T.E.I. of PATRA
THE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (R.E.S.) LABORATORY
T.E.I. of PATRA
THE RENEWABLE ENERGIES SYSTEMS & SOURCES
(R.E.S.) LABORATORY
INTRODUCTION
The Renewable Energies Systems & Sources (R.E.S.) Laboratory of the T.E.I. of
Patra, established by law, since 1983, serves on one hand the needs for Education
and Training of students, graduates and professionals
and on the other hand, is active in RTD projects and
services.
http://solar-net.teipat.gr
www.teipat.gr/socrates-ip2006
www.teipat.gr/renewables
 This Laboratory has been active so far at national,
European
and
international
collaboration
schemes.
These
schemes
cover
education at graduate and postgraduate level with projects on photovoltaics, wind
energy, solar thermal engineering, concentrating solar collectors, passive solar
technology, hybrid solar systems and other solar engineering applications for
space cooling/refrigeration, water purification, space heating etc.
 It is also involved in ERASMUS, Leonardo Da Vinci and in the development of
O.D.L. material on R.E.S. applications; especially E.C. Programmmes; also PV
technologies, wind energies, solar buildings, solar radiation measurements &
estimation natural projects.
 The RES Lab is, also, involved either as coordinator or partner, in projects under
E.U. Programs like: FP6 and FP7, COST, SOCRATES, LEONARDO Da Vinci,
TEMPUS. It collaborates closely with other European University laboratories in the
domain of innovations in R.E.S.
The European dimension forms an integrated part of the Lab’s policy.
It hosts students, graduates and post-graduates, as well as external collaborators
who run part of their research projects with the support of the staff and the
infrastructure.
List of projects is presented in §4.2. of this brochure.
T.E.I. of PATRA
THE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (R.E.S.) LABORATORY
 For the 2000-03 years, a SOCRATES project for an M.Sc. Curriculum development
titled:
Solar Energy: Technology and Management,
was coordinated by the R.E.S. Laboratory
More information of the above issues is given in the address:
http://solar-net.teipat.gr
 Similarly, the RES Lab organizes since 2003, an Intensive Programme called
“I.C.T. tools in PV Teaching and Learning”. This IP, under the form of a
European Summer University, continues till nowadays and covers all RES
Technologies. CD’s with the content of this Summer University are available.
 Since 2004, RES Lab is funded by the Greek Ministry of Education, under the
ARCHIMIDES Programme, for a project titled: “Design, Development and
Integration of RES elements into Building Shells; The Intelligent Energy
Building”. Results on this subject have been published
Laboratory Staff
1. Prof. Dr. S. Kaplanis; Head of Laboratory
2. Prof. Dr. G. Barakos
3. Dr. Em. Petrakis
4. Staff from other partner Universities and postgraduate students
5. Technical Staff
T.E.I. of PATRA
THE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (R.E.S.) LABORATORY
SOLAR COLLECTORS
2. RES LAB IN FRACTURE
2.1. TEST FACILITIES
There has been designed and built a flat plate collectors test facility
according to the ASHRAE standard 93-77.
The block diagram of the left fig is shown in fig.1, while fig. 2 shows
Fig.1 The experimental test layout
Components with various components:
It shows parabolic solar reflectors.
This test facility is fully automated
according to ASHRAE Standard 37-77
with permission
Fig.2 Fuel Cell facilities: The DC/AC
inverter provides power from two PV
….:one fixed and one sun tracking to a
hydrogen generator which is stored out
…… to fuel cells to provide power to
RES Lab loads.
the Fuel Cell unit of 2kW linked to a H2 production unit powered by the PV
generators:
-one 0.8 kW fixed type and
-one of 0.8 kW equipped with a sun tracking system.
A Flat plate solar collector efficiency apparatus, for students training, there
exists, also, an indoors didactic laboratory test facility to study the flat
plate solar collector efficiency.
This is a small module, which helps students to experiment on solar collector
efficiencies and the on parameters which affect it, like insulation, glass cover(s),
fluid temperature, mass flow rate etc.
The related topics for experiments are: solar radiation absorption, heat radiated,
heat convection and conduction, collector energy balance equations, etc.
T.E.I. of PATRA
THE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (R.E.S.) LABORATORY
2.2.METEOROLOGICAL STATION
A meteorogical station with the following measuring
instruments has been built in the R.E.S. Lab, consisting of:
1. One Rainfall Logging System, Casella tipping bucket
gauge.
2. Two Kipp & Zonen Pyranometers: CM11, CM11 with
CM121 shadow ring.
