The Importance of the Chosen Technique to Estimate Diffuse Solar Radiation by Means of Regression

The Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) is one of the widely used methods which is used for estimating the diffuse solar radiation. However, in order to use the OLS method in the estimation, the dataset must provide certain assumptions. In this study, alternative robust methods have been described and they were compared with the OLS method, which is used for estimating diffuse radiation frequently in an application. At the end of the analysis, the R² value obtained by the OLS method is less than the values obtained by M regression models. In other words, the explanation of the dependent value is weak when the OLS method is used. Finally, it can be said that the most appropriate method is Andrews for estimating the diffuse solar radiation.     

Finned Single-pass Solar Air Heaters with Wire Mesh as an Absorber Plate

Single-pass solar air heaters (SAHs) with two and six fins attached and packed with wire mesh layers were experimentally investigated. Wire mesh layers were used between the fins in the place of an absorber plate. The effects of air mass flow rate on the outlet temperature and thermal efficiency were studied. The results showed an increase in the thermal efficiency as the air mass flow rate was increased. The range of the mass flow rate used in this work was between 0.0121and 0.042 kg/s. It was found that for the same mass flow rate the SAH having six fins has higher efficiency compared to the system that has two fins. The maximum efficiencies for the SAHs were obtained at the mass flow rate of 0.042 kg/s. The maximum efficiencies for the six-finned and two-finned SAHs were 79.81% and 71.8%, respectively. In addition, the maximum temperature difference between the inlet and the outlet, ΔT, for the SAH with six fins exceeded the two-finned SAH for the same mass flow rates. The maximum ΔT was 51.1°C for the six-finned SAH and 44.2°C for the two-finned SAH. As expected, the maximum ΔT for each SAH was obtained at the lowest air mass flow rate (i.e., 0.0121 kg/s). A substantial enhancement in the thermal efficiency was achieved in comparison to the results of a single-flow packed bed collector with those of conventional collectors.     

Development and application of a laboratory flux measurement system (LFMS) for the investigation of the kinetics of mercury emissions from soils

Recent measurements at different locations suggest that the emission of mercury from soils may play a more pronounced role in the global mercury cycle as suggested by global emission inventories and global mercury cycling models. For up scaling and modelling of mercury emissions from soils a comprehensive assessment of the processes controlling the emission of mercury from soils is imperative. We have developed a laboratory flux measurement system (LFMS) to study the effect of major environmental variables on the emission of mercury under controlled conditions. We have investigated the effects of turbulent mixing, soil temperature and solar radiation on the emission of mercury from soils. The emission of mercury from soils is constant over time under constant experimental conditions. The response of the mercury emission flux to variations of the atmospheric transfer parameters such as turbulence requires a rapid adjustment of the equilibrium that controls the Hg(o) concentration in the soil air. It has been shown that the light-induced flux is independent of the soil temperature and shows a strong spectral response to UV-B.     

Temporal changes of 7Be, 137Cs and 210Pb activity concentrations in surface air at Monaco and their correlation with meteorological parameters

Results of analysis of ⁷Be, ¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb on aerosol filters carried out from 1998 to 2010 in Monaco show that a weak correlation between activity concentrations of these radionuclides in the atmosphere and meteorological parameters has been found for ⁷Be and temperature (r = 0.50), ²¹⁰Pb and temperature and humidity (r = 0.43 and 0.41, respectively), and ¹³⁷Cs and precipitation (r = 0.51). The minimum and maximum ⁷Be activity concentrations were observed during 2000 and 2009, corresponding with the maximum and minimum solar activity, respectively. The maximum ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration found in May-June 1998 was due to the accident at Algeciras in Spain. The deposition velocities of ⁷Be, ¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb depended on the precipitation rate, and attained maximum values during dry seasons. The investigated radionuclides may be used as atmospheric tracers, especially in long-term periods.     

