Faculty Publications
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Item Efficiency improvement on the multicrystalline silicon wafer through six sigma methodology(2012) Saravanan, S.; Mahadevan, M.; Suratkar, P.; Gijo, E.V.Crystalline silicon solar cell technology continues to be dominant in the photovoltaic (PV) technology due to its novel process flow and the clear understanding of the material. Being a mature material-based technology; on the one hand, it has quite a few opportunities for improvement, on the other hand, the expansion of solar energy should depend on this technology. Due to increase in the global energy consumption and high competition level in the market, it has become necessary to show significant improvement in the performance of the present process/product. The demand for high efficiency solar cells at low costs with shorter cycle times forced the manufacturing industries to improve their processes by applying systematic methodologies such as Six Sigma. This paper illustrates the importance of anti-reflective coatings (ARCs) on the silicon solar cell processes and the successful implementation of Six Sigma to improve the efficiency of the silicon solar cells. The different phases of the Six Sigma DMAIC approach applied to the process and the results are interpreted. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.Item Synthesis and band gap tuning in CdSe(1-x)Te(x) thin films for solar cell applications(Elsevier Ltd, 2017) Santhosh, T.C.M.; Bangera, K.V.; Shivakumar, G.K.Thin films of CdSe(1-x)Te(x) (x = 0 – 1) were grown on to the glass substrates by thermal evaporation method (PVD). The effect of annealing duration on the formation of single phase ternary alloys were systematically investigated. The prepared thin films were characterized by using FE-SEM, EDS and X-ray diffractometer. The X-ray diffraction studies shows that vacuum annealed films are polycrystalline in nature, and well oriented along a preferred direction of (0 0 2) for hexagonal and along (1 1 1) for cubic crystal structure. It is observed that increase in the CdTe concentration leads to change in the crystal structure from hexagonal to cubic. The absorption coefficients and optical band gaps were evaluated from spectrometric measurements. It is observed that optical band gap can be tuned from 1.67 eV to 1.51 eV as value of x varied from 0 to 1. © 2017 Elsevier LtdItem An over-limit risk assessment of PV integrated power system using probabilistic load flow based on multi-time instant uncertainty modeling(Elsevier Ltd, 2018) Prusty, B.R.; Jena, D.In this paper, the risk assessment of a PV integrated power system is accomplished by computing the over-limit probabilities and the severities of events such as under-voltage, over-voltage, over-load, and thermal over-load. These aspects are computed by performing temperature-augmented probabilistic load flow (TPLF) using Monte Carlo simulation. For TPLF, the historical data for PV generation, ambient temperature, and load power, each collected at twelve specific time instants of a day for the past five years are pre-processed by using three linear regression models for accurate uncertainty modeling. For PV generation data, the developed model is capable of filtering out the annual predictable periodic variation (owing to positioning of the Sun) and decreasing production trend due to ageing effect whereas, for ambient temperature and load power, the corresponding models accurately remove the annual cyclic variations in the data and their growth. The simulations pertaining to the aforesaid risk assessment are performed on a PV integrated New England 39-bus test system. The system over-limit risk indices are calculated for different PV penetrations and input correlations. In addition, the changes in the values of TPLF model parameters on the statistics of the result variables are analyzed. The risk indices so obtained help in executing necessary steps to reduce system risks for reliable operation. © 2017 Elsevier LtdItem Solar light-driven photocatalysis using mixed-phase bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3/Bi25FeO40) nanoparticles for remediation of dye-contaminated water: kinetics and comparison with artificial UV and visible light-mediated photocatalysis(Springer Verlag service@springer.de, 2018) Kalikeri, S.; Shetty K, V.Mixed-phase bismuth ferrite (BFO) nanoparticles were prepared by co-precipitation method using potassium hydroxide as the precipitant. X-ray diffractogram (XRD) of the particles showed the formation of mixed-phase BFO nanoparticles containing BiFeO3/Bi25FeO40 phases with the crystallite size of 70 nm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed the formation of quasi-spherical particles. The BFO nanoparticles were uniform sized with narrow size range and with the average hydrodynamic diameter of 76 nm. The band gap energy of 2.2 eV showed its ability to absorb light even in the visible range. Water contaminated with Acid Yellow (AY-17) and Reactive Blue (RB-19) dye was treated by photocatalysis under UV, visible, and solar light irradiation using