3. One Eppley Pyranometer.
4. Two R.M. Young Anemometers; Model 05305, 3cups
The mast of the Meteo
station
Anemometer.
5. One Humidity temperature: MP101A.
6. One Air-Temperature Screen and Sensor: Vector T351-PX.
Data are processed in a Data Logger to provide all useful quantities for solar
engineering projects in the field.
A quarterly bulletin is published with the Meteo data stored and analyzed.
Pyranometer
Ambient temperature sensor
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THE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (R.E.S.) LABORATORY
2.3. A PV POWERED SPACE COOLING SYSTEM
A 30 m3 space is cooled by a hybrid PV- Wind generator running under a hybrid
configuration 3 kWp stand Alone PV Generator and 1 kW wind generator installed in
the R.E.S. Laboratory campus.
The whole system is offered for experimenting on the system operation, its
efficiency and the overall energy balance, as well as the solar cooling system
performance.
This system is the product of the collaboration with the Aachen University of Applied
Sciences.
Fig. Cooling chamber at the right side
And on the left the battery storage
system and the DC/AC inverter
Fig. Test cell facility for solar energy
buildings equipped with energy roof by a
PV generator and a solar collector type of
roof integrated into the cell. Test cell is floor heated, through heat
produced by the solar collector roof type.
System description
The operation, monitoring and evaluation of a cooling space which is operated by a
hybrid, photovoltaic- wind generator, started in the Technological Research Center
of the T.E.I. of Patra, 1994.
The cooling space is powered by the photovoltaic generator and the wind generator.
The PV-generator consists of 56 SM 55 modules arranged in five parallel groups.
There are four modules connected in series to one string. Four groups consist of
three parallel-connected cords and the fifth consist of two parallel connected strings.
T.E.I. of PATRA
THE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (R.E.S.) LABORATORY
2.4. COMPUTER FACILITIES
The computer room in R.E.S. Lab is fully equipped with 12 Pentium IV workstations.
The configuration of each workstation is:
-
Pentium IV 3.20 GHz processor
-
512MB RAM
-
64MB Video Card ATI Radeon Express
-
80GB Hard Disk Storage
-
10 Mbps Ethernet Adapter
-
Internet Facilities through a LAN
Fig.1 Test cell with energy façade
and a roof with 2 PV panels and solar
collector type integrated in the roof.
The collector provides heat to floor
heating
Fig.2 Flexible a-Si PV panel
This Laboratory is used by staff and students for their final year projects and other
projects concerning renewable energy issues.
An e-platform, http://epeaekres.teipat.gr/eplat, may provide on-line data from the
3 kWp PV generator, as well as Meteo data recorded by the station.
T.E.I. of PATRA
THE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (R.E.S.) LABORATORY
2.5. SOFTWARE
Software available, used in Education Training and RTD projects
i)
Software developed in the R.E.S. Laboratory
a) Wxart82:
A software for drawing Polar Charts, used for
studying shadowing problems for buildings,
collectors, PV arrays etc.
b) Indoor Lighting:
This package permits to study the natural
light
which
penetrates
windows.
The
lit
pattern is shown for any time during any day
Fig. Temperature and air
circulation simulation of the
test cell by FLOVENT
of a year.
c) Single and Double collector efficiency, performance and heat delivered.
It makes a full analysis of temperatures in single and double glass solar
collector, heat gain, efficiency, etc. based in a model developed by the
Head of this Lab, Prof. S. Kaplanis
ii)
Other Software used for RTD, Training and Education purposes.
a) FEHT: Finite Elements Heat Transfer (by Winsconsin University)
b) PV F-Chart: Program for analysis, design and economic evaluation of
Photovoltaic systems (by Winsconsin University)
c) PV System Sizing
d) F-Chart: F-Chart Analysis Program (by Winsconsin University)
e) TRANSYS: Performance Analysis of Solar Systems
f) Wintherm and RADTherm packages
g) FLOVENT
h) Meteonorm
i) MatLab
j) Ecotect
k) LabView
l) Retscreen packages
The Lab is an official user of retscreen software to provide high quality
education on RES.
T.E.I. of PATRA
THE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (R.E.S.) LABORATORY
3. EDUCATION OFFERED OPPORTUNITIES
1.
Reference Library on R.E.S.: Journals, books, periodicals.
Recently, an e-Library project for R.E.S. is on progress.
2.
