An analytical-numerical approach for parameter determination of a five-parameter single-diode model of photovoltaic cells and modules

Parameter extraction of the five-parameter single-diode model of solar cells and modules from experimental data is a challenging problem. These parameters are evaluated from a set of nonlinear equations that cannot be solved analytically. On the other hand, a numerical solution of such equations needs a suitable initial guess to converge to a solution. This paper presents a new set of approximate analytical solutions for the parameters of a five-parameter single-diode model of photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules. The proposed solutions provide a good initial point which guarantees numerical analysis convergence. The proposed technique needs only a few data from the PV current-voltage characteristics, i.e. open circuit voltage V_oc, short circuit current I_sc and maximum power point current and voltage I_m; V_m making it a fast and low cost parameter determination technique. The accuracy of the presented theoretical I–V curves is verified by experimental data.     

Enzyme-assisted extraction of chicken skin protein hydrolysates and fat: Degree of hydrolysis affects the physicochemical and functional properties

Enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) of oils/fats involves the disruption of the cell wall of source material using enzymes to facilitate the release of oil. When proteases are used as the enzyme, EAE ends in the extracted oil as well as the protein hydrolysates. Herein, the EAE (using a commercial protease, Alcalase) was exploited to obtain fat and protein hydrolysates from chicken skin. Degree of hydrolysis (DH, the percentage ratio of cleaved peptide bonds), which showed a logarithmic correlation with the reaction time, was found to affect the properties of the products. As the DH increased, the peptide chain length of protein hydrolysates decreased which was confirmed by SDS-PAGE analysis. With the increase of DH, the emulsifying activity index, foaming capacity, and oil holding capacity of the hydrolysates decreased but the solubility and emulsion stability index increased (p < 0.05). The DPPH free radical scavenging activity of the hydrolysates increased with the DH up to DH = 39.62% but decreased thereafter (p < 0.05). EAE resulted in a rise in fat yield and the fat contained a higher amount of unsaponifiables and lower free fatty acids (FFA) content, as compared to the control treatment (No enzyme, 80°C, 2 h, p < 0.05). DH affected the fat yield and the unsaponifiables content of the fat, positively (p < 0.05). However, it did not affect the fat FFA content and iodine value (p > 0.05). Results obtained here showed DH can be used as an effective measure for controlling the physicochemical and functional properties of chicken skin protein hydrolysates and fat in the EAE process.     

Effect of Zirconia Concentration on the Growth of Nanowires in Bioactive Glass–Ceramic Coatings

Bioactive glass–ceramic with various zirconia concentrations was applied on stainless steel (SS) by the sol–gel method. Bioactive glass powder was prepared by the sol–gel method, and thermal properties of the prepared powders were studied by differential thermal analysis (DTA). The effects of zirconia were investigated to explore the growth of nanowires. The growth model of nanowires, in this study, is proposed in terms of the surface diffusion. The coatings showed the hardness values to be in the range of 3000–4500 MPa. The hardness values of prepared composite coatings increased with an increase in zirconia amounts.     

Two-sided wind catcher performance evaluation using experimental,numerical and analytical modeling

Experimental wind tunnel and smoke visualization testing as well as CFD and analytical modeling were conducted to investigate the performance of a two-sided wind catcher. This type of wind catcher is divided internally into two halves for the purposes of air supply and extract. In this study, the two-sided wind catcher model was constructed of two similar one-sided wind catcher models, which were attached together back to back. These one-sided models are 1:40 scale models of Kharmani's School wind catcher in the city of Yazd. Experimental investigations were carried out using an open-circuit wind tunnel and both the induced volumetric airflow into the building and the pressure coefficients around all surfaces of the wind catcher model were measured at various wind angles. Furthermore, the CFD simulation was also used to evaluate the pressure coefficient distribution and airflow pattern around and through the wind catcher. Additional experimental tests and computational fluid dynamics simulation of the wind catcher in the wind tunnel were also conducted in order to assess the accuracy of measurement procedures and the uncertainty of experimental results. This article also represents a semi-empirical approach in which experimental data were used for a detailed analytic model, in order to provide an accurate estimate of the performance of wind catchers. It was found that for an isolated two-sided wind catcher model, the maximum efficiency is achieved at the angle of 90°. At this air incident angle the wind catcher efficiency increases approximately 20% more than the one at zero angle. The experimental investigations demonstrated the potential of two-sided wind catcher for enhancing the natural ventilation inside buildings. It can be seen that CFD simulation and analytical modeling results have a good agreement with the experimental results. Theoretical modeling can also help to assess the accuracy of measurement procedures and the uncertainty of experimental results.     

