Article
Chemistry, Physical
S. Bharath Subramaniam, Ramalingam Senthil
Summary: The experiment focused on a concentrated solar absorber with finned phase change materials, utilizing a Scheffler type parabolic dish concentrator. Integration of cylindrical PCM containers resulted in enhanced heat transfer augmentation and higher energy and exergy efficiency in the parabolic dish collector. The optimized solar absorber could be applied in various fields such as steam generation, biomass gasification, space heating, and hydrogen generation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Ravin Sehrawat, Ravinder Kumar Sahdev, Sumit Tiwari
Summary: This study explores the uncertainty in the demand and supply of solar energy due to different geographical regions and proposes the utilization of various thermal energy storage systems to overcome this issue. Phase change materials (PCMs) are preferred for their high-energy storage density, although their low thermal conductivity is a challenge. To address this, metallic foam, carbon fiber, and metallic fins are integrated into the PCM container. The inclusion of metallic foam, limited to 0.1-3% of the PCM weight, slightly impacts thermal conductivity but increases costs. Additionally, adding carbon at 0.1-9% of the PCM weight improves PCM performance. The inclusion of metallic fins enhances thermal conductivity, with different shapes and sizes. Studies indicate that metallic foam composites outperform carbon composites and metallic fins.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Hesam Ami Ahmadi, Nazanin Variji, Amirreza Kaabinejadian, Mahdi Moghimi, Majid Siavashi
Summary: This study proposes the use of gradient metal foams to optimize phase change materials and achieve higher efficiency in thermal energy storage units. Numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the impact of gradient porosity on the performance of TES, resulting in improvements in charging time and total entropy generation.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY STORAGE
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
T. Lucio-Martin, M. Martin, L. Guerreiro, R. S. Villardon, J. Lopez, M. C. Alonso
Summary: Several studies suggest that thermocline molten salt tanks are suitable for thermal energy storage systems, but there is a lack of experimental investigations. This research aims to build and assess a hybrid tank section operating as a thermocline tank, made of a thick concrete layer and a thin steel liner. The performance of the tank section is evaluated during commissioning and operation, showing the thermal appropriateness of using concrete and the presence of a heat convection current with energy gradients.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY STORAGE
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Hossein Senobar, Mohamad Aramesh, Bahman Shabani
Summary: The experimental study shows that the PCM-MF composite stores thermal energy faster and can provide hotter water compared to pure PCM. Higher water flowrates enhance heat storage inside the unit but negatively impact the release of thermal energy to the water flow.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY STORAGE
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Cristina Prieto, Angel G. Fernandez, David Perez-Osorio, Luisa F. Cabeza
Summary: This study evaluated the proposal of using a concrete storage tank as a molten salt container for concentrating solar power applications. The results showed good chemical and mechanical performance of the concrete during the molten salt test, but it was found that the presence of molten salt changed the thermal properties of the concrete, increasing density and thermal conductivity in the areas closer to the molten salt reservoir.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY STORAGE
(2021)
Article
Thermodynamics
Qianjun Mao, Kaili Chen, Tao Li
Summary: Rectangular shell-tube thermal storage systems are widely used in industrial waste heat recovery and solar power plants. This study experimentally investigated the thermal behavior of a visualized rectangular shell-tube type phase-change heat storage device and analyzed the impact of inlet temperature, flow rate of the heat transfer fluid, and length-to-diameter ratio of the heat flow tube on the efficiency of the system. The research results have significant implications for the utilization of energy storage systems.
APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
S. Divya, Siva Ramkumar Mathiyalagan, J. Mohana, Vinjamuri S. N. Ch Dattu, S. Hemavathi, L. Natrayan, Anand M. C. Chakaravarthi, V Mohanavel, Ravishankar Sathyamurthy
Summary: This study investigates the use of passive and active cooling methods in a photovoltaic container to improve energy utilization and thermal characteristics. The results show that using phase change material (PCM) can reduce temperature fluctuation of the photovoltaic panel and enhance photoelectric efficiency. Furthermore, implementing a proper thermal management strategy can improve the overall energy utilization efficiency.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Agnieszka Jachura, Robert Sekret
Summary: This study conducted an environmental impact assessment on a tube-vacuum solar collector prototype using phase change material, showing that the introduction of PCM can reduce harmful environmental effects. The manufacturing method of materials and waste disposal scenarios were found to play crucial roles in the environmental assessment of the solar collector.
