Fe and Cu powders were mixed at a 50:50 ratio. Then, Fe-Cu alloys were prepared using the ball milling technique with different milling times of 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, and 42 h. The crystalline structure was analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), and it was found that the optimum milling time was 30 h. The homogeneity of the Fe and Cu elements in the Fe–Cu alloys was analyzed using the scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDX) mapping technique. Additionally, the crystal orientation of the Fe–Cu alloys was investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). To fabricate the cathode for nitrate removal via electrolysis, an Fe–Cu alloy milled for 30 h was deposited onto a copper substrate using mechanical milling, then annealed at 800 °C. A pulsed DC electrolysis method was developed to test the nitrate removal efficiency of the Fe–Cu-coated cathode. The anode used was an Al sheet. The synthesized wastewater was prepared from KNO₃. Nitrate removal experiments from the synthesized wastewater were performed for durations of 0–4 h. The results show that the nitrate removal efficiency at 4 h was 96.90% compared to 74.40% with the Cu cathode.

Flexible thermoelectric generators (FTEGs) have garnered significant attention for their potential in harnessing waste heat energy from various sources. To optimize their efficiency, FTEGs require efficient and adaptable heatsinks. In this study, we propose a cost-effective solution by integrating phase-change materials into FTEG heatsinks. We developed and tested three flexible phase-change material thicknesses (4 mm, 7 mm, and 10 mm), focusing on preventing leaks during operation. Additionally, we investigated the impact of wind speed on the output performance of FTEGs with a flexible phase-change material heatsink. The results indicate that the appropriate flexible phase-change material thickness, when integrated with considerations for wind speed, demonstrates remarkable heat-absorbing capabilities at phase-change temperatures. This integration enables substantial temperature differentials across the FTEG modules. Specifically, the FTEG equipped with a 10 mm thick flexible phase-change material heatsink achieved a power density more than four times higher when the wind speed was at 1 m/s compared to no wind speed. This outcome suggests that integrating phase-change material heatsinks with relatively low wind speeds can significantly enhance flexible thermoelectric generator efficiency. Finally, we present a practical application wherein the FTEG, integrated with the flexible phase-change material heatsink, efficiently converts waste heat from a circular hot pipe into electricity, serving as a viable power source for smartphone devices. This work opens exciting possibilities for the future integration of flexible thermoelectric modules with flexible phase-change material heatsinks, offering a promising avenue for converting thermal waste heat into usable electricity.

This paper presents the simulation of a simple single-phase grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) system using the PSPICE model. The modeling system consists of a PV string, a single-phase current source inverter (CSI), load, and a grid voltage source. The system uses the PV string as the current source. The single-phase CSI was controlled by the grid AC voltage. The operation of the system employs the negative conductance characteristics of the PV string. We studied the voltage and current waveform at the inverter output terminal, the current waveform at the load, the AC power with various open-circuit voltages and temperatures of the PV string. The result showed the current waveform at the inverter output terminal follows the I-V characteristics of the PV string. The current waveform at the load depends on its impedance characteristics. The AC power increased with the open circuit voltage. We found that the maximum efficiency of the AC power conversion system was 63.3% at the peak of the AC voltage source, which was equal to the maximum power voltage of the PV string. In addition, the prototype was built for testing and testing verified the simulation results. The experimental results showed the current waveform at the inverter terminal and load were similar to the simulation results. Keywords: grid-connected photovoltaic system; solar cell; negative conductance; simulations *Corresponding author: Tel.: (+66) 972528395 Fax: (+66) 3298412 E-mail: nuttakrit.so@kmitl.ac.th