MODELING AND OPTIMIZATION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS Edited by Arzu Şencan Şahin MODELING AND OPTIMIZATION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS Edited by Arzu Şencan Şahin Modeling and Optimization of Renewable Energy Systems Edited by Arzu Şencan Şahin Published by InTech Janeza Trdine 9, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia Copyright © 2012 InTech All chapters are Open Access distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license, which allows users to download, copy and build upon published articles even for commercial purposes, as long as the author and publisher are properly credited, which ensures maximum dissemination and a wider impact of our publications. After this work has been published by InTech, authors have the right to republish it, in whole or part, in any publication of which they are the author, and to make other personal use of the work. Any republication, referencing or personal use of the work must explicitly identify the original source. 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Publishing Process Manager Molly Kaliman Technical Editor Teodora Smiljanic Cover Designer InTech Design Team First published May, 2012 Printed in Croatia A free online edition of this book is available at www.intechopen.com Additional hard copies can be obtained from [email protected] Modeling and Optimization of Renewable Energy Systems, Edited by Arzu Şencan Şahin p. cm. ISBN 978-953-51-0600-5 Contents Preface IX Chapter 1 Solar-Energy Drying Systems 1 Feyza Akarslan Chapter 2 Photovoltaic Systems and Applications 21 Feyza Akarslan Chapter 3 A New Adaptive Method for Distribution System Protection Considering Distributed Generation Units Using Simulated Annealing Method 53 Hamidreza Akhondi and Mostafa Saifali Chapter 4 Exergoeconomic Analysis and Optimization of Solar Thermal Power Plants 65 Ali Baghernejad and Mahmood Yaghoubi Chapter 5 Optimization of Renewable Energy Systems: The Case of Desalination 89 Karim Bourouni Chapter 6 Heat Transfer Modeling of the Ground Heat Exchangers for the Ground-Coupled Heat Pump Systems 117 Yi Man, Ping Cui and Zhaohong Fang Chapter 7 Promoting and Improving Renewable Energy Projects Through Local Capacity Development 147 Rafael Escobar, David Vilar, Enrique Velo, Laia Ferrer-Martí and Bruno Domenech Chapter 8 Utilization of Permanent Grassland for Biogas Production 171 Pavel Fuksa, Josef Hakl, Zuzana Hrevušová, Jaromír Šantrůček, Ilona Gerndtová and Jan Habart VI Contents Chapter 9 Globalization of the Natural Gas Market on Natural Gas Prices in Electric Power Generation and Energy Development 197 Thomas J. Hammons Chapter 10 An Analysis of the Effect of Renewable Energies on Spanish Electricity Market Efficiency 239 Blanca Moreno and María Teresa García-Álvarez Chapter 11 Modernization and Intensification of Nitric Acid Plants 259 Marcin Wilk, Andrzej Kruszewski, Marcin Potempa, Romuald Jancewicz, Jacek Mendelewski, Paweł Sławiński, Marek Inger and Jan Nieścioruk Chapter 12 Optimal Design of an Hybrid Wind-Diesel System with Compressed Air Energy Storage for Canadian Remote Areas 269 Younes Rafic, Basbous Tammam and Ilinca Adrian Preface Energy needs are continuously increasing and the demand for electrical power continues to grow rapidly. The world energy market has to date depended almost entirely on nonrenewable, but low cost, fossil fuels. Renewable energy is the inevitable choice for sustainable economic growth, for the harmonious coexistence of human and environment as well as for the sustainable development. As we learn how to economically harness the renewable energy sources, they will get cheaper and cheaper while fossil fuels get more and more expensive. A wind, solar or geothermal power plant may be more expensive to build now than a fossil power plant, but the future cost of fuel will be zero. In addition, the effects of the pollution fossil fuels produce become more and more destructive. The cost of controlling these pollutants is growing every day. Arzu Şencan Şahin Süleyman Demirel University, Technology Faculty, Energy System Engineering, Isparta, Turkey 1 Solar-Energy Drying Systems Feyza Akarslan Department of Textile Engineering, Engineering and Architectural Faculty, Süleyman Demirel Univercity, Isparta Turkey 1. Introduction Energy is important for the existence and development of humankind and is a key issue in international politics, the economy, military preparedness, and diplomacy. To reduce the impact of conventional energy sources on the environment, much attention should be paid to the development of new energy and renewable energy resources. Solar energy, which is environment friendly, is renewable and can serve as a sustainable energy source. Hence, it will certainly become an important part of the future energy structure with the increasingly drying up of the terrestrial fossil fuel. However, the lower energy density and seasonal doing with geographical dependence are the major challenges in identifying suitable applications using solar energy as the heat source. Consequently, exploring high efficiency solar energy concentration technology is necessary and realistic (Xie et al., 2011). Solar energy is free, environmentally clean, and therefore is recognized as one of the most promising alternative energy recourses options. In near future, the large-scale introduction of solar energy systems, directly converting solar radiation into heat, can be looked forward. However, solar energy is intermittent by its nature; there is no sun at night. Its total available value is seasonal and is dependent on the meteorological conditions of the location. Unreliability is the biggest retarding factor for extensive solar energy utilization. Of course, reliability of solar energy can be increased by storing its portion when it is in excess of the load and using the stored energy whenever needed. (Bal et al., 2010). Solar drying is a potential decentralized thermal application of solar energy particularly in developing countries (Sharma et al., 2009). However, so far, there has been very little field penetration of solar drying technology. In the initial phase of dissemination, identification of suitable areas for using solar dryers would be extremely helpful towards their market penetration. Solar drying is often differentiated from “sun drying” by the use of equipment to collect the sun’s radiation in order to harness the radiative energy for drying applications. Sun drying is a common farming and agricultural process in many countries, particularly where the outdoor temperature reaches 30 °C or higher. In many parts of South East Asia, spice s and herbs are routinely dried. However, weather conditions often preclude the use of sun drying