基于可拓理论的光伏发电项目质量评价研究

为了进一步推广和发展光伏发电项目,将新兴学科的可拓理论引入光伏发电项目质量评价之中,在物元理论和可拓分析的基础上,构建了光伏发电项目可拓评价指标体系和模型,通过计算各项指标相对于各评价等级的关联度,对待评价项目进行了优劣排序。以3个陕西省2012年光伏发电项目为例,论证了该模型合理可靠,实证结果很好的反映了光伏发电项目的质量,为项目决策提供科学的依据。     

Removal of arsenic from contaminated groundwater by solar-driven membrane distillation

Experimental investigations were carried out on removal of arsenic from contaminated groundwater by employing a new flat-sheet cross flow membrane module fitted with a hydrophobic polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) microfiltration membrane. The new design of the solar-driven membrane module in direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) configuration successfully produced almost 100 per cent arsenic-free water from contaminated groundwater in a largely fouling-free operation while permitting high fluxes under reduced temperature polarization. For a feed flow rate of 0.120 m³/h, the 0.13 μm PVDF membrane yielded a high flux of 74 kg/(m² h) at a feed water temperature of 40 °C and, 95 kg/m² h at a feed water temperature of 60 °C. The encouraging results show that the design could be effectively exploited in the vast arsenic-affected rural areas of South-East Asian countries blessed with abundant sunlight particularly during the critical dry season.     

Compound-specific chlorine isotope analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls isolated from Aroclor and Clophen technical mixtures

The combined electrochemical oxidation-solar-light/immobilized TiO₂ film process was conducted to degrade an azo dye, Reactive Black 5 (RB5). The toxicity was also monitored by the Vibrio fischeri light inhibition test. The electrochemical oxidation rapidly decolorized RB5 (55, 110 μM) with a supporting electrolyte of 2 g l⁻¹ NaCl at current density 277 A m⁻² and pH 4. However, TOC mineralization and A₃₁₀ removal were low. Additionally, the treated solution showed high biotoxicity. RB5 at 110 μM significantly retarded the de-colorization efficiency by using the solar-light/immobilized TiO₂ film process. The combined electrochemical oxidation-solar-light/immobilized TiO₂ process effectively increased the removal of color, A₃₁₀, and TOC. The toxicity was also significantly reduced after 3 h of solar irradiation. The results indicated that the low-cost combined process is a potential technique for rapid treatment of RB5.     

温室效应,太阳活动,南方涛动对我国气候变化的影响

本文用统计方法对我国近百年来的气象观测资料的分析表明,在温室效应导致全球增暖的背景上,我国将出现同步的增暖趋势,东南沿海降水量增加,而西北地区的干旱则将更趋严重,太阳活动和南方涛动对我国气候变化也有显著影响,它们分别可能是温度的22年准周期振动和降水量的准4年周期振动的原因.     

Performance assessment of 20.4 kW eco-house grid-connected PV plant in Oman

ABSTRACT

The aim of this article is to analyse the performance of the Photovoltaic (PV) and to study the effect of soiling on the energy generation under Muscat environmental conditions. The generated energy is consumed in the eco-house, and the access energy is fed back to the electric grid. Two-ways metre was used to record the energy taken from the grid or fed back to the grid. The system was monitored from December 2014 until today. Various performance parameters of the plant were evaluated which include system efficiency, performance ratio (PR), capacity factor (CF) and different types of PV system losses and yields. The annual average values of recorded ambient temperature and solar radiation were 32°C and 482 W/m², respectively.

The total annual energy produced was 23,595 kWh, whereas the annual average daily reference yield, array yield and final yield were 5.59, 3.78 and 3.64 kWh/kW_P/day, respectively. The annual average daily PR and CF were 0.67 and 0.15, respectively, while the annual average system efficiency was 10.3%. Furthermore, the annual average daily capture, system and cell temperature losses were 1.82, 0.14 and 2.95 h/day,respectively, with a small reduction in energy production when modules left uncleaned.     

Sleepwalking into lock-in? Avoiding wrongs to future people in the governance of solar radiation management research

ABSTRACT

Arguments are advanced for two ways in which we can avoid the reckless endangerment of future people in the governance of solar radiation management (SRM) research, which could happen through lock-in to SRM deployment from research. SRM research is at an early stage, one at which the mechanisms of lock-in could start to operate. However, lock-in fit to endanger future people could be slowed or stopped through targeted governance. Governance of SRM research that does not include provisions to detect, slow, or stop lock-in fails the test of an intergenerationally adequate precautionary principle, and research governed without these provisions cannot itself be justified as a precaution against the impacts of climate change.