Thermal modeling and analysis of novel twin-chamber community solar cooker as a replacement of biomass-based cooking

A novel design of twin-chamber community solar (TCCS) cooker is presented as a replacement of biomass-based cooking. The novelty of separating a single rectangular cooking chamber into separate twin chambers (of 1-m² aperture area each) improves the cooking performance as opening of one chamber for unloading of food cooked in lesser time (rice) does not disturb the stagnation temperature of the other chamber (pulses and meat) needing more time to cook besides resulting in reduction in side heat loss coefficient due to common wall. Aperture area and cooking volume of TCCS cooker are 9.54 and 35.33 times more as compared to single-chamber domestic solar (SCDS) cooker which makes it a community-scale large-capacity solar cooker. The developed solar radiation capture model and overall heat loss coefficient (U_l) computed for TCCS cooker have been used in a thermal model developed between various interactive components. First (F₁) and second figures of merit (F₂) values are 0.13 and 0.42, respectively, for TCCS cooker at par with ‘A’ grade category SCDS cooker. Techno-economic analysis shows that the net present value of TCCS cooker is Rs. 83,253 with break-even point occurring after cooking 43,461 meals with payback period of only 25, 50, and 72 months if used as a replacement for LPG, cow dung cakes, and wood-based cooking, respectively. Environmental impact analysis shows that the use of the proposed cooker can mitigate 2, 5.9, and 4.1 tonnes of CO₂ emissions every year by not burning LPG, cow dung cakes, and wood respectively.     

A numerical model for drying of spherical object in an indirect type solar dryer and estimating the drying time at different moisture level and air temperature

A numerical model for simultaneous heat and mass transfer was developed for solar drying of spherical objects and the object considered is green peas. Solar collector outlet temperature is assumed as drying chamber temperature and justified through energy balance equations. Assumptions are imposed on heat and mass transfer governing equations without losing the physics of the problem. Discretization is performed by finite difference method with implicit scheme. To generalize, the governing equation and boundary conditions are non-dimensionalized. The set of finite difference equations was solved by Tridiagonal Matrix Algorithm and a computer code in MATLAB was developed to solve them. The drying curves showed two stages of drying, initial, and secondary drying stage. At all drying temperatures and drying time, the center moisture was maximum and it was minimum at the boundary. A percentage of 85.67 surface moisture content and 25.33% center moisture was eliminated in the first 1 hr at 348 K. The product should be dried up to 7.45, 4.74, and 3.74 hr at air drying temperatures of 318, 333, and 348 K respectively, to maintain 10% of the product’s initial moisture content. The result is compared with the experimental result from literature and they are found to be in good agreement.     

Studies of the effects of temperatures and solar radiation on volatilization,mineralization and binding of 14c‐DDT in soil under laboratory conditions

Abstract

The effects of temperatures and solar radiation on the dissipation of ¹⁴C‐p,p'‐DDT from a loam soil was studied by quantifying volatilization, mineralization and binding. The major DDT loss occurred by volatilization, which was 1.8 times more at 45^oC than at ambient temperature (30°C). Mineralization of DDT slowly increased with time but it decreased slightly with increase in temperature. Binding of DDT to soil was found to be less at higher temperatures (35 and 45°C) as compared to ambient temperature. Degradation of DDT to DDE was faster at higher temperatures.

Exposure of non‐sterilized and sterilized soils treated with ¹⁴C‐DDT to sunlight in quartz and dark tubes for 6 weeks resulted in significant losses. Volatilization and mineralization in quartz tubes were more as compared to dark tubes. The volatilized organics from the quartz tubes contained larger amounts of p,p'‐DDE than the dark tubes. Further, higher rates of volatilization were found in non‐sterilized soils than in sterilized soils. The results suggest that faster dissipation of DDT from soil under local conditions relates predominantly to increased volatilization as influenced by high temperature and intense solar radiation.     

内蒙古草原光合有效辐射的计算方法

2002年夏季,对内蒙古草原太阳分光辐射以及气象因素进行了同步观测。依据一定的物理基础,在对实测资料进行分析的基础上,计算得到了内蒙古草原地区光合有效辐射某一时段累计值的经验公式。实际天气条件下,计算结果与观测值比较接近,该经验公式的适用性亦比较好。根据不同条件,可以选择不同的因子来计算光合有效辐射。当选择全部因子时,计算值与观测值的最大相对偏差为8 13%,平均相对偏差为2 45%。研究表明,大气中所有物质对光合有效辐射的吸收作用小于它们的散射作用。      

Water-saving Technologies,Solar Green House and Ecological Rehabilitation in Minqin Oasis of Gansu Province,China

Abstract

Land degradation and desertification have become severe environmental problems in arid areas due to excessive use of water resources. It is urgent to reduce agricultural water use for ecological rehabilitation, which may result in a decrease in agricultural production and farmer’s welfare. This paper focused on the impacts of some main measures including extensions of water-saving irrigation, expanding solar green house and increasing off-farm employment, which are generally recognized to be important to alleviate water shortage and poverty. A bio-economic model is applied taking Minqin Oasis in Gansu Province as a case study site. Simulation results showed that the effect of expanding solar greenhouse was more positive than other ones so it drew more attention. On the view of the different effects between each irrigation zone, mixed policy patterns suitable for them are suggested. In Baqu, expanding solar greenhouse should be the most important, auxiliary with encouraging pipe irrigation. Inversely, with regard to Quanshan, the major attention should be paid to subsidy for pipe irrigation and it would be better to supply the off-farm employment opportunities to the households in Huqu, where the expanding of solar greenhouse should also be summoned. Finally, it should be noted that farmer’s income would only resume to 90% of the current level in the short run by putting more effort into local policies. Thus, the ecological compensation is needed to ensure farmer’s welfare.     