the BFO nanoparticles. The BFO nanoparticles showed maximum photocatalytical activity under solar light as compared to UV and visible irradiations, and photocatalysis was favored under acidic pH. Complete degradation of AY-17 dyes and around 95% degradation of RB-19 could be achieved under solar light at pH 5. The kinetics of degradation followed the Langmuir–Hinshelhood kinetic model showing that the heterogeneous photocatalysis is adsorption controlled. The findings of this work prove the synthesized BFO nanoparticles as promising photocatalysts for the treatment of dye-contaminated industrial wastewater. © 2018, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.Item Evaluation of photothermal properties for absorption of solar energy by Co3O4 nanofluids synthesized using endophytic fungus Aspergillus nidulans(Elsevier Ltd, 2020) Vijayanandan, A.S.; Kandath Valappil, R.S.; Mohan Balakrishnan, R.M.An attempt has been made to compare the optical properties of cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanoparticles using experimental values and theoretical predictions. Optical transmittance of the nanoparticles obtained was higher than 65% in 550–850 nm containing visible spectrum and the experimental results were in accordance with the predictive datum. The absorption coefficient peak observed is close to the predictive value and is present in the visible region of the light. In addition, there was an excellent agreement between theoretical and experimental results in extinction coefficient and refractive index. Besides, this work proposes and validates a novel idea of using Co3O4 nanofluids to enhance solar thermal conversion efficiency. Co3O4 nanofluids synthesized using endophytic fungus Aspergillus nidulans isolated from a medicinal plant, Nothapodytes foetida has been used to illustrate the energy storage capacity of nanofluids. Experimental results reveal that Co3O4 nanofluids have good specific absorption rate (SAR) and better photo-thermal conversion efficiency than water. Nanofluid exhibited a greater temperature gradient than pure water, which is desired. Thus the good absorption ability of Co3O4 nanofluids for solar energy indicated that it is suitable for direct absorption solar thermal energy systems. © 2019Item Solvent selection for highly reproducible carbon-based mixed-cation hybrid lead halide perovskite solar cells via adduct approach(Elsevier Ltd, 2020) Keremane, K.S.; Prathapani, S.; Haur, L.J.; Damodaran, D.; Vasudeva Adhikari, A.V.; Priyadarshi, A.; Mhaisalkar, S.G.The major problem identified in carbon-based mixed cation perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is the selection of a suitable solvent for single-step solution-processed perovskite deposition in order to promote their scalable production. Herein we report a detailed study on the selection of appropriate solvent for the one-step deposition of cesium-formamidinium lead iodide (Cs0.1FA0.9PbI3) perovskite via Lewis acid-base adduct approach for fully printable mesoporous PSCs with mesoporous TiO2/ZrO2/C architecture. Highly reproducible Cs0.1FA0.9PbI3 solar cells were fabricated via adducts of PbI2 with eco-friendly dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The best cells fabricated with the above approach yielded a photoconversion efficiency (PCE) of 12.33% for a small area device (active area: 0.09 cm2) and 10.1% for a large area device (active area 0.7cm2). The average power conversion efficiency for 62 PSCs was found to be 10.5% under an AM 1.5G illumination. Finally, the mixed cation perovskite in carbon architecture using the Lewis acid-base adduct approach is remarkably stable, with less than 1% change from the initial PCE after 1800h of storage under dark ambient conditions (25 °C, 60–70% RH). © 2020 International Solar Energy SocietyItem Computational and experimental studies on the development of an energy-efficient drier using ribbed triangular duct solar air heater(Elsevier Ltd, 2020) Nidhul, K.; Kumar, S.; Yadav, A.; Anish, S.Triangular duct cross-section is introduced for solar air heater (SAH) of an indirect type of solar dryer (ITSD). Using computational study, the thermo-hydraulic performance of triangular duct SAH with inclined ribs for varying rib inclination (30° < ? < 75°) in the turbulent flow regime (5000 < Re < 17500) is studied. With the rib configuration providing maximum thermos-hydraulic performance, a ribbed rectangular duct SAH is designed, and the performance of the same is compared to the former for similar heat input. Results show that the ribbed (? = 45°) triangular duct has 17% higher effectiveness compared to the latter and 79% when compared to smooth SAH. Ribs in triangular duct solar air heater facilitate the increase in temperature even in the core of the duct, delivering the air at 6 K additional temperature relative to a rectangular ribbed duct for same heat input and flow Re. The superiority of the ribbed triangular SAH is further confirmed by studying the drying characteristics of Okra and two variants of banana, namely Nendran and Robusta for the maximum temperature obtained