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For the first time, we here propose a green methodology to modify a low bandgap polymer for highly efficient solar cells using atmospheric pressure plasma jet or soft plasma operating on different feeding gases (air, Ar and N2). The physical properties of the modified polymer were investigated using conductivity measurements, UV-visible spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, cyclic voltammograms, atomic force microscopy, cathodoluminescence and confocal Raman spectroscopy. Further, we examined the variation of the work function of the polymer before and after plasma treatment using a γ-focused ion beam. Additionally, photovoltaic cells based on the plasma-modified polymer having ITO/PEDOT:PSS/PHVTT (with or without plasma modification):PC71BM/LiF/Al configuration were fabricated and then characterized. We found that the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the plasma-modified polymer increased dramatically as compared to the control polymer (without plasma treatment). PCE of the control polymer was found to be 4.11%, while after air, Ar and N2 gas plasma treatment the polymer showed PCEs of 4.85%, 4.87% and 5.14% respectively. Thus, plasma treatment not only alters the surface properties, but also modifies the bulk properties (changes in HOMO and LUMO bandgap level). Hence, this work provides new dimensions to explore more about plasma and polymer chemistry.

The growing population and increasing urbanization have led to a surge in domestic wastewater generation, posing significant challenges for effective and sustainable treatment. The present study demonstrates a novel and sustainable approach for the onsite treatment of domestic wastewater using an integrated settler-based biofilm reactor (ISBR) with efficient biogas generation. The ISBR provides an optimized environment for the growth of biofilm, facilitating the removal of organic pollutants and pathogens. Moreover, the ISBR enables the recovery of a valuable resource in the form of biogas, thus enhancing the overall utility of the treatment process. The performance of the ISBR was comprehensively evaluated at laboratory scale through treating the actual domestic wastewater generated from the hostel of Manipal University Jaipur. The ISBR system was operated under an ambient environment at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 24 h. The results demonstrated remarkable efficiency in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), and coliforms removal, with average removal efficiency being more than 90%. According to the COD mass balance analysis, 48.2% of the influent COD was recovered as bioenergy. The chromatogram revealed a high percentage of methane gas in the collected biogas sample. The field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) analysis of the accumulated sludge in the ISBR system depicted the morphology of methanogenic bacteria. Both the experimental and theoretical results confirmed the feasibility and sustainability of the ISBR system at the onsite level.

A thermoelectric generator with zero internal resistance, vanishing heat leakage and negligible production of Thomson heat is considered. It is shown that such a generator behaves as an ideal Carnot engine or an endoreversible Carnot engine depending upon whether the heat transfer mechanism at the junctions is reversible or a finite rate. Furthermore, the optimized power of the generator is found to be greater than that of the endoreversible Carnot engine.

Abstract This article introduces an effective stochastic operation framework for optimal energy management of the shipboard power systems including large, nonlinear and dynamic loads. The proposed framework divides the ship power system into several agents, which coordinate with each other based on their demands/supplies until. The alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) is deployed as the multi-agent framework to solve the reformulated distributed energy management problem in the ship. Two types of turbo-generators are considered in the proposed system model, including single-shaft and twin-shaft models, to increase the part-load efficiency in certain times when facing variable speed operation. The proposed distributed framework is equipped with a recursive mechanism, which helps the ship system for running optimal load scheduling when facing insufficient power generation. In order to model the uncertainty effects associated with the forecast error in the interval-ahead load demand, a stochastic framework based on unscented transform is devised which can work in the nonlinear and correlated environments of shipboard power systems. Due to the nonlinear cost function in each agent, a powerful optimization algorithm based on modified θ-firefly algorithm (Mθ-FOA) is proposed. This is a phasor algorithm, which helps for escaping from premature convergence and getting trapped in local optima. The appropriate performance of the proposed stochastic model is examined on the real dataset of a ship power system. The simulation results show the high robustness, guarantied consensus, economic operation and feasible solution when power generation shortage based on load shedding in the system.