The performance of solar powered desiccant dehumidifier in India: an experimental investigation

The regeneration and adsorption of desiccant wheel for producing the dry air was experimentally investigated. The air needed for regeneration was heated in an evacuated tube solar collector with surface area 4.44 m². The desiccant wheel is regenerated at the temperature in the range of 43.9–72.6°C. The regeneration and adsorption performances are affected by the regeneration temperature, wheel rotation, air flow rate (process and regeneration) and ambient conditions. By comparing the adsorption and regeneration performance at different air flow rate and constant rph, it was found that maximum adsorption and regeneration rates are obtained at air flow rate of 210.789 kg/h. Regeneration temperature directly affects the effectiveness of the desiccant wheel. Maximum desiccant wheel effectiveness of regeneration sector and adsorption sector is obtained at air flow rate of 105.394 kg/h. The regeneration performance of desiccant wheel with evacuated tube solar air collector is suitable for the Indian climate.     

东北地区-大连臭氧浓度分布与影响因素研究

随着经济社会的发展,人们对环境质量更加重视,光化学烟雾成为影响城市环境空气质量的重要因素。利用东北地区大连市全年臭氧监测的时间浓度,对臭氧污染的浓度分布特征,时间以及季节变化特征进行了分析。结果表明:臭氧浓度变化受太阳辐射强度和气温的影响明显,呈单峰型变化,臭氧浓度季节变化趋势明显。春、夏季节臭氧浓度较高,秋季臭氧浓度次之,臭氧与大气中的NO、NO2、CO、VOCs等前体物的浓度、太阳辐射的强度以及CO的浓度都有不同程度的相关性。     

光伏发电和燃煤发电的生命周期评价比较研究

文章运用生命周期评价（life cycle assessment,LCA）的分类、特征化、量化处理的方法,对多晶硅太阳能光伏发电和燃煤发电的全过程进行环境影响评价.通过收集两者的资源消耗量和污染物排放量,建立两者全生命周期资源消耗及污染物排放清单,得到相应的资源消耗系数和环境影响潜值.综合多晶硅太阳能光伏发电和燃煤发电全生命周期评价结果,从资源消耗和环境影响的角度来看,与传统燃煤发电相比,多晶硅太阳能光伏发电具有明显的优势.     

系留气球囊体材料快速老化试验研究

目的估算某系留气球在某地区的使用寿命。方法分析环境因素对系留气球的影响,确定采用太阳辐射快速老化的方法对囊体材料开展老化试验研究,时间为3000 h。采用等时间间隔法对试验件进行测试,间隔时间为375 h,测试9次,每组试验件为5件,试验数据采用5个试验件的平均值。对老化前后囊体材料的表面状况、拉伸强度、拉伸强度变化率及断裂伸长率进行分析。结果试验之后,囊体材料表面发黄,有粉末状的颗粒,拉伸强度为395.2N/cm,下降了56.01%,断裂伸长率在3.9%～7.7%间波动变化。将实验室老化辐射量等同于室外紫外辐射量,根据室外紫外辐射量约占室外自然老化太阳辐射总量8%及某地区全年太阳辐射总量,估算囊体材料的实验室老化相当于室外自然老化的年限,结合囊体材料设计限制条件,评估出了系留气球的使用寿命。结论通过太阳辐射快速老化的方法对囊体材料开展老化试验研究,可估算出某系留气球在某地区的使用寿命。     

西藏日太阳总辐射估算模型的优化与时间尺度效应

根据2012～2014年拉萨站点的日太阳辐射观测数据,对3种日太阳总辐射估算模型(左大康、Prescoff和王炳忠等提出的估算模型)的估算结果和实际观测结果进行误差检验分析,结果表明:3种模型都通过了显著性检验,其平均绝对误差(MAE)分别为6.17 MJ/(m~2·d)、6.42 MJ/(m~2·d)和12.31 MJ/(m~2·d),均方根误差(RMSE)分别为1.60 MJ/(m~2·d)、1.65 MJ/(m~2·d)和2.78 MJ/(m~2·d),表明利用地理位置信息和日照时数的左大康估算模型对拉萨日太阳总辐射的估算效果优于Prescoff和王炳忠估算模型。利用左大康估算模型分别估算得到2015年拉萨、那曲和葛尔地区的日太阳总辐射值,并进行模型验证。通过分析拉萨1971～2015年的太阳总辐射变化和周期性特征,研究日太阳总辐射估算模型的时间尺度效应。按照11年和四季两种不同的时间尺度,利用线性回归法对日太阳总辐射估算结果和实际观测结果进行误差和相关性分析,得到经验参数a和b的值与时间尺度有一定关系。11年和四季两种时间尺度除夏季以外,其他时间拟合模型的精度均得到了提高。通过线性回归法得出45年的西藏日太阳总辐射优化估算模型,该模型估算日太阳总辐射的误差小于左大康模型,估算精度较高。