1. Solar Resource estimation using Artificial Neural Network.

      Project outline: Solar radiation intensity, being dependent on climatic parameters is fuzzy in nature. In the project various existing methods has been studied and a very accurate model has been suggested based on Artificial Neural Networks.

Knowledge acquired: Effect of climatic and geographical parameters on ground level solar radiation, Artificial Neural Networks, Statistical methods for event prediction and Parameter selection.

  Result: An efficient and reliable model for radiation prediction has been proposed. The role of unpredictable     local climatic parameters has been highlighted.

 

2. Study of interaction of Radiation with Conduction and Conjugate Convection in heat-generating slab, cylinder and sphere.

           Project outline: Study has been done to estimate the share of radiation and role played by it. Effect of radiation heat transfer, which is usually overlooked, has been examined. A new algorithm has been suggested and used to determine temperature distribution.

           Knowledge acquired: Thorough understanding of heat transfer, Numerical methods, Algorithm development and testing.

          Recommendations and conclusions: prominence of the role played by radiation particularly in case of free convection has been found. Empirical correlations to find temperature distribution have been suggested for each of the three geometries studied.

3. Integrated-Collector-Storage Solar water heater with transparent insulation on the top surface

          Project outline: A system has been fabricated with indigenous material and field experiments carried out to evaluate its performance. A thermal model to evaluate systems year-round performance has been developed. System’s economic competency has also been assessed.

          Knowledge acquired: Heat transfer, Practical design aspects, Economics analysis of engineering systems.

          Result: System showed good solar to thermal conversion efficiency with ability to retain heat during night hours. Also

            the system has been found to be cost-efficient with least maintenance need.

4. Development of low-cost tracking system based on Geo-centric model

           Project outline: A tracking system based on Geo-centric model has been developed which competes with commercially available costly 2-axis tracking systems on the basis of its simplified motion requirement, ease of manufacturing and maintenance, and economy.

Knowledge acquired: Movement of Earth, optimization, Practical design aspects, Kinematics and motion control.

            Result: A low cost and simple tracking system has been fabricated.

5. Design Development and Optimisation of Cavity Receiver for Fuzzy Focal Dish Concentrator

(Ongoing)

       This project is part of undergraduate course-curriculum. Nature of the project is analytical and experimental. A model has been developed for radial flux-density distribution in concentrated beam at varying height. This model has been used to represent the optical imperfection in terms of an equivalent dispersion angle for fuzzy focal paraboloidal dish concentrator. A cavity receiver has been fabricated; experiments are being done to determine performance parameters of the receiver system.