Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ayad K. Khlief, Syed Ihtsham Ul Haq Gilani, Hussain H. Al-Kayiem, Sanan T. Mohammad
Summary: This study aimed to describe the performance of evacuated tubes (ETs) as a solar tower receiver through experimental evaluation and simulation, showcasing the potential of a hybrid system with liquid cooling for monocrystalline solar cells. Results demonstrated that the hybrid system in Case 2 outperformed Case 1 in terms of heat transfer fluid temperature, heat gain, and receiver efficiency. The use of secondary concentrators in the hybrid system led to significant improvements in receiver performance.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
M. R. Rodriguez-Sanchez, M. Laporte-Azcue, A. Montoya, F. Hernandez-Jimenez
Summary: This study analyzes several novel tube shapes for solar tubular receivers with the aim of reducing stresses while maintaining thermal efficiency. Thermal and mechanical models are used, with FEM simulations verifying the assumptions made due to limited experimental data. Oval cross-section tubes improve thermal efficiency but increase stresses, while semicircle tubes reduce stress by 10.9% without compromising thermal performance. The use of asymmetric cross-section tubes with low rear-front surface ratios and smooth front surfaces are considered a good alternative to traditional circular tubes in central receivers.
Article
Thermodynamics
Jiabin Fang, Canghong Zhang, Nan Tu, Jinjia Wei, Zhenjie Wan
Summary: The solar cavity receiver is a critical component in a solar power tower system. This study focused on investigating the thermal and mechanical performance of the receiver, revealing highly non-uniform heat flux, wall temperature, and thermal stress distributions on the absorber panels. Additionally, the causes of thermal stress induced by different temperature gradients were analyzed in detail, providing important insights for the safe operation of the system.
APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Shuang Wang, Charles-Alexis Asselineau, Armando Fontalvo, Ye Wang, William Logie, John Pye, Joe Coventry
Summary: In a concentrated solar power (CSP) tower plant, the co-optimization of the heliostat field and receiver subsystem is crucial for maximizing performance while ensuring safety and lifetime of the receiver. This study proposes a co-optimization method that integrates optical, thermal, and mechanical models into a system-level model for annual simulation and design optimization. The method is applied to two systems with surround fields and liquid sodium-cooled external receivers, optimizing for annual performance and Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE). The results show that LCOE-based optimization leads to a less efficient system but with a higher capacity factor.
Article
Thermodynamics
Yawei Li, Hao Zhou, Yuhang Zuo
Summary: This paper introduces the use of Monte Carlo ray-tracing algorithm to evaluate the thermal performance of a 50 MW (e) external cylindrical heat receiver. The 3D profiles of temperature and thermal stress in the receiver were analyzed using an in-house code. The study discusses the over-temperature issue of the receiver and introduces an optimization algorithm.
JOURNAL OF THERMAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Muhammad Imran Khan, Faisal Asfand, Sami G. Al-Ghamdi
Summary: A global transition towards more sustainable systems of production and consumption is currently happening, with a primary focus on energy systems. Concentrated solar power technologies are seen as a promising way to generate electric power in the future, but one of the main challenges is to develop efficient and cost-effective heat transfer fluid and thermal energy storage systems. Solid particle receivers have gained interest in recent years due to their ability to overcome current working temperature limits. This comprehensive review provides insight into different technologies of particle receiver systems for concentrated solar power applications.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND ASSESSMENTS
(2022)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Kaijun Jiang, Xiaoze Du, Qiang Zhang, Yanqiang Kong, Chao Xu, Xing Ju
Summary: Fluidized bed particle solar receivers (FB-PSRs) are reactors with excellent heat transfer performance and high thermal efficiency, offering new opportunities for concentrated solar power stations and thermochemical industries. Different types of FB-PSRs have their own advantages, limitations, and applications, requiring proper selection of particles and research methodology.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Fuliang Nie, Fengwu Bai, Zhifeng Wang, Xiaobo Li, Ronggui Yang
Summary: This paper provides an in-depth review of various solid particle solar receiver (SPSR) technologies, including solid particle selection, optimization of receiver system structures, particle flow characteristics, and heat transfer characteristics. By comparing multiple parameters, the technical drawbacks, large-scale development prospects, and potential optimization strategies of various SPSR designs are highlighted.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Mohamed I. Hassan Ali, Luqman Habib, Youssef Shatilla
Summary: The use of nanofluids as volumetric absorbers of solar energy shows great potential, but the assumptions and simplifications in current numerical models may adversely impact performance prediction. The inherent complexity of nanofluid systems requires advanced mathematical-physical models for effective design and optimization.
