This section contains research, postgraduate, undergraduate research and design projects conducted in the area of renewable and sustainable energies. They are classified by year as shown below.
2008
| |
Research projects :
- Project 1 : Automated Cell Connection Optimizer for Photovoltaic Arrays
Funded by : SQU, 2008 for a duration of 12 months
Project Number : IG/ENG/ECED/08/03
Investigators : A. Gastli, H. Bourdoucen, H. Lawati
Summary : In recent years, the world usage of PV systems has increased tremendously due to the incentives put by different countries for the use of renewable and clean energy. However, the efficiency of the solar cells/panels/modules/arrays is still a major concern and drawback. Optimization of the use of PV cells/panels/modules to make arrays is very crucial for the improvement of the PV array overall efficiency. However, most of the cells/panels/modules have heterogeneous parameters and characteristics even when they are produced by the same factory. These heterogeneous parameters and characteristics affects the performance of the cells/panels/modules when connected together in series and/or in parallel to form a PV array. In the present project, we will develop an automatic and intelligent system which will help the PV arrays designer to identify and select the optimum configuration of the cells/panels/modules connections that maximizes the total power generated by the PV array.
Postgraduate Student Projects
- Automated Cells Connection Optimizer for Photovoltaic Arrays, Fall 2008.
Undergraduate Student Projects
- Design and Implementation of Solar tracking System, Spring 2008.
- Design and Implementation of a Solar Water Pump for Irrigation, Spring 2008.(Download)
- Design of an Experimental Setup for Measuring I-V Characteristics of PV Cells/Panels, Fall 2008.
- Design & Realization of a Solar Powered MS (mobile station) Charger, Fall 2008
|
2007
| |
Research projects:
Undergraduate Student Projects
- Design and Implementation of a Solar Car Monitoring System, Fall 2007.
|
2005
| |
Research projects:
- Project 1 : " Energy saving potential and its impact on power planning in central grid of Oman using demand-side management"
Founded by : SQU Funded ( 2005-2006)
Project Number : IG/ENG/ECED/05/02
SQU Investigators : ArifS. Malik and Ali Al-Maqrashi
Summary :
Undergraduate Student Projects
- Design and Implementation of a Solar Car Electric System, 2005
|
2004
| |
Research projects:
- Project 10 : " Development of typical meteorological years for different locations in
Oman"
Founded by : PDO Funded
SQU Investigators : Yousef Zuraigat, Naseem Sawaqed, Hilal Al-Hinai, and Bassam Jubran,
Summary : Typical meteorological year is an essential and indispensable tool in simulations of thermal systems and comparison of their performance. TMY’s have been developed for seven locations in Oman (Seeb, Masira, Salalah, Majis, Marmul, Sur, and Fahud) A program has been developed based on Sandia statistical method to generate the TMYs. Thus, a general tool has been developed which can be used to develop TMY’s for other locations or to include more years of data for the locations for which TMY’s have already been developed.
Undergraduate Student Projects
- Design and Realization of Maximum Power Point Tracker for the solar Car Project, 2004
|
2003
| |
Research projects:
- Project 1 : "Parabolic Solar Collector"
Funded by : SQU Internal Funding.
SQU Investigators : Saif Al-Hadabi
Summary : The objective of this study is to design and fabricate a solar dish collector with a tracking control system. The fabricated system will be tested on the local environment to asses its performance.
- Project 2 : "Convective cells in solar ponds"
Funded by : SQU Internal Funding.
SQU Investigators : Saif Al-Hadabi, Bassam Jubran, Yousef Zuraigat, and Hilal Al-Hinai
Summary : A numerical model of Salinity Gradient Solar Ponds has been constructed and the behavior of the pond was studied. The effects of tilting angle of the wall, salt concentration and time of operation on the stability of the cells were observed. (SQU Investigators: Hilal Al-Hinai and Ali Al-Alawi)
- Project 3 : "The energy-efficient buildings in Oman"
Funded by : PDO Funded
SQU Investigators : Bassam Jubran, Yousef Zuraigat, and Hilal Al-Hinai
Summary : The thermal performance aspects of building practice in hot climates were investigated. The results obtained and the recommendations drawn serve as guidance for building architects, designers, contractors, and builders as well as air-conditioning equipment manufacturers.
