Thermal Characteristics of Microinverters on Dual-Axis Trackers

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Thermal Characteristics of Microinverters on Dual-Axis Trackers THERMAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MICROINVERTERS ON DUAL-AXIS TRACKERS by MOHAMMAD AKRAM HOSSAIN Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Master of Science Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY May, 2014 Thermal Characteristics of Microinverters on Dual-axis Trackers Case Western Reserve University Case School of Graduate Studies We hereby approve the thesis1 of MOHAMMAD AKRAM HOSSAIN for the degree of Master of Science Dr. Alexis Abramson Committee Chair, Adviser 01/30/2014 Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Dr. Roger French Committee Member, Co-Adviser 01/30/2014 Department of Materials Science and Engineering Dr. Joseph Prahl Committee Member 01/30/2014 Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Dr. Yifan Xu Committee Member 01/30/2014 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics 1We certify that written approval has been obtained for any proprietary material contained therein. Thesis defense date: 01/30/2014 Dedicated to science and the pursuit of progress. Thermal Characteristics of Microinverters on Dual-axis Trackers Abstract by MOHAMMAD AKRAM HOSSAIN 0.1 Abstract The thermal characteristics of microinverters on dual-axis trackers operating under real-world conditions were analyzed using a statistical analytical approach. 24 microin- verters connected to 8 different brands of photovoltaic (PV) modules were analyzed from July through October 2013 at the Solar Durability and Lifetime Extension (SDLE) SunFarm at Case Western Reserve University (latitude 41.50, longitude -81.640). Ex- ploratory data analysis shows that the microinverters’ temperature is strongly correlated with ambient temperature and PV module temperature, and moderately correlated with irradiance and AC power. Ambient temperature is the influencing factor under condi- tions of low irradiance in morning hours, when the irradiance is below 60 W/m2. Noon- time data analysis reveals that the microinverters thermal behavior is more strongly in- fluenced by PV module temperature than AC power. Using a Euclidean distance measur- ing principle and average linkage criteria, a hierarchical clustering technique was also applied to noontime microinverter temperature data to group the similarly behaved mi- croinverters. Microinverter temperature clustering shows that the clustering groups are more strongly influenced by PV module temperature than AC power. A linear regression iv model was developed to predict the temperature of the microinverters connected to dif- ferent brands PV modules. The predictive model is a function of ambient temperature, PV module temperature, irradiance, AC power data, and the interaction between power, irradiance and module temperature. The difference between actual microinverter and predicted microinverter temperature lies between 0.40C to 1.60C at a 95% confidence interval. v Acknowledgements I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my co-advisors Dr. Alexis Abramson and Dr. Roger French for their continuous support, patience, motivation and guidance for this project. I also would like to thank the rest of my thesis committee: Dr. Joseph Prahl and Dr. Yifan Xu for their encouragement and insightful comments about this project. Thanks to Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for providing financial support for this project. I would like to especially thank to Dr. Timothy Peshek and Dr. Laura Bruckman for their insights, valuable comments and opinions while working on this project. Thanks to all the members in Solar Durability and Lifetime Extension Center for their diligence, patience and resourcefulness. I owe special thanks to Yang Hu and Zachary Baierl for assisting me a lot in building the test setup. Assistance and technical support from researchers from the Medical Informatics Di- vision of EECS, especially Yashwanth Reddy Gunapati and Tarun Jian were extremely valuable in completing this work. vi Table of Contents Abstract iv Acknowledgements vi List of Tables x List of Figures xii Chapter 1. Introduction1 World Energy Scenario2 Evolution of PV cell and module5 PV System 8 Thermal Model for PV System8 Inverter system 10 Microinverter History and Evolution 12 Microinverter Topology 13 Critical to Lifetime Performance (CLP) Components 14 Power Loss inside Microinverter 16 Reliability of Microinverters 17 Lifetime and Degradation Science 21 Chapter 2. Experimental Setup 24 SDLE SunFarm 24 Metrology Platform at SDLE SunFarm 27 Data Acquisition System 29 Experimental Setup Overview 30 vii Chapter 3. Analysis Methods 34 Data validation 34 Exploratory Data Analysis 36 Correlation Coefficient 36 Local Solar Time 37 Normalized Temperature 37 t-Test Statistics 37 Cluster Analysis 38 K-means clustering 38 Linear Regression Model 39 R software 40 Chapter 4. Results and Analysis 41 Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) 41 Morning Data Analysis 45 Noon Data Analysis 49 Cluster Analysis 62 Linear Regression Model 66 Chapter 5. Discussion 71 Influence of Irradiance on PV Module and Microinverter Temperature 71 Influence of AC Power Output and PV Module Temperature on Microinverter Temperature 72 5.4 Influence of Ambient Conditions on Microinverter Temperature 74 Clustering Analysis 76 viii Linear Regression Model 78 Chapter 6. Conclusions 80 Chapter 7. Suggested Future Research 82 Appendix A. Preparation of this document 84 Appendix B. Thermal performances at different power range 85 Appendix. Complete References 90 ix List of Tables 1.1 List of CLP of components with stressors, common failure modes and effects on the microinverter 15 4.1 Correlation coefficient for different variables for the Q.t12 systems 43 4.2 Correlation coefficient for different variables for the Q.t12 systems in the morning time from July through October, 2013 45 4.3 Comparison of PV module temperature, and microinverter temperature with ambient temperature at different irradiance zone for the Q.t12 system in the morning from July through October, 2013 47 4.4 Variation of normalized module and microinverter temperature at different irradiance zone for the Q.t12 system in the morning from July through October, 2013 48 4.5 Correlation coefficient for different variables for the Q.t12 systems at noontime from July 1 through October 30, 2013. 49 4.6 Thermal performances of the P.t.12 systems at different power range from July 1 through October 30, 2013. 51 4.7 Thermal performances of the T.t.14 systems at different power range from July 1 through October 30, 2013. 52 4.8 Thermal performances of the L.t.6 systems at different power range 53 4.9 The average power and temperature difference between the L.t.6 at noon time 53 x 4.10 The rise in temperature in the site 12 PV modules and microinverters during noon time 54 4.11 The coefficient values of different variables for the predictive model (Equation 4.1) 67 B.1 Thermal performances of O.t.12 modules at different power range 85 B.2 Thermal performances of R.t.14 modules at different power range 86 B.3 Thermal performances of S.t.14 modules at different power range 87 B.4 Thermal performances of K.t.6 modules at different power range 88 B.5 Thermal performances of Q.t.12 modules at different power range 89 xi List of Figures 1.1 World energy consumption in year 20117 3 1.2 Annual investment in different renewable energy sectors across the world between 2001-20124 1.3 Different type of inverter systems: a) Central /string inverter and b) microinverter assembly9 1.4 Different type of inverter systems: a) Central /string inverter and b) microinverter assembly 11 1.5 Circuit diagram of a microinverter 14 1.6 Unscheduled maintenance cost for PV system operation 18 1.7 Failure count for components of a PV system 19 2.1 Top figure: SDLE SunFarm layout, bottom figure: dual axis tracker with PV modules and sample trays 25 2.2 a) Thermocouple on the backsheet of the microinverter, b) data cabinet 28 2.3 Baseline DC output power of PV modules measure by SPIRE 4600 solar simulator 30 2.4 Solar irradiance from July 1 through October 30, 2013 32 2.5 AC Power output data for O.t12 systems from July 1 through October 30, 2013 33 3.1 Validation of thermocouple recorded temperature data 35 xii 4.1 Scatter pairs plots for the Q.t12 systems from July 1 through October 30, 2013. 42 4.2 Ambient Temperature vs. microinverter backsheet TC temperature for the Q.t12 systems from July through October 2013 43 4.3 Irradiance vs. AC Power output for the Q.t12 systems from July through October 2013 44 4.4 Variation in AC power output of microinverters in the Q.t12 systems for different ambient temperature range 45 4.5 Scatter pairs plots for the Q.t12 systems in the morning time from July through October, 2013 46 4.6 Irradiance vs normalized module backsheet and microinverter backsheet TC temperature in the morning for the Q.t12 systems 48 4.7 Scatter pairs plots for the Q.t12 systems at noontime from July 1 through October 30, 2013. 