This book presents the methods of quantitative determination of solar irradiation incident amount on a surface on the Earth. It brings together information not found elsewhere in a single source, and includes an innovative exposition of expert system methodologies used in the domain of solar irradiation and energy. The book provides a background to the underlying physical principles of solar irradiation and energy, with explanations as to how these can be modelled and applied.
Written by a leading scientist with over 35 years of experience working at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Solar Radiation: Practical Modeling for Renewable Energy Applications brings together the most widely used, easily implemented concepts and models for estimating broadband and spectral solar radiation data. The author addresses various technical and practical questions about the accuracy of solar radiation measurements and modeling. While the focus is on engineering models and results, the book does review the fundamentals of solar radiation modeling and solar radiation measurements. It also examines the accuracy of solar radiation modeling and measurements. The majority of the book describes the most popular simple models for estimating broadband and spectral solar resources available to flat plate, concentrating, photovoltaic, solar thermal, and daylighting engineering designs. Sufficient detail is provided for readers to implement the models in assorted development environments. Covering the nuts and bolts of practical solar radiation modeling applications, this book helps readers translate solar radiation data into viable, real-world renewable energy applications. It answers many how-to questions relating to solar energy conversion systems, solar daylighting, energy efficiency of buildings, and other solar radiation applications.
This book sets forth the fundamentals of solar energy, its applications and basic heat transfer. Design, construction, and performance of solar thermal devices and photovoltaic systems are discussed at length, along with the economic aspects of solar systems. The text is complemented by more than 300 figures, 180 solved examples, and numerous problems with hints to their solution. (Midwest).
This thoroughly revised text, now in its third edition, continues to provide a detailed discussion on all the aspects of solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies from physics of solar cells to manufacturing technologies, solar PV system design and their applications. The Third Edition includes a new chapter on “Advances in c-Si Cell Processes Suitable for Near Future Commercialization” (Chapter 8) to introduce the technological advancement in the commercial production to keep the readers up to date. Organized in three parts, Part I introduces the fundamental principles of solar cell operation and design, Part II explains various technologies to fabricate solar cells and PV modules and Part III focuses on the use of solar photovoltaics as part of the system for providing electrical energy. In addition to this, numerous chapter-end exercises are given to reinforce the understanding of the subject. The text is intended for the undergraduate and postgraduate students of engineering for their courses on solar photovoltaic technologies and renewable energy technologies. The book is of immense use for teachers, researchers and professionals working in the photovoltaic field. In a nutshell, this book is an absolute must-read for all those who want to understand and apply the basics behind photovoltaic devices and systems.
This book presents methods for optimising the spatial and network configuration of solar radiation measuring stations. Various physical and mathematical models are demonstrated, which together with high quality measurements, provide the essential tools to generate and validate solar resource estimates to improve the mapping of solar resources. Each chapter deals with a specific topic, showing its methodology, and providing examples of how to apply these techniques with reference to current projects around the world. These topics include: · Radiometric measurement campaigns;· Equipment calibration, installation, operation, and maintenance;· Data quality assurance and assessment;· Solar radiation modelling from satellite images and numerical models;· Downscaling and kriging interpolation of solar radiation;· Simulation of electric solar power plant generation;· Solar radiation forecasting;· Applications of solar energy; and· Socio-economic benefits of solar energy. The contributors present the statistical and physical models needed to derive solar radiation from satellite images and numerical models, emphasising the importance of measuring solar radiation accurately. They also show the classical models used to generate synthetic data, clear sky models and ancillary air quality and meteorological data from different input sources. Solar Resources Mapping provides industry professionals with methodologies and tools to build solar irradiance maps for different applications. The book will also benefit students and researchers as it serves as a main technical reference, presenting the basic terminology and fundamentals for solar resource mapping that include methods for assessing measurement uncertainty.
Solar Energy Forecasting and Resource Assessment is a vital text for solar energy professionals, addressing a critical gap in the core literature of the field. As major barriers to solar energy implementation, such as materials cost and low conversion efficiency, continue to fall, issues of intermittency and reliability have come to the fore. Scrutiny from solar project developers and their financiers on the accuracy of long-term resource projections and grid operators' concerns about variable short-term power generation have made the field of solar forecasting and resource assessment pivotally important. This volume provides an authoritative voice on the topic, incorporating contributions from an internationally recognized group of top authors from both industry and academia, focused on providing information from underlying scientific fundamentals to practical applications and emphasizing the latest technological developments driving this discipline forward. - The only reference dedicated to forecasting and assessing solar resources enables a complete understanding of the state of the art from the world's most renowned experts. - Demonstrates how to derive reliable data on solar resource availability and variability at specific locations to support accurate prediction of solar plant performance and attendant financial analysis. - Provides cutting-edge information on recent advances in solar forecasting through monitoring, satellite and ground remote sensing, and numerical weather prediction.
