APPLICATIONS OF ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK IN SOLAR

ENERGY SYSTEMS: A REVIEW

Mr. Mahesh.V. Kulkarni1, Dr. D. S Deshmukh2, Dr S.P.Shekhwat3
1
Asst. Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering,
SSBT'S COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY,
BAMBHORI, JALGAON - 425 001 (MS)
E-mail: mvkmvk@gmail.com
2
Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering,
GHRCE,(AUTONOMOUS), DIGDOH HILLS
NAGPUR - 440016(MS)
E-mail: deshmukh.dheeraj@gmail.com
3
Vice Principal,
SSBT's COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY,
BAMBHORI, JALGAON - 425 001 (MS)
E-mail: spshekhawat@rediffmail.com

Abstract

Artificial Neural Network (ANN) techniques provide a unique way to solve complex and ill-
defined problems to simple techniques. It is based on biologically stimulated computer
programs design to suggest in such a way as human brain processes information. They can
assemble associate by identifying the patterns and relationships in data and learn through
experience and able to handle noisy, incomplete data, non linear problems and prediction of
data. ANNs have been the potential of combining and incorporating both literature based and
experimental data to solve complicated practical problems. They have been found application
in various areas like data analysis, forecasting, drug, model recognition, production,
optimization; signal processing and social/psychological sciences are becoming more and
more popular nowadays. The current research work give idea on the application of the ANN-
techniques in solar energy systems; for modelling and design of firstly solar air heater, solar
water heater and solar radiation estimation. This review literature included in this review
work provides the potential of ANNs as a design tool for the optimal solar thermal systems.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence; Solar Water Heater, Solar Air Heater;

1. Introduction to Artificial Neural Network

Artificial Neural Network (ANN) has been used nearly last 50 years but from last 20 years
the different application software were introduced and are being used to solve practical
problems. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is essentially an information processing concept
motivated by the natural nervous systems, like the brain [1]. Artificial Neural Network
(ANN) prepared of a large number of highly interconnected processing elements known as
neurons. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) are having the capacity to train from examples,
like humans. The training algorithm of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) application was
explained and presenteded by Hebb in 1949. In this network training stage, processing
elements are subjected to a set of finite training sets, and after that neurons adjusted their
weights as per the learning method or to obtain a specific target output according to a
particular input. Such a situation is shown in Fig 2. Typically many such input/ target pairs
are needed to train a network.

Artificial Neural Network (ANN) technique has the capabilities of high speed of calculation;
useful in solving the non-linear problems; do not needed any previous knowledge of system
model; easy; giving good result and ability of network to learn from examples [2]. Nowadays,
Artificial Neural Network (ANN) has been broadly used as an substitute technology to faced
highly complex, incomplete data sets, vague or incomplete information and ill-defined
problems. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) technique has drawback also, because of its
enable to differentiate which parameter may causing a low reading. Artificial Neural Network
Artificial Neural Network (ANN) techniques are implemented to problems related to the
fields of optimization, pattern recognition, image processing and forecasting etc.

Fig 1 - Basics of Neural Networks

Most Artificial Neural Network (ANN) contains some form of 'learning rule' which modifies
the weights of the connections according to the input patterns that it is presented with. In a
sense, ANNs learn by example as do their biological counterparts.

Input Neurons Output Target

Adjust weight Compare

Fig. 2 ANN network

 2. Applications of Ann In Solar Water Heating Systems
Harish Kumar Ghritlahre, Radha Krishna Prasad [8] explained ANN works on the principle
similar to nervous system and performs learning process and prediction of data. Neural
structure interconnected with many processing elements, called as neurons. These neurons
get information from other sources and then perform non –linear operation on the output
results and then give final output. ANN works in two ways first learning and then storing the
data in interconnects, called as weights. ANN technique is very promising tool to predict the
data, on the basis of input parameters, optimal topology and training process. Basically in the
training process, training algorithms are used which adjust the weights and biases, and reduce
the error between actual and predicted values. The main advantage of ANN method is to get
solution of complex problems which is difficult to solve by other conventional techniques
and its processing speed is very fast. The basic structure of artificial neuron network for solar
water heating system is shown in Fig. 2.

Input Layer
Hidden Layer

Output
Cold water Layer
temperature

Tank
Temperature
Ambient air
temperature
Energy Gain

Solar
irradiation

Fig 1- Artificial neuron network for solar water heating system

Kalogirou et al. [2] applied Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to estimate the useful energy
extracted and the temperature rise in the stored water of Solar Domestic Heating Water
System (SDHWS). The data from 33 sets were randomly selected. 30 sets were used for
training and testing and the remaining 3 were randomly selected for validation of model. The
input data included was collector area (from 1.81 m2 to 4.38 m2 ), storage tank heat loss
coefficient (U-value), tank type, total daily solar radiation, mean ambient air temperature,
storage volume, water temperature in storage tank and type of system. A multilayer feed
forward neural network consists of an input layer (2 neurons), some hidden layers (8 neurons)
and an output layer (2 neurons). The results for the useful energy extracted from the system
and temperature rise in stored water was 0.9722 and 0.9751 respectively. The ANN method
can use at different weather conditions and for completely unknown systems. The results
obtained within 7.1 % and 9.7 %. Its performance can be improved by knowing collector
performance characteristics.

