The homogeneous Fenton reaction is a complex chemical system that involves hydrogen peroxide and dissolved iron salts to generate highly reactive hydroxyl radicals in acidic solution. It is also known that the degradation rate of the Fenton system is significantly enhanced when the mixture is irradiated with UV or UV/Visible radiation. This photo-assisted Fenton process, or photo-Fenton process...

As a result of stratospheric ozone depletion, more solar ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B, 280–315 nm) is reaching the Earth’s surface. Enhanced levels of UV-B may, in turn, alter ecosystem processes such as decomposition. Solar UV-B radiation could affect decomposition both indirectly, by changes in the chemical composition of leaves during growth, or directly by photochemical breakdown of litter...

As the successor of the SOLGAS Project(see [10] in [6]and [3]), which investigated the technical and economical viability of the combination of a solar thermal Central Receiver with a conventional fuel operated power plant, the Colón Solar project is dealing with the actual engineering phase of such a plant. The goal of the study is twofold: First, to investigate control strategies that can han...

In arid zones, strong solar radiation has important consequences for ecosystem processes. To better understand carbon and nutrient dynamics, it is important to know the contribution of solar radiation to leaf litter decomposition of different arid-zone species. Here we investigated: (1) whether such contribution varies among plant species at given irradiance regime, (2) whether interspecific va...

The possible ramifications of climate change include the influence it has upon the amount of cloud cover in the atmosphere. Clouds cause significant variation in the solar UV radiation reaching the earth's surface and in turn the amount incident on ecosystems. The consequences of changes in solar UV radiation delivered to ecosystems due to climate change may be significant and should be investi...

In this paper we present the optimal year round production of synthetic methane fromwater electrolysis and CO2 comparing the use of solar PV systems and wind turbines on a monthly basis. The process starts obtaining electricity in a wind farm or a solar field, which is then used to produce oxygen and hydrogen in a system of electrolyzers. The oxygen is purified and stored, and the hydrogen, aft...

A new model of neural network and a new type of neural controller are proposed, aiming to reduce cost and complexity without sacrificing efficiency of traditional, more complex neural net-based solar trackers. The solution is derived from Mark Tilden’s neural and nervous networks, using a biologic analogy to seamlessly integrate sensors, artificial neurons and effectors in a single, efficient d...