07 Alternative energy sources (solar energy)

96l00524 Rural waste management In a south Indian village - A case study Chowdc Gowda, M. er al., Bioresource Technology, 1995, 53, (2), 157-164. A micro-level study was carried out in a typical south Indian village to assess the quantity and type of wastes generated and its present mode of management. This information was used to identify the appropriate tech- nologies which could enhance the value of the waste produced and, at the same time, improve the economic conditions of rural peo le. indicated that nearly 2364 tons of rural wastes in the form o P

The study crop residues,

animal manure and human excreta are produced annually in the village with a population of 510. About 77% of the waste generated in the village was used as domestic fuel, animal fodder and organic fertilizer for crop production. An energy balance sheet of the village indicated that the pre- sent consumption of biomass resources was 50% less than that actually required for various domestic and agricultural applications.

96106525 Seed-oil bio-fuel of low Cetane number: The effect of water emulsification on diesel-engine operatlon and emlsslons Crookes, R. I. et al., J. Inst. of Energy, Sep. 1995, 68, (476), 142-151. Results are presented of tests on a single-cylinder direct-in’ection diesel engine operating on diesel fuel and also a commercial see d -based oil in emulsions containing 5, 10 and 15% vol water. The tests covered a range of loads at two speeds. Values are given for ignition delay, specific fuel consumption, thermal efficiency and equivalence ratio, and the concentra- tions of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and smoke particulates in the exhaust gases. At the lower speed, ignition delay was longer for the vegetable oil and its emulsions. At the higher speed the neat fuels and similar ignition delays, but for the emulsions the delays or longer. Carbon dioxide emissions were similar for all fuels (although vegetable oil, a renewable energy source, may be a lower net contributor to atmospheric levels).

96100526 Surface analyses of pyrolysed rice husk using scanning force microscopy Vemoati. R. K. et al.. Fuel. Nov. 1995. 74. (11). 1722-1725. Scanning force micros’copy (SFM) also referred tdas atomic force micros- copy (AFM), has been used for the surface characterization of untreated and-pyrolysed rice husk samples. This technique, unlike scanning electron microscopy, provides both qualitative and quantttative measurements. The principles of SFM and sample preparation are discussed. Quantitative data m the form of surface roughness, void and fractal dimension are presented.

96100527 Using an inventory control model to establish blo- mass harvestlng policies &ado, S. C. and Strauss, C. H. Solar Energy, Jan. 1995, 54, (l), 3-11. The financial performance of a biomass-dependent production system was evaluated using an inventory control model. Dynamic programming was employed to examine the constraints and capabilities of producing ethanol from various biomass crops. In particular, the model evaluated the planta- tion, harvest, and manufacturing components of a woody biomass supply system. Using inventory control to establish biomass harvesting policies is one way of achieving a cost efficient operation.

Solar Energy

66106526 Advances In solar energy, Volume 10 Boer, (Ed.) American Solar Energy Sociery, 2400 Central Ave., Suite G- I, Boulder, CO.80301, USA, $125.00, 199S, 560~~. Some of the topics included in this book are: PV performance, standards and codes, SDHW and utilities, solar detoxification and disinfection, financing solar relative to fossil alternatives.

96100529 1995 Annual Solar Conference Proceedings Campbell-Howe, R. and Wilkins-Crowder, B. American Solar Energy Sociery, 2400 Ceniral Ave., Suite G-l, Boulder, CO.80301, USA, $100.00, 436 pp.

96lOO530 Basic hydrodynamic aspects of a solar energy based desallnatlon process Bemporad, G. A. Solar Energy, Feb. 1995, 54, (2), 125-134. The theoretical feasibilitv of a solar enerev based desalination scheme is analyzed in this study. The ro osed schyme exploits the vapor pressure difference between fluids o P .P dt ferent salinities and temperatures to pro- duce fresh water from seawater.

96160531 Calculating window solar heat gain Wright, L. ASHRAE J., Jul. 1995, 37, (7), 18-22. Discusses a number of methods to accurately determine the amounts of solar gain provided by windows and what affects solar gain.