50 4.8 Normalized module backsheet, microinverter backsheet and microinverter internal temperature for the T.t14.1 system 54 4.9 Variation of normalized module backsheet temperature for different modules at different power range 56 4.10 Variation of normalized microinverter backsheet temperature for different modules at different power range 57 4.11 Variation of normalized module backsheet temperature for power range 190-210 W 58 xiii 4.12 Variation of normalized microinverter backsheet temperature for power range 190-210 W 59 4.13 Variation of normalized module backsheet temperature for power range above 210 W 60 4.14 Variation of normalized microinverter backsheet temperature for power range above 210 W 61 4.15 Hierarchical cluster analysis of time-series AC Power data at noon from July 1 through October 30, 2013. 62 4.16 Hierarchical cluster analysis of normalized PV module backsheet temperature time-series data at noon from July 1 through October 30, 2013.
Recommended publications
  • Supersonic Speed Also in This Issue: a Model for Sustainability Crystal Orientation Mapping Nustar Looks at Neutron Stars About the Cover
    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory December 2014 A Weapon Test at Supersonic Speed Also in this issue: A Model for Sustainability Crystal Orientation Mapping NuSTAR Looks at Neutron Stars About the Cover A team of Lawrence Livermore engineers and scientists helped design and develop a new warhead for the U.S. Air Force. This five-year effort culminated in a highly successful sled test on October 23, 2013, at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. The test achieved speeds greater than Mach 3 and assessed how the new warhead responded to simulated flight conditions. The success of the sled test also demonstrated the value of using advanced computational and manufacturing technologies to develop complex conventional munitions for aerospace systems. The artist’s rendering on the cover shows a supersonic conventional weapon as it emerges from its rocket nose cone and prepares to reenter Earth’s atmosphere. (Courtesy of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.) Cover design: Tom Reason Tom design: Cover About S&TR At Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, we focus on science and technology research to ensure our nation’s security. We also apply that expertise to solve other important national problems in energy, bioscience, and the environment. Science & Technology Review is published eight times a year to communicate, to a broad audience, the Laboratory’s scientific and technological accomplishments in fulfilling its primary missions. The publication’s goal is to help readers understand these accomplishments and appreciate their value to the individual citizen, the nation, and the world. The Laboratory is operated by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (LLNS), for the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration.
    [Show full text]
  • Surface and Bulk Passivation of Multicrystalline Silicon Solar Cells by Silicon Nitride (H) Layer : Modeling and Experiments
    New Jersey Institute of Technology Digital Commons @ NJIT Dissertations Electronic Theses and Dissertations Fall 1-31-2009 Surface and bulk passivation of multicrystalline silicon solar cells by silicon nitride (H) layer : modeling and experiments Chuan Li New Jersey Institute of Technology Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/dissertations Part of the Materials Science and Engineering Commons Recommended Citation Li, Chuan, "Surface and bulk passivation of multicrystalline silicon solar cells by silicon nitride (H) layer : modeling and experiments" (2009). Dissertations. 892. https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/dissertations/892 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Electronic Theses and Dissertations at Digital Commons @ NJIT. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ NJIT. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Copyright Warning & Restrictions The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a, user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use” that user may be liable for copyright infringement, This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.