Kalogirou et al. [3] estimated useful energy extracted from the thermosyphon solar water
system and the stored water temperature rise. For this an ANN network has been trained to
handle a number of unusual cases using performance data for four types of systems, with
same collector panel and varying weather conditions. The result obtained maximum
deviations of 1 MJ and 2.2oC using random data for both with performance equations
developed from the experimental measurements and with the artificial neural network. The
predicted values enlightened the effectiveness of the proposed ANN method for the
estimation of the performance of the particular thermosyphon solar water system in any of the
configurations considered in this study 30 thermosyphon solar domestic water-heating
systems have been tested and modeled as per the procedures outlined in the standard ISO
9459-2, for three different locations in Greece [4].

Out of these, data of 27 systems were used for training and testing the network and data of
remaining 3 have been used for validation. Two networks were trained for solar energy
output estimation first for storage-tank capacity and another for the system and the average
quantity of hot water required per month at desired temperatures of 35 and 40oC. The R2-
value set was: for first network was equal to 0.9993 and for second were equal to 0.9848 and
0.9926 for the two output parameters for the training data [4].

A similar type of approach has been adopted for predicting the long-term performance of
three forcedcirculation-type solar domestic water-heating systems [5]. The maximum
percentage differences of 1.9 and 5.5% have been obtained for the two networks, when
unknown data have been used, respectively.

3. Conclusions

In the present study, a review of Artificial Neural Network techniques used in solar water
heater system has been carried out. From this study, following conclusions have been drawn:

1. Taking set of reading from experiment for input and output variable. Some sets of reading
are used for input–output mapping in artificial neural network & few sets of reading used for
validation and testing of ANN model. Once a satisfactory degree of input–output mapping
has been reached, the network training is frozen and the set of completely unknown test data
was applied for verification using Artificial Neural Network.

2. Apply of artificial neural network techniques result in achieving substantial improvement

in efficiency and predicting the optimal set of design and operating variables for the solar
energy systems.

3. From this study, it is clear that after training the ANN model has the potential to predict the
acceptable results for unknown data.

4. From figure 2, it is clear that ANN predicted more accurate optimal set of variables after
the model has been trained and validated well.
5. In solar water heating systems, there is a lot of scope for using combination of artificial
neural network techniques with other optimization techniques in order to improve the
performance of the system.

4. References
[1]. S.A. Kalogirou, Optimization of solar systems using artificial neural-networks and
genetic algorithms, Applied Energy, 77 (2004) 383-405.

[2] S.A. Kalogirou, S. panteliou, A. Dentsoras, Modeling of solar domestic water heating
systems using Artificial Neural Networks, Solar Energy, 65 (6) (1999) 335-342.

[3] S.A. Kalogirou, S. panteliou, A. Dentsoras, Artificial neural networks used for the
performance prediction of a thermosyphon solar water heater. Renewable Energy, 18(1)
(1999) 87-99.

[4] S.A. Kalogirou, S. panteliou, Thermosyphon solar domestic water heating systems long
term performance prediction using artificial neural networks. Solar Energy Journal, in press.

[5] Kalogirou S. Forced circulation solar domestic water heating systems long-term
performance prediction using artificial neural networks. Applied Energy, 66(1) (2000) 63-74.

[6] D. Saxena, S.N. Singh, K.S. Verma, Application of computational intelligence in

emerging power systems, International Journal of Engineering, Science and Technology, 2
(2010) 1-7.

[7] Naveen Sharma, Manish Kumar Chauhan and Rajesh Kumar “Applications of Artificial
Neural Network In Solar Thermal Systems: A Review” Proceedings of the National
Conference on Trends and Advances in Mechanical Engineering, YMCA University of
Science & Technology, Faridabad, Haryana, Oct 19-20, 2012

[8] Harish Kumar Ghritlahre, Radha Krishna Prasad “Exergetic performance prediction of solar air
heater using MLP, GRNN and RBF models of artificial neural network technique” Journal of
Environmental Management 223 (2018) 566–575

[8] L.V. Kamble , D.R. Pangavhane , T.P. Singh “Experimental investigation of horizontal tube
immersed in gas–solid fluidized bed of large particles using artificial neural network”
International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 70 (2014) 719–724