Article
Thermodynamics
Bernardo Bergantini Botamede, Leandro Oliveira Salviano
Summary: This study investigates various layout alternatives for coupling a hybrid solar plant with an operational combined cycle powerplant in Brazil. The parabolic trough collector is examined as the focal point of the study, using oil and molten salt as working fluids. Through the development and validation of thermodynamic models, it was found that layouts utilizing solar energy for superheating saturated steam yielded the best performance, with a solar-to-electric conversion efficiency of up to 32.29%.
APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Georgios E. Arnaoutakis, Dimitris Al. Katsaprakakis, Dimitris G. Christakis
Summary: This paper investigates the potential of two concentrating solar power technologies, central power towers and parabolic trough collectors, in the same plant configuration through dynamic modeling. The results show that the configuration of a power tower and parabolic trough collectors has a more stable power profile and higher capacity factor compared to standalone plants based on a single technology.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Anass Zaaoumi, Mohamed Asbik, Hajar Hafs, Abdellah Bah, Mohammed Alaoui
Summary: The paper evaluates the thermal performances of the solar field of the ISCC power plant at ABM in Morocco for the year of 2015, using mathematical modeling and COMSOL Multiphysics software to simulate the energy balance equations of the solar receiver, validate the model, and conclude that the predictions are accurate.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Qiliang Wang, Boxu Shen, Junchao Huang, Honglun Yang, Gang Pei, Hongxing Yang
Summary: A novel parabolic trough solar receiver integrated with vanadium dioxide-based thermochromic coating was proposed to reduce radiant heat loss and improve overall performance. Comprehensive heat transfer models were established and validated for high accuracy in predicting thermal performance. The thermochromic coating showed unique advantages in improving thermal performance of the solar receivers under both M phase and R phase, resulting in reduced heat loss and improved thermal efficiency.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Cristina Prieto, Francisco Javier Pino, Luisa F. Cabeza
Summary: This study evaluates the technoeconomic potential of a CSP plant with high temperature concrete as TES system compared to the standard commercial molten salts system, and finds that the molten salt system performs better than the high temperature concrete configuration in general conditions.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY STORAGE
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Krzysztof Sornek, Maciej Zoladek, Karolina Papis-Fraczek, Maciej Szram, Mariusz Filipowicz
Summary: The electricity generation from photovoltaic systems has experienced significant growth over the past two decades. The use of concentrating solar power collectors is an interesting trend in solar radiation conversion. This paper presents experimental works on a micro-scale parabolic-through solar concentrator equipped with monocrystalline silicon solar cells. Results show that concentrated sunlight can enhance the efficiency of photovoltaic solar cells by approximately 29% compared to direct sunlight. This study demonstrates the justification for using solar radiation concentrators in solar installations, even with low concentration ratio factors.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yaman Mohammad Ali Manaserh, Ahmad M. Abubaker, Adnan Darwish Ahmad, Ammar Bany Ata, Yousef S. H. Najjar, Nelson K. Akafuah
Summary: This study demonstrates that integrating a proposed solar power and thermal energy storage system with a conventional powerplant can significantly improve power output, efficiency, and reduce specific fuel consumption. By utilizing solar and storage systems, it is possible to meet future load demand and achieve a relatively short return of investment period.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND ASSESSMENTS
(2021)
Article
Thermodynamics
Alae Azouzoute, Houssain Zitouni, Massaab El Ydrissi, Charaf Hajjaj, Mohammed Garoum, El Ghali Bennouna, Abdellatif Ghennioui
Summary: The study found that in the mid-south of Morocco, a weekly cleaning of CSP system is more profitable than cleaning twice a week, while a monthly cleaning scenario for the PV system is more profitable than not cleaning at all, and more efficient than frequent cleanings.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Qiliang Wang, Gang Pei, Hongxing Yang
Summary: The novel parabolic trough solar receiver with a radiation shield, based on the theory of the negative thermal-flux region, shows great potential for significant enhancement of the techno-economic performance of solar power plants, improving electrical energy production and reducing the levelized cost of energy.
Review
Thermodynamics
B. Kalidasan, Muhammed A. Hassan, A. K. Pandey, Subramaniyan Chinnasamy
Summary: Hollow cavity receivers are a new type of structure that overcomes the drawbacks of conventional evacuated tube receivers. They have advantages such as extended working temperature ranges, reduced thermal losses, and improved efficiency. Future research should focus on optimization and economic assessments to promote the diversified development of the solar receiver industry.
APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Zhen Wen Zhang, Jie Sun, Rui Lin Wang, Jin Jia Wei
Summary: The study proposes a generalized model and unified expression for the ISCC system, revealing the effects of allocation and superposition on performance, ultimately providing theoretical guidance for future applications.
APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Susant Kumar Sahu, Arjun Singh Kopalakrishnaswami, Sendhil Kumar Natarajan
Summary: Solar energy is a promising form of energy that can meet the world's energy needs. The solar parabolic dish collector system has gained attention for its higher thermal energy conversion efficiency and unique advantages. This article reviews the progress of solar concentrating techniques using solar parabolic dish collectors and discusses their applications in heat and electrical power production.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
S. Shajan, V. Baiju
Summary: This paper presents a new stepwise approach to design a medium-temperature solar parabolic trough collector with a secondary reflector. The use of a secondary reflector significantly improves the uniformity of heat flux distribution. The findings provide a foundation for future research on the design of parabolic trough solar collector systems with secondary reflectors.
APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Bing Mei, Yahong Qin, Mohammad Taghavi
Summary: This paper presents a novel energy conversion system that utilizes waste heat from molten carbonate fuel cells and concentrated solar collectors to generate electricity and facilitate carbon dioxide separation process. The results show that the hybrid system has an electrical efficiency of 58.02%, an exergy efficiency of 44.2%, and a high carbon dioxide removal efficiency.
PROCESS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Kai Zhao, Hongguang Jin, Zhongrui Gai, Hui Hong
Summary: This study proposes a novel strategy for enhancing the thermal efficiency of solar collector by applying multiple solar selective-absorbing coatings in different sections of the collector. Analysis using a heat transfer model shows that the proposed strategy significantly improves the thermal performance of the system, reducing heat loss and enhancing thermal efficiency.
Review
Energy & Fuels
Marta Munoz, Antonio Rovira, Maria Jose Montes
Summary: Solar thermal power plants consist of two main systems: the solar field and the power block, with the choice of thermodynamic cycle layout and working fluid playing a decisive role in plant performance. The most common option currently is the steam Rankine cycle, often coupled with a parabolic trough solar field, although other configurations have also been implemented globally, including integrated solar combined cycles with other solar technologies.
WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Maria Jose Montes, Ruben Abbas, Ruben Barbero, Antonio Rovira
Summary: The study introduces a novel concept based on a rotary Fresnel solar collector for industrial heat supply, with thermal design focused on multi-tube receivers. The optimization methodology can be applied to Fresnel collectors providing heat at different temperatures, showing that maximizing exergy efficiency does not necessarily correspond to the highest energy efficiency.
APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
D. D'Souza, M. J. Montes, M. Romero, J. Gonzalez-Aguilar
Summary: This paper presents an optimisation and comparative analysis of different compact plate-fin type structures for microchannel pressurised gas receivers. The study determines the optimal configuration for each structure and finds that the perforated and plain rectangular configurations demonstrate the highest exergy efficiencies of 59.21% and 58.80% respectively.
APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Francesco Rovense, Andres Sebastian, Ruben Abbas, Manuel Romero, Jose Gonzalez-Aguilar
Summary: This work focuses on the performance analysis of an unfired micro gas turbine integrated in a Concentrating Solar Power plant. By adjusting the inlet pressure, higher power and efficiency can be achieved under different operating conditions. Additionally, the design and analysis of a recuperator were conducted.
Article
Thermodynamics
Andres Sebastian, Ruben Abbas, Manuel Valdes
Summary: This paper presents an experimental investigation on the adverse aerothermal effects in miniaturized turbocompressors and their impact on off-design performance. A closed-loop test rig is developed to test a micro-scale turbocompressor under different boundary conditions and various gases. The study highlights the significance of a double-check procedure for assessing internal efficiency. Experimental results demonstrate the off-design low-Reynolds-number effects on efficiency and validate previous prediction methods.
THERMAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING PROGRESS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Magdalena Barnetche, Luis F. Gonzalez-Portillo, Javier Munoz-Anton, Ruben Abbas, Mercedes Ibarra, Ruben Barbero, Antonio Rovira
Summary: This study aims to analyze the impact of thermal pipelines inertia on a small-scale solar concentrator system. By comparing simulation results, it was found that pipeline inertia delays the system start-up sequence and decreases the temperature of heat transfer fluids, leading to a decrease in total energy production. Therefore, dynamic simulation is important in solar heat for industrial processes (SHIP) systems.
RESULTS IN ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Magdalena Barnetche, Luis F. Gonzalez-Portillo, Ruben Abbas
Summary: This study analyzes the optimum integration of latent storage in solar heating and cooling for an industrial process, comparing two configurations. It concludes that connecting the thermal energy storage (TES) in series represents the optimal configuration due to its cost-effectiveness and simplicity compared to the parallel layout.
APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Susana Sanchez-Orgaz, Fernando Varela, Javier Rodriguez, Celina Gonzalez
Summary: In order to determine the thermodynamic properties of compressed liquids, it is common to treat them as incompressible systems, as liquids and solids are well represented by this thermodynamic model. Two common hypotheses within this model are the strictly incompressible (SI) model, where a constant specific volume v = v(0) is assumed, and the more general temperature-dependent incompressible (TDI) model, which relates specific volume to temperature, v = vT. This study aims to provide a comprehensive formulation for the TDI model and demonstrate its advantages over the SI model. The findings show that the proposed model performs better than the traditional model in the study of subcritical liquids. One potential application of this model is its integration into thermodynamic calculation software packages, such as EES, which currently utilize the SI model for certain incompressible substances.
Article
Thermodynamics
M. J. Montes, V. Stojceska, D. Reay, M. Ibarra
Summary: This study focuses on the application of linear Fresnel technology for solar heating in industrial processes, and proposes a new design for a pressurized gas microchannel receiver. By using two converging absorber panels with compact core fin structures, the flow of the fluid is optimized to improve heat transfer. A thermal resistance model is formulated to quantify fluid heating and thermal gradient along the panel length and thickness, and a thermo-exergy optimization is conducted based on specific characteristic parameters.
CASE STUDIES IN THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Ruben Abbas, Ruben Barbero, Antonio Rovira, Magdalena Barnetche
Summary: Two collectors based on SunDial technology were designed for a dairy company in Corinth (latitude 37.9 degrees N) and a steel company in Iasi (47.1 degrees N). Different concept designs, one-axis and two-axis tracking, were used due to the discrepancy in latitudes. Various models were employed to develop these collectors, including a thermal model, analytic models, and a Monte Carlo Ray Tracing model. The optimization results showed the adoption of double-field configurations with compact collectors at the final locations, resulting in an annual energy yield of 27.8 MW h.
THERMAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING PROGRESS
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
M. J. Montes, R. Guedez, D. D'Souza, J. I. Linares, J. Gonzalez-Aguilar, M. Romero
Summary: This study presents a novel design of microchannel central receiver for pressurised gases and supercritical fluids in solar tower plants. It consists of a radial arrangement of vertical absorber panels that converge on the central axis of the tower. The absorber panels comprise compact structures, whose compactness is increased in one flow pass compared to the previous one, as the fluid is heated.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THERMAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Proceedings Paper
Energy & Fuels
Ruben Abbas, Maria J. Montes, Javier Cano, Luis F. Gonzalez-Portillo, Andres Sebastian, Javier Munoz-Anton, Antonio Rovira, Jose M. Martinez-Val
Summary: A new low-cost solar collector, SunDial, has been developed to reduce costs by addressing the important effects of cosine and end losses. Using Monte Carlo Ray Tracing code, the study assesses these effects for different configurations and provides valuable insights for the design of future collectors.
SOLARPACES 2020 - 26TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CONCENTRATING SOLAR POWER AND CHEMICAL ENERGY SYSTEMS
(2022)
Proceedings Paper
Energy & Fuels
Maria Jose Montes, Jose Ignacio Linares, Ruben Abbas, Alexis Cantizano, Ruben Barbero, Jose Porras
Summary: This paper focuses on the thermal model and thermoeconomic optimization analysis of a new heat exchanger in a solar thermal power plant based on the supercritical CO2 cycle. The proposed design of the heat exchanger aims to increase the global solar-to-electric efficiency.
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.
