D. Sakthivadivel

Bio: D. Sakthivadivel is an academic researcher from VIT University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Stove & Solar energy. The author has an hindex of 8, co-authored 32 publications receiving 251 citations. Previous affiliations of D. Sakthivadivel include Anna University & College of Engineering, Guindy.

Opportunities and challenges in setting up solar photo voltaic based micro grids for electrification in rural areas of India

Abstract: Rural area electrification in developing countries helps to improve the quality of life of the people. It increases productivity and supports education. It also discourages people from migrating towards urban areas. In India about 70% of the population lives in rural area, hence it is necessary to electrify these villages to achieve inclusive economic growth. Transmission and distribution of power to this less densely populated areas which are located far away from the power generating stations is the major reason for not able to achieve 100% electrification in the country. Hence it is necessary to find out an energy source which can be decentralized to supply power to these hamlets. As India is blessed with solar energy which is omnipresent in almost all parts of the country, micro grid system which uses solar photo voltaic panels seems as the finest option. The solar photo voltaic system converts light energy into direct current power using photovoltaic effect. Battery is used to store the extra power generated during the day and used during nights. Inverters and power conditioning devices are used to convert direct current power generated by solar photo voltaic systems to alternative current, which is supplied to the load using power distribution network which adds to system cost. At present the capital cost and the land requirement for this system is higher than all other renewable energy power generation system. But it has very less operation and maintenance cost which makes it superior to other system. Moreover additional modules can be added to it when the power demand increases. This paper says about how rural area electrification can be achieved in India by solar photo voltaic system micro grid system and the challenges which has to be over come during implementation.

Performance evaluation of three types of forced draft cook stoves using fuel wood and coconut shell

Abstract: Many cook stove programs implemented in South Asia and Africa were aimed at reducing fuel wood consumption and pollutants through the use of improved cook stoves. The research work presented in this paper is focused on evaluation of improved cook stoves with respect to thermal efficiency and emission levels. Since the type of biomass fuel varies in different geographical regions, the improved cook stoves must be compatible to use different types of fuel. The present research work is aimed at evaluating three types of forced draft cook stove with two types of biomass fuels. Water boiling tests were conducted to evaluate the stove performance with respect to efficiency and fuel flexibility. The findings of the study are used to evaluate the stove's performance with respect to fuel flexibility, efficiency and user acceptance. The performance results of three types of forced draft stoves tested with fuel wood and coconut shell are presented in this research paper.

Energy, Exergy, and Economic analysis of low thermal conductivity basin solar still integrated with Phase Change Material for energy storage

Abstract: Latent heat energy storage material has been used by many researchers to achieve an enhancement in the yield of solar still. However, the poor thermal conductivity of Phase Change Materials (PCM) used in solar still led to slower charge/discharge of the energy stored in it. This led to the dissipation of most of the energy stored in the PCM as losses happening in the solar still instead of getting converted into useful work. In this study an attempt was made to improve the yield of the solar still incorporated with PCM by using a low thermal conductivity material to construct the basin of the still, thereby reducing the heat loss occurring along the bottom surface and sidewalls of the still. In the present study, the basin of the conventional solar still (CSS) used for experimentation was made of galvanized iron, which was used as a reference still. The other two stills were incorporated with PCM, whose phase change temperature ranges from 58.03 °C - 64.5 °C. Among the stills incorporated with PCM, the basin of one of the still was constructed using galvanized iron (GIBSS) while the basin of the other still was made using acrylic (ABSS). From the experimentation, it was inferred that the usage of acrylic as basin material helped to reduce the charging span of the PCM but also delayed the discharge time of the PCM, thereby enhancing the yield of the still. The yield of ABSS was 4.36 L/m2/day, which was 10.1% and 19.1% higher than GIBSS and CSS respectively. Meanwhile, the exergy efficiency of ABSS was 3.46% and that of CSS and GIBSS were 3.56% and 2.99% respectively. The cost per liter of water produced by CSS, GIBSS, and ABSS was found to be ₹0.67, ₹1.09, and ₹1.23 respectively.