ODL Learning facilities, based on a project funded in Greek state in
collaboration with the TEI of Crete, the Technological University of Crete,
University of Applied Sciences in Aachen, Germany, the Prague Tech
University, University of Zaragoza, etc.
3.
Students are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunities of the Lifelong
Learning Programme-ERASMUS, transversal & multilateral projects, to take
part of their studies in other Universities in Europe and America.
4.
An M.Sc. curriculum development project on Solar Energy coordinated by the
R.E.S. Laboratory, gave results, as shown in http://solar-net.teipat.gr.
That gives staff and students opportunities for exchanges with partner
Universities/ Institutions/ Laboratories in order to carry out projects and follow
training periods in specific domains.
The RES Lab collaborates within the frame of the M.Sc. on “Energy Systems”,
run by the University of Applied Sciences in Aachen, Germany.
5.
Visiting professors, scientists, other researchers, ERASMUS students, and
others under Bilateral Agreements, are hosted in the R.E.S. Lab for training
and developing R&D projects.
6.
Staff and students from any University, either through the Life Long Learning
Programme projects or the Erasmus Mundus and EM External Window projects,
may benefit from a training and collaboration with the RES staff.
7.
Opportunities are offered, for, within the FP, RTD projects in which the RES
Lab is involved.
T.E.I. of PATRA
THE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (R.E.S.) LABORATORY
4. OTHER SPECIAL IN EDUCATION TRAINING AND RTD PROJECTS RES
4.1.
The Lab is involved in National & European projects such as:
1. CRISTAL in FP7: “Control of Renewable Integrated Systems Targeting
Advanced Landmarks”, combined by the Anglia Ruskin University (UK).
2. Summer University on R.E.S. (funded by ERASMUS).
It is organized every year between 1-15 July with partners from:
Katholic
University
College
of
South-West
Flanders
(BG),
South-West
University,Neophit Rilski (BG), Higher Tech.Institute of Nicosia (CY), Prague
Tech.University (CZ), Brno University of Technology (CZ), University of
Applied Sciences in Berlin (DE), University of Applied Sciences, Aachen (DE),
Aalborg University (DK), Technological Educational Institute of Larisa (GR),
Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki (GR), University of Patra
(GR), Budapest Tech University(HU), Tel Aviv University(IL), University of
Technology Szczecin (PL), Lisbon University (PT), Transylvania University in
Brasov (RO), University Valahia of Targoviste(RO), Zaragosa University of
Technology(E), University of Madrid (E), Dogus University Instabul (TR),
Anglia Ruskin University (UK), Florida International University (USA), Mugla
University (TR), Dublin City University (IR), University of Pisa (I), University of
Balears (E), Technical University Ilmenau (DE), Technical University of Kassel
(DE), University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy,Sofia (BG), University
of Cairo (EG).
3. I.W.T.P.V. workshop, on PV coordinated by Prague Technical University.
see www.k313.feld.cvut.cz/konference/index.
4. Eco-Design, Technologies and Green Energy, an FP5 project coordinated by
the Transilvania University Brasov, Romania.
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THE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (R.E.S.) LABORATORY
5. e-Technologies for Education in RES (national project), funded by EPEAEK*
Programme of the Greek and Ministry of Education.
6. The RES Lab organizes and/or participates for several years in Conferences,
workshops with its partners on R.E.S., see:
http://solar-net.teipat.gr
7. The RES Lab welcomes international projects on RES applications in the
domestic agricultural and industrial section, as well as with local and regional
authorities. Examples, the project with the Zaragoza University (Spain), the
Retscreen in Canada, ect.
*EPEAEK: it is an National Operational Program to achieve high quality standards in the Education and Training.
T.E.I. of PATRA
THE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (R.E.S.) LABORATORY
4.2. The Lab hosts:
1. Lecturers from other European and third countries, who deliver lectures and
conduct experiments and studies.
2. Students who attend course on RES: Solar Thermal Engines, Solar Collectors
Technology, Passive Solar Systems, Application of Solar Engineering in the
Domestic, Agricultural & Industrial domain, Wind energy, Hybrid systems etc.
3. Greek and foreign graduates and postgraduates, even PhD candidates.
The visiting staff and students may collaborate in projects as listed below:
Project 1
Solar Energy Radiation
Estimation-prediction and measurement of the Solar Intensity on any surface
orientation-inclination.
Measurement through:
a. Pyranometers and a data retrieval system from our meteo station.
b. Calibrated solar cells
Project 2
a. Solar thermal engineering:
Determination of the heat stored in a tank from various types of solar collectors
used for space heating and hot water production.
b. Parabolic concentrating solar collectors: efficiency measurements.
c. Zero Energy Buildings: Design
and Prediction of their Energy Performance.
