The work researched the thermal performance of the photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) cogeneration module with solar radiation parabolic-cylindrical concentrator. The advantage of this cogeneration module design is the possibility of both photovoltaic power generation and obtaining the thermal energy. These factors allow to increase the overall efficiency of solar energy conversion and to reduce the cost of produced energy. Research of PVT module thermal power characteristics using mathematical modeling of thermal processes and experimental measurements was carried out. Theoretical analysis of the module operation was based on the balance of incoming (solar), power dissipation, and utilizable energy flows and using similarity numbers (Nusselt, Prandtl, Reynolds). Experimental characteristics were studied under natural solar radiation. Parameters calculated by the balance of energy flows were consistent with the experimental data and have compliance with the accuracy better than 10% with similarity numbers calculations. The solar module showed in the experiment the maximum thermal power of 205 watts at 40 oC and thermal efficiency of 60%; when the water output temperature was 60 oC, the module delivers maximum output of 167 watts with thermal efficiency of 47 %. 

The paper presents the results of testing the methods for determining optimal capacity of wind power plant for offgrid consumers. Analysis of hydrometeorological data on yearly variation in long-term average wind speed in the eastern regions of Russia allows us to identify three characteristic groups of annual distribution of this parameter depending on territory. For each of the groups the relationships between the ratio of an optimal wind power plant capacity to a maximum off-grid consumer load and wind resource indices and annual distribution are presented. The research substantiates that capital investment of the wind power plant construction project and prices of replaced diesel fuel do not affect the value of optimal wind power plant capacity but make a considerable impact on the costeffectiveness of the projects. 

The paper deals with the joint production of thermal and electric energy with use of thermoelectric generators. The object of a study is a wood burning stove; thermoelectric generators are placed on the walls of this stove. These generators are cooled with fans and produce energy for the fans. The paper studies the characteristics of the thermoelectric generators when intense combustion of fuel and their change during heating of the stove and subsequent cooling. The maximum output corresponds to passport (60 watts).

Moreover, the efficiency of the stove for producing heat and electric energy is calculated. The electrical efficiency of the stove for heating amounts to 0,07%. Annual power production and the possibility of using this stove to supply in conditions of Ural region with the existing and technically possible efficiency of thermoelectric energy conversion are estimated. The ways to improve the efficiency of the system “stove-TEG” are suggested. 

The article discusses the features of renewable energy development in the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation and gives the results of the resource assessments as well as gross and technical potential assessments of solar, wind and waste of timber industry in the Russian Arctic. Maps of solar and wind resource distribution allow the researchers to reveal the most promising regions for renewable energy development.

Moreover, the article analyzes the power consumption structure of energy consumers in the region. The authors of this article prepare a database of existing and planned power plants based on renewable energy sources in the Russian Arctic that allows estimating the volume of installed capacity, the type of used renewable energy sources and the fuel substitution degree.

The maps which are built on the investigation results are included into the GIS Renewable Energy Sources of the Russian Federation. They may be used as a convenient tool for preliminary assessments of solar and wind energy potentials, possibility and of energy system based on renewable energy.

The article gives some requirements for construction of PV systems in the region and shows the operation features of different types of electric energy storages which were found during experiments. The features should be taken into account for design of power plants based on renewable energy sources in the region. 

The alloy consisting of 90% of phase Y2MgNi9 (structural type PuNi3) and 10% of phase YNi5 was prepared. The interaction of alloy with hydrogen and ammonia at different temperatures was investigated. In system Y2MgNi9–H2 at temperatures from –30 to +10 °C the isotherms of hydrogen sorption and desorption were constructed, the formation of two hydride phases was established and the changes in enthalpy and entropy of phase transitions were calculated. The phase transformations at treatment of the alloy Y2MgNi9 with ammonia at temperatures of 200–400 °C were discovered. 