AbstractRecently, modern power systems depend heavily on MicroGrids (MGs), which can accommodate Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) economically and with high flexibility. MGs integrated with DERs can assist in enhancing energy security, significant cost savings, and reduction in emission of greenhouse gases. In this paper, the assessment of operating performance of proposed MG system with DERs is employed to investigate the multi‐objective problems of cost optimization and economic scheduling. A grid‐connected Micro‐grid (MG) combined with solar photovoltaic (PV), wind turbine (WT), fuel cell (FC), and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is implemented to model the problem. This proposed model is considered as a test system for cost optimization and battery charging/discharging optimization. The developed framework is presented as multi‐objective function with constraints that can be tackled using an effective optimization technique. The above stochastic multi‐objective problem is optimized using various commonly used Physics based Meta‐heuristic techniques such as Simulated Annealing (SA), Harmony Search (HS), Slime Mold Algorithm (SMA), Gravitational Search Algorithm (GSA), Black Hole Optimization (BHO), Sine Cosine Algorithm (SCA), Multiverse optimization (MVO) and Lightning Search Algorithm (LSA). The assessment of the aforementioned physics‐based optimization techniques used on the proposed MG test system is compared using the results. According to the analysis, Black Hole Optimization (BHO) and Lightning Search Algorithm (LSA) both provide greater cost savings overall and for battery charging, respectively. The suggested optimization methods will take the BESS charging/discharging pattern and total cost savings into account.

In Belgium, and many other countries, rooftop solar panels are becoming a ubiquitous form of decentralised energy production. The increasing share of these distributed installations however imposes many challenges on the operators of the low-voltage distribution grid. They must keep the voltage levels and voltage balance on their grids in check and are often regulatory required to provide sufficient reception capacity for new power producing installations. By placing solar panels in different inclinations and azimuth angles, power production profiles can possibly be shifted to align more with residential power consumption profiles. In this article, it is investigated if the orientation of solar panels can have a mitigating impact on the integration problems on residential low voltage distribution grids. An improved simulation model of a solar panel installation is constructed, which is used to simulate the impact on a residential distribution grid. To stay as close to real-life conditions as possible, real irradiation data and a model of an existing grid are used. Both the developed model as the results on grid impact are evaluated.

Many non-electrified rural communities find it challenging to follow a precise scientific protocol to assess the feasibility of installing a wind turbine on their site. The objective of the present work is to define a clear protocol for the assessment of wind potential of a rural site. The case of Logone Birni (LB) is taken as a case study. For this purpose, a protocol, integrating the wind parameters of the site have been used to calculate the wind power density, annual energy yield, and capacity factors at 10, 30, and 50 m height using 15 years data. The wind frequency distribution including seasonal has been investigated to determine accurately the wind power of the site. The coefficient of variation is calculated at three different heights. Also, an economic assessment per kWh of energy has been carried out. The results of this study show that it is possible to install a wind farm in LB site with a minimum of 30m height. In addition, wind turbines with a starting speed of 1.5 m/s and a rated power of 20 kW will produce electricity at a low cost (0.453USD/kWh).

Abstract The impact of a twisted turbulator in a parabolic solar collector on the improvement of thermal–hydraulic performance (THP), as well as energy and exergy Efficiency of MgO-Cu/water hybrid nanofluid (HNF) is numerically evaluated. The main goal of this study is to use a twisted turbulator with pitch ratios (γ) of 1, 1.5, 2, and 2.5 for Reynolds numbers (Re) of 8000 to 32,000 and volume fractions (ϕ) of 1, 2, and 3% of MgO and Cu nanoparticles. Numerical simulation findings are reported in the form of graphs of average Nusselt number (Nuave), pressure drop (Δp), THP, energy Efficiency ( η c ) , and exergy Efficiency ( η ex ) . It can be concluded that Nuave and Δp depends on ϕ and Re and augments linearly with their values. Moreover, Nuave and Δp increases significantly by increasing the pitch ratio of the turbulator. The results revealed that the maximum values of augmentation of η c and η ex are respectively 23.79% and 21.15% by raising Re from 8000 to 32000. In a SC with a turbulator with γ = 2 and ϕ = 3%, η c is raised by 24.16% by increasing Re from 8000 to 32000; while, in the case of γ = 2.5 and ϕ = 3%, η c is enhanced by 18.2%.