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
Muhammad Imran Khan, Faisal Asfand, Sami G. Al-Ghamdi
Summary: Concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies are considered as one of the most promising ways to generate electric power in the future. The integration of efficient and cost-effective thermal energy storage (TES) systems is crucial for the development of CSP technology due to the unstable and intermittent nature of solar energy availability. Over the past decade, phase change materials (PCM) have gained significant interest for CSP applications as a latent heat TES system. This comprehensive review provides an overview of the current state and future challenges of cutting-edge PCM based TES technologies for CSP application, including the functional parts and research progress in each part.
APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Oussama Rejeb, Bilal Lamrani, Ravita Lamba, Tarik Kousksou, Tareq Salameh, Abdelmajid Jemni, Abdul Kadir Hamid, Maamar Bettayeb, Chaouki Ghenai
Summary: Thermoelectric modules can convert heat into electric energy, and incorporating them into photovoltaic modules can increase their electrical output. Cooling the modules' cold sides using phase change materials can enhance their electrical performance. The study shows that an increase in solar radiation favors the electrical output of the photovoltaic and thermoelectric modules.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY STORAGE
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ming Liu, Rhys Jacob, Martin Belusko, Soheila Riahi, Frank Bruno
Summary: This study explored the design of thermal energy storage systems using various phase change materials and graphite as storage media, comparing their cost-effectiveness through an economic model. The analysis revealed that the hybrid TES system had the lowest cost among all systems studied.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Khalid H. Almitani, Nidal H. Abu-Hamdeh, Mashhour A. Alazwari, Elias M. Salilih, Radwan A. Almasri, S. Mohammad Sajadi
Summary: This study investigated the thermal behavior of a wall with the addition of phase change material under solar radiation. The effect of phase change material with a melting point of 21-23 C on heat transfer was examined. The results showed that adding a thickness of 1 cm to the western, eastern, southern, and northern walls reduced heat transfer by 18.5%, 18.1%, 17.4%, and 17% respectively. The effect of thickness was also explored, and it was found that for a building equipped with a 1 cm thickness, heat transfer reduced by 3.69 kWh/m(2).July.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY STORAGE
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Takahiro Kawaguchi, Hiroki Sakai, Ryosuke Ishida, Yuto Shimizu, Ade Kurniawan, Takahiro Nomura
Summary: This study presents an improved method for the preparation of microencapsulated PCM with high heat storage density and cyclic durability, showing promise for future medium-to-high temperature heat applications.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY STORAGE
(2022)
Editorial Material
Thermodynamics
Jinjia Wei, Robert A. Taylor, Lin Qiu, Alibakhsh Kasaeian, Omid Mahian
Article
Thermodynamics
Seyed Mohsen Hashem Zadeh, Maryam Ghodrat, Kasra Ayoubi Ayoubloo, Nima Sedaghatizadeh, Robert A. Taylor
Summary: This study numerically analysed the performance of a circular LHTES under partial charging/discharging modes, revealing the significant impact of the angle and thickness of metal foam sheets on the charging/discharging process. The configuration with maximum complete charging power may not exhibit the best performance during partial charging, and a Y-shaped design can achieve optimal performance by charging in the upright orientation and then rotating 60 degrees.
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS IN HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Qiyuan Li, Huili Zhang, Cheng Tan, Boyue Lian, Raquel Garcia-Pacheco, Robert A. Taylor, John Fletcher, Pierre Le-Clech, Buddhi Ranasinghe, Tharanga Senevirathna, Gregory Leslie
Summary: A decentralized RO module was designed to address water availability issues in rural communities, utilizing tubular RO membranes and 3D printed static mixers. The system requires minimal pretreatment, fits in a self-contained suitcase, and was tested with uninterrupted power solutions to provide drinking water for rural households.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Moucun Yang, Yiluo Zhang, Qinggang Wang, Yuezhao Zhu, Robert A. Taylor
Summary: This paper proposes an "umbrella" support structure to improve the mechanical properties of heliostats. By optimizing the design through a coupled (structural-optical) modeling approach, weight and cost reduction can be achieved while the loss in optical efficiency is negligible.