Article
Thermodynamics
X. Randez, F. Zaversky, D. Astrain
Summary: A new active volumetric receiver prototype was used in this study to evaluate its thermal performance. Numerical and experimental investigations were conducted on the rotating disk cooling and convective heat transfer from the disks to a crossflow of air. The results show promising thermal performance of the lab-scale receiver and a potential improvement in efficiency compared to existing volumetric receivers.
APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Yu Yuan, Gang Wu, Qichang Yang, Ruifeng Cheng, Yuxin Tong, Yi Zhang, Hui Fang, Qianlei Ma
Summary: A solar dish collector system with evacuated cylindrical tube receivers (SDEC) is proposed, with a thermal efficiency of about 47.3% and good economic performance in terms of cost savings for heat production.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Guilong Dai, Ying Zhuang, Xiaoyu Wang, Xue Chen, Chuang Sun, Shenghua Du
Summary: Directly measuring the concentrated solar radiation flux (CSRF) inside a cavity receiver is difficult due to its complex geometry. Most studies currently measure the CSRF at the aperture plane instead of the absorber wall, leading to significant aberration. To obtain the CSRF at the absorber wall, vector characteristics of the CSRF at the focal plane were measured, and the CSRF images at the absorber wall were obtained using MCRTM in combination with the measured results. The directional distribution of the CSRF at the focal plane plays an important role in the images, and the relative error of the peak CSRF value between uniform and measured directional distribution cases can be up to 16%.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Arun Kumar Ramasamy, Madhu Ganesh, Keerthivasan Rajamani, Ashok Kumar Loganathan, Rudramoorthy Rangaswamy
Summary: This paper proposes a hybrid solar collector combining the beneficial features of both PTC and LFC, with a mathematical model developed to calculate its optical performance and compared with LFC and PTC. Results show that the hybrid collector outperforms LFC in specific time periods.
ENERGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Meng Lin, Clemens Suter, Stefan Diethelm, Jan Van Herle, Sophia Haussener
Summary: This study introduced an integrated reactor concept for high-temperature electrolysis to convert concentrated solar energy into fuels and chemical feedstock. Experimental results suggested that endothermal operation can improve performance and predict promising solar-to-hydrogen efficiency.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Zakaria Elmaazouzi, Imad Ait Laasri, Ayoub Gounni, Mustapha El Alami, Abdelkader Outzourhit, El Ghali Bennouna
Summary: The main objective of this study is to improve the heat transfer of three cylindrical shell and tube exchangers through the use of different finned structures. A novel honeycomb based finned structure is compared to circular and longitudinal finned structures. The thickness and number of fins for each geometry are studied, with a focus on the impact of the fin thickness on thermal performance.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY STORAGE
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Yan Dong, Fuqiang Wang, Yaqi Zhang, Xuhang Shi, Aoyu Zhang, Yong Shuai
Summary: The emergence of bionics in engineering technology has provided new ideas for innovation, particularly in the fields of energy storage and heat transfer enhancement. By utilizing biomimetic oval structures for heat storage units with phase change material capsules, improvements in flow characteristics and thermal performance have been achieved. Experimental and numerical analyses indicate that oval shaped capsules have shorter melting times and higher Nusselt numbers compared to sphere capsules.
Article
Optics
Sihong Zhou, Yanming Guo, Cheng Zhang, Qinghui Pan, Qian Zhou, Yong Shuai
Summary: In this study, a mid-infrared CO2 sensor based on Al/GaAs fishnet nanostructure is designed, which enables multi-gas detection by adjusting the thickness of the GaAs layer. The sensor exhibits strong absorption at the CO2 emission wavelength and significantly improved photoelectric responsivity compared to conventional planar structure detectors (about 42 times enhancement). The findings have significant engineering application value.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Ziheng Zhan, Lei Chen, Chao Wang, Yong Shuai, Huigao Duan, Zhaolong Wang
Summary: Water treatment consumes a lot of energy from fossil fuels, which leads to CO2 emission and an increase in earth's temperature. Therefore, the development of clean water production using green energy without CO2 emission is gaining more attention. In this study, a novel solar evaporation system using hydrogels and 3D printing was proposed. The system achieved high solar evaporation efficiency and water purification efficiency, making it suitable for applications such as seawater desalination, sterilization, and wastewater purification.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Hao Zhang, Xiaomi Zhang, Dazhi Yang, Yong Shuai, Bachirou Guene Lougou, Qinghui Pan, Fuqiang Wang
Summary: This study compares the thermochemical reaction characteristics of six common ferrites and four metal dopants through thermogravimetric analysis. A modified oxygen carrier with low reaction temperature requirements and excellent reaction performance is found, achieving dual optimization in terms of thermal efficiency and chemical efficiency. A foam-structured material with SiC as support is prepared and experimentally tested, showing optimal reaction performance with the highest CO yield of 439 mu mol/g and a peak CO yield of 7.0 mL min-1 g-1 and CO2 conversion of 45.5% at a reduction temperature of only 1100 degrees C.
ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Optics
Qinghui Pan, Sihong Zhou, Shuni Chen, Yanming Guo, Cuiping Yu, Yong Shuai
Summary: This study proposes a deep learning architecture for rapid design of multilayer thin film structures. It successfully achieves a structural design with better emissivity in the near-infrared band and provides implications for thermal imaging and thermal regulation. The research also contributes to the development of optical nanophotonic structures with fast target-oriented inverse design of structural parameters.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Xuhang Shi, Jintao Song, Ziming Cheng, Huaxu Liang, Yan Dong, Fuqiang Wang, Wenjing Zhang
Summary: To improve the energy conversion efficiency of solar to fuel, this study proposes a method of regulating radiative intensity to match energy conversion demand in solar methane dry reforming. The design of solar spots and biomimetic leaf hierarchical porous structures is optimized, resulting in a better radiative intensity field matching. Experimental and numerical studies show that by using this method, the methane conversion rate and solar thermochemical energy storage efficiency can be increased by 4.6% and 6.1%, respectively, achieving ideal synergy between real temperature field distribution and theoretical temperature requirement.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Xinping Zhang, Ziming Cheng, Dongling Yang, Yan Dong, Xuhang Shi, Huaxu Liang, Fuqiang Wang, Han Han, Weifeng Meng, Yong Shuai, Yuying Yan
Summary: Passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) is a zero-energy cooling technology that aims to reduce global fossil energy consumption and has gained significant interest. However, balancing the pursuit of ultrahigh dual-band optical properties and compatibility with multiple functional requirements remains a major challenge for PDRC.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hongying Yang, Yunxia Hu, Xin Zhang, Yanan Ding, Shuai Wang, Zhen Su, Yong Shuai, Pingan Hu
Summary: A two-terminal NIR synaptic device based on a multilayer MoSe2 moiré superlattice is reported in this study, demonstrating strong sensing and storage functions similar to the human visual system. The interlayer coupling of multilayer MoSe2 is significantly enhanced by the moiré structure, enabling NIR light response and absorption. This research opens up new possibilities for the realization of NIR artificial retina and bionic eye based on 2D materials.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Yan Dong, Yanan Zou, Xiang Li, Fuqiang Wang, Ziming Cheng, Weifeng Meng, Lingling Chen, Yang Xiang, Tong Wang, Yuying Yan
Summary: The idea of introducing a masking layer to prepare a water-based double-layer PDRC coating with high optical performance and thin thickness is proposed in this study. The PDRC coating achieved high solar reflectance and atmospheric transparent spectrum window emittance, with only 40% of the thickness and 60% of the cost compared to existing water-based PDRC coating. The coating demonstrated efficient cooling performance in large-scale outdoor applications and energy savings in container rooftops, providing compelling evidence for its ability to mitigate carbon emissions and address global climate change.
Article
Thermodynamics
Xue Chen, Jinxin Lyu, Chuang Sun, Xinlin Xia, Fuqiang Wang
Summary: A pore-scale flow and heat transfer model is developed to investigate the thermal and hydrodynamic performance of a volumetric solar receiver under highly concentrated irradiation. Three-dimensional simulations are conducted based on the Weaire-Phelan structure modeling an open-cell ceramic foam absorber. The study predicts and compares the energy conversion characteristics of two ceramic materials (SiC and Al2O3). Various control approaches for the optical property of the solar absorber are introduced and analyzed. Results show that SiC absorber outperforms Al2O3 absorber and the optical property of the absorber front region significantly affects overall performance. Decreasing absorptivity and spectral selective design have positive impacts, with spectral selective improvement showing the highest effectiveness. Additionally, adding a porous fused silica as the front absorber layer effectively shifts the high-temperature area inward with a slight decrement in efficiency, and honeycomb structure exhibits advantages over foam silica.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yan Dong, Weifeng Meng, Fuqiang Wang, Han Han, Huaxu Liang, Xiang Li, Yanan Zou, Chun Yang, Zenghui Xu, Yuying Yan, Ziming Cheng
Summary: This study combines temperature-adaptive solar absorption and passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) technology to achieve warm in winter and cool in summer. The temperature-adaptive radiative cooling coating (TARCC) with color variability is designed and fabricated, showing high solar reflectance and atmospheric transmission window emittance in summer, and heat absorption in winter. It has the potential to save energy and increase suitable human hours.