    [Show full text]
  • Sevscience - Physical Science Summer Series #1
    SevScience - Physical Science Summer Series #1 Message from Mr. Severino: CK-12 Welcome to your study of Physical Science! This course serves as a solid foundation for courses in Jeanphysics, Brainard, chemistry, Ph.D. technology, and design-process learning. Through these introductory readings, you will gain insight into some of the careers and fields of human endeavor characterized by the physical sciences. For your summer assignment, please complete the following points: 1) Thoroughly read each chapter. 2) Complete the review questions at the end of each chapter.These review questions are to be completed electronically. To share your answers with me, you may use Google Docs, your Microsoft Office school account, or email. 3) Later this summer, you will receive links for online quizzes related to the readings in this textbook. These quizzes will be compiled as a major test grade. 4) The due date for all summer assignments is Tuesday, September 1, 2020. Say Thanks to the Authors If you have any questionsClick about http://www.ck12.org/saythanks this assignment, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected].(No sign in required) I look forward to seeing you in the Fall. Have a safe, enjoyable Summer! Contents www.ck12.org Contents 1 Introduction to Physical Science1 1.1 Nature of Science.......................................... 2 1.2 Scientific Theory .......................................... 6 1.3 Scientific Law............................................ 9 1.4 History of Science.......................................... 11 1.5 Ethics in Science .......................................... 15 1.6 Scope of Physical Science...................................... 18 1.7 Scope of Chemistry......................................... 20 1.8 Scope of Physics........................................... 23 1.9 Physical Science Careers .....................................
    [Show full text]
  • Advances in Thin-Film Solar Cells I
    Rapid introduction of renewable energy is essential in order to meet future energy demands without further polluting the environment. Solar energy conversion Dharmadasa plays a very important role in this, but current solar panels based on silicon are expensive because of the high cost of processing crystalline silicon, a technology I. M. Dharmadasa that demands high energy consumption. The way forward is to move towards thin- film solar cells using alternative materials and low-cost manufacturing methods. The photovoltaic community is actively researching thin-film solar cells based on amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride (CdTe), copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS), dye-sensitised materials, and organic semiconductors/polymers. However, progress has been slow owing to the complications of the physics behind these devices. This book concentrates on the latest developments in and understanding of THIN-FILM device physics underlying thin-film solar cells. The material presented is mainly experimental and based on CdTe thin-film solar cells. The author extends these new findings to CIGS- and GaAs-based thin-film solar cells and presents a new device design based on graded bandgap multilayer solar cells. This design has been experimentally tested using the well-researched GaAs/AlGaAs system, and initial ≈ ≈ Advances in devices have shown impressive device parameters (Voc 1175 mV, FF 0.85, and Jsc ≈ –2 12 mAcm ). In particular, the Voc represents the highest recorded value together with the highest possible FF values to date for a single PV device, indicating the right approach for PV solar cell development. This device is capable of absorbing all radiation (ultraviolet, visible and infrared) within the solar spectrum as well as SOLAR CELLS heat energy from the surroundings and combines these with “impact ionisation” and “impurity photovoltaic” effects.
    [Show full text]
  • A 119.7 MW Wind Farm in Ellutla, Andhra Pradesh As Vibrant Winds Are Blowing Across India
    Volume 10 • Issue 3 • December 2016 A 119.7 MW Wind Farm in Ellutla, Andhra Pradesh as Vibrant Winds are Blowing Across India In this Issue www.mnre.gov.in DECEMBER 2016 | Volume 10 • Issue 3 | COVER STORY A bi-monthly newsletter of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India 25 (Published in English and Hindi) CHIEF PATRON Shri Piyush Goyal Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy & Mines PATRON Shri Rajeev Kapoor Secretary, MNRE, New Delhi EDITOR 119.7 MW wind farm in Ellutla, Andhra Pradesh Dr Arun K Tripathi MNRE, New Delhi RE NEWS RE INTERVIEW EDITORIAL BOARD 4 National 34 Face to Face with D K Khare 9 International Shri C J Venugopal, IAS B S Negi R K Vimal RE PRODUCT COVER STORY PRODUCTION TEAM 25 Vibrant Winds Blowing Across India 38 Micro Solar Dome