Modeling and technical–economic optimization of an autonomous photovoltaic system

Solar energy technologies offer a clean and renewable energy source, and are essential components of a sustainable energy future. The current paper presents a method for technical–economic optimization of an autonomous photovoltaic system. The principal objective of this study is to find the optimum characteristics of a photovoltaic system, able to accomplish the energy requirements of a given load distribution, for a specific site.Mathematical models are exploited to analyze the working of the photovoltaic system. These models present an estimation of the recovered solar energy anywhere and anytime, an evaluation of the electric energy produced by a photovoltaic generator and a determination of the storage unit characteristics. Then, the optimizing step is done based on lack of energy to generate probability (LEGP), percentage of the surplus of energy produced (PSEP) and the cost of the kilowatt-hour produced (C_kWh).A case study has been presented to determine the optimal system configuration used to satisfy the requirements of a typical residential home located in Sfax, Tunisia.     

Benzodiazepine Derivatives as Corrosion Inhibitors of Carbon Steel in HCl Media: Electrochemical and Theoretical Studies

Protection of Metals and Physical Chemistry of Surfaces - New benzodiazepine derivatives, namely 8-Chloro-1,2,3,4,10,11-hyxahydrospiro[cyclohexane-1,11-dibenzo[1,4]diazipine] and...     

Variations in essential oil and fatty acid composition during Myrtus communis var. italica fruit maturation

The essential oil and fatty acid composition of Myrtus communis var. italica fruit during its ripening was determined. The effect of the harvesting time on some physical properties of Myrtus fruits, fruit weight and moisture content, were significant. The increase of fruit weight (from 2.54 to 8.79 g% fruits) during ripeness was correlated positively with that of moisture content (from 28% to 72%). Fruit essential oil yields varied from 0.003% to 0.01% and showed a remarkable increase at 60 days after flowering to reach a maximum of 0.11%. Forty-seven volatile compounds were identified in fruit essential oils; 1,8-cineole (7.31–40.99%), geranyl acetate (1.83–20.54%), linalool (0.74–18.92%) and α-pinene (1.24–12.64%) were the main monoterpene compounds. Total fatty acid contents varied from 0.81% to 3.10% during fruit maturation and the predominant fatty acids were linoleic (12.21–71.34%), palmitic (13.58–37.07%) and oleic (6.49–21.89%) acids. The linoleic acid proportions correlated inversely with palmitic and oleic acids during all the stages of ripening.     

Composition and insecticidal activity of essential oil from Pistacia lentiscus L. against Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller and Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

This study reports investigations on the chemical constituents and fumigant toxicity of Pistacia lentiscus L. (Anacardiaceae) essential oil against two major stored-date insects, carob moth Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller and Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella Zeller. Results showed that P. lentiscus essential oil contained terpinene-4-ol (23.32%), α-terpineol (7.12%) and β-caryophyllene (22.62%) as major compounds. Fumigant toxicity tests showed that P. lentiscus oil was more toxic to E. kuehniella (LC₅₀ = 1.84 μl/l, LC₉₅ = 5.14 μl/l) than E. ceratoniae (LC₅₀ = 3.29 μl/l, LC₉₅ = 14.24 μl/l). The fecundity and hatching rate of both insects decreased with increases in concentration or exposure time to the oil. At 136 μl/l air, fecundities and hatching rates were respectively 35 eggs/female and 42.86% for E. ceratoniae and 78 eggs/female and 29.49% for E. kuehniella.     

Analytical evaluation of six monovarietal virgin olive oils from Northern Tunisia

The characterization of virgin olive oils from six Tunisian cultivars, namely Chétoui, Ain Jarboua, Jarboui, Regregui, Rekhami and Neb Jmel, grown in Nebeur (a region of the Kef) was carried out. These cultivars dominate their natural habitats, but with the exception of the Chétoui cultivar they are only scattered throughout the nation. Several analytical parameters were evaluated; these include quality index, fatty acid composition, chlorophylls, carotenoids, sterols, α‐tocopherol and phenolic compounds. Their relationship with oxidative stability was also tested. The main phenols found were tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol, the dialdehydic form of elenolic acid linked to tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein aglycon and pinoresinol. These phenolic compounds, the colorimetric total phenol content and o‐diphenols showed significant correlations with oxidative stability. Furthermore, most of the analytical parameters of the oils that were determined in this study were greatly influenced by genetic factors (cultivar).     

