Application of artificial neural network to predict annual global solar radiation for PV system’s sizing in UUM area, Malaysia

The knowledge and estimation of global solar radiation are very crucial in application of photovoltaic (PV) solar system at a particular location. Estimation of global solar radiation at University Utara Malaysia (UUM) area, Malaysia, (Latitude 60N and longitude 1000E) was carried out in this study.The artificial neural network model was used to predict the global solar radiation based on the available simple atmospheric parameters of ambient temperature.The statistical analyses were employed to validate the results obtained from the model.It is deduced from the results obtained that the values of the measured global solar radiation and the estimated values from artificial neural network model have a very close agreement and therefore, have been suggested to be utilized very efficiently in the prediction of the performance of global solar radiation for photovoltaic system application in UUM area and its environs.The values of mean bias error, root mean square error and mean percentage error are 0.00062, 0.00812 and -0.813 respectively.This confirmed the strong capacity of using the model to estimate global solar radiation in the study area for photovoltaic system utilization

Design and Construction of Wireless Instrumentation System for Measuring Solar Module Performance Parameters

This paper presents the development of a wireless instrumentation system for accurate characterization and evaluation of solar modules performance parameters under variable atmospheric conditions. A wireless transmitter that operate at 5V (315MHz) was designed and constructed to transmit electrical parameters of three different solar panels measured via current, temperature and voltage sensors to a constructed Omni-directional receiver that is made up of  inbuilt storage system. The measured electrical parameters from individual panels were evaluated in terms of their responses to variable atmospheric conditions and compared with that of manufacturer’s ratings. The results based on the plotted curves show that as individual panel temperature increases the output voltage also increases. Increase in output voltage result into increase in output current measured across the load resistor which also results into corresponding increase in output power of individual panel. The measured electrical parameters are within the manufacturer’s ratings range, except maximum output currents and maximum powers which show little differences from that of manufacturer’s ratings due to choice of load resistors used in the design which impede the free flow of current to some extent. Keywords: Design, Construction, wireless instrumentation, solar modules DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/9-10-09 Publication date:May 31st 201

Lean business model canvas and sustainable innovation business model based on the industrial synergy of microalgae cultivation

As a fundamental principle of natural resource management, sustainability encompasses a range of interrelated concepts, including operational efficiency, environmental effect minimization, and socioeconomic impact analysis. Microalgae have the capability to minimize CO2 emissions while also generating a large volume of oil, which might make them useful in the development of the next generation of biofuels. The emphasis was on researching the technological possibility of biofuel microalgae cultivation with CO2 provision from flue gas manufacturing due to various factors influencing microalgae production. Biodiesel microalgae, on the other hand, are quiet and far from commercially viable products due to numerous bottlenecks, which can be resolved by recognizing microalgae biomass manufacture as a market advantage when combined with a production facility from the perspective of a lean business model canvas for algae cultivation and sustainable business model innovation. This article aims to establish a lean canvas business model and a sustainable, innovative business model based on the industrial synergy of microalgae cultivation in the biodiesel production pathway. The results have contributed to developing scenarios for lean business model canvas and a sustainable, innovative business model for varying degrees of transition in the business model. Improved collaboration with external stakeholders and the introduction of new consumer networks were among the many examples given. The findings of the study contribute to a better understanding of how the global market for microalgae is changing

Effect of Annealing Temperature on Structural, Optical and Electrical Properties of Spin Coated Tin Oxide Thin Films for Solar Cells Application

Transparent Conducting Oxide (TCO) thin films are materials of significance for their applications in optoelectronics and sun powered cells. This paper reports the impact of annealing temperature on structural, optical and electrical properties of tin oxide (SnO2) thin films for solar cells application. The sol-gel was prepared from anhydrous stannous chloride, SnCl2 as precursor, 2-methoxyethanol as a solvent and di-ethanolamine as stabilizer. The thin film was deposited on glass substrates by means of spin coater at the rate of 2000rpm for 40 seconds. After pre-heated at 200oC, the samples were annealed at 300, 400, 500 and 600oC for 2 hours respectively. The structural, optical and electrical characteristics of prepared films were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, UV-visible spectroscopy and electrical measurement. X-ray diffraction pattern shows polycrystalline tetragonal-cassiterite structure with most extraordinary pinnacle having a grain size of 17.01nm. Annealing temperature increases the grain size. There is increment in the absorption of photon energy of the film as the annealing temperature decreases with increasing wavelength and the transmittance was basically increases with increasing annealing temperature as the wavelength increases. The energy band gaps were in the range of 4.116 to 4.106 eV. The sheet resistance was observed to decrease as the annealing temperature increases. In view of these outcomes, SnO2 thin films prepared could have useful application in transparent conducting oxide electrode in solar cell