Anupama Jauhry, Sangeeta Paul, Abhas Mukherjee, Anushree T Sharma, RE FEATURES RE TRAINING Santosh K Singh, Raman K Jha, Shinjini Sen, R K Joshi, Aman Sachdeva, TERI, New Delhi, Marrakech, Morocco: 44 Suryamitra Skill Development 12 Nimai Ghatak, MNRE The COP of Action Programme in Uttarakhand EDITORIAL OFFICE 16 Conversion of Biomass to Ethanol: RE EVENTS Dr Arun K Tripathi A Prospective Source of Renewable 46 CBIP Awards 2017 for Excellence in Editor, Akshay Urja Energy MNRE, Block No. 14, CGO Complex, Development of Renewable Energy Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110 003 20 Timeline and Future of Solar 47 US-India Clean Energy Finance Tel. +91 11 2436 3035, 2436 0707 Cells: Year-Wise Innovations and Facility Initiative Announced Fax +91 11 2436 3035 Developments 47 Workshop on Expediting Solar Power E-mail: [email protected] 31 India’s First Bio CNG Plant: Development in West Bengal Web: www.mnre.gov.in Fuelling the Future with PRODUCED BY Renewable Energy 48 CHILDREN’S CORNER TERI Press TERI, Darbari Seth Block, IHC Complex A New Dawn in Renewable Energy 50 WEB/BOOK ALERT 40 Lodhi Road, New Delhi -110 003 Sector in India 52 FORTHCOMING EVENTS Tel.
    [Show full text]
  • An Overview on P3HT:PCBM, the Most Efficient Organic Solar Cell Material So Far
    An overview on P3HT:PCBM, the most efficient organic solar cell material so far. Name: Ge, Weihao Email: [email protected] Solid State Physics II, Spring 2009 Instructor: Elbio Dagotto Abstract It is not news that organic polymers have been used as solar cell materials. They have a couple of advantages over conventional semiconductors. However, their efficiency remains relatively low due to limited absorption spectra and poor charge mobility. Among these materials, fullerene derivates shows great potential being effective electron acceptor. A combination of narrow-band donor and fullerene derivate is a possible approach to efficient organic cells, including the most efficient organic cell P3HT:PCBM. Here I’ll discuss the ways to increase solar efficiency and give a brief description of efforts made for P3HT:PCBM. key words: organic solar cell, P3HT:PCBM Introduction Cu2S/CdS was developed at the University of Delaware with efficiency of 10%. In1991, the Solar cell or Photovoltaic cell (or PV cell first dye-sensitized cell was invented. In 1994, for short), is the device that converts the there came the first cell that exceeds 30% radiation of the sun to electricity. Every leaf of conversion efficiency using GaInP/GaAs. And a green plant does something similar --- they in 2006, the “40% efficient barrier” was convert sunlight to chemical energy. Actually, broken. Besides material research, much has a group of solar cells, the so-called “organic been done for increasing sunlight cells”, started by borrowing the idea from concentration, carrier collection, and cell leaves. Pigments (including chlorophyll[1]) stability[4]. Moreover, researches have gone were used to sensitize titanium-based beyond the inorganic world.
    [Show full text]
  • A Study on Mediating Impact of Eco-Literacy on Green
    A STUDY ON MEDIATING IMPACT OF ECO-LITERACY ON GREEN CONSUMPTION BEHAVIOR: AN EMPIRICAL ASSESSMENT OF MALAYSIA CONSUMER TOWARD SOLAR POWER RENEWABLE ENERGY LIM THYE KONG SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WAWASAN OPEN UNIVERSITY PENANG, MALAYSIA 2016 i NAME Lim Thye Kong DEGREE Commonwealth Executive Master of Business Administration SUPERVISOR Dr. Quah Hock Soon TITLE A Study On Mediating Impact of Eco-Literacy On Green Consumption behavior: An Empirical Assessment of Malaysia Consumer Toward Solar Power Renewable Energy. DATE Nov 2016 INSTITUTION Wawasan Open University (WOU), Penang, Malaysia Final Project Report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Commonwealth Executive Master of Business Administration (CeMBA) of Wawasan Open University Penang, Malaysia ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The route to pursue the CeMBA certification is not easy journey and become challenging for me as full time working student. I am always busy with my M & E construction works even through on the weekend and public holiday. Hence, time management, dedication and commitment are important factors for me to keep up my spirit to accomplish the final objective completion of my CeMBA program at WOU. Normally, search the project title and selecting the right title for research study always is headache for every post graduate student and included me as well. I am so lucky to select the talented project supervisor, Dr. Quah Hock Soon, to help me to determine my interest project field and decide for project research title. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Quah for the kindness guidance and advices, when I was facing any doubt and problem throughout the process of the research works.
