Peer Reviewed Articles
Solar Concentrator for Industrial Thermal Application – Indian Scenario
V.R. Sardeshpande and I.R. Pillai (India)
Proceedings of the IASTED International Conference. July 15-17, 2010
Abstract
One of the target applications of solar energy is reduction in fossil fuel utilization for thermal heating. Medium temperature thermal applications are typically in the range of 80 – 250 °C, which can be met by using solar concentrators. In India with favourable incoming solar radiation, the use of solar concentrators for thermal applications can be a viable option and should be addressed along with power generation. This paper presents the characteristics and economics of the two solar concentrators in the Indian market, Scheffler and ARUN. The economics in the form of payback period is used to estimate the penetration potential of the two concentrators in the medium temperature industrial market. The factors considered for the economic evaluation are the solar system characteristics, sunshine hours, and conventional fuel replaced. The fraction of potential users for the target temperature of 150 °C is estimated as 19% for Scheffler concentrators and 4% for ARUN. With the present Indian government policies of capital subsidy and accelerated depreciation this fraction becomes 57% in case of Scheffler and 24% in case of ARUN. This reflects the need for government support for penetration of solar concentrators or development of a new low cost solar concentrator.
Effect of micro-level and macro-level factors on adoption potential of solar concentrators for medium temperature thermal applications
Energy for Sustainable Development
16 (2), 216-233 (2012)
Abstract
One of the target applications of solar energy is reduction in fossil fuel utilization for thermal heating. Medium temperature thermal applications are typically in the range of 80 – 250 °C, which can be met by using solar concentrators. In India with favourable incoming solar radiation, the use of solar concentrators for thermal applications can be a viable option and should be addressed along with power generation. This paper presents the characteristics and economics of the two solar concentrators in the Indian market, Scheffler and ARUN. The economics in the form of payback period is used to estimate the penetration potential of the two concentrators in the medium temperature industrial market. The factors considered for the economic evaluation are the solar system characteristics, sunshine hours, and conventional fuel replaced. The fraction of potential users for the target temperature of 150 °C is estimated as 19% for Scheffler concentrators and 4% for ARUN. With the present Indian government policies of capital subsidy and accelerated depreciation this fraction becomes 57% in case of Scheffler and 24% in case of ARUN. This reflects the need for government support for penetration of solar concentrators or development of a new low cost solar concentrator.
Procedure for thermal performance evaluation of steam generating point-focus solar concentrators
Solar Energy
85 (7), 1390-1398 (2011)
Abstract
One of the target applications of solar energy is reduction in fossil fuel utilization for thermal heating. Medium temperature thermal applications are typically in the range of 80 – 250 °C, which can be met by using solar concentrators. In India with favourable incoming solar radiation, the use of solar concentrators for thermal applications can be a viable option and should be addressed along with power generation. This paper presents the characteristics and economics of the two solar concentrators in the Indian market, Scheffler and ARUN. The economics in the form of payback period is used to estimate the penetration potential of the two concentrators in the medium temperature industrial market. The factors considered for the economic evaluation are the solar system characteristics, sunshine hours, and conventional fuel replaced. The fraction of potential users for the target temperature of 150 °C is estimated as 19% for Scheffler concentrators and 4% for ARUN. With the present Indian government policies of capital subsidy and accelerated depreciation this fraction becomes 57% in case of Scheffler and 24% in case of ARUN. This reflects the need for government support for penetration of solar concentrators or development of a new low cost solar concentrator.
Test Apparatus for Performance Evaluation of Compressed Air End-Use Applications
Open Journal of Energy Efficiency
2, 29-33 (2013)
Abstract
Compressed air is an integral utility part of industrial utility systems. Any improvement in compressed air system will lead to reduction in utility cost. The effectiveness of utilization side of compressed air is usually dependent upon operator’s discretion. There is no performance testing methods available for testing existing end use equipments. A test apparatus for estimation of compressed air flow based on measurement of pressure reduction in a fixed volume cylinder in a given time is developed. The test apparatus is easy to build and simple to operate in an industrial environment. This can be used for measuring performance of any pneumatic end-use equipment and for benchmarking the performance. The test apparatus was used in a foundry for quantifying the performance of the old and new blow guns.