Experiments on test cells in the campus of the TEI of Patra. (each cell consists of
PV roof and solar thermal roof).
Project 3
i-v measurements for various PV panels in field conditions.
Effect of environment conditions to PV performance. The Temperature effect.
T.E.I. of PATRA
THE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (R.E.S.) LABORATORY
Project 4
Monitoring of a PV generator connected to the solar campus building as an S.A.
plant.
Project 5
Fuel cells liaised to a PV generator using the H2 cycle.
Project 6
Design of a solar tracking system.
Measurements of daily performance against the one of a fixed PV array.
Project 7
Management of a PV and Wind hybrid system.
Project 8
Stochastic online management of loads powered by a PV generator.
Stochastic online management that is based on the solar radiation profile prediction
for any day and an effective management of the Building loads covered by a given
PV generator.
Project 9
Simulation of a Building Energy Performance by the Flovent package.
Project 10
Simulation of Solar Energy Performance of Renewable systems by the Wintherm
package.
T.E.I. of PATRA
THE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (R.E.S.) LABORATORY
PUBLICATIONS
1. A model to predict expected mean and stochastic hourly global solar radiation I(h;nj) values
Renewable Energy, Volume 32, Issue 8, July 2007, Pages 1414-25
S. Kaplanis and E. Kaplani
2. New methodologies to estimate the hourly global solar radiation; Comparisons with existing
models
Renewable Energy, Volume 31, Issue 6, May 2006, Pages 781-790
S.N. Kaplanis
3. Geometric, effective solid angles and intrinsic efficiencies of a 3 × 3 in. NaI(Tl) for isotropic and
non-isotropic photon emission
The International Journal of Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Volume 33, Issue 2, February
1982, Pages 127-135
S. N. Kaplanis
4. Monte Carlo calculations of the efficiencies and the parasitic pulses for a system of spherical
sources and a 3″×3″ NaI(Tl) detector
Nuclear Instruments and Methods, Volume 188, Issue 2, 15 September 1981, Pages 353-359
S. N. Kaplanis
5. On a Monte Carlo program for the estimation of absorption probability functions
The International Journal of Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Volume 32, Issue 5, May 1981,
Pages 351-352
S. N. Kaplanis
6. Analytical and Monte-Carlo results of the absorption probability functions for irradiated spherical
probes
The International Journal of Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Volume 31, Issue 9, September
1980, Pages 569-573
S. N. Kaplanis and R. Rigopoulos
7. Efficiency variations of cylindrical detectors for non-axial point-sources
The International Journal of Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Volume 29, Issues 9-10, October
1978, Pages 543-544
S. N. Kaplanis
8. The study and performance of a modified conventional refrigerator to serve as a PV powered
one
Renewable Energy, Volume 31, Issue 6, May 2006, Pages 771-780
Socrates Kaplanis and Nikolaos Papanastasiou
9. A friendly software package to estimate indoors day- lighting and internal gain
IASTED International Conference on Power and Energy Systems (EuroPES 2002), June 2002,
Crete, Greece
S.N.Kaplanis, Ach.G.Kostoulas, Ch.Kitsonas, V.Konstantinopoulos, D.Spyrakis
15. A review of simulation models developed for solar air heaters
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THE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (R.E.S.) LABORATORY
IASTED International Conference on Power and Energy Systems (EuroPES 2002), June 2002,
Crete, Greece
S.Kaplanis, Z.Kapoti, N.Theodoropoulos
16.
An investigation of the degreedays concept and subsequent
evaluation for the region of Achaia, W. Greece
WREN Congress-VII Colone, Germany 29 June-5 July 2002
S.Kaplanis, Ach.Kostoulas, K.Kottas
17.
A comparative study of the clearness index for the region of Achaia using various techniques.
WREN Congress-VII Colone, Germany 29 June-5 July 2002
S.Kaplanis, Ach.Kostoulas, O.Katsigianni
18.
The uncertainty in the sizing of PV-generators due to
Fluctuations in solar radiation and ambient temperature: the
case of W. Greece
OPTIM Congress 2002, Brasov University, Romania
S. Kaplanis, N.D.Papanastasiou
19.