Review
Energy & Fuels
Javad Mohammadpour, Ann Lee, Victoria Timchenko, Robert Taylor
Summary: Phase change materials have high potential for thermal energy storage, but their uptake has been limited due to slow charging response, limited life, and economic considerations. The development of nano-enhanced phase change materials is now a major focus to overcome these technical challenges. China has played a central role in research and international collaboration in this field.
Article
Mechanics
Zahra Hashemi Shahraki, Mahdi Navidbakhsh, Robert A. Taylor
Summary: This paper investigates the application of smooth transition CEAs in spiral microchannels and finds that it can reduce focusing duration and cell lysis probability at a certain flow rate while maintaining a high separation efficiency, providing a promising new method for passive microfluidic focusing of particles.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Toufik Arrif, Samir Hassani, Mawloud Guermoui, A. Sanchez-Gonzalez, Robert A. Taylor, Abdelfetah Belaid
Summary: A comparative analysis was conducted to optimize the staggered heliostat field of the PS10 plant using eight metaheuristic algorithms. The study found that evolutionary algorithms outperform swarm intelligence algorithms in terms of efficiency, while the grasshopper optimization algorithm (GOA) and grey wolf optimization algorithm (GWO) converge faster. A hybrid genetic-grasshopper algorithm (GA-GOA) was proposed to achieve high efficiency with low computational cost. The hybrid algorithm demonstrated improved performance in terms of weighted efficiency, levelized cost of energy (LCOE), and land use factor (LUF).
Article
Thermodynamics
Mohammadreza Sedighi, Ricardo Vasquez Padilla, Andrew Rose, Robert A. Taylor
Summary: This study proposes a semi-transparent absorber design that allows for uniform absorption of solar energy within its volume, resulting in a uniform temperature distribution and minimized thermal emission losses.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Nouman Rafique Mirza, Debra Fernandes, Qiyuan Li, Amr Omar, Shuaifei Zhao, Zongli Xie, Robert Taylor, Jessica Allen, Paul Feron
Summary: In this study, the integration of vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) with direct air capture (DAC) process was evaluated as a sustainable combined water-CO2 recovery approach. Four different VMD modules were used in the experiments, and the results showed that a commercially available LiquiCel module and a custom-made hollow fiber module were the most durable and produced the highest distillate fluxes. These modules also exhibited high removal rates of salinity, dissolved oxygen, and showed some basic species moving across the membranes. Furthermore, the results indicated that coupling DAC with VMD represents a viable pathway for sustainably reclaiming water from industrial processes and carbon capture systems for power plants.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
David Saldivia, Robert A. Taylor
Summary: This study investigates a novel rotating receiver-storage unit that could enable high-temperature concentrated solar thermal (CST) plants. The design, using cast steel as the storage medium, achieves >70% receiver efficiency for operation temperatures of 850-1000 K. This design is best for relatively small CST systems and can be effectively employed as an efficient peaking plant.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Peter Ellersdorfer, Amr Omar, Robert A. Taylor, Rahman Daiyan, Greg Leslie
Summary: The study compares the water demands and operating costs of a solar-driven electrolyser facility using reverse osmosis or low-temperature multi-effect distillation. The results show that low-temperature multi-effect distillation has lower costs and produces surplus water for other uses. This suggests that thermal desalination is a compelling option for large-scale production of green hydrogen.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Long Xu, Moucun Yang, Xinhe Wang, Kelong Diao, Yuezhao Zhu, Robert Taylor
Summary: In order to reduce carbon emissions in the energy sector, a hybrid renewable energy system was studied, which consists of wind, solar, and biogas-fueled combined cooling, heating, and power components. The system's thermal and electrical energy are closely linked, making it challenging to optimize. To address this issue, a novel approach combining orthogonal design and intelligent algorithms was proposed to optimize the capacity of each unit within the system. The results showed significant cost reduction and emission reduction rate increase compared to the optimal orthogonal capacity, and taking into account part-load operation and local resource endowment further improved the system's comprehensive value and reduced investment cost.
APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Ehsan Golab, Behzad Vahedi, Ankur Jain, Robert A. Taylor, Kambiz Vafai
Summary: This study investigates the potential of NEPCM mixtures in convective heat transfer and exergy losses. The effect of various parameters on the melting process, heat transfer, and exergy losses is evaluated. The findings show that NEPCM can enhance heat transfer rate, but it also increases exergy losses. However, an optimal value of omega = 0.02 provides a reasonable improvement in heat transfer with no exergy losses. The location of the phase change and the mass concentration of NEPCM substantially affect the percentage of molten NEPCM and the latent heat efficacy.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY STORAGE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qiyuan Li, Lixue Jiang, Gan Huang, Da-Wei Wang, Jack Shepherd, Rahman Daiyan, Christos N. Markides, Robert A. Taylor, Jason Scott
Summary: A solar-driven system is proposed for hydrogen production from waste biomass with low carbon and water footprints. The system consists of a waste biomass concentrator, a biomass preconditioning reactor integrated with hybrid PV-thermal collectors, and a flow electrolysis cell equipped with a high-performance electrode. The system achieved an overall solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 7.5% and also produced clean water and a value-added chemical by-product. This work presents a new route towards efficient and economically feasible renewable hydrogen production.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Proceedings Paper
Energy & Fuels
Amr Omar, David Saldivia, Amir Nashed, Qiyuan Li, Robert A. Taylor
Summary: The study finds that sCO(2)-MED cogeneration plants are a promising sustainable technological solution for the energy-water nexus. The approach can achieve lower energy consumption without significantly reducing thermal efficiency for low water production levels. Economic sustainability is mainly influenced by electricity costs and direct normal irradiance resources, with minimal impact from seawater pumping costs.
SOLARPACES 2020 - 26TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CONCENTRATING SOLAR POWER AND CHEMICAL ENERGY SYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Shitong Fang, Houfan Du, Tao Yan, Keyu Chen, Zhiyuan Li, Xiaoqing Ma, Zhihui Lai, Shengxi Zhou
Summary: This paper proposes a new type of nonlinear VIV energy harvester (ANVEH) that compensates for the decrease in peak energy output at low wind speeds by introducing an auxiliary structure. Theoretical and experimental results show that ANVEH performs better than traditional nonlinear VIV energy harvesters under various system parameter variations.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Wei Jiang, Shuo Zhang, Teng Wang, Yufei Zhang, Aimin Sha, Jingjing Xiao, Dongdong Yuan
Summary: A standardized method was developed to evaluate the availability of solar energy resources in road areas, which combined the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Geographic Information System (GIS). By analyzing critical factors and using a multi-indicator evaluation method, the method accurately evaluated the utilization of solar energy resources and guided the optimal location selection for road photovoltaic (PV) projects. The results provided guidance for the application of road PV projects and site selection for route corridors worldwide, promoting the integration of transportation and energy.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Chang Liu, Jacob A. Wrubel, Elliot Padgett, Guido Bender
Summary: The study investigates the effects of coating defects on the performance of the anode porous transport layer (PTL) in water electrolyzers. The results show that an increasing fraction of uncoated regions on the PTL leads to decreased cell performance, with continuous uncoated regions having a more severe impact compared to multiple thin uncoated strips.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Marcos Tostado-Veliz, Xiaolong Jin, Rohit Bhakar, Francisco Jurado
Summary: In this paper, a coordinated charging price mechanism for clusters of parking lots is proposed. The research shows that enabling vehicle-to-grid characteristics can bring significant economic benefits for users and the cluster coordinator, and vehicle-to-grid impacts noticeably on the risk-averse character of the uncertainty-aware strategies. The developed pricing mechanism can reduce the cost for users, avoiding to directly translate the energy cost to charging points.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Duan Kang
Summary: Building an energy superpower is a key strategy for China and a long-term goal for other countries. This study proposes an evaluation system and index for measuring energy superpower, and finds that China has significantly improved its ranking over the past 21 years, surpassing other countries.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Fucheng Deng, Yifei Wang, Xiaosen Li, Gang Li, Yi Wang, Bin Huang
Summary: This study investigated the synergistic blockage mechanism of sand and hydrate in gravel filling layer and the evolution of permeability in the layer. Experimental models and modified permeability models were established to analyze the effects of sand particles and hydrate formation on permeability. The study provided valuable insights for the safe and efficient exploitation of hydrate reservoirs.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Hao Wang, Xiwen Chen, Natan Vital, Edward Duffy, Abolfazl Razi