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Components and Oxidative Stability from Olives Grown in Tunisia

The effects of the contents of lipids, pigments, α-tocopherol and phenols were studied in relation to the antioxidant capacity of five virgin olive oils obtained from five olive cultivars planted in Tunisia (Arbequina, Koroneiki, Leccino, Oueslati and Chemchali). The antioxidant capacities were evaluated by two different radical scavenging activities: radical scavenging activity by the DPPH assay (RSA-DPPH) and total antioxidant status by the ABTS test (TAA-ABTS). The highest contents of antioxidant compounds (75.96, 10.34, 6.32, 15.39 and 241.52 mg kg⁻¹ for oleic acid, O/L ratio, carotenes, chlorophylls and total phenols, respectively) were found for the Koroneiki cultivar except for α-tocopherol and o-diphenols, which had the highest contents (369 and 160.7 mg kg⁻¹, respectively) in the Leccino and Chemchali cultivars (cvs). Furthermore, the highest antioxidant capacity in virgin olive oil was observed in the Koroneiki cultivar (0.24 mmol TE kg⁻¹) followed by the Chemchali and Leccino cvs (0.22 and 0.13 mmol TE kg⁻¹) for the TAA-ABTS test. However, the RSA-DPPH activity was higher for the Chemchali cultivar (19.9%) than for the Koroneiki and Leccino cvs (18.4 and 13.5%, respectively). Correlation between these capacities and the oil composition revealed that they were mainly influenced by the carotene content, followed by chlorophyll and phenolic contents where the ABTS test was more pronounced. Then, the antioxidant capacity of the virgin olive oils was correlated with polar components and the lipid profile which are important for its shelf life.     

Numerical modelling of production from the Poihipi dry steam zone: Wairakei geothermal system,New Zealand

The Poihipi power station utilizes dry steam from a shallow zone near the margin of the Wairakei geothermal reservoir. The station has been in operation for several years, with daily variations in the fluid production rate following variations in time-of-day pricing of electricity. The corresponding varying pressure history provides a good database for testing models of the geothermal reservoir.     

Synthesis of Novel Tetra(µ3-Methoxo) Bridged with [Cu(II)-O-Cd(II)] Double-Open-Cubane Cluster: XRD/HSA-Interactions,Spectral and Oxidizing Properties

A new double-open-cubane core Cd(II)-O-Cu(II) bimetallic ligand mixed cluster of type [Cl₂Cu₄Cd₂(NNO)₆(NN)₂(NO₃)₂].CH₃CN was made available in EtOH/CH₃CN solution. The 1-hydroxymethyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazole (NNOH) and 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (NNH) act as N,O-polydentate anion ligands in coordinating the Cu(II) and Cd(II) centers. The structure of the cluster in the solid state was proved by XRD study and confirmed in the liquid state by UV-vis analysis. The XRD result supported the construction of two octahedral and one square pyramid geometries types around the four Cu(II) centers and only octahedral geometry around Cd(II) two centers. Interestingly, NNOH ligand acts as a tetra-µ³-oxo and tri-µ²-oxo ligand; meanwhile, the N-N in NNH acts as classical bidentate anion/neutral ligands. The interactions in the lattice were detected experimentally by the XRD-packing result and computed via Hirschfeld surface analysis (HSA). The UV-vis., FT-IR and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), supported the desired double-open cubane cluster composition. The oxidation potential of the desired cluster was evaluated using a 3,5-DTB-catechol 3,5-DTB-quinone as a catecholase model reaction.     

Theoretical Prediction and Experimental Study of Benzimidazole Derivate as a Novel Corrosion Inhibitor for Carbon Steel in 1.0 M HCl

Protection of Metals and Physical Chemistry of Surfaces - The inhibiting effect of benzimidazole derivate (DBI) on corrosion of carbon steel (CS) at temperature range of 303–333 K was...