A European M.Sc Course on solar energy: Technology and
Management
WREN Congress-VII Colone, Germany 29 June-5 July 2002
S. Kaplanis, ANeskakis, G.Schwager, I.Frame, F.Sick,
P.Scholten, J.Kaliakatsos, A.Vlisidis
20. The determination of the most cost effective PV-configuration
using detailed simulation of PV cell i-V and LCC
analysis
IWTPV’04, Prague, 22-23 April 2004
S. Kaplanis, N. Papanastasiou (University of Patras, Grece)
21. A Comparison of a New PV-Sizing Approach for Stand Alone
Systems with Conventional Methodologies
ActaPress
S. Kaplanis and E. Kaplani (Greece)
22. Design and Determination of the most cost effective PV configuration
systems to meet the loads of a household
Springer Verlag,2004
S. N. Kaplanis
23. Optical and Thermal Performance Simulation of Mini Solar Parabolic
Collectors With Several Geometries For Roof Integration
International Conference, TEI of Patra, 7-10 July 2005
S.N.Kaplanis, G. Barakos, M.A.Petrakis
24. PV-sizing Methology with Reference to Solar Radiation Statistical
Fluctuations
International Conference, TEI of Patra, 7-10 July 2005
S.N.Kaplanis, E. Kaplani
T.E.I. of PATRA
THE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (R.E.S.) LABORATORY
25. Description of a Reliable Model for Hourly Mean Global Solar
Radiation and its Stochastic Values. A Comparison of Predicted
Values
International Conference, TEI of Patra, 7-10 July 2005
S.Kaplanis, E, Kaplani
26. Degradation over a 20 Years Performance of BP c-Si PV modules
International Conference, TEI of Patra, 7-10 July 2005
S.Kaplanis
27. Long Term Performance of Flat Plate Solar Collectors Integrated into
South Wall, Powering Space Heating Elements
International Conference, TEI of Patra, 7-10 July 2005
S.Kaplanis
28. Learning from the Performance Experience of the European PV
Systems; Towards a Greek Perspective Scenario
International Conference, TEI of Patra, 7-10 July 2005
S.Kaplanis, Ach.G.K.Kostoulas, P.M.Fragos, K.V.Koumarelas,
E.P.Meidanis, A.P.Spyrogiannoulas
29. An Effective Set of I.C.T. Tools for Teachning and Learning on
Renewable Energy Systems (RES).
IWDEMSEE 2007, 19-20 September, Dogus University, Turkey
S. Kaplanis, E. Kaplani
30. On the Maximization of the Cost-Effectiveness of a PV Plant
IWDEMSEE 2007, 19-20 September, Dogus University, Turkey
S. Kaplanis, E. Kaplani
31. Roof Integrated Solar Parabolic Collectors Simulation Analysis
IWDEMSEE 2007, 19-20 September, Dogus University, Turkey
S. Kaplanis, G.Barakos, Em.Petrakis, A.Spyrogiannoulas
32. Flat plate and concentrating collectors: A comparison of their
performances. First results PRASIC ’02, TRANSILVANIA
UNIVERSITY OF BRASOV, ROMANIA Kaplanis, S, and Barakos G
33. “ Long term Performance of Flat Plate Collector
Integrated into South Wall Powering Space Heating Elements at TEI
of Patra” , Proceeding of International conference on “The
Integration of the Renewable Energy Systems into the Buildings
Structures”, 7 – 10 July 2005 Patra S. Kaplanis
34. “Design and construction of a solar tracking System (S.T.S.)
with two rotation axis”, 6 – 9 November, 2002 Brasov, Romania.
“CAD – MS – Brasov 2002” S. Kaplanis, G. Barakos,
I. Georgoudakis, And Katsaitis
35. “ Performance simulation of Mini – Parabolic reflecting Collectors and
Experimental Data” 19 – 25 August 2006 WREC IX Florence Italy
T.E.I. of PATRA
THE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (R.E.S.) LABORATORY
G. Barakos, S. Kaplanis, M. Petrakis
36. “Experimental and Theoretical analysis of the performance of a Mini
– Parabolic solar reflecting collector” September 2006 , Szczecin,
HTRSE 2006 G Barakos, S. Kaplanis, M. Petrakis,
A. Spyrogiannoulas
37.“ Experimental Analysis of the Performance of a Mini Parabolic Solar
Reflecting Collector” November 2006, Brasov Romania, PRASIC 06
G Barakos, S. Kaplanis, M. Petrakis, A. Spyrogiannoulas
38., “Experimental Performance Analysis for mini – Parabolic Solar
Reflecting collectors” EuroPes 2007, Mallorca, Spain. G. Barakos
S. Kaplanis, A. Spyrogiannoulas