96100532 Can the world make the transition to a sustainable economy drlven by solar energy? King, J. and Slesser, M. Inr. J. Environ. Pollut., 1995, 5, (l), 14-29. The authors explore the ability of the world economy to replace fossil and fissile energy sources with solar-flux-driven renewable energy sources using a natural capital accounting procedure known as ECCO, in the form of the world model GLobEcco. It is found that the dynamics of substitution are favourable for the developed (First) world in that, with a policies, a transition can be made before easily accessible or and gas .P

propriate

resources are seriouslv deoleted. However. this is not so for the less devel- oped (Third) world, owing to the latter’s low capacity for wealth creation and its higher population growth, even when aid from the First World is increased by a factor of six.

96lOQ533 Comparatlve anelysls of active and passive solar heating systems wlth transparent Insulation Peuportier, B. and Michel, J. Solar Energy, Jan. 1995, 54, (l), 13-16. The objective of this research is to achieve a high solar fraction in social housing, for which investment costs are strictly limited. Six houses have been built in the east of France: two with active (solar collectors) and four with passive (Trombe walls) solar heating systems. Two types of transpar- ent covers are compared: a capillary structure and a simpler polycarbonate plate. The project was monitored over a measurements as well as simulation p”

riod of one year. Experimental resu ts are presented.

96106534 A comparison between the steady state perform- ance of particulate and conventional tubeless collectors Al-Nimr, M. A. Energy Convers. Mgmf., Oct. 1995,36, (lo), 1007-1014. In order to compare the performance of a particulate collector with that of a conventional type, two mathematical models which describe the steady state behaviour of these collectors are presented. From the results of these models, it is concluded that the effiaency of the particulate collector is higher than that of the conventional type by 5-100%. This im rovement in the efficiency by the particulate collector is due to its much ower surface P temperature compared to the surface temperature of the conventional tube- less type. It is found that the improvement in performance, resulting from using the particulate collector, is more significant at high Biot and low Peclet numbers. Also, the improvement becomes more apparent as the length of the collector increases.

96/00636 Concentrating parabolic collectors: A patent survey Imadojemu, H. E. Energy Convers. Mgmr., Apr. 1995, 36, (4), 225-237. A detailed patent survey of various types of low and intermediate tempera- ture concentrating collectors is presented. The survey examines the pro- gress in the area-of concentrating collectors (mostly novel concentrators) since 1978. The review shows a considerable decline in the amount of invention in solar energy in the 198Os, although many innovative ideas exist for improved solar energy collection and application. Recent develop- ments have been focused on the hieh temoerature ranne and oower towers (dish, heliostats, etc.) Even though;olar e‘nergy is freeand cl&n, little has been done to utilize fully its potential for meeting our energy needs. This survey summarizes and provides this information in an organized manner.

96l60536 Concentration distributions In cycllndrlcal receiverlparabololdal dish concentrator systems Jones, P. D. and Wang, L. Solar Energy, Feb. 1995, 54, (2), 115-123. Concentration distributions on a cylindrical receiver in a paraboloidal dish concentrator are computed for space applications (no atmosphere). A geo- metric optics method is applied which integrates over the solar disk and the concentrator projected surface, and maps analytically, in implicit closed form, through the concentrator and onto the receiver. Finite sunshape, con- centrator surface errors, and pointing system zero-mean and constant offset errors are considered. Results define the section of the receiver surface which receives the majority of the concentrated flux, where the receiver’s aperture might be located.

96100537 A correction method for solar radiatlon measure- ments made using non-calibrated Eppley-type and Robltzsch- type pyranometers Soulavman, S. S. and Daude. N. ADDlied Enerav, 1995.52, (2). 125-132. An effective method is proposed, in’ihe present work, to.reduce’considera- blv the hieh errors normal in solar radiation data obtained bv actinoeraohs or’by non-calibrated Eppley-type pyranometers. The method is ba&d’on constructing two annual distributions of clear sky solar radiation in each location studies. One of them should be constructed using measurements of an accurate instrument for this purpose, while the other is based on the actinograph or/and non-calibrated Ep tion. Then the correction factor can !I

ley-type pyranometer under utiliza- e deduced from these distributions.

The correction factor for a Robitzsch-type pyranometer has been found to be strongly dependent on the ambient temperature.

96l66636 A crltlcal look at recent interpretatlons of the Ang- strom approach and Its future In global solar radlatlon predlc- tlon (letter to the Edltor) Gueymard, C. er al., Solar Energy, May 1995, 54, (5). 357-363.

32 Fuel and Energy Abstracts January 1996