• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.133-137
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• 2022

The economic feasibility of a photovoltaic (PV) system is greatly influenced by the initial investment cost for system installation. Also, electricity generation by PV system is highly important. The profits competitiveness of PV system will be maximized through intelligent operation and maintenance (O&M). Here, we developed a microconverter which can maximize electricity generation from PV modules by tracking the maximum power point of PV modules, and help efficient O&M. Also, the microconverter mitigates current mismatch caused by shading, hence maximize power generation. The microconverters were installed PV modules and demonstrated through the field tests. Power outputs such as voltage, string current were measured with variuos weather environments and partial shadings. We found that PV modules with the microconvertors shows 12.05% higher power generation compared to the reference PV modules.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.26 no.4_2
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• pp.715-724
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• 2023

Solar energy forecasting is essential for (1) power system planning, management, and operation, requiring accurate predictions. It is crucial for (2) ensuring a continuous and sustainable power supply to customers and (3) optimizing the operation and control of renewable energy systems and the electricity market. Recently, research has been focusing on developing solar energy forecasting models that can provide daily plans for power usage and production and be verified in the electricity market. In these prediction models, various data, including solar energy generation and climate data, are chosen to be utilized in the forecasting process. The most commonly used climate data (such as temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, solar radiation, and wind speed) significantly influence the fluctuations in solar energy generation based on weather conditions. Therefore, this paper proposes a hybrid forecasting model by combining the strengths of the Prophet model and the GRU model, which exhibits excellent predictive performance. The forecasting periods for solar energy generation are tested in short-term (2 days, 7 days) and medium-term (15 days, 30 days) scenarios. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach outperforms the conventional Prophet model by more than twice in terms of Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and surpasses the modified GRU model by more than 1.5 times, showcasing superior performance.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.179-185
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• 2007

A new technology that utilizes a microbial fuel cell (MFC) has been developed to generate electricity directly from the oxidation of organic matters such as carbohydrates or complex organics in wastewater. Fermentation of these organic matters results in production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), alcohols, $CO_2$ and $H_2$. We investigated the electricity-producing potential of the VFAs and actual food processing wastewater using a two-chambered MFC. The electrons produced by acetate degradation were proportional to acetate concentration in the medium. Acetate concentration and generated power were linearly correlated at a low range or acetate concentration (< 8 mg/L), but at above 8 mg/L of acetate the power produced was maintained at 0.1 mW. When butyrate was added to the anode acclimated to acetate, there was a lag period of 30 hr for electricity generation. However, when propionate was added to the same anode bottle, lag periods were not existed. The wastewater from baby food processing generated the maximum power density of $81{\pm}7\;mW/m^2$ of electricity and exhibited the Coulombic efficiencies of 27.1% and 40.5% based on TCOD and SCOD, respectively. Sugars in the food processing wastewater were reduced within 50 h from 230 mg/L < 30 mg/L.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.51-65
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• 2008

The increasing demand for energy in the near future has created strong motivation for environmentally clean alternative energy resources. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have opened up new ways of utilizing renewable energy sources. MFCs are devices that convert the chemical energy in the organic compounds to electrical energy through microbial catalysis at the anode under anaerobic conditions, and the reduction of a terminal electron acceptor, most preferentially oxygen, at the cathode. Due to the rapid advances in MFC-based technology over the last decade, the currently achievable MFC power production has increased by several orders of magnitude, and niche applications have been extended into a variety of areas. Newly emerging concepts with alternative materials for electrodes and catalysts as well as innovative designs have made MFCs promising technologies. Aerobic bacteria can also be used as cathode catalysts. This is an encouraging finding because not only biofouling on the cathode is unavoidable in the prolonged-run MFCs but also noble catalysts can be substituted with aerobic bacteria. This article discusses some of the recent advances in MFCs with an emphasis on the performance, materials, microbial community structures and applications beyond electricity generation.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.69-75
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• 2005

The PV-Solarwall system has been introduced as a promising alternative to harness solar energy for both heating applications and electricity generation simultaneously. The system comprises a PV solar panel(for electricity generation). In addition, the solarwall incorporates a fan strategically located behind the PV panel to bring the warm and fresh air from the solarwall into the room. Because of its location and convective cooling principle, the fan also serves to reduce the operating temperature of the PV panel thereby increasing its efficiency. So this PV-Solarwall system holds much promise for saving heating and electricity costs compared with a PV system without solarwall. In particular, by controlling the tilt angle of the entire PV-Solarwall system between $0^{\circ}$(horizontal) and $90^{\circ}$(vertical), the performance of the system can be further evaluated. It is expected that the range of tilt angle PV-Solarwall between $40^{\circ}$ and $50^{\circ}$ will improve the output of the system.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.255-264
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• 2012

