Multi-criteria PSO-based optimal design of grid-connected hybrid renewable energy systems

ABSTRACT

Human-induced climate change through the over liberation of greenhouse gases, resulting in devastating consequences to the environment, is a concern of considerable global significance which has fuelled the diversification to alternative renewable energy sources. The unpredictable nature of renewable resources is an impediment to developing renewable projects. More reliable, effective, and economically feasible renewable energy systems can be established by consolidating various renewable energy sources such as wind and solar into a hybrid system using batteries or back-up units like conventional energy generators or grids. The precise design of these systems is a critical step toward their effective deployment. An optimal sizing strategy was developed based on a heuristic particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique to determine the optimum number and configuration of PV panels, wind turbines, and battery units by minimizing the total system life-cycle cost while maximizing the reliability of the hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) in matching the electricity supply and demand. In addition, by constraining the amount of conventional electricity purchased from the grid, environmental concerns were also considered in the presented method. Various systems with different reliabilities and potential of reducing consumer’s CO₂ emissions were designed and the behavior of the proposed method was comprehensively investigated. An HRES may reduce the annualized cost of energy and carbon footprint significantly.     

Refrigeration waste heat utilization for drying applications: a review

ABSTRACT

Cold chain industry has a vast potential for waste heat recovery. It is a matter of importance for energy efficiency point of view, as global energy demand is increasing day by day. Ample amount of low-grade energy is either unutilized or underutilized. The heat rejected by a Heat pump or refrigeration system emerged as a promising solution for dehydration by utilizing low-grade waste heat despite higher investment. As compared to solar drying technology, heat pump drying evolved as a reliable method regarding better process control, energy efficiency, and quality of the product to be dried. Energy utilized through the refrigeration system’s waste/exhaust heat recovery in combination with or without renewable energy source enhances the overall efficiency of the system and also reduces the cost. This useful review investigated and compared the research findings of waste heat utilization through heat pump and from condenser of refrigeration system on laboratory, pilot as well as industrial scale for drying of various fruits, vegetables, and agro products. Various drying parameters like drying rate, moisture content, Specific Moisture Extraction Rate (SMER), Coefficient of Performance (COP), Exergy efficiency, and temperature as well as humidity conditions inside the drying chamber were also reviewed to promote the technological advancement of energy utilization by commercial cold storage waste heat recovery.     

试论长江中游防洪减灾的工程对策

长江中游洪患自古乃中华民族的心腹大患,数百年来不得治愈的根本原因是没有做到对症下药。从洪患形成的地学环境分析和数百年抗洪经验总结来看,行洪不畅,泥沙淤积和长期以堵为主的抗洪方式是长江中游洪患得不倒根除的主要。疏－疏水和疏水是根治长江洪患的唯一出路,开辟分洪河道,疏沙淤垸降和蓄水分洪是长江中游共减灾的重要措施。     

Financing of wasteland afforestation in India

India has vast tracts of wastelands, which have been lying barren for ages. Most such lands are physically suitable for growing trees and thus could be put to socially productive uses. However, although usually economically viable, afforestation requires massive initial investment, generally beyond the means of the landowners. Also, government budgetary allocations do not cover current needs. In this situation, institutional credit is required. The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) of India has recognized this need and has devised a number of different schemes to provide refinance facilities to individuals and organisations. Although the number of forestry schemes refinanced by NABARD has increased rapidly in the past, they currently constitute only about 1% of the total number of loans sanctioned, and only about 2% of NABARD's cumulative loan disbursement to date. In fact, since 1992, the share of afforestation schemes has declined. A number of factors have been identified as major constraints, including time-consuming and complicated procedures for accessing land; restrictions on harvesting and selling trees; delays in sanctioning and disbursement of bank credit; non-remunerative prices for tree products; and flawed public policies and programmes. This article argues that unless these constraints are overcome, NABARD will not be able to play an effective role in speeding up development programmes in the forestry sector. It further argues that most of the current constraints on institutional credit for wasteland afforestation can be removed or relaxed. Practical strategies are suggested to mobilize more funds and channel more institutional credit for wasteland afforestation in India.     

USE OF HEMISPHERIC IMAGERY FOR ESTIMATING STREAM SOLAR EXPOSURE1

ABSTRACT: Solar exposure profoundly affects stream processes and species composition. Despite this, prominent stream monitoring protocols focus on canopy closure (obstruction of the sky as a whole) rather than on measures of solar exposure or shading. We identify a candidate set of solar exposure metrics that can be derived from hemispheric images. These metrics enable a more mechanistic evaluation of solar exposure than can be achieved with canopy closure metrics. Data collected from 31 stream reaches in eastern Oregon enable us to quantify and compare metrics of solar exposure from hemispheric images and a metric of canopy closure with a concave densiometer. Repeatability of hemispheric metrics is generally as good as or better than the densiometer closure metric, and variation in the analysis of hemispheric images attributable to differences between analysts is negligibly small. Metrics from the hemispheric images and the densiometer are typically strongly correlated, at the scale of an individual observation and for 150 m stream reaches, but not always in a linear fashion. We quantify the character of the uncertainty in the relationship between the densiometer and the hemispheric metrics. Hemispheric imagery produces repeatable metrics representing an important ecological attribute; thus those researching the effects of solar exposure on stream ecosystems should consider the use of hemispheric imagery.     

秦沈客运专线工程建设办公信息系统的安全设计

从秦沈客运专线工程建设办公信息系统的网络和系统内部安全机制出发 ,提出了大型交通工程项目办公自动化系统信息安全技术的理论和设计思路。系统而成功的运行为今后同类项目的安全设计提供了一种新的思路并有一定的参考价值。     

任意点置镜测量既有曲线方法的研究

整正既有曲线是既有线提速改造和工务设计大修中的主要工作之一。传统的整正既有曲线的现场测量工作是将测量仪器置镜在曲线的钢轨上进行。这种方法既不安全 ,又容易引发交通事故 ,且工作效率极低。为改进传统的整正既有曲线的现场测量工作 ,满足火车提速和铁路建设的需要 ,提出采用置镜任意点的测量方法 ,对减少交通事故的发生和提高工作效率均具有十分重要的现实意义     

关于台站形变应变长条观测仪器的技术改造及建议

指出了台站形变、应变长条观测仪器存在的问题 ;介绍了“九五”期间对之进行的技术改造及其收效。同时 ,对“十五”在这个项目上应进行的技术改造提出了建设性意见。     

实行联合办刊,提升刊物质量

加入WTO ,科技期刊将面临来自国际上在稿源、读者、销售市场等方面的激烈竞争。为了摆脱《地壳形变与地震》所处之困境 ,使其成为竞争中的强者 ,提出了在提高期刊内外在质量方面的一些想法和初步对策 ,并在实践中已取得了一定的效果     

一种人因可靠性分析(HRA)方法

从控制论角度说明人因可靠性分析方法，在分析现有两代人因可靠性分析方法不足的基础上，结合控制论，提出了一种新的人因可靠性分析方法的构想。