Scientists in Hungary have built a prototype of a thermal distillation device, supported by PV power. The PV panels use an IoT component that is self-traveling when dust is detected and cools itself when the temperatures are too high. The system achieved a daily freshwater yield of 6.1 l/m2⋅dag.
A research group from the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences has developed a new thermal water distillation device with PV-driven auxiliary systems. With the help of a component Internet of Things (IoT), the system travels the PV system for optimum results. Within the IoT framework, it uses both predictive and real-time maintenance strategies.
“This study proposes a new IoT-based cooling and cleaning system that is specially designed for PV modules that are integrated with a cylindro-parabolic collector. The system uses on sensory feedback to retain the temperature, dust levels and solar-resort in real-time cooling mechanism and water-based cleansing and watering-based purposes and water-based cleaning and watering-based reasons-based striking and watering-based striking and watering-based striking-based mechanisms and watering-based-based-based mechanisms and water-based The team said “The experimental arrangement shows that automated interventions considerably reduce the surface material, resulting in an improved electrical output and operational efficiency.”
Before the experimental setup was built, the research team simulated it with the help of a mathematical model. They implemented the mechanical design of the system in SolidWorks, while Proteus was used for system electronics. The simulation integrated PV panels, battery storage, a water pump and a thermal distillation unit improved by a composite parabolic concentrator (CPC). It also included a motor with a lining brush for cleaning and fans that functioned as blazers.
The system is governed by an ESP32 microController, which makes real-time operation possible on the basis of environmental conditions. It is first set to check where the PV works within normal circumstances. If the measured voltage is lower than 15 V, it checks the light intensity. If the light intensity is below 400 lux, the problem is determined as low sunlight and no command is issued. However, if the intensity of the sun is above that threshold, the problem is dust or overheating. If the panel temperature is lower than 30 ° C, the system concludes that dust is the problem and initiates the brush. However, if the temperature is higher than 30 ° C, this concludes overheating to be the problem and the fans initiates.
Image: Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Energie reports, CC by 4.0
After the design, the academics built the experimental setup with a PV module that produces 47.2 W under peak radiation. The system was then tested on representative days before spring, summer, autumn and winter in Gödöllunder, North Hungary. The predictive component of the system had a determination coefficient (R2) of 97.5-98.8 %, average absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 7-13 % and root average square error (RMSE) of 36-42 W/m2.
“Het ontwikkelde draagbare CPC-prototype behaalde een dagelijkse zoetwateropbrengst van 6,1 L/m2⋅dag, wat een verbetering van bijna 70% vertegenwoordigt ten opzichte van de gemiddelde prestaties van conventionele zonne-stilles. Het systeem registreerde ook een thermische efficiëntie van 58% en een totale CPC-PV-gebruiksefficiëntie van 63%, hoger dan het typische prestatiebereik van de resultaten van de results.
“With real-time sensor feedback, intelligent cleaning and cooling reactions, field experiments caused improvements of 8-15% in irradiation of the capture (eg 950 W/m2 versus 850 W/m2 in the summer) and a maximum of 12% daily energy-variation,” the team of efficiency changes, “the team-bound variation variety variety variety varied variety variety variety variation variety variety variation variety variety variety Team.
The system was presented in IoT compatible thermal and surface management system for PV modules in combination with a cylindro-parabolic collectorPublished in Energy reports.
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