The effect of wave response motion on the insolation on offshore photovoltaic installations

Offshore photovoltaic energy is possibly the most important future step in the harnessing of solar energy. Since no long-term offshore photovoltaic installation exists to date, various unknowns are still present, creating a research gap. For instance, floating structures will have some type of response to incoming waves. This response is highly dependent on the design of the floating structure. This response will have some effect on the insolation on offshore photovoltaic systems installed on floating structures. This research presents a simulation tool that would allow an offshore system designer to assess this effect in order to minimize it and thus, optimize the energy yield of the system. Furthermore, this simulation tool was verified with an experimental setup simulating sinusoidal wave responses and the results are presented in this research. Finally, a parametric analysis was performed taking days close to the 21st of each month of the year for photovoltaic installations facing south with fixed inclinations of 30 ° and 5 ° This research will improve the design of offshore floating platforms used for photovoltaic installations.peer-reviewe

Full-scale design, implementation and testing of an innovative photovoltaic cooling system (IPCoSy)

The field efficiency of silicon-based solar cells is dependent on various factors including temperature. An increase in temperature results in a reduced efficiency of a magnitude dependent on the solar cell’s temperature coefficient. Furthermore, an increase in solar cell temperatures beyond levels specified by the manufacturer will result in a reduced lifetime and an increased probability of potential induced degradation and even failure. Researchers have created different cooling technologies to keep the solar cells’ operating temperatures to a minimum. However, no cooling technology in the literature is adequate for both land and offshore PV installations. A patented Innovative Photovoltaic Cooling System (IPCoSy) is presented in this paper. Previously published results have confirmed the cooling effect and feasibility using small-scale prototypes. This paper presents the design challenges and results of the full-scale implementation. The full-scale prototypes are the same size as commercially available photovoltaic modules, making them easier to integrate in the current market. Therefore, this research presents the results of testing full-scale prototypes while addressing challenges related to structural integrity and fluid dynamics. The findings of this research showed that the positive effects of this cooling technology range from more than a 9% increase in PV electrical energy yield, and thermal efficiencies of up to 56%. Finally, the outcome of this research will contribute towards the United Nations’ sustainable development goal of affordable and clean energy through direct operational efficiency improvements in PV systems, as well as the enhanced tapping of solar energy for renewable thermal energy production.peer-reviewe

Photovoltaic backside cooling using the space inside a conventional frame (IPCOSY)

Inefficiencies present in solar cells result in most of the absorbed energy beingconverted into heat,causing an increase in cell temperature,which leads to a further reduction in efficiency. Various cooling technologies can be found in the literature; however, these all come with their own challenges. In this research, we have designed a Photovoltaic (PV) panel that incorporates backside water cooling by creating a water chamber in the empty space inside the Aluminium frame. This panel was termed IPCoSy (Innovative Photovoltaic Cooling System). It was tested against a conventional cooling system that allowed water to drain when the cooling is switched off and a non-cooled control panel,and the results show that, even without any flow, a daily energy gain of about 3% is possible. When a controlled flow was introduced, gains of up to 10% were achieved. These gains can be further increased when IPCoSyis installed in ideal scenarios such as reverse osmosis plants, floating PV installations,or areas requiring water heating. Therefore, this research presents a new photovoltaic panel incorporating a water chamber designed for hot climate conditions.peer-reviewe

An Offshore Solar Irradiance Calculator (OSIC) Applied to Photovoltaic Tracking Systems

Offshore photovoltaic installations are the future technology in solar energy since they enable the use of the large amount of maritime space, which is especially important when land space is not available. Various research groups are working to create viable installations. However, there are currently no tools available that an offshore system designer can use to quantify the effect of wave response motion on offshore photovoltaic installations. This research presents a new simulation tool termed the Offshore Solar Irradiance Calculator (OSIC) that is able to quantify this effect. Furthermore, a yearly parametric analysis is presented to show the effects of a characteristic wave equation on different offshore tracking systems; namely, horizontal single-axis tracking, vertical single-axis tracking and dual-axis tracking. Finally, another parametric analysis is presented to show the effects of varying wave amplitudes of oscillations on the incident irradiance received by these tracking systems

The nature and impact of occupational trauma exposure among staff working in a forensic medical and scientific service: a qualitative interview study

Employees of forensic medical service organizations are exposed to occupational trauma during their clinical, pathology, scientific and corporate duties. Adverse impacts, associated with occupational trauma exposure, can illicit negative outcomes that may influence a person's professional practice as well as their physical, behavioural and psychological reactions. Research exploring the impact of trauma exposure has typically focused on reduction of exposure, failing to address workplaces where exposure to trauma is a core activity for employees. This study explored the experiences of staff working at a state-wide forensic medical and scientific institution in Australia. Thematic analysis of 25 key-informant interviews identified that 1) trauma exposure is common and multifactorial in nature; 2) impacts of trauma exposure varies by personal characteristics and case circumstances; and 3) trauma exposure can be better managed when organizational and individual responsibility align. Awareness that a strong sense of purpose and contribution derived from the important nature of the work delivered, allows individuals to remain employed. The study also identified that facilitating a culture of openness regarding trauma exposure can lead to improved workplace wellbeing and retention of this dedicated workforce