Fundamentals of Renewable Energy Systems goes beyond theoretical aspects of advances in renewable energy and addresses future trends. By focusing on the design of developing technologies, relevant operation and detailed background and an understanding of the application of power electronics and thermodynamics processes in renewable energy, this book provides an analysis of advancing energy systems. The book will be of interest to engineering graduates, researchers, professors and industry professionals involved in the renewable energy sector and is ideal for advanced engineering courses dealing with renewable energy, sources, thermal and electrical energy production and sustainability. With increasing focus on developing low carbon energy production, audiences need to have the engineering knowledge and practical skills to develop and implement creative solutions to engineering problems encountered with renewable energy technologies. By looking at renewable energy capture and conversion, system design and analysis, project development and implementation, each modular chapter examines recent advances in specific renewable energy systems with detailed methods, calculations and worked examples. - Includes recent techniques used to design and model different renewable energy sources (RES) - Demonstrates how to use power electronics in renewable systems - Discusses how to identify, design, integrate and operate the most suitable technologies through key problems
Solar Energy Conversion and Photoenergy Systems theme in two volumes is a component of Encyclopedia of Energy Sciences, Engineering and Technology Resources in the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), which is an integrated compendium of twenty Encyclopedias. Any human activity needs energy and renewable energies are always present all over the world. Each location has its own specific renewable potential and it is our task to develop the suitable technologies to profit, at local level, this potential to not only produce the needed energy but also create economic activity and wealth. Solar energy, in particular, has the highest potential among all existing renewable energies and, in the context of the energy, water and climate change global problems mankind will face in the coming years, the substantial integration of solar energy technologies into our societies will an absolute needs in the short to medium term. The number of applications of solar energy is simply huge, covering a very wide range of human activities. Some of these applications are already technically and economically viable, being others still at research or demonstration level. In addition, it has been demonstrated the important benefits solar energy can provide to any area with medium-high solar irradiation level: from sustainability to energy independence, as well as economic development and knowledge creation. Due to this, solar energy development, from photovoltaic to solar thermal or power applications, has been very intense during the last years in all the, so called, “Sun Belt”. There is also the general consensus, at many countries, that we should accelerate the current solar energy pathway, increasing the research efforts to make economically feasible the applications that today are only technically feasible. This effort and the status of most of these applications have been discussed along this paper and within the articles of the topic. The Theme on Solar Energy Conversion and Photoenergy Systems with contributions from distinguished experts in the field, discusses solar energy related technologies and applications, some of which are already in commercial and practical applications and others are under research and testing level. The volumes provide an analysis and discussion about the reasons behind the current efforts of our society, considering both developed and developing countries, to accelerate the introduction of the huge solar energy potential into our normal daily lives. The two volumes also provide some basic information about the solar energy potential, history and the amazing trip of a photon from its creation in the Sun until its arrival to the Earth. These two volumes are aimed at the following five major target audiences: University and College Students Educators, Professional Practitioners, Research Personnel and Policy Analysts, Managers, and Decision Makers, NGOs and GOs.
Photovoltaic Power System: Modelling, Design and Control is an essential reference with a practical approach to photovoltaic (PV) power system analysis and control. It systematically guides readers through PV system design, modelling, simulation, maximum power point tracking and control techniques making this invaluable resource to students and professionals progressing from different levels in PV power engineering. The development of this book follows the author's 15-year experience as an electrical engineer in the PV engineering sector and as an educator in academia. It provides the background knowledge of PV power system but will also inform research direction. Key features: Details modern converter topologies and a step-by-step modelling approach to simulate and control a complete PV power system. Introduces industrial standards, regulations, and electric codes for safety practice and research direction. Covers new classification of PV power systems in terms of the level of maximum power point tracking. Contains practical examples in designing grid-tied and standalone PV power systems. Matlab codes and Simulink models featured on a Wiley hosted book companion website.
Renewable Energy Systems and Desalination is a component of Encyclopedia of Water Sciences, Engineering and Technology Resources in the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), which is an integrated compendium of twenty one Encyclopedias. The two volumes present state-of-the art subject matter of various aspects of Renewable Energy Systems and Desalination such as: A Short Historical Review Of Renewable Energy; Renewable Energy Resources; Desalination With Renewable Energy - A Review; Renewable Energy And Desalination Systems; Why Use Renewable Energy For Desalination; Thermal Energy Storage; Electrical Energy Storage; Tidal Energy; Desalination Using Tidal Energy; Wave Energy; Availability Of Wind Energy And Its Estimation; The Use Of Geothermal Energy In Desalination; Solar Radiation Energy (Fundamentals); High Temperature Solar Concentrators; Medium Temperature Solar Concentrators (Parabolic-Troughs Collectors); Low Temperature Solar Collectors; Solar Photovoltaic Energy Conversion; Photovoltaics; Flat-Plate Collectors; Large Active Solar Systems: Load; Integration Of Solar Pond With Water Desalination; Large Active Solar Systems: Typical Economic Analysis; Evacuated Tube Collectors; Parabolic Trough Collectors; Central Receivers; Configuration, Theoretical Analysis And Performance Of Simple Solar Stills; Development In Simple Solar Stills; Multi-Effect Solar Stills; Materials For Construction Of Solar Stills; Reverse Osmosis By Solar Energy; Solar Distillation; Solar Photochemistry; Photochemical Conversion Of Solar Energy; Availability Of Solar Radiation And Its Estimation; Economics Of Small Solar-Assisted Multipleeffect Seawater Distillation Plants; A Solar-Assisted Sea Water Multiple Effect Distillation Plant 15 Years Of Operating Performance (1985-1999);Mathematical Simulation Of A Solar Desalination Plant; Mathematical Models Of Solar Energy Conversion Systems; Multiple Effect Distillation Of Seawater Using Solar Energy – The Case Of Abu Dhabi Solar Desalination Plant; Solar Irradiation Fundamentals; Water Desalination By Humidification And Dehumidification Of Air, Seawater Greenhouse Process. These volumes are aimed at the following five major target audiences: University and College Students Educators, Professional Practitioners, Research Personnel and Policy and Decision Makers