    [Show full text]
  • Joining and Mechanical Behaviour of Poly-Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells
    Joining and mechanical behaviour of poly-crystalline silicon solar cells JMWestra Master Thesis February, 2008 Delft University of Technology ^ Materials Science and Engineering _ . - Joining and Mechanical Behaviour Fj g I TT Supervisors: Michael Janssen " L-^v^i w Ian Richardson Energy research Centre of the Netherlands Solar Energy PV Module Technology Supervisor: Ian Bennett Preface Timeline of solar cells^ and ECN The concept of using sunlight to generate electricity goes back two centuries, to 1839 when French physicist Antoine-Cesar Becquerel observed that shining light on an electrode submerged in a conductive solution would create an electric current. Millikan proved photoelectric effect experimentally in 1916. Albert Einstein received the Nobel Prize for explaining this effect in 1923. In 1941, the American Russell Ohl invented a silicon solar cell, with an energy conversion efficiency below one percent. This changed when Pearson, Fuller and Chapin designed a silicon solar cell capable of a six percent energy conversion efficiency with direct sunlight in 1954. The expensive solar power found its fust applications in space. The fust PV-powered satellite, Vanguard I, was launched in 1958. The satellite power system operated for 8 years. Hoffman Electronics started producing, 10% efficient, commercially PV cells. This started the use of solar cells outside of space application. ECN started in 1955 with as a research centre for nuclear power. From around 1975 the research field of ECN was expanded to include wind turbines, solar power, and biomass energy. ECN is currently one of the major international players in solar cell research. Materials in solar cells According to Goetzberger and Hebling^ the most important material used in solar cells was and still is silicon.
    [Show full text]
  • Thin Film Solar Cells Using All-Electrodeposited Zns, Cds and Cdte Materials
    Thin film solar cells using all-electrodeposited ZnS, CdS and CdTe materials. ECHENDU, Obi Kingsley. Available from the Sheffield Hallam University Research Archive (SHURA) at: http://shura.shu.ac.uk/19597/ A Sheffield Hallam University thesis This thesis is protected by copyright which belongs to the author. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the author. When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given. Please visit http://shura.shu.ac.uk/19597/ and http://shura.shu.ac.uk/information.html for further details about copyright and re-use permissions. Sheffield Hallam University Learning and Information Services Adseits Centre, City Campus Shaffieid Si 1WD REFERENCE ProQuest Number: 10694478 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely ev e n t that the author did not send a co m p le te manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest ProQuest 10694478 Published by ProQuest LLC(2017). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States C o d e Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 4 8 1 0 6 - 1346 Thin film solar cells using all-electrodeposited ZnS, CdS and CdTe materials Obi Kingsley Echendu A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Sheffield Hallam University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy April 2014 Declaration I hereby declare that the work described in this thesis is my own work, done by me and has not been submitted for any other degree anywhere.