The underestimated potential of solar energy to mitigate climate change

Abstract: Despite being currently under-represented in IPCC reports, PV generation represents a growing share of power generation. This Perspective argues that underestimating PV potential led to suboptimal integration measures and that specific deployment strategies for emerging economies should be developed.

Recent advances in solar photovoltaic systems for emerging trends and advanced applications

Abstract: This communication presents a comprehensive review on the solar photovoltaic (SPV) systems for recent advances and their emerging applications in the present and future scenario. Besides, the performance study of off grid and grid connected SPV power plant has been discussed and presented in detail. From the literature, it is found that the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) systems varies from 10% to 23%. Thus, the efficiency is the important factor which needs to be explored further for the best implementation and utilization of this emerging and useful technology around the globe. However, among all the applications discussed here, Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), Concentrated photovoltaics (CPV) and photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) are found to be the most technically sound and exhibit that SPV may be a feasible solution for the future energy challenges. Again, the building integrated PV system not only reduces the area requirement, but also cuts the material and infrastructure costs of the building and hence, fulfills the technical thrust for smart building requirements. Recently developed CPV cells are found to be feasible, most promising and cost effective technology having higher efficiency and lesser material requirements than those of the other solar cells. On the other hand, as the PV/T systems produce not only the electricity but also the heat energy are found to be more useful, suitable, and promising for most of the real life applications especially, where both forms of energy are required simultaneously.

Household cooking fuel choice and adoption of improved cookstoves in developing countries : a review

Abstract: Improving access to affordable and reliable energy services for cooking is essential for developing countries in reducing adverse human health and environmental impacts hitherto caused by burning of traditional biomass. This paper reviews empirical studies that analyze choices of fuel and adoption of improved stoves for cooking in countries where biomass is still the predominant cooking fuel. The review highlights the wide range of factors that influence households’ cooking fuel choices and adoption of improved stoves, including socioeconomic (access and availability, collection costs and fuel prices, household income, education and awareness), behavioral (food tastes, lifestyle), and cultural and external factors (indoor air pollution, government policies). The paper also summarizes the evidence on the significant adverse health impacts from exposure to indoor smoke, especially among women and young children. In low-income households, perceived health benefits of adopting improved stoves and financial benefits from fuel savings tend to be outweighed by the costs of improved stoves, even after accounting for the opportunity cost of time spent collecting biomass fuel. The paper identifies knowledge and evidence gaps on the success of policies and programs designed to scale up the adoption of improved cookstoves.

Research and development aspects on decentralized electrification options for rural household

Abstract: Low income households living in the rural areas suffer from energy poverty and lack of human and economic development. Currently, many governments of less developed countries are committed in improving access to electricity. The same commitment should be adapted globally as part of human right because providing electricity access to low-income households improves health and education, generates income, increases productivity, reduces inequality, and enhances the quality of life. Rural electrification is a complicated issue because of user affordability, rural inaccessibility and remoteness, low population densities and dispersed households, low project profitability, fiscal deficit, scarcity of energy resources, population growth, lack of professionalism, and over-dependence on subsidies. The demand for electrification cannot be accomplished because of the increasing gap between rural electrification rate and population growth. Therefore, this review aims to study various decentralized household-sized energy technologies available in rural areas, such as battery, diesel generator, pedal generator, pico hydro, photovoltaic (PV) solar home system, and wind. Preference for one of the options depends on energy-source availability, economic feasibility, rural economic development, disposal of residues, nature of end-user application, and government programs and policies. Pico hydro is the preferred electricity generation source in most rural households, followed by wind, PV, and diesel generators. This paper concurs that households in rural areas will be able to afford for electricity access if the payment schedule of the electrification cost is extended and interest rates and taxes, if any, are dropped.