The article provides a summary of the biogas plant using combined raw materials, the features of the technological process of producing biomethane. It also provides a method for increasing energy efficiency of biogas stations due to the conversion of biomethane into hydrogen and further use of hydrogen in the fuel cell. 

The paper studies the influence of the processes of particle coarsening and cation interdiffusion on the degradation kinetics of catalytic activity of LSM–YSZ composite materials in relation to the process of interaction with oxygen from the gas phase. The oxygen exchange kinetics with the gas phase has been studied by means of isotope exchange method with gas phase equilibration at T = 850 °C and Po2 = 10–2 atm. Samples were tested during 1000 hours. It is shown that the oxygen exchange coefficient with the sample surface decreases with the increasing of exposure time. The paper discusses the physical causes leading to a decrease of the oxygen exchange coefficient. 

The paper studies the composition and optical properties of advanced composites based on porous silicon with deposited transition metals and indium and tin by a sol-gel process. It is shown that the deposition of films of metals of the iron group enhances the photoluminescence intensity and stabilizes it in time, while the deposition of tin and indium has virtually no effect on the optical characteristics of the porous layer. The paper shows coating the surface of the sample by metal oxide film saves hydrogen in the pores. 

The paper discusses the advantages of porous alumina membranes as templates for the technology of hydrogen energy elements and describes the features of membrane technology and characterization methods of their geometrical parameters. In order to determine surface porosity two methods (such as theoretical calculations and digital image processing) were used. It is shown that results are in good agreement with each other. 

The paper presents experimental data monitoring of atmospheric parameters for the period of 2014–2015, used to study the effects of natural and anthropogenic factors on the tropospheric ozone concentration. The data confirm that the change in tropospheric ozone concentrations represent a complex oscillatory process with uncertain amplitude and frequency, associated with simultaneous occurrence of physical and chemical reactions of formation and decomposition of ozone. For a more complete description of the regularities, the research of ozone was conducted on the basis monitoring data (fixed and mobile) atmospheric indicators in the Moscow region. 

The article reports on the technical regulation issues related with safety of use of fuel cell and hydrogen technologies taking into account requirements of legislative and normative-technical base of the Russian Federation, the countries of the Eurasian union and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology (ROSSTANDART) participates in work of the ISO and IEC on developing the standards in the field of fuel cells and hydrogen technologies focused on harmonization of safety requirements in the market of industrially developed countries. To date ROSSTANDART introduced more than 30 standards regulating safety requirements in the specified spheres of activity the most part of which is identical to ISO and IEC international standards. Implementation of technical policy of the Russian Federation in the field of fuel cells and hydrogen technologies in the internal market is performed within system of technical regulation of the Customs union of the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) comprising at the present time such states as are: the Republic of Belarus (1991), Kazakhstan (1991), Russia (1991), Armenia (2015), Kyrgyzstan (2015). Safety issues in the field of technologies of fuel cells and the related hydrogen technologies are regulated by the corresponding technical regulations of the Customs union, and also standards of the Euro Asian Council for Standardization, Metrology and Certification (EASC) representing regional association of national authorities on standardization of the states entering the CIS. 

The paper proposes a simple method for calculating the oscillation of joint density of states in a quantizing magnetic field with the non-quadratic dispersion law. The temperature dependence of the oscillations joint density of states in semiconductors with non-parabolic dispersion law is obtained. Moreover, the paper studies the temperature dependence of the band gap in a strong magnetic field with the non-quadratic dispersion law. The method is applied to the research of the magnetic absorption in narrow-gap semiconductors with non-parabolic dispersion law. The experimental results are interpreted with joint density of states in a strong magnetic field. Fan chart of the spectrum of magneto-absorption in narrow-gap semiconductors is constructed. 

III Russian Congress on Catalysis “Roskataliz-2017”.

Scientific Technical Centre “TATA” (Russia) Delivers Graphene Materials: Graphene Oxid, Reduced Graphene Oxid (RGO) in the Powder, Aqueous Suspension, and Paste Forms.