By using numerical simulation, the operating temperatures of a thin-film solar cell based on CuInSe2 have been determined and the solar radiation density values, at which stabilization of the temperature operating conditions of the thin-film solar cell is not required, have been optimized. The maximum possible efficiency value of ~14.8 % is achieved under actual operating conditions, and is maintained by the incoming thermal energy as both emitted in this cell and infrared radiation of the sun and the environment. A model of the proposed thin-film solar cell was implemented in the COMSOL Multiphysics program environment with the use of the Heat Transfer Module. The operating temperatures of the solar cell without thermal stabilization under conditions of the diurnal and seasonal variations of both the ambient temperature and the power density of the AM1.5 solar spectrum have been determined. The maximum value of this power density was varied from 1.0 to 500 kW/m2 when using concentrators. The obtained values of operating temperatures of the thin-film solar cell were used to determine its main parameters in the SCAPS-1D program. The graphs of the operating temperature, efficiency and fill factor of the thin-film solar cell versus the solar radiation density are provided. It is shown that in order to obtain the highest possible efficiency of a solar cell, it is necessary to use concentrated solar radiation with a power density, the maximum value of which should be 8 kW/m2 in July and 10 kW/m2 in January. In the case of lower and higher values of power density, an appropriate thermal stabilization of the cell under consideration is necessary. The dependencies of efficiency, fill factor and open-circuit voltage versus the stabilization temperature of the solar cell, temperature gradients at the interfaces of the thermoelectric layer were also calculated. It is shown that by choosing optimal values of the thermal stabilization, the efficiency of the proposed solar cell may be about 15 % or more.

The economies of the world are influenced by the rapidly changing global energy policy agenda. Understanding energy trends implications in the long-term perspective is crucial for responsible and informed sustainability-policy making, with respect to transformations required to enhance the security of energy supply, resource efficiency and affordability, as well to as transformations required to minimize energy poverty and mitigate ecological footprint. Nowadays the price (value) competitiveness of technologies and products as their ability to respond to sustainability demands is becoming the appreciable criterion in choosing the pathways of technological growth or economic strategies designing. The transition to energy sustainability is the so-called quiet energy [r]evolution, or the transition towards 100 % renewable energy supply. Using the sociotechnical transition, vulnerability and sustainable development theories for the assessment of the energy safety level, this article aims to contribute to the understanding of cultural, institutional and innovation prerequisites of sustainable energy transitions. Basing on historical examples, it argues that, despite the cultural dimensions, energy resources and energy mix disparity, geographic location and income per capita, the value instead of cost philosophy in choosing energy pathways maintains the sustainable energy transitions. The key findings are the defined prerequisites of energy transitions sustainability; among them there are cultural dimensions, innovations and the speeds of movement along learning curves when adopting new energy technologies as well as energy policy patterns, applied in a country: value versus cost-driven. The Value vs Cost Energy Policy matrix has been developed in order to determine if a country is sufficiently value-driven in its energy policy.

Vietnam is a country of a great solar potential; solar technology is growing rapidly in Vietnam and investors are very interested in building solar power plants. Construction of the rooftop solar power stations can help owners reduce monthly electricity costs and even get economic benefits by selling excess electricity coming from a solar power plant (PV) to the utility grid. In this study, the design results of a rooftop grid-tied solar power station with the capacity of 26 kWp for a commercial building were introduced to have a basis to assess the operation ability of solar power station under solar radiation conditions in Hanoi city, Vietnam. The simulation results using the PVsyst program have made it possible to calculate the solar energy potential in Hanoi city, the power generation and efficiency of the grid-tied solar power station. Solar power has been applied in Vietnam since the 1990s but is mainly used for areas that were far from national power grid such as mountainous areas, islands. Small scale grid-tied solar power has been developed since 2010 and mainly is used for residential applications or small and medium scale consumers. The total capacity of electricity produced by solar power plants in Vietnam by 2017 was only about 8 MW; this value is very low as compared to the potential of solar power in Vietnam. This is due to the absence of the government support for the policy of developing solar power. In accordance with the current roadmap of raising electricity prices in Vietnam, construction investment of rooftop solar power stations is economically feasible while contributing to environmental protection and counteracting climate change phenomenon by reducing the amount of CO₂ emitted into the environment.

Digital filters made with the use of discrete Fourier Transform are applied in most microprocessor protections produced both in the home country and abroad. When the input signal frequency deviates from the value to which these filters are configured, a signal is generated at their output with oscillation amplitude that is proportional to the deviation of the signal frequency from the specified one. The article proposes an algorithm for compensating the oscillations of orthogonal components of the output signals of digital filters implemented on the basis of a discrete Fourier transform, when the input signal frequency deviates from the nominal one. A mathematical model of the proposed digital filter with an algorithm for compensating the oscillations of its orthogonal components, as well as a signal model for reproducing input effects, is implemented in the MatLab-Simulink dynamic modeling environment. The digital filter model is provided with two channels, viz. a current channel and a voltage channel, which makes it possible to simulate their operation in relation to protections that use one or two input values, for example, for current and remote protection. Verification of the functioning of the digital filter model with compensation for fluctuations in its output signal was carried out with the use of two types of test effects, viz. a sinusoidal signal with a frequency of 48–51 Hz (idealized effect), and the effects that are close to the real secondary signals of measuring current transformers and voltage transformers in case of short circuits accompanied by a decrease in frequency. The conducted computational experiments with deviation of frequency from the nominal one, revealed the presence of undamped oscillations at the output of standard digital Fourier filters and their almost complete absence in the proposed digital filters. This makes us possible to recommend digital filters based on a discrete Fourier transform supplemented by an algorithm for compensation of fluctuations in the amplitudes of the output signals for the use in microprocessor protection.