Summary: This study proposes a HVAC energy optimization model based on deep reinforcement learning algorithm. It achieves 37% energy savings and ensures thermal comfort for open office buildings. The model has a low complexity, uses a few controllable factors, and has a short training time with good generalizability.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Moyue Cong, Yongzhuo Gao, Weidong Wang, Long He, Xiwang Mao, Yi Long, Wei Dong
Summary: This study introduces a multi-strategy ultra-wideband energy harvesting device that achieves high power output without the need for external power input. By utilizing asymmetry, stagger array, magnetic coupling, and nonlinearity strategies, the device maintains a stable output voltage and high power density output at non-resonant frequencies. Temperature and humidity monitoring are performed using Bluetooth sensors to adaptively assess the device.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Tianshu Dong, Xiudong Duan, Yuanyuan Huang, Danji Huang, Yingdong Luo, Ziyu Liu, Xiaomeng Ai, Jiakun Fang, Chaolong Song
Summary: Electrochemical water splitting is crucial for hydrogen production, and improving the hydrogen separation rate from the electrode is essential for enhancing water electrolyzer performance. However, issues such as air bubble adhesion to the electrode plate hinder the process. Therefore, a methodology to investigate the two-phase flow within the electrolyzer is in high demand. This study proposes using a microfluidic system as a simulator for the electrolyzer and optimizing the two-phase flow by manipulating the micro-structure of the flow.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Shuo Han, Yifan Yuan, Mengjiao He, Ziwen Zhao, Beibei Xu, Diyi Chen, Jakub Jurasz
Summary: Giving full play to the flexibility of hydropower and integrating more variable renewable energy is of great significance for accelerating the transformation of China's power energy system. This study proposes a novel day-ahead scheduling model that considers the flexibility limited by irregular vibration zones (VZs) and the probability of flexibility shortage in a hydropower-variable renewable energy hybrid generation system. The model is applied to a real hydropower station and effectively improves the flexibility supply capacity of hydropower, especially during heavy load demand in flood season.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Zhen Wang, Kangqi Fan, Shizhong Zhao, Shuxin Wu, Xuan Zhang, Kangjia Zhai, Zhiqi Li, Hua He
Summary: This study developed a high-performance rotary energy harvester (AI-REH) inspired by archery, which efficiently accumulates and releases ultralow-frequency vibration energy. By utilizing a magnetic coupling strategy and an accumulator spring, the AI-REH achieves significantly accelerated rotor speeds and enhanced electric outputs.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Yi Yang, Qianyi Xing, Kang Wang, Caihong Li, Jianzhou Wang, Xiaojia Huang
Summary: In this study, a novel hybrid Quantile Regression (QR) model is proposed for Probabilistic Load Forecasting (PLF). The model integrates causal dilated convolution, residual connection, and Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM) for multi-scale feature extraction. In addition, a Combined Probabilistic Load Forecasting System (CPLFS) is proposed to overcome the inherent flaws of relying on a single model. Simulation results show that the hybrid QR outperforms traditional models and CPLFS exceeds the best benchmarks in terms of prediction accuracy and stability.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Wen-Jiang Zou, Young-Bae Kim, Seunghun Jung
Summary: This paper proposes a dynamic prediction model for capacity fade in vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs). The model accurately predicts changes in electrolyte volume and capacity fade, enhancing the competitiveness of VRFBs in energy storage applications.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Yuechao Ma, Shengtie Wang, Guangchen Liu, Guizhen Tian, Jianwei Zhang, Ruiming Liu
Summary: This paper focuses on the balance of state of charge (SOC) among multiple battery energy storage units (MBESUs) and bus voltage balance in an islanded bipolar DC microgrid. A SOC automatic balancing strategy is proposed considering the energy flow relationship and utilizing the adaptive virtual resistance algorithm. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy in achieving SOC balancing and decreasing bus voltage unbalance.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Raad Z. Homod, Basil Sh. Munahi, Hayder Ibrahim Mohammed, Musatafa Abbas Abbood Albadr, Aissa Abderrahmane, Jasim M. Mahdi, Mohamed Bechir Ben Hamida, Bilal Naji Alhasnawi, A. S. Albahri, Hussein Togun, Umar F. Alqsair, Zaher Mundher Yaseen
Summary: In this study, the control problem of the multiple-boiler system (MBS) is formulated as a dynamic Markov decision process and a deep clustering reinforcement learning approach is applied to obtain the optimal control policy. The proposed strategy, based on bang-bang action, shows superior response and achieves more than 32% energy saving compared to conventional fixed parameter controllers under dynamic indoor/outdoor actual conditions.