The article suggests the method for calculating the solar radiation on a horizontal surface of the territory of Syria which has been developed using the weather database of NASA and ArcGIS software to create the atlases of Syria. In order to compute the solar radiation on an inclined surface for Syria, the following steps were taken. Firstly, the method proposed by Liu and Jordan (1962) and developed by Klein (1977) was used and applied at a point with a latitude of 33º and a longitude of 36º in Syria to calculate the total average daily monthly and yearly solar radiation on an inclined surface and its components (direct, diffuse and ground reflected). Secondly, the annual and monthly values of the optimal tilt angle of the solar panels were determined. Thirdly, verification of reliability and accuracy of calculations was carried out. Finally, using the interpolation method (inverse distance weighted IDW) in ArcGIS, the method proposed was applied to 63 points that covered the territory of Syria. Thus, we developed an Atlas of Syria of solar radiation on an inclined surface which characterized by the optimal tilt angles of solar panels and the maximum annual solar radiation on an inclined surface under these angles. Solar Radiation Atlas of Syria shows that the annual optimal tilt angle of the solar panels varies in the range from 23º to 28º and the maximum average annual solar radiation on an inclined surface under these angles varies in the range from 1859 to 2069 kWh/m2·year. In addition, on the basis of the NASA meteorological database, we determined the average total gross (natural) potential of solar energy on optimal inclined surfaces in Syria which is 362.1·103 TWh per year.

Optimization of the autonomous wind-diesel plants composition and of their power for guaranteed energy supply, despite the long history of research, the diversity of approaches and methods, is an urgent problem. In this paper, a detailed analysis of the wind energy characteristics is proposed to shape an autonomous power system for a guaranteed power supply with predominance wind energy. The analysis was carried out on the basis of wind speed measurements in the south of the European part of Russia during 8 months at different heights with a discreteness of 10 minutes. As a result, we have obtained a sequence of average daily wind speeds and the sequences constructed by arbitrary variations in the distribution of average daily wind speeds in this interval. These sequences have been used to calculate energy balances in systems (wind turbines + diesel generator + consumer with constant and limited daily energy demand) and (wind turbines + diesel generator + consumer with constant and limited daily energy demand + energy storage). In order to maximize the use of wind energy, the wind turbine integrally for the period in question is assumed to produce the required amount of energy. For the generality of consideration, we have introduced the relative values of the required energy, relative energy produced by the wind turbine and the diesel generator and relative storage capacity by normalizing them to the swept area of the wind wheel. The paper shows the effect of the average wind speed over the period on the energy characteristics of the system (wind turbine + diesel generator + consumer). It was found that the wind turbine energy produced, wind turbine energy used by the consumer, fuel consumption, and fuel economy depend (close to cubic dependence) upon the specified average wind speed. It was found that, for the same system with a limited amount of required energy and high average wind speed over the period, the wind turbines with lower generator power and smaller wind wheel radius use wind energy more efficiently than the wind turbines with higher generator power and larger wind wheel radius at less average wind speed. For the system (wind turbine + diesel generator + energy storage + consumer) with increasing average speed for a given amount of energy required, which in general is covered by the energy production of wind turbines for the period, the maximum size capacity of the storage device decreases. With decreasing the energy storage capacity, the influence of the random nature of the change in wind speed decreases, and at some values of the relative capacity, it can be neglected.

The article carries out the experimental and analytical studies of three-blade wind power installation and gives the technique for measurements of angular rate of wind turbine rotation depending on the wind speeds, the rotating moment and its power. We have made the comparison of the calculation results according to the formulas offered with the indicators of the wind turbine tests executed in natural conditions. The tests were carried out at wind speeds from 0.709 m/s to 6.427 m/s. The wind power efficiency (WPE) for ideal traditional installation is known to be 0.45. According to the analytical calculations, wind power efficiency of the wind turbine with 3-bladed and 6 wind guide screens at wind speeds from 0.709 to 6.427 is equal to 0.317, and in the range of speed from 0.709 to 4.5 m/s – 0.351, but the experimental coefficient is much higher. The analysis of WPE variations shows that the work with the wind guide screens at insignificant average air flow velocity during the set period of time appears to be more effective, than the work without them. If the air flow velocity increases, the wind power efficiency gradually decreases. Such a good fit between experimental data and analytical calculations is confirmed by comparison of F-test design criterion with its tabular values. In the design of wind turbines, it allows determining the wind turbine power, setting the geometrical parameters and mass of all details for their efficient performance.

The article provides the analysis of performance efficiency of various designs of wind turbines with a horizontal and vertical axis of rotation and reveals the advantages and disadvantages of each design and possibility of each of them to work effectively in the conditions of the wind mode of Russia. As a result, we have concluded that the wind turbines with a vertical axis of rotation using the principle of the differential front resistance are most adapted for the further development of wind energy since these wind turbines are capable to work at very small wind speeds and are more adapted for further improvement. Moreover, we have made the recommendations for removal of disadvantages and development of advantages of these wind turbines. The article offers a number of patents which can regulate the angular speed of rotation of the wind turbine, the size of the rotating moment and, accordingly, its power depending on the natural wind speed. In particular, there is a patent for a design of the blade with varying dimensions depending on the air stream; the introduction of such device will increase the aerodynamic characteristics of the blade. The use of the wind guide screens allows us to start the wind turbine at wind speed from 0.5 m/s. It promotes the effective performance in the range of wind speed from 0.5 m/s to 4.5 m/s, and the wind guide screens regulate the air stream velocity in the wind turbine volume at speed from 4.5 m/s to 15.0 m/s. At gale-force winds, the wind guide screens are capable of cover the wind turbine preventing its destruction. The use of such wind turbines will positively affect the development of wind energy in Russia.