Reduced degree displacement functions for instability and nonlinear structural analysis

A procedure for simplifying the derivation of stiffness matrices used in the finite element analysis of instability and nonlinear structural problems is presented. The displacement functions assumed to derive the nonlinear components of element stiffness matrices provide inter-element continuity of displacement derivatives of order one less than appear in the energy functional and therefore comply with established convergence criteria for finite element analysis. For the class of problems discussed, this implies the use of linear polynomial displacement functions, which simplifies the derivation considerably and avoids the need for complex numerical integration. A number of practical examples are discussed to illustrate the effectiveness of this procedure.     

The preparation of thiophenes. III. From aromatic compounds and carbon disulphide

The high-temperature, vapour-phase reaction of carbon disulphide with 2-isopropyl-phenol and with o-methylbenzyl alcohol in the presence of various catalysts gave high yields of 3-methylbenzo[b]furan and dihydrobenzo[c]thiophene, respectively.     

The preparation of thiophenes. II. From C5-C7-molecules and carbon disulphide

Substituted thiophenes have been obtained in high yields by passing C₅-C₇-molecules and carbon disulphide (CS₂) over a promoted chromium-aluminium oxide catalyst (Girdler G41)¹ in the vapour phase at 500°C. Both the scope and mechanism of these reactions have been studied using an alkane and a number of alcohols and ketones, and the reaction products have been identified. The reaction of pentan-₂-ol with ¹³C-carbon disulphide (¹³CS₂) has been carried out to study the incorporation of the carbon atom of the CS₂ into the thiophene ring.     

Photocatalytic decomposition of VOCs by AC–TiO2 and EG–TiO2 nanocomposites

Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy - In this study, TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs)-based catalysts were prepared for the photocatalytic removal of toluene as a model VOC from air under UV light....     

First Application of Newly Developed FT-NIR Spectroscopic Methodology to Predict Authenticity of Extra Virgin Olive Oil Retail Products in the USA

Economically motivated adulteration (EMA) of extra virgin olive oils (EVOO) has been a worldwide problem and a concern for government regulators for a long time. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is mandated to protect the US public against intentional adulteration of foods and has jurisdiction over deceptive label declarations. To detect EMA of olive oil and address food safety vulnerabilities, we used a previously developed rapid screening methodology to authenticate EVOO. For the first time, a recently developed FT-NIR spectroscopic methodology in conjunction with partial least squares analysis was applied to commercial products labeled EVOO purchased in College Park, MD, USA to rapidly predict whether they are authentic, potentially mixed with refined olive oil (RO) or other vegetable oil(s), or are of lower quality. Of the 88 commercial products labeled EVOO that were assessed according to published specified ranges, 33 (37.5%) satisfied the three published FT-NIR requirements identified for authentic EVOO products which included the purity test. This test was based on limits established for the contents of three potential adulterants, oils high in linoleic acid (OH-LNA), oils high in oleic acid (OH-OLA), palm olein (PO), and/or RO. The remaining 55 samples (62.5%) did not meet one or more of the criteria established for authentic EVOO. The breakdown of the 55 products was EVOO potentially mixed with OH-LNA (25.5%), OH-OLA (10.9%), PO (5.4%), RO (25.5%), or a combination of any of these four (32.7%). If assessments had been based strictly on whether the fatty acid composition was within the established ranges set by the International Olive Council (IOC), less than 10% would have been identified as non-EVOO. These findings are significant not only because they were consistent with previously published data based on the results of two sensory panels that were accredited by IOC but more importantly each measurement/analysis was accomplished in less than 5 min.