- Project 4 : " Development of typical meteorological years for different locations in
Oman"
Founded by : PDO Funded
SQU Investigators : Yousef Zuraigat, Naseem Sawaqed, Hilal Al-Hinai, and Bassam Jubran,
Summary : Typical meteorological year is an essential and indispensable tool in simulations of thermal systems and comparison of their performance. TMY’s have been developed for seven locations in Oman (Seeb, Masira, Salalah, Majis, Marmul, Sur, and Fahud) A program has been developed based on Sandia statistical method to generate the TMYs. Thus, a general tool has been developed which can be used to develop TMY’s for other locations or to include more years of data for the locations for which TMY’s have already been developed.
|
2002
| |
Research projects:
- Project 1 : "Development of Eco-House for Hot and Humid Climates"
Funded by : SQU for a duration of 36 months.
Project Number : IG/ENG/MIED/02/01
Investigators : Y. Zurigat, Prof. B. Jubran, Dr. H. Al-Hinai , Dr. N. Sawaqed, Dr. M. Abu-Arabi, Dr. J. Ashour, Dr. A. Al-Jamrah, Dr. K. Al-Balushi, Dr. R. Siddiqui
Summary : The objective of this study is to develop a simulation tool that will be used for design assessments of the Eco-House. It will incorporate building cooling load model, greenhouse model, solar absorption refrigeration model, solar desiccant dehumidification model, and PV power generation model. Furthermore, models of several passive cooling techniques will be incorporated, i.e., roof pond, roof spray, evaporative cooling, and natural ventilation coupled with solar chimney. Also, a feasibility study will be carried out to investigate the biomass energy generation. Thus, the simulation tool to be developed in this study will serve as a computational laboratory where numerical/computational experiments can be conducted and different design alternatives be evaluated. Furthermore, small laboratory scale experiments will be conducted to evaluate different passive cooling techniques under local weather conditions and to aid in computer models validations. The method of approach adopted in this study consists of the following four tasks:
1. Development of computer models for different passive and hybrid cooling techniques. Passive cooling includes roofpond, roof spray, roof garden/pergula, evaporative cooling, natural ventilation coupled with solar chimney, and different shading scenarios. Hybrid cooling includes solar- and gas-fired absorption cooling coupled with desiccant dehumidification, evaporative cooling (direct and indirect), and desiccant cooling. The development of computer model of solar absorption refrigeration unit is essential for the Eco-House space air conditioning and for enhancing water harvesting in the green house dehumidification process.
2. Development of thermodynamic computer model of green house coupled with seawater desalination based on humidification and dehumidification processes. This will incorporate the modeling of several components such as evaporators, condensers, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and solar collectors.
3. Design and execution of experiments using small laboratory scale models of the following components:
a. Evaporative cooling building jacket
b. Roof pond
c. Roof spray
d. Roof garden/pergola
e. Building shading
f. Biomass gas production unit
4. Applications of the computer simulations to Eco-House design and sizing of greenhouse and its components and the development of design recommendations.
A transient system simulation program TRNSYS available at MIE department will be used to carry out simulations using the computer models developed in this study. Also, a weather station (already ordered) will be used simultaneously with the laboratory experiments to measure the weather conditions, i.e., dry-bulb, relative humidity, solar intensity, and wind speed and direction.
(Click here to learn more about the project)
Undergraduate Student Projects
- Design and Simulation of a Maximum Power Point Tracker, 2002
- Design and Simulation of a DC Motor Controller, 2002
- Design and Simulation of a Battery Charger, 2002
|
2001
| |
Research projects:
- Project 1 : Analysis, Modeling and Testing of Solar Cells, panels and Photovoltaic DC-AC power Inverters.