    [Show full text]
  • Chips 2020: a Guide to the Future of Nanoelectronics (The Frontiers
    THE FRONTIERS COLLECTION THE FRONTIERS COLLECTION Series Editors: A.C. Elitzur L. Mersini-Houghton M. Schlosshauer M.P. Silverman R. Vaas H.D. Zeh J. Tuszynski The books in this collection are devoted to challenging and open problems at the forefront of modern science, including related philosophical debates. In contrast to typical research monographs, however, they strive to present their topics in a manner accessible also to scientifically literate non-specialists wishing to gain insight into the deeper implications and fascinating questions involved. Taken as a whole, the series reflects the need for a fundamental and interdisciplinary approach to modern science. Furthermore, it is intended to encourage active scientists in all areas to ponder over important and perhaps controversial issues beyond their own speciality. Extending from quantum physics and relativity to entropy, consciousness and complex systems – the Frontiers Collection will inspire readers to push back the frontiers of their own knowledge. For a full list of published titles, please see back of book or springer.com/series 5342 Series home page – springer.com Bernd Hoefflinger Editor Chips 2020 A Guide to the Future of Nanoelectronics Editor Bernd Hoefflinger Leonberger Str. 5 71063 Sindelfingen Germany Series Editors: Avshalom C. Elitzur Bar-Ilan University, Unit of Interdisciplinary Studies, 52900 Ramat-Gan, Israel email: [email protected] Laura Mersini-Houghton Dept. Physics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3255, USA email: [email protected] Maximilian A. Schlosshauer Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Boltzmanngasse 3, A-1090 Vienna, Austria email: [email protected] Mark P.
    [Show full text]
  • Space Awareness Activities for Science Centres and Museums
    PEER-REVIEWED EDUCATION ACTIVITIES SCIENCE CENTRES AND MUSEUMS SPACE SPACE CAREERS www.space-awareness.org INSPIRING A NEW GENERATION OF SPACE EXPLORERS SPACE OF GENERATION NEW A INSPIRING LET’S INSPIRE ANEWGENERATION OF SPACE EXPLORERS! The Space Awareness project uses the excitement of space to engage young people with science and technology and stimulate their sense of European and global citizenship. Space Awareness shows children and adolescents the relevance of space science and technology in their lives and the career opportunities offered by the space sector for their future. The Space Awareness activities have been selected following the most popular topics for space in the school curricula. These topics are the result from a survey disseminated to educators in 10 European countries and South Africa in 2015. All resources have been reviewed by an educator and a scientist and are tested and improved by teachers and educators all around Europe and beyond. This compendium brings together a selection of Space Awareness activities to be implemented at informal learning settings. Space Awareness is funded by the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 Programme under grant agreement n° 638653 A VIEW FROM ABOVE Analyse real satellite data like professionals Markus Nielbock, Haus der Astronomie www.space-awareness.org Curriculum topic Education level Location satellites, surface Secondary School, University, Indoors (small, e.g. classroom) Informal Big idea of science Core skills Earth is a system of systems Time Asking questions, Developing
    [Show full text]
  • Sector Profile for Solar Photovoltaics in Canada
    SECTOR PROFILE FOR SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS IN CANADA Report – 2012-063 (RP-TEC) March 29th, 2012 SECTOR PROFILE FOR SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS IN CANADA Prepared by: Navigant Consulting, Inc. 333 Bay Street Suite 1250 Toronto, Ontario, M5H 2R2 www.navigantU .com U Presented to: CanmetENERGY, Varennes Research Centre Date: March 29th, 2012 Report – 2012-063 (RP-TEC) March 29th, 2012 CITATION Navigant Consulting Inc., Sector Profile for Solar Photovoltaics in Canada, report # 2012-063 (RP-TEC), CanmetENERGY, Natural Resources Canada, March 2012, 100 pp. DISCLAIMER This report is distributed for informational purposes and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of Canada nor constitute an endorsement of any commercial product or person. Neither Canada nor its ministers, officers, employees or agents makes any warranty in respect to this report or assumes any liability arising out of this report. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The preparation of this report was funded by Natural Resources Canada through the ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative. Report – 2012-063 (RP-TEC) - i - March 29th, 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Executive Summary........................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Key Takeaways...................................................................................................................................... 1 2 Provincial and Federal Solar PV Incentives......................................................................................... 5 2.1 Ontario ................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]