
of lemon-grasses during the year 2002 2003. The dryer can be used to
dry 200 kg of rosella flowers and lemon-grasses within 4 and 3 days,
respectively. The products being dried in the dryer were completely
protected from rains and insects and the dried products are of high
quality. The solar air heater has an average daily efficiency of 35% and
it performs well both as a solar collector and a roof of a farm-
house.Solar collector
06/01367 Properties of intermediate band materials
Tablero, C. et al. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 2005, 87, (1
4), 323 331.
Intermediate band materials (MIB) have been proposed in previous
works as a new kind of photovoltaic materials. These materials are
principally characterized by an intermediate partially occupied band,
isolated from the valence and conduction bands of the host
semiconductor. These materials have a theoretical efficiency greater
than that of conventional solar cells because they can absorb photons
with a lower energy than the bandgap of the original host semicon-
ductor. However, although the operation of these solar cells has been
described, it is necessary to use a method to be able to propose the
material that has these properties. In this work, a theoretical study of
the electronic and optoelectronic properties using quantum-mechanics
calculations is presented. The results confirm that MIB are able to
absorb photons of lower energy than the host semiconductor.
06/01368 Prospects of solar water heating for textile
industry in Pakistan
Muneer, T. et al. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2005, 10,
(1), 1 23.
Energy is the prime source of human activities in all sectors of life.
Traditionally fossil fuel has been the prime source of energy. However,
there are two major concerns regarding fossil fuels, i.e. their rapid
depletion and their contribution towards growing global warming. It is
being widely realized that for sustainable development presently used
energy mediums such as fossil fuel and nuclear power have to be
quickly replaced by renewable energy sources. The latter are sustain-
able and have the potential to meet present and future projected global
energy demands without inflicting any environmental impacts. Pakistan
is amongst the most prominent cotton producing countries in the
world. The affluent availability of local cotton has lead to a well-
established textile sector in Pakistan. A large proportion of its cotton
products go into export. Being a successful candidate in international
textile market Pakistani textile industry is continuously seeking modern
and high-tech facilities to improve quality of its products. The biggest
challenge Pakistani textile industry is facing today is how to cut down
its environmental burdens to cope with the international standards on
the issue. Water heating system as required for dying process is one of
Fuel and Energy Abstracts May 2006 203