Funded by : UNESCO, Aug. 2001 for a duration of 12 months
Project Number : IG/ENG/EEED/
Investigators : H. Bourdoucen, A. Gastli, J. Jervase, A. Lawati, S. Al Alawi.
Summary : The objectives of the project were as follows:
- Perform experimental measurements on cells and panels under Oman’s climatic and weather conditions.
- Model and analyze cells and panels using search and optimization approaches based on GAs.
- Use SPICE and MATLAB simulators to model and simulate different panel configurations and built Fuzzy Logic / ANN based power point trackers.
- Analyze, design, implement and test high efficiency photovoltaic DC-AC power inverters using the aforementioned techniques.
- Project 2 : "Solar Water Desalination"
Funded by : MEDRC with partners from Germany.
SQU Investigators : Hilal Al-Hinai and Ali Al-Alawi
Summary : This was a joint research project for investigations on an innovative sea water desalination system using solar heat between the MEIE department and the Bavarian Centre for applied Energy Research (ZAE Bayern) (Germany) and two other German companies. The project was concluded successfully on March 2001.
Undergraduate Student Projects
- The role of renewable energy for decentralized applications in Sultanate of Oman, June 2001 (Download Report Part I, Part II)
- Design of Solar Electric Vehicle Drive System, June 2001 (Download Report)
- Design of Solar Electric Vehicle PV System, June 2001 (Download Report)
- Solar Cells: Characterization, Data Acquisition and Modeling Under Oman's Climatic Conditions, June 2001
|
2000
| |
Research projects in 2000:
- Project 1 : " The role of renewable energy for decentralized Applications in the Sultanate of Oman"
Funded by: SQU for a duration of 24 months, starting Jan.2000.
Project Number : IG/ENG/EEED/
Investigators : A. S. Malik, A. Al-Badi, A. Gastli, H. Bourdoucen, J. Jervase
Summary : The objectives of the project were as follows:
- Assess the solar and wind energy resource potential for decentralized applications in remote areas of selected sites of Sultanate of Oman;
- Size stand-alone PV system, for a selected remote sites/villages in Sultanate for small power applications on the basis of estimated load for the villages;
- Calculate the Long Run Marginal Cost for grid extension for supplying the required load power to the selected village;
- Perform the economic analysis to calculate the Life-Cycle-Cost for PV & diesel generating systems for economic evaluation;
- Size wind turbine, for at-least one selected remote site/village in Sultanate for small power applications on the basis of estimated load for the village;
- Perform the economic analysis to calculate the Life-Cycle-Cost for wind & diesel generating system for economic evaluation;
- Identify the most suitable and economic system for supplying electricity to the remote areas of Sultanate;
- Carry out economic evaluation of PV irrigation system, wind pumps and diesel pumps for agricultural purposes;
- Make energy policy analysis to promote these technologies.
- Project 2 : "Solar Electric Vehicle"
Funded by : SQU started in Jan. 2000, for a duration of 36 months.
Project Number : IG/ENG/EEED/00/02
Investigators : A. Gastli, A. Al-Badi, A. Naamany, A. Malik, H. Bourdoucen, J. Jervase
Summary : The Solar Electric Vehicle at Sultan Qaboos University was planned to harness and develop technical know-how on solar energy. This research was intended to develop efficient production, storage, retrieval and use of the electrical energy produced from solar cells. This project concentrated on the electrical parts of the vehicle consisting of the solar panels, the battery charger and power optimizer, and the motor.
(Click here to download the report)
|
1999
| |
Research projects:
- Project 1 : "Long-Term Testing of Japanese PV Solar Panels"
Funded by : NEDO with partners from Japan).
SQU Investigators : Bassam Jubran, Hilal Al-Hinai, Saleh Al-Alawi, Ahmad Al-Numanyan and Sami Al-Sulti.
Summary: This project is conducted in collaboration with the Japanese New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). The project aims to test Japanese photovoltaic solar panels under the prevailing weather conditions in Oman for a long period of time. Testing is in progress for modules from six Japanese companies since February 1999.
|
|