Sukkur IBA Journal of Emerging Technologies

Experimental investigation of bird dropping and soiling on PV panel power output in a humid and dusty environment

basit ali, KANIZ FATIMA, AWAIZ IQBAL, SYED SAMEER ALI, MUHAMMAD NADEEM — Fri, 31 May 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Over the past few decades, the increased use of energy resources has led to an increase in electricity demand, which has compounded a constant shortage of nonrenewable energy resources. However, dust accumulation, humidity levels, temperature, and bird droppings can negatively affect the efficiency of PV systems. Bird droppings can cause shading areas and hot spots on PV cells, gradually reducing their performance. This study aims to investigate the impact of bird droppings and soiling on photovoltaic panels by developing an experimental setup. An experimental setup comprises two PV panels with monitoring and data logging sensors. During the cleaning process, one panel will be compared with a panel affected by bird droppings and soiling. The experiment was conducted for 25 days in a dusty and humid environment, affecting approximately 30% of the PV panel area by bird droppings. As a consequence, the panel's output decreased by 35%. In order to predict when the PV panel becomes completely opaque, resulting in zero power, after the experiment has been conducted, multiple linear regression techniques have been applied that show the whole panel will cover up in 82 days with bird droppings having a covering area of 128500 mm². The experimental investigation concluded that bird dropping and soiling can significantly impact PV panel output degradation. Regular cleaning patterns will help to ensure efficient operation and maximize electricity generation.

Development of a Synchronous Reluctance Motor for Industrial application

Syed Abid Ali Shah Bukhari, Vikram — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Synchronous reluctance motors offer promising advantages for industrial applications, including improved efficiency and reduced maintenance requirements. However, their widespread adoption is hindered by design complexities and performance limitations. This study focuses on addressing these challenges by developing a customized 24kW synchronous reluctance motor for industrial use, with a specific emphasis on centrifugal pumps. The research introduces a novel rotor design incorporating carefully designed flux barriers and flux carriers. Comprehensive machine analysis is conducted using the finite element method and Motor Solve software, while particle swarm optimization techniques are employed to enhance performance. Extensive simulations explore various machine parameters, and practical testing is conducted to validate the results and determine the optimized torque achievement. The results demonstrate significant improvements in the motor's performance. Compared to conventional induction motors used in similar applications, the optimized synchronous reluctance motor exhibits enhanced efficiency and smoother operation. The motor achieves notable advancements in terms of speed, efficiency, and torque characteristics, making it a valuable solution for industrial applications. The findings highlight the potential of the developed synchronous reluctance motor for industrial use. The motor design showcases excellent thermal performance, consistent steady-speed operation, and improved efficiency. This study contributes to the advancement of synchronous reluctance motor technology, showcasing its effectiveness and viability in diverse industrial settings. By addressing design complexities and optimizing performance, this research bridges the gap between the potential of synchronous reluctance motors and their practical implementation in industrial applications. Valuable insights are provided for the development of efficient and reliable synchronous reluctance motors in industrial systems.

A Noval Solar Simulator to Explore Envirnoment Impacts On Panel Efficiency

Shaheer Ahmad Zafar, Nasif Raza Jaffri, Toseef Abid, Usama Abrar — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0200

The paper provided a complete hardware design for a solar simulator for versatile environmental conditions. These conditions include shading, humidity, dust, and temperature. In this work, the solar simulator was designed and fabricated to analyze the performance of PV panels with and without air cooling mechanisms in indoor tests. The halogen bulbs with built-in reflector support by the steel structure holder act as natural sunlight. The challenge for a solar simulator is stable uniform solar radiation and illumination. The uniform solar radiation of 7,575 candela was measured in the test area. Several units of PV panels were tested on variable environmental conditions. The air-cooling mechanism with a speed of 200 km/h decreases the surface PV panels with an air-cooling mechanism decreased by 2.3 ˚C. This increases the efficiency of the panel by 6.11 % of the maximum power output based on different fixed solar radiation. They have also compared it by hardware and by simulation method. An overall method and procedure of the measurement by the solar simulator are discussed and proposed