title: Investigation of production systems for a building integrated photovoltaic thermal product

authors: Bura, Sunil Kumar

subjects: building integrated photovoltaic thermal system

abstract: A building integrated photovoltaic thermal (BIPVT) system based on long-run metal roofing is being developed at the University of Waikato in partnership with Dimond Ltd., a long-run roof product manufacturer.  The concept consists of a CNC folded metal roofing sheet with a central channel and a collector plate bonded to the roofing sheet to create a sealed channel for thermal fluid flow.  PV laminates are bonded to the collector plate and inlet and outlet manifolds attached for thermal fluid distribution.  When exposed to solar radiation the system generates heat and electricity for domestic and industry use.

BIPVT manufacturing methods were investigated for creating the sealed channel for thermal fluid flow.  Adhesives (ADH), resistance seam welding (RSW) and autoclaving (ATC) were considered the most suitable.  Processes were designed for the three methods and investigated through economic analysis.  ATC was found to be the best for production volumes greater than 20,000 BIPVT panels per year as it has greater production capacity and lower capital investment payback time than ADH and RSW.  ATC had a payback time of 0.26 years for 90,000 BIPVT panels per year at a 40% mark up.  However ATC has several technical challenges that need to be overcome whereas ADH and RSW are proven production methods.  ADH is more suitable for low production volumes below 20,000 panels per year as it has a low capital cost compared to RSW and ATC and can be readily optimised when increased production is required.  Cost savings can be achieved by reducing material costs as they were 95% of the total operating costs for all methods.  ADH and RSW could be readily optimised to increase production at lower capital expenditure by installing additional equipment at production bottlenecks rather than installing new production lines.  ATC could not be as readily optimised as it has high production capacities.

Installing a low volume BIPVT production facility into Dimond Ltd. could potentially generate an additional $3.5 million per year in profit, for a process that produces 7,680 panels a year.  Payback time for the capital investment including a PV laminator would be just over half a year making BIPVT an attractive possibility.

text: Investigation of production systems for a building integrated photovoltaic thermal product A building integrated photovoltaic thermal (BIPVT) system based on long-run metal roofing is being developed at the University of Waikato in partnership with Dimond Ltd., a long-run roof product manufacturer.  The concept consists of a CNC folded metal roofing sheet with a central channel and a collector plate bonded to the roofing sheet to create a sealed channel for thermal fluid flow.  PV laminates are bonded to the collector plate and inlet and outlet manifolds attached for thermal fluid distribution.  When exposed to solar radiation the system generates heat and electricity for domestic and industry use.

BIPVT manufacturing methods were investigated for creating the sealed channel for thermal fluid flow.  Adhesives (ADH), resistance seam welding (RSW) and autoclaving (ATC) were considered the most suitable.  Processes were designed for the three methods and investigated through economic analysis.  ATC was found to be the best for production volumes greater than 20,000 BIPVT panels per year as it has greater production capacity and lower capital investment payback time than ADH and RSW.  ATC had a payback time of 0.26 years for 90,000 BIPVT panels per year at a 40% mark up.  However ATC has several technical challenges that need to be overcome whereas ADH and RSW are proven production methods.  ADH is more suitable for low production volumes below 20,000 panels per year as it has a low capital cost compared to RSW and ATC and can be readily optimised when increased production is required.  Cost savings can be achieved by reducing material costs as they were 95% of the total operating costs for all methods.  ADH and RSW could be readily optimised to increase production at lower capital expenditure by installing additional equipment at production bottlenecks rather than installing new production lines.  ATC could not be as readily optimised as it has high production capacities.

Installing a low volume BIPVT production facility into Dimond Ltd. could potentially generate an additional $3.5 million per year in profit, for a process that produces 7,680 panels a year.  Payback time for the capital investment including a PV laminator would be just over half a year making BIPVT an attractive possibility.

year: 2007

title: Measuring virtue: An aristotelian perspective on advancing positive psychology

authors: McManus, James

abstract: In philosophical discourse, flourishing is widely thought to require the development and exercise of virtues. Positive psychology, as the science of happiness and flourishing, should, therefore, include the scientific investigation of the virtues. However, the main classification of virtues and strengths, the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS), faces major criticisms that, if not addressed, may undermine the credibility of positive psychology as a science. One such criticism is that virtue-based classifications lack a conceptual foundation; another is that these classifications may harm individuals by attaching potentially stigmatising labels to them. In this paper, we propose that positive psychologists can address these critiques by taking an interdisciplinary approach, which involves adopting a philosophically rich Aristotelian theory of virtue, and further developing this approach through empirical research. Adopting a philosophical theory will provide a strong conceptual base for psychologists, guiding the construction of measures and the formation of hypotheses about virtues. However, as many scholars acknowledge, it is difficult to measure all aspects of Aristotelian virtues, such as emotions, reasons, and attitudes. Another aim of this paper is, therefore, to suggest appropriate methods for measuring these aspects of Aristotelian virtues.

text: Measuring virtue: An aristotelian perspective on advancing positive psychology In philosophical discourse, flourishing is widely thought to require the development and exercise of virtues. Positive psychology, as the science of happiness and flourishing, should, therefore, include the scientific investigation of the virtues. However, the main classification of virtues and strengths, the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS), faces major criticisms that, if not addressed, may undermine the credibility of positive psychology as a science. One such criticism is that virtue-based classifications lack a conceptual foundation; another is that these classifications may harm individuals by attaching potentially stigmatising labels to them. In this paper, we propose that positive psychologists can address these critiques by taking an interdisciplinary approach, which involves adopting a philosophically rich Aristotelian theory of virtue, and further developing this approach through empirical research. Adopting a philosophical theory will provide a strong conceptual base for psychologists, guiding the construction of measures and the formation of hypotheses about virtues. However, as many scholars acknowledge, it is difficult to measure all aspects of Aristotelian virtues, such as emotions, reasons, and attitudes. Another aim of this paper is, therefore, to suggest appropriate methods for measuring these aspects of Aristotelian virtues.

year: 2024-01-01

title: Te Kotahitanga: Addressing educational disparities facing Māori students in New Zealand

authors: Bishop, Russell

subjects: Effective teaching profile

abstract: The major challenges facing education in New Zealand today are the continuing social, economic and political disparities within our nation, primarily between the descendants of the European colonisers and the Indigenous Māori people. These disparities are also reflected in educational outcomes. In this paper, an Indigenous Māori Peoples' solution to the problems of educational disparities is detailed. Te Kotahitanga is a research and professional development project that seeks to improve the educational achievement of Māori students in mainstream secondary schools. Students ‘voices’ were used to inform the development of the project in a variety of ways: firstly to identify various discursive positions related to Māori student learning; secondly, to develop professional development activities, and thirdly, to create an Effective Teaching Profile. The paper concludes by identifying how implementing the Effective Teaching Profile addresses educational disparities.

text: Te Kotahitanga: Addressing educational disparities facing Māori students in New Zealand The major challenges facing education in New Zealand today are the continuing social, economic and political disparities within our nation, primarily between the descendants of the European colonisers and the Indigenous Māori people. These disparities are also reflected in educational outcomes. In this paper, an Indigenous Māori Peoples' solution to the problems of educational disparities is detailed. Te Kotahitanga is a research and professional development project that seeks to improve the educational achievement of Māori students in mainstream secondary schools. Students ‘voices’ were used to inform the development of the project in a variety of ways: firstly to identify various discursive positions related to Māori student learning; secondly, to develop professional development activities, and thirdly, to create an Effective Teaching Profile. The paper concludes by identifying how implementing the Effective Teaching Profile addresses educational disparities.

year: 2009