In design activities, technical solutions are practiced, which provide for the use of different tension strings of insulators in a single span. The present paper considers the calculation of the sag and load factors for a span with two different tensioning insulator strings that are of identical suspension heights. The system of “the first tension insulators string – the wire – the second tension insulators string” was described by the equations of a parabola. A relationship has been established between the sag increase factor and the coefficients that take into account the presence of tensioning insulators strings. The resulting compact formula for sag increase is generally suitable for any combination of strings in a span. The coincidence of the calculation is shown for particular cases known from the literature. The formula for calculating the load factor for the equation of state was derived, taking into account the presence of different strings in the span. The reliability of the formula has been proved by the coincidence of results for particular cases of the arrangement of strings. The obtained expressions can be used both for vertical (weight and ice) loads and for horizontal (wind) ones. In the case of loads in two planes, the equation of state must take into account all the components when calculating the resulting reduced load on the wire along the inclined plane. Calculations were performed for different lengths of spans of switchgear with different wires and strings of insulators. A span with one and two tensioning strings of insulators, with the same suspension heights, in the absence of wind and ice is considered. The curves of the sagging wires to different strings have been plotted. It is demonstrated that when calculating sags and tensions, the difference between strings must not be neglected.

In the traditional calculations of the steady-state mode of the electrical network, the dependences of the active resistances of the overhead line wire on the ambient temperature and currents in the branches are not taken into account. However, the temperature is a function of the active power losses, the power losses are a function of the resistance and current, and the resistance is temperature dependent. Therefore, these relations should be related to the traditional equations for stationary regimes. In order to increase the accuracy of steady-state calculations, a temperature correction of the resistance of the branches is required. In this paper, we present a method based on the joint solution of nonlinear equations of the steady-state electric network regime and the thermal balance of the wires of overhead lines. The algorithm and the program of calculation of the steady-state mode of an electric network taking into account dependence of active resistances of a wire of an overhead line on ambient temperature and currents in branches have been developed. The quantitative influence of the load current, wire temperature, wind speed, solar radiation on the active resistance of the wires has been estimated, and the errors in calculating annual variable energy losses have been determined. Numerical experiments were carried out for a 6-node modified version of the IEEE test system and equivalent circuit of 110 kV. The results of the calculations of the steady-state regime on various test circuits showed that the non-account of the temperature dependence of the active resistances might cause errors in power loss for individual loaded lines up to 10 %, and for total losses of the system – up to 30 %. This is unacceptable in simulating the modes of the electric network. The results of simulation of steady-state regimes taking into account the temperature dependence of the resistance of the wires are presented on the example of 6-node and 7-node circuits.

Currently, the world is characterized by quite a large number of military conflicts, manmade disasters and natural disasters. Every year, about 50 thousand people die from various natural disasters in the world. The report of the UNISDR notes that natural disasters that occurred in the world between 1998 and 2017 led to the death of 1.3 million people (more than half of them – due to earthquakes). The analysis shows that human losses could be significantly less with rapid first aid. This requires the presence of a field hospital located as close as possible to the lesion. Currently, field hospitals for various purposes are produced. The heating system of the field hospital modules plays an important role in the operation. A heating system is proposed, which includes a vortex heat generator and heating devices made of polyvinyl chloride. The system is characterized by low weight and quick access to the operating mode. However, in the literature there is no method for calculating the heat exchange coefficient in a closed space, which is formed by flexible heater surface and an enclosing wall. Based on the analysis of criterion dependences and experimental data, new criterion equations for calculating the heat exchange coefficient for an arbitrary location of heaters in space are obtained. The following dependence is built lgNu = f(lg(Gr×Pr)), which allows to determine value of heat exchange coefficient for given range of temperature. A method of intensification of the heat exchange process by creating an artificial roughness is proposed. Graph is done to determine growth rate of heat exchange СK, which is included in criterion equation. The use of artificial roughness allowed increasing the heat transfer coefficient by 28 % and the thermal power of the heating device by about 26 %.

The article considers the general concept of corrosion in accordance with GOST 5272–68 “Metal Corrosion”, the classification of the corrosion process, the stages of corrosion as energy function of the flow path of the corrosion process, the main indicators of the corrosion process. According to the forecasts of the International Monetary Fund and Focus Economics, the amount of funds that will be spent on counteracting corrosion and its consequences in selected industrialized countries has been estimated. The growth of funds invested in the counteracting the effects of metal corrosion in the Russian Federation for 2016–2019 is presented in the form of a diagram. The substantiation of the use of zirconium as a structural material for the shell of fuel rods has been fulfilled. The values of the thermal neutron absorption cross sections for various elements serving as structural elements for the core of a nuclear reactor are presented. Factors influencing the choice of alloying elements and their percentage in various alloys (Zr-2, Zr-4, ZIRLO™, M5®), which are the special development that reduce the corrosion rate, are also considered. The composition and mechanical properties of E110 and E635 alloys, which were used as materials for the fuel rods shell in the core of WWER-1200 reactors at the Belarusian NPP, are considered as well. The behavior of zirconium alloys E110 and E635 in the core is analyzed. The main factors that make a significant contribution to the corrosion process in actual operating conditions of zirconium alloys as fuel rods shell have been identified. The existing methods of preliminary special processing of fuel rods shells stored in the air for a long time before their receipt for assembly are presented. The structure of the oxide on the shells of alloys E110 and E635 oxidized in an autoclave is demonstrated.