Engineering Headway Vol. 17

Abstract: Dust deposition may reduce the yield of the PV panels from 10-50% depending upon the amount of dust deposited, particle size and nature. To prevent loss of efficiency of power plant, cleaning of PV panels is generally required in one-two weeks and in summers during dust storms cleaning frequency needs to be increased. Generally, for cleaning de-ionised water is recommended which adds to the cost and even availability of ordinary water for cleaning is a problem with water scarce regions. In the world, most of the high solar potential sites which are ideal for solar PV power plant installation lie in water scarce regions. The attractive locations for solar energy in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa are water stressed. Therefore, it becomes important to devise methods to reduce the water consumption in cleaning of solar PV panels in solar power plants. There are studies going on several methods, one such option is use of transparent hydrophobic coatings on the solar panel surface to reduce dust deposition and water used in cleaning. The present work is a step in the direction of estimation of reduction of water consumption with the use of transparent hydrophobic coatings. The present paper discusses the characteristics of dust particles deposited on the solar power plant at University of Kota, Kota, India location and compares the water use amount in cleaning dust on five glass samples. The five samples consist of four different transparent hydrophobic coatings available in market and one is the reference uncoated glass sample. Tests have been done and reported for transparency, dust deposition and water use amount in cleaning for the five samples. On the basis of the comparative study, the amount of water saving potential is estimated for solar power plants. The challenges in use of hydrophobic coatings have been discussed and scope for future work in this field has been examined.

Abstract: Vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) represent a significant advancement in harnessing wind energy, offering enhanced efficiency and adaptability. Their ability to capture wind from any direction makes them particularly suitable for urban environments and areas with unpredictable wind patterns.This study describes the design and its optimization for savonius vertical axis wind turbine for application in efficient energy generation on highways and our objective is to optimize the key parameters of design, including the blade arc angle , overlap ratio, and tip speed ratio to identify the best set of design configuration using Numerical Modelling done with the help of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Study of Turbine Blade Profile and enhance efficiency indicators like power and torque coefficient to achieve an optimal level of performance. The Outcomes and key findings of this study suggested that a rotor configuration with (Ø = 130°, O_R = 0.15, TSR = 1) demonstrated the highest C_P of 0.473 (47.3% wind to mechanical power conversion) and a C_T of 0.255 (25.5% wind to torque generation), these values suggests an enhanced performance of turbine in terms of capturing wind energy and generating torque, this provides evidence for consideration of these results while defining design criteria for the vertical axis wind turbine suitable to our application.

Abstract: The solar parabolic trough collector technology is one of the most reliable technologies in the field of solar thermal. This is due to the fact that temperatures as high as 300-400°C can be achieved using this technology. This technology is used for hot water production, process steam requirement, power generation and many more. In the present work a thermal study on a parabolic trough collector is performed to observe the range of steam temperatures to be useful for small scale industry applications. The paper presents the steam temperatures, temperature profiles for the solar collector components and the solar radiation variation over the day. On the basis of several experiments it was found that in the parabolic trough collector the maximum pressure of 221 bar and the maximum steam temperature of around 374°C is achieved. From the experimental data obtained, the variation in temperatures with solar radiation on clear and intermittent cloud cover is discussed. From the results it can be concluded that this system may be used successfully for production of hot water and steam for use in many different industries such as dairy, textile, paper, timber, bricks, chemicals, plastics etc. Hot water and steam from solar system can be used in small scale industries for rose water making, cooking, drying, sterilization, food processing etc. In this paper a design for rose water making process through parabolic trough collector has been proposed. Keywords: Solar concentrator, parabolic trough, cylindrical parabolic collector, steam, temperature profile, industry applications.

Abstract: This article reports the transient solution of a one-dimensional (1-D) heat conduction problem having temperature-dependent internal heat generation in a slab. The slab is assumed to be made of a homogeneous material with constant thermal properties. Furthermore, the boundary conditions at two extremities of the slab are considered to be suddenly imposed temperature and convective heat transfer respectively. The present investigation emphasizes the occurrence of non-linear internal heat generation within material owing to the presence of absorption phenomenon, exothermic reaction, and flow of electrons which can be foreseen in the application of hot wire anemometer, optoelectrical arrangement, etc. Lattice Boltzmann (LB) method has been effectively implemented for obtaining the solution of a non-linear governing differential equation. The investigation outcomes would be informative to the designer in the field of transient analysis of one-dimensional slabs associated with heat generation.

Abstract: This study examines electric vehicle (EV) crashworthiness with a focus on side impact scenarios affecting high-voltage (around 400V) battery packs. Using a 2001 Ford Taurus model, the research compares the performance of side door beams constructed from HSLA steel, boron steel, and Dual-Phase (DP-590) steel in crash simulations. The results indicate that boron steel significantly enhances impact resistance, minimizing battery pack damage and improving occupant safety over HSLA and DP-590 steel. The findings recommend boron steel for critical areas in EV design, with DP-590 steel emerging as an alternative option that still maintains safety standards. Future research is suggested to confirm these results through empirical testing and to investigate advanced materials for further safety improvements in EVs.

Abstract: Tadpole vehicles are becoming more and more common in transportation applications, so it is crucial to have a thorough understanding of their braking dynamics to ensure the highest level of performance and safety. Their unusual three-wheel design, tadpole vehicles offer a unique set of opportunities and challenges when it comes to braking systems. By implementing a modified mathematical model designed especially to capture all aspects of braking dynamics in tadpole vehicles, this paper fills a gap in the frame of existing literature. As a practical testbed, a tadpole vehicle was utilized to collect empirical data for braking parameters. This specific tadpole vehicle has Alto brakes installed. The implemented mathematical model achieved a higher level of accuracy and precision by integrating the actual data. Traditional braking equations were modified and improved upon in order to take into account the unique characteristics of a tadpole vehicle. A complex 3-degree-of-freedom Simulink model was developed to provide a thorough understanding of straight-line braking dynamics in tadpole vehicles. This model made it possible to investigate in-depth how different factors interact to affect the braking performance. The simulation produced precise and thorough results providing insights into the unique advantages and difficulties presented by tadpole vehicle configurations during straight-line braking.

Abstract: Hand-gesture controlled wheelchairs help in providing mobility and safety to individuals with physical disabilities or mobility impairments. In this paper, a wheelchair have been fabricated so that it can be controlled by hand-gestures and move smoothly in all 4 directions. The main focus of our research has been to drive down the cost of such a wheelchair as compared to the ones already available in the market to enable penurious people to afford it. An accelerometer sensor is fitted in the data glove to read the hand movements and the information is conveyed to an Arduino microcontroller using wires. The Arduino board controls the pair of DC wiper motors attached at the rear end on each wheel of the wheelchair. The proposed mechanism has demonstrated precise responsiveness to users' hand gestures during trials.