The present study attempts to understand the emission pattern of greenhouse gases in people's daily life through the estimation and analysis of the amount and characteristics of the greenhouse gases. Based on the survey of 1,000 people throughout the nation, monthly emission of greenhouse gases per-capita was estimated from their use of fuels, electricity, water, and personal and public transportation means in addition to their waste generation. In the case of personal car drivers, greenhouse gas emission was the greatest from their cars, followed by the emission from electricity, fuels, and public transportation. Emission from water consumption and waste generation was relatively low. Fuel consumption varied depending on the number of household members, their housing type, and the size of their living spaces. Results showed that single-person households emitted the largest amount of per-capita greenhouse gas while greenhouse gas emission from electricity was inversely proportional to the number of persons in a given household.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.96-103
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• 2009

Wind power, Solar power and Fuel cell is the representative of new and renewal energy sources. In this paper, the frictional noise made by vehicles tire on roads is considered and researched as alternative electrical generation source. The amplitude and waveform of generated electricity with various types of vehicles according to their velocity, weight and distances between vehicles and sensor are measured and analyzed. As a result, all difference effects mentioned above which make the frictional noise affect quality and quantity of generated electricity. Maximum 0.53[V] and 0.028[W] electricity was generated by truck with 100[km/h] velocity on the express way.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.749-763
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• 2022

The fulcrum of economic development is a sustainable supply of electricity. Nigeria is plagued with blackouts, with one of the lowest per capita electricity consumption in the world (circa. 120 kWh per capita). Hence, policies have been instigated to integrate electricity generation from nuclear power plants (NPP) on or before 2027. However, a critical requirement for NPP generation is the implementation of robust human resource development (HRD) programs. This paper presents the perspective of Nigeria in assessing human resources needs over the entire NPP lifecycle following the milestone approach and employing the IAEA's Nuclear Power Human Resource (NPHR) modeling tool. Three workforce organizations are in focus including the owner/operator, regulators, and construction workers following three decades timeframe (2015-2045). The results indicate that for the study period, a maximum of approximately 9045 personnel (73% construction workers, 24% owner/operator, and 3% regulators) should be directly involved in the NPP program just before the commissioning of the third NPP in 2033. However, this number decreases by about 73% (2465 personnel including 94% operator and 6% regulator) at the end of the study timeframe. The results can potentially provide clarity and guidance in HRD decision-making programs.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.367-391
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• 2013

After the Fukushima nuclear accident, the external costs of generating electricity from nuclear power plants such as additional safety compliance costs and possible accident risk action costs have gained increasing attention from the public, policy-makers and politicians. Consequently, estimates of the external costs of nuclear power are very deliberate issue that is at the center of the controversy in Korea. In this paper, we try to calculate the external costs associated with the safety of the nuclear power plants, particularly focusing on additional safety compliance costs and possible accident risk action costs. To estimate the possible accident risk action costs, we adopt the damages expectation approach that is very similar way from the external cost calculation of Japanese government after the Fukushima accident. In addition, to estimate additional safety compliance costs, we apply the levelized cost of generation method. Furthermore, we perform the sensitivity analysis to examine how much these social costs increase the electricity price rate. Estimation results of the additional security measure cost is 0.53Won/kWh ~ 0.80Won/kWh depending on the capacity factor, giving little change on the nuclear power generation cost. The estimates of possible accident risk action costs could be in the wide range depending on the different damages of the nuclear power accident, probability of the severe nuclear power accident and the capacity factor. The preliminary results show that it is 0.0025Won/kWh ~ 26.4188Won/kWh. After including those two external costs on the generation cost of a nuclear power plant, increasing rate of electricity price is 0.001%~10.0563% under the capacity factor from 70% to 90%. This paper tries to examine the external costs of nuclear power plants, so as to include it into the generation cost and the electricity price. This paper suggests one of the methodologies that we might internalize the nuclear power generations' external cost, including it into the internal generation cost.

• KIEE International Transactions on Power Engineering
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• v.3A no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2003

This paper presents a schematic process based on the method of eliminating dominated strategies to obtain the optimal bidding strategy Pursuing the Nash equilibrium Point. The Proposed approach is demonstrated for a bidding game in a generation competitive market with 2-dimensional bidding strategy vectors constituting a price-quantity strategy curve.