The worldwide growth of photovoltaics (PVs) has formed an exponential curve for more than four decades. During this period of time, PVs have evolved from a pure niche market of small-scale applications towards becoming a mainstream electricity source. The influence of temperature on the electrical parameters of crystalline silicon solar cells and solar modules is well described in the literature. In order to diminish these effects,...

Polycrystalline samples of (Ce4+Mn2+3)(Ga3+Sb5+3)O14 were synthesized by a high-temperature solid-state reaction. In contrast with the parent Mn2Sb2O7 compound that adopts a rhombohedral or monoclinic structure at T > 600 °C, the pyrochlore structure of CeMn3GaSb3O14 is retained up to at least T = 1070°C. High-resolution synchrotron x-ray diffraction measurements show no sign of a superstructure or distortion from cubic symmetry...

Tetragonal polymorph of lanthanum orthoniobate can be stabilized to room temperature by the substitution of Nb with an isovalent element. LaNb1-xAsxO4 (0 < x ≤ 0.3), where As is an element stabilizing tetragonal structure, were successfully synthesized with combined co-precipitation and solid-state reaction method. The phase transition temperature, above which the material has tetragonal structure, decreases linearly with increasing...

Thermal energy storage and temperature stabilization is very important in many engineering applications. There are three kinds of thermal energy storage: sensible heat storage, latent heat storage and reversible chemical reaction heat storage. Phase change materials (PCM) absorb, store and release large amounts of energy in the form of latent heat, at constant temperature, called the transition temperature. The amount of heat...

Starting hydraulic pumps in low ambient temperatures may cause: decreased hydraulic-mechanical efficiency, larger vibration of hydraulic installation, faster wear and more frequent damage to the elements of pumps, change of material properties of elements, increase of pressure drop. As a result of pressure drop in the suction pipe, large underpressure may be experienced, causing incomplete filling of pump working chambers with...