Article
Optics
Aoyu Zhang, Ziming Cheng, Fuqiang Wang, Weixin Xie, Huaxu Liang
Summary: This article investigates the spectral radiative transfer between particles in dispersed particulate medium, highlighting the importance of considering the effects of host medium absorption and dependent scattering. Using metal nanoparticles embedded in the absorption layer for thin-film solar cells as an example, the authors propose a method that combines the localized surface plasmon resonance effect, dependent scattering, and host medium absorption to accurately calculate the radiative properties. Compared to conventional methods, this approach significantly reduces the maximum relative error and average error between experimental and calculated data.
OPTICS COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Dong-Mei Han, Yong Shuai, Bachirou Guene Lougou, Bo-Xi Geng, Xi-Bo He, Tian-Tian Yan, Jia-Meng Song
Summary: This study investigated the corrosion behavior of 304, 310S, 316, and In625 alloys in molten chloride salts and analyzed the factors affecting corrosion. It was found that loose multi-layer corrosion was formed on the surface of corroded alloys with increased corrosion degree. The presence of Mo positively improved the corrosion resistance of the alloys.
Article
Physics, Applied
Xin Yang, Yanqing Shen, Lingling Lv, Min Zhou, Yu Zhang, Xianghui Meng, Xiangqian Jiang, Qing Ai, Yong Shuai, Zhongxiang Zhou
Summary: This study investigates the effect of deflected magnetization direction on the topological properties and quantum anomalous Hall effect (QAHE) of the H-FeCl2 monolayer. The results show that by deflecting the magnetization direction, band inversion and phase transition between topological and normal insulating states can be achieved. Additionally, in-plane biaxial strain can realize topologically non-trivial states, and the topologically protected anomalous Hall conductivity is robust against the deflection of the magnetization direction.
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Siddharth Sradhasagar, Omkar Subhasish Khuntia, Srikanta Biswal, Sougat Purohit, Amritendu Roy
Summary: In this study, machine learning models were developed to predict the bandgap and its character of double perovskite materials, with LGBMRegressor and XGBClassifier models identified as the best predictors. These models were further employed to predict the bandgap of novel bismuth-based transition metal oxide double perovskites, showing high accuracy, especially in the range of 1.2-1.8 eV.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Wei Shuai, Haoran Xu, Baoyang Luo, Yihui Huang, Dong Chen, Peiwang Zhu, Gang Xiao
Summary: In this study, a hybrid model based on numerical simulation and deep learning is proposed for the optimization and operation of solar receivers. By applying the model to different application scenarios and considering multiple performance objectives, small errors are achieved and optimal structure parameters and heliostat scales are identified. This approach is not only applicable to gas turbines but also heating systems.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Mubashar Ali, Zunaira Bibi, M. W. Younis, Muhammad Mubashir, Muqaddas Iqbal, Muhammad Usman Ali, Muhammad Asif Iqbal
Summary: This study investigates the structural, mechanical, and optoelectronic properties of the BaCuF3 fluoroperovskite using the first-principles modelling approach. The stability and characteristics of different cubic structures of BaCuF3 are evaluated, and the alpha-BaCuF3 and beta-BaCuF3 compounds are found to be mechanically stable with favorable optical properties for solar cells and high-frequency UV applications.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Dong Le Khac, Shahariar Chowdhury, Asmaa Soheil Najm, Montri Luengchavanon, Araa mebdir Holi, Mohammad Shah Jamal, Chin Hua Chia, Kuaanan Techato, Vidhya Selvanathan
Summary: A novel recycling system is proposed in this study to decompose and reclaim the constituent materials of organic-inorganic perovskite solar cells (PSCs). By utilizing a one-step solution process extraction approach, the chemical composition of each layer is successfully preserved, enabling their potential reuse. The proposed recycling technique helps mitigate pollution risks, minimize waste generation, and reduce recycling costs.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Peijie Lin, Feng Guo, Xiaoyang Lu, Qianying Zheng, Shuying Cheng, Yaohai Lin, Zhicong Chen, Lijun Wu, Zhuang Qian
Summary: This paper proposes an open-set fault diagnosis model for PV arrays based on 1D VoVNet-SVDD. The model accurately diagnoses various types of faults and is capable of identifying unknown fault types.
