STRANDED CORE TRANSFORMER LOSS ANALYSIS

We will present the approaches used to investigating the power loss for the stranded core transformers. One advantage of using stranded core is to reduce power loss or enhance transformer efficiency. One difficulty in the modeling of this type of transformer is that the core is not solid (there are small gaps between core wires due to circular cross section). A two dimensional finite element method with nodal basis function for magnetostatic field was developed to study the effects of the small gaps between core wires. The magnetic flux densities are compared for the uniform (solid) cores and the stranded cores for various permeability values. The effects of different air gap dimensions in stranded core to the magnitude of magnetic flux density were also discussed. The results of the two dimensional study were applied to modify the B-H curves in a 3D simulation with an equivalent simplified uniformed core transformer model via Ansoft Maxwell 3D. This is achieved by output the magnitude of magnetic flux density at fixed points of mesh center. The total core loss of a transformer was predicted by integration of the losses of all elements

Investigation of a novel solar photovoltaic/loop-heat-pipe heat pump system

With the widespread deployment of solar photovoltaic (PV) and thermal devices imminent, this research aims to resolve some engineering barriers to the existing solar photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) technologies by incorporating an innovative loop heat pipe (LHP) and a typical heat pump. In addition, a coated aluminium-alloy (Al-alloy) sheet replaces the conventional baseboard for the PV cells to improve heat exportation. As a result, this research has developed a novel solar PV/LHP heat pump system to maximise the electrical output of a PV module and generate an additional amount of heat simultaneously.The overall investigation followed the basic methodology of combined theoretical and experimental analysis, including procedures for a critical literature review, optimal concept design, mathematical derivation, the development of simulation models, prototype fabrication, laboratory-controlled and field testing, simulation model validation and socio-economic analysis. A full range of specialised simulation models was developed to predict the system performance with reasonable accuracy. The proposed LHP device has a maximum heat transfer limit of about 900W. The Al-alloy baseboard improved PV efficiency by nearly 0.26% when compared with a traditional PV baseboard. During the real-time measurement conditions, the mean electrical, thermal and overall energetic/exergetic efficiencies of the PV/LHP module were 9.13%, 39.25% and 48.37%/15.02%, respectively. The basic thermal and advanced system coefficients of performance (COPth/COPPV/T) were almost 5.51 and 8.71, respectively. The test results indicated that this system performed better than conventional solar/air energy systems. The feasibility analysis illustrated that this system could generate a substantial amount of energy in subtropical climatic regions, such as Hong Kong. It is cost effective to operate this system in areas with high energy charging tariffs, such as London and Hong Kong.The research results are expected to configure feasible solutions for future PV/T technologies and develop a new solar-driven heating system. The core technologies may enable a significant reduction in or even elimination of the carbon footprint in the built environment

Discussion on Competitiveness Improvement for Local College Students

At present, college student employment has already become a focused issue that attracts high attention from the whole society. The employment situation of local college students is severe, and employment has been an important issue related to the survival and development of colleges. Therefore, local colleges should formulate school-running characteristics suitable for the practical situations by starting from the actual requirements of local economic and social development. In curriculum setting, market demand should be the orientation, teaching must be dominant, and scientific research can play a subsidiary role. Moreover, employment education for college students should be strengthened, so as to improve students’ self-cognition and self-assessment. Feasible career plans must be formulated

Theoretical investigation of the thermal performance of a novel solar loop-heat-pipe façade-based heat pump water heating system

The aim of the paper was to present a dedicated theoretical investigation into the thermal performance of a novel solar loop-heat-pipe façade based heat pump water heating system. This involved thermo-fluid analyses, computer numerical model development, the model running up, modelling result analyses and conclusion. An energy balance network was established on each part and the whole range of the system to address the associated energy conversion and transfer processes. On basis of this, a computer numerical model was developed and run up to predict the thermal performance of such a system at different system configurations, layouts and operational conditions. It was suggested that the loop heat pipes could be filled with either water, R134a, R22 or R600a; of which R600a is the favourite working fluid owing to its relatively larger heat transfer capacity and positive pressure in operation. Variations in the system configuration, i.e., glazing covers, heat exchangers, would lead to identifiable differences in the thermal performance of the system, represented by the thermal efficiency and COP. Furthermore, impact of the external operational parameters, i.e., solar radiation and ambient air temperature, to the system's thermal performance was also investigated. The research was based on an innovative loop-heat-pipe façade and came up with useful results reflecting the thermal performance of the combined system between the façade and heat pump. This would help promote development and market penetration of such an innovative solar heating technology, and thus contribute to achieving the global targets in energy saving and carbon emission reduction

Parallel experimental study of a novel super-thin thermal absorber based photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) system against conventional photovoltaic (PV) system

Photovoltaic (PV) semiconductor degrades in performance due to temperature rise. A super thin-conductive thermal absorber is therefore developed to regulate the PV working temperature by retrofitting the existing PV panel into the photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) panel. This article presented the parallel comparative investigation of the two different systems through both laboratory and field experiments. The laboratory evaluation consisted of one PV panel and one PV/T panel respectively while the overall field system involved 15 stand-alone PV panels and 15 retrofitted PV/T panels. The laboratory testing results demonstrated the PV/T panel could achieve the electrical efficiency of about 16.8% (relatively 5% improvement comparing with the stand-alone PV panel), and yield an extra amount of heat with thermal efficiency of nearly 65%. The field testing results indicated that the hybrid PV/T panel could enhance the electrical return of PV panels by nearly 3.5%, and increase the overall energy output by nearly 324.3%. Further opportunities and challenges were then discussed from aspects of different PV/T stakeholders to accelerate the development. It is expected that such technology could become a significant solution to yield more electricity, offset heating load freely and reduce carbon footprint in contemporary energy environment