Title: Design and Analysis of Hydrokinetic-Canal Top Solar Power Generation System Applicable to Electrification and Irrigation System in North Mecha Wereda
Description: The solar and hydropower power the most potential energy sources, which are fast developing technology. Surface water Velocity Driven Hydrokinetic Turbine Technology generates electricity directly from water velocity, without making dam or any civil structure. The research is concerned on hybrid of a Solar PV System and Hydrokinetic Turbine installed on Canal Top Solar platform, which allow it to harness electricity from running water as well as from sunlight. Canal top solar power plants are one of the most innovative alternatives to harness renewable energy without acquiring additional land. Apart from saving valuable land, canal top solar has many additional advantages such as reduction in evaporation loss of canal surface, temperature controlling of solar plants and ease in maintenance due to readily available canal water for rinsing of solar panel surface.
Canal Top solar power plant, hybridization with Hydrokinetics is a technology, which produce electricity using only surface velocity of flowing water body. This technology is an effective and viable strategy that can be employed to harness energy resource to energize remote rural areas where grid extension is difficult and impossible. Based up on the above activity, the complete Hybrid of Hydrokinetic with Canal Top Solar Renewable Energy Generation System will be modeled and simulate using MATLAB and HOMER software. Moreover, under this research, Converter will be designed and its performance will be analyzed. To design an appropriate converter the following activities will be done
- Solar and site survey data will be collected
- Design and performance analysis of the system will be discussed
- Model will be developed based on Design and performance analysis
- MPPT based switch control algorism will be developed
- Simulation of the solar photovoltaic system
- Prototype of the system will be developed
Researchers: Alebachew Kassie (PI), Tsedalnesh Menberu (Co-PI), Betelhem Dereje, Dr.Tassew Tadiwose, Elias Mandefro, Tewodros Gera, Mehari Mekuria, Binyam Zemene
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Title: Development and Characterization of an Electrically Rechargeable Zinc-Air bi-functional catalysts
Description: Zinc air batteries have attracted a great attention in the recent years due to their high energy density which makes them a promising energy storage and conversion solutions for many applications, ranging from electronic devices and electrical vehicles to electrical grid regulations. Besides their high energy density, they also demonstrate other desirable characteristics, such as abundant raw materials, environmental friendliness, safety, and low cost. However, technical challenges associated with slow oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics representing a critical factor for the energy conversion efficiency of ZABs are far from well understood. Therefore, the work presented in this thesis aims to address the challenges of rechargeable zinc-air batteries particularly from the active bi-functional electrocatalyst stand point to make them as commercially viable as possible. The purpose of this work is to discover and synthesize alternative MnO2/Mixed oxide catalysts for zinc-air battery applications through optimization. In this study, co-precipitation and sol–gel materials synthesis technique will be employed to synthesize MnO2 based bi-functional catalyst MnO2, Ag-MnO2and Co3O4/MnO2- CNTs bi-functional catalysts will be investigated as possible candidates for use as active catalyst layer in the air electrode of rechargeable zinc-air batteries. Characterization of the analyzed MnO2-mixed oxide nano materials will be carried out with different electroscopic, thermal analysis etc…… Moreover, the electro catalytic activity for oxygen evolution (OER) and oxygen reduction (ORR) reactions of the prepared materials will be assessed and compared with most active catalyst and expensive Pt/C and IrO2. In an attempt to better understand the structural origin of the electro catalytic activity of the materials investigated, various characterization techniques will be used such as structural analysis using X-Ray Diffract meter (XRD), surface analysis using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), optical property analysis using UV-Vis, functional groups and other impurities analysis using FTIR, surface area analysis using BET and thermal analysis using Thermogravimetry (TGA). Finally electrochemical characterization will be analyzed using full cell testing, CV and LCV
Researchers: Dr: Nigus Gabbiye (PI), Dr: Delele Worku (Co-PI and Dr: Ababay Ketema (Co-PI)
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Title: Design, manufacturing and testing Jatropha oil pressing machines and stoves.
Description: This study aimed to solve one of the problems which Jatropha curcas seeds (JCS) oil extraction industry is facing in the North-eastern part of Ethiopia; the lack of efficient small scale oil extraction machines. All parts of a small scale JCS oil extraction machine was therefore designed, developed, based on design calculations, locally sourced materials with indigenous technology were used for the development of the machine. After completing the design part, I have made the modeling and the simulation of the machine using CATIA V5 and start the development of the machine from the frame. After manufacturing all the parts of the machine, I have done the assembly part finally I have made a test for the machine and evaluating the developed machine, the effect of speed, feed-rate, and moisture content on throughput, extraction rate, and extraction efficiency were determined.
Researchers: Abid Abdu (PI), Aragaw Mulu (Co-PI), Tadele Mihret (Co-PI)
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