Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Shujin Hou, Bo-Wen Yi, Xiaomeng Zhu
Summary: With the consensus on climate neutrality growing, renewable energy is increasingly being emphasized, leading to potential increases in power system volatility. CSP provides zero emissions and dispatching capabilities, making it economically valuable for the entire power system, especially when combined with other renewable sources.
COMPUTERS & INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Kehinde Abiodun, Karoline Hood, John L. Cox, Alexandra M. Newman, Alex J. Zolan
Summary: Ancillary services, such as spinning reserves, can increase the profitability of concentrating solar power plants by selling spinning reserves in addition to electric energy. A study using a dispatch optimization model and the System Advisor Model showed that selling spinning reserves in the ancillary service market can increase plant profitability by up to 7% with perfect knowledge of pricing and solar resource availability. This suggests that spinning reserve markets offer significant value streams to concentrating solar power plants with thermal energy storage capabilities.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Aaron T. Bame, Joseph Furner, Ian Hoag, Kasra Mohammadi, Kody Powell, Brian D. Iverson
Summary: This study presents a process to determine the optimal configuration of a solar-coal power plant and demonstrates it on a coal power plant in the US. The study finds that a solar augmentation above 3% of boiler heating is required for the hybrid design to be thermodynamically feasible. The optimal configuration includes the use of parabolic trough collector technology with a solar augmentation of over 9%, bypassing feedwater heater 6.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Chao Wang, Xin Lin, Junpei Nan, Jieran Feng, Weihua Zhou, Hao Zhou
Summary: This paper proposes a two-stage decision-making framework for coordinating thermal energy storage capacity planning and energy dispatch in a complementary wind-CSP energy system (WCES). Stochastic models are used to solve the TES capacity planning problem and the WCES energy dispatch problem, which are then converted into MILP models. The results show the effectiveness of the proposed models and suggest reserving additional capacity for tighter policies and optimizing the energy dispatch strategy.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Can Xu, Xiaoxin Wang, Jifeng Liu
Summary: In this study, a solar selective coating material consisting of spinel Cu-Mn-Cr oxide nanoparticles was reported. The coating demonstrated high solar-thermal conversion efficiency (>90%) at temperatures exceeding 750 degrees C. The material showed stability after 60 simulated thermal cycles and offers potential for low-cost and scalable high-efficiency solar selective absorbers for high-temperature concentrating solar power systems.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
K. Kant, K. P. Sibin, R. Pitchumani
Summary: This study presents an innovative approach of using fractal, multiscale texturing of absorber surfaces to significantly enhance solar energy absorption for Gen3 CSP applications. Theoretical modeling and experimental measurements have demonstrated the effectiveness of fractal surface texturing in increasing solar absorptance.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
P. Martinez-Merino, R. Alcantara, J. Navas
Summary: This study explores the thermophysical properties of nanofluids based on one-dimensional WSe2 nanostructures and investigates their feasibility as heat transfer fluids in concentrating solar power plants. The results show that these nanofluids exhibit enhanced thermal conductivity and heat transfer efficiency, indicating their potential for improving the thermal efficiency of solar power plants.
MATERIALS TODAY CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Xueming Yang, Wenchao Jiang, Chang Ji, Qingwu Wang
Summary: Molten salts are crucial in solar thermal power generation systems. A study has successfully prepared ternary carbonate nanofluids with ZnO nanoparticles, which show enhanced heat capacity and reduced corrosivity.
JOURNAL OF THERMAL ANALYSIS AND CALORIMETRY
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Ling-gang Kong, Xin-long Chen, Jing-hu Gong, Duo-jin Fan, Bao-li Wang, Shuo Li
Summary: This study addresses the intermittency and instability issues of photovoltaic (PV) power generation by incorporating thermal energy storage (TES) in a hybrid solar power system. The PV and concentrating solar power (CSP) are optimized using a hybrid butterfly algorithm to meet power generation demands and minimize operation costs. The results show that the hybrid power system with optimal TES capacity achieves higher power production and lower operation costs, and the peak-valley price offers superior economic benefits.
ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Manuel Jesus Vasallo, Emilian Gelu Cojocaru, Manuel Emilio Gegundez, Diego Marin
Summary: Several data-based models for solar fields in concentrating solar power plants are proposed in this paper to simplify the design and development of the generation scheduler and improve the accuracy of forecasting SF thermal output. The economic study shows that these models provide results very similar to those obtained with first-principles-based models.
MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTERS IN SIMULATION
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Nipun Goel, Tessa Mei-Lin Fong, John P. Shingledecker, Andrew Russell, Michael W. Keller, Siamack A. Shirazi, Todd Otanicar
Summary: This study evaluated the performance of candidate materials through abrasion erosion experiments, revealing that high-chromium Inconel 740H exhibits better wear resistance compared to stainless steel 316.
Article
Thermodynamics
Chen Chen, Qi Xia, Shuaiming Feng, Qibin Liu
Summary: A novel solar hydrogen production system integrating high temperature electrolysis with ammonia based thermochemical energy storage has been proposed for the first time. The system model, developed using Aspen Plus software, showed higher fuel production efficiency compared to conventional low-temperature water electrolysis. Parametric studies on various factors affecting system performance revealed that solar to hydrogen efficiency increases with certain parameters, reaching a maximum efficiency of 26% through parameter optimization. Technoeconomic analysis showed that the proposed system is economically feasible with a lower capital cost compared to typical photovoltaic based electrolyzer systems.
ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Estefania Torres, Ivan Carrillo-Berdugo, David Zorrilla, Jesus Sanchez-Marquez, Javier Navas
Summary: The study focused on utilizing CuO nanoparticles to improve the thermal properties of heat transfer fluids in CSP plants. Nanofluids prepared with lower sonication energy values demonstrated the highest stability, a 10% increase in heat transfer coefficient, and improvements in isobaric specific heat and thermal conductivity. Molecular dynamics simulations were used to analyze the enhanced thermal conductivity and the formation of a semi-rigid layer which could explain the increase in isobaric specific heat.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2021)
Article
Thermodynamics
Qiliang Wang, Junchao Huang, Zhicheng Shen, Yao Yao, Gang Pei, Hongxing Yang
Summary: The study on solar power tower receiver efficiency revealed the presence of negative thermal flux phenomenon and proposed the use of novel coatings to enhance thermal performance. By comparing the thermal performance of different tower receivers, it was demonstrated that tower receivers with novel coatings have great potential for practical applications.
ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Qiliang Wang, Guiqiang Li, Jingyu Cao, Mingke Hu, Gang Pei, Hongxing Yang
Summary: The solar power tower is an important application of concentrating solar power technology, and the tower receiver plays a crucial role in absorbing and converting solar energy. However, the nonuniformity of solar flux and temperature distribution on the tower receiver challenges the spectral selectivity of the solar absorbing coating (SAC). A spectral heat transfer model is established and verified to explore the optimal spectral characters and tradeoff of radiation properties of the SAC. The results show that the design principle for the advanced SAC should focus more on thermal emittance rather than solar absorptance.