at the outlet of the respective SAH. Various thin layer drying models available in the literature were analyzed, and Modified page model represented the drying behaviour with R2 = 0.99. For ITSD, ribbed triangular duct SAH exhibits a maximum of 60.3% reduction in moisture ratio with a maximum increase of 97.9% increase in average values of diffusivity coefficient confirming that it is an energy-efficient design for an ITSD. © 2020 International Solar Energy SocietyItem Performance assessment of waste heat/solar driven membrane-based simultaneous desalination and liquid desiccant regeneration system using a thermal model and KNN machine learning tool(Elsevier B.V., 2021) Kiran Naik, B.; Chinthala, M.; Patel, S.; Ramesh, P.In this work, the waste heat/solar heat-driven membrane-based liquid desiccant regenerator performance, as well as desalinated water extraction rate, are predicted and analyzed by developing a thermal model and KNN–ML tool. In the membrane-based liquid desiccant regenerator, water is used as a working fluid instead of scavenging air for desalinated water extraction purpose. The proposed thermal model and KNN-ML tool are validated with the literature data and found in good agreement. Optimal inlet conditions were determined for the given operating range using the thermal model and KNN–ML tool. With vapor flux and energy exchange as the performance indicators, the water extraction rate and thermal performance of the membrane-based liquid desiccant regenerator are predicted for the optimal inlet condition using the KNN-ML tool. Also, the heat and mass transfer characteristics such as Lewis number and NTUm across the membrane in the liquid desiccant regenerator are assessed using the developed thermal model. Further, for the optimal inlet conditions, utilizing waste heat from thermal power plants (Method–I) and solar energy from solar heater (Method–II), the thermal performance and water extraction rate across the membrane in the liquid desiccant regenerator are assessed based on the developed thermal model. © 2021 Elsevier B.V.Item Design, fabrication and performance assessment of a solar cooker with optimum composition of heat storage materials(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2021) Anilkumar, B.C.; Maniyeri, R.; Anish, S.Solar energy as an inexhaustible source of energy has been the primary interest of many researchers for the last four to five decades due to its wide applications such as domestic cooking systems. The current work aims to determine the optimum cooker surface area with the aid of analytical heat loss and design equations. The top, bottom and side heat loss coefficients are calculated by an iterative procedure solved using MATLAB. Also, it seeks to obtain the performance parameters of a solar cooker having sensible heat storage materials. For an anticipated average solar irradiation of 800 W/m2 and for boiling 1.5 kg mass of water, the cooker surface area is found to be 0.36 m2 and fabricated accordingly. Also, in this study, iron grits, sand, brick powder and charcoal powder are taken in the optimum ratio (mass) of 1:2:2:3 respectively as heat storage material. The performance indicators namely first and second figures of merit (F1 and F2), thermal and exergy efficiency are found to be 0.085, 0.319, 16.1% and 0.61% respectively. It is found that water temperature in the developed thermal energy storage incorporated solar cooker is maintained above 70 °C until 6 PM in a day. © 2020, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.Item Experimental investigation of shellac wax as potential bio-phase change material for medium temperature solar thermal energy storage applications(Elsevier Ltd, 2022) B.V., B.V.; Thanaiah, K.; Gumtapure, V.Thermal performance of shellac wax as a novel bio-phase change material (BPCM) and Therminol®-55 as heat transfer fluid (HTF) in a vertical shell and tube latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) unit is analyzed experimentally. Operational parameters considered, namely HTF flow rate and inlet temperature in the range of 2–5 LPM and 100–120 °C, respectively. The comprehensive study of contours and plots reveals the impact of natural convection and the progress of the melting and solidification front in the charging and discharging process. As the HTF flow rate increases, the charging rate improves considerably, and a maximum reduction in melting time is obtained as 43.6% for 4 LPM. The maximum reduction in melting time and storage efficiency are 42.2% and 73.4%, respectively, at 120 °C and 4 LPM. However, the discharging process's increased flow rate has no significant effect on solidification and discharge efficiency, which attributes the dominant mode of heat transfer is conduction during the solidification. Shellac wax storage efficiency is comparable to existing paraffin wax, stearic acid and palmitic acid-based LHTES unit. In this regard, shellac wax can be a potential Bio-PCM for medium temperature range (60–80 °C) solar thermal applications such as domestic water heating and food drying. © 2021 International Solar Energy Society