This article presents a new energy efficient installation created for the process of hydrothermal liquefaction of microalgae with heat recovery. The studying results of the microalgae biomass (Arthrospira platensis) hydrothermal liquefaction at a temperature of 280 °C (holding time is 1 h) are shown. By hydrothermal liquefaction, bio-oil was obtained with much higher content of carbon and lower content of oxygen and nitrogen than the original biomass. Bio-oil was obtained without the use of organic solvents. The output of bio-oil is 29.5%, the heat of combustion is 34.2 MJ / kg. Thermogravimetric analysis was carried out to evaluate the fractional composition of bio-oil. The fraction of bio-oil with evaporation temperature up to 400 °C is about 80 %. The output of the petrol fraction of bio-oil is 26%. The study first held the comparative thermodynamic estimates of energy consumption during hydrothermal liquefaction and drying microalgae biomass, as well as the contribution of thermal energy recovery to increasing the efficiency of hydro-thermal liquefaction. The article presents the results of calculations showing that due to heat recovery, hydrothermal liquefaction has high thermodynamic efficiency and is therefore a very promising way of processing the microalgae biomass for obtaining biofuel. According to the estimates, recuperation can save up to 35% of the thermal energy spent on hydrothermal liquefaction.

Wind is a significant renewable energy source in Patagonia, which could generate a very large amount of electrical energy. However, it is not possible to put such a large amount of energy on to the grid due to instability issues. Electrolysis could facilitate the storage of such energy in the form of hydrogen, which could be used for peak power production or for vehicles. However, hydrogen storage and distribution are still very expensive. On the other hand, South Patagonia has reserves of coal which exploitation is not easy. One solution could be underground coal gasification. Unfortunately, using coal results in high emissions of carbon dioxide. Hydrogen from wind energy could be the solution to convert coal to methane and to eventually generate electrical power. In this way, a large amount of renewable energy could be introduced to the energy system with a reduction in the emissions of carbon dioxide.

The purpose of this work is to develop and evaluate a mathematical model for the process of hydrogen production in Venezuela, via electrolysis and using hydroelectricity, with a view to using it as an energy vector in rural sectors of the country. Regression models were prepared to estimate the fluctuation of the main variables involved in the process: the production of hydrogen, the efficiency of energy conversion, the cost of hydroelectricity and the cost of the electrolyser. Finally, the proposed model was applied to various different time-horizons and populations, obtaining the cost of hydrogen production in each case. The results obtained are well below those mentioned in the references, owing largely to the low cost of the electricity used, which accounts for around 45% of the total cost of the system.

By the methods of transmission electron microscopy, high energy electron diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and Auger electron spectroscopy, the article studies the phase composition, orientation, substructure, and morphology of the films formed during pulsed photon treatment (PPT) by radiation of xenon lamps of silicon (111) Si substrates in an atmosphere of methane. We have established that in the range of the energy density of radiation (Ep) supplied to the substrate with a thickness of 0.45 μm for 3 s from 269 to 284 J cm-2 the oriented nanocrystalline films are formed on both surfaces of the substrates both from the irradiated and non-irradiated side β-SiC thickness of about 150 nm. In this case, the synthesis of films on the irradiated side is carried out with the possible participation of photon activation of processes and on the reverse side – only by thermal activation (short-term heat treatment (SHT). With an increase in the energy density of radiation in β-SiC films, the average subgrain size on the irradiated side is shown to increase from 4.2 nm (Ep = 269 J ·cm-2) to 7.9 nm (Ep = 284 J ·cm-2) and on the non-irradiated side 3.9 to 7.0 nm respectively. The surface roughness of the β-SiC surface proceeds consequentially on the irradiated side from 19 nm (Ep = 269 J ·cm-2) to 60 nm (Ep = 284 J ·cm-2) and on the non-irradiated side from 11 nm to 56 nm respectively. Based on the temperature dependences of the average grain size and roughness, we have estimated the apparent activation energies of the processes. The activation energy of subgrain β-SiC growth is practically independent of the activation method and is 1.3 eV. The activation energy for the evolution of roughness is 2.5 eV at a PPT and 3.5 eV at a SHT.

The need for using isotopes in the nuclear power engineering, medicine, as well as in the sphere of control of engineering and construction facilities is increasing annually. However, the isotope separation methods do not allow to meet the need for production of a significant list of isotopes, including the purity of lithium isotopes. The process of amalgamation to date is the main technology of enrichment of 7Li in practical use. Other methods have very low separation efficiency and are not suitable for mass production. The present work is devoted to a new method for enriching the isotope 7Li, in parallel, the work presents the method of separating lithium isotopes by amalgamation modified by authors. The study relates to physical chemistry, in particular to electromigration processes and methods for separating lithium isotopes. A new promising approach for separating Li isotopes is the electrodialysis process using an ionic liquid as an electrolyte. Data on the relevance and uses of 7Li isotopes are given, the existing methods and criteria for the separation of lithium isotopes are considered. The article briefly describes the principle of the new technology, the regimes of enrichment experiments and the details of analysis of products obtained. Moreover, the new technology demonstrates the good environmental characteristics, it is amenable to mass production and has very low power consumption. However, it should be also emphasized that ionic liquids are very sensitive to impurities which inevitably appear in the electrolyte during separation process. One of the most important characteristics of isotope separation methods and technologies is the specific energy consumption, so currently the problem of reducing energy consumption is acute, for which it is necessary to create new methods for separation and purification of isotope systems and modernization of technologies already introduced in industry. The proposed method for enriching the 7Li isotope is carried out by controlling the process of electromigration of lithium ions through ion-exchange membranes in the electrolytic cell compartments. The work in the long-term future can ensure an increase in the efficiency of enrichment process for the 7Li isotope and a decrease in specific energy costs.