Article
Energy & Fuels
Alicia Crespo, Ivan Munoz, Werner Platzer, Mercedes Ibarra
Summary: This study presents a methodology to identify enhanced scenarios of solar heat integration into a grape juice industry and select the best scenario from an energetic perspective. By adjusting the working temperature of the collector and integrating heat at the process level, the highest increase in solar fraction was achieved.
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
Natraj, B. N. Rao, K. S. Reddy
Summary: Solar energy, an emerging technology, is increasingly utilizing concentrating power technology in solar power plants, with the structural stability of parabolic trough collectors being crucial in maintaining optical and thermal efficiencies under wind loads. The study highlights the impact of wind loads on slope deviations and the importance of yaw and pitch angles in collector design, as well as the differences in performance between collectors made of different materials.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Amir Mohammad Norouzi, Majid Siavashi, Rouhollah Ahmadi, Milad Tahmasbi
Summary: The study shows that in parabolic trough solar collectors, selecting the appropriate rotational speed of the absorber tube can significantly reduce temperature differences and maximum surface temperature, while increasing efficiency by approximately 17%. The Ta/Re ratio and CEP play crucial roles in predicting the optimal efficiency.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Qiliang Wang, Yao Yao, Zhicheng Shen, Hongxing Yang
Summary: A novel parabolic trough collector-photovoltaic (PTC-PV) system is proposed to enhance the thermal performance and solar utilization efficiency. Mathematical models are established and experiments are conducted to validate the superior performance of the hybrid PTC-PV system.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wisam Abed Kattea Al-Maliki, Sajda S. Alsaedi, Hayder Q. A. Khafaji, Falah Alobaid, Bernd Epple
Summary: The validated dynamic model of a parabolic trough power plant (PTPP) is improved by introducing a new feedwater circuit and a reference feedwater circuit, as well as developing the steam turbine model. The purpose is to increase the power output during the day and extend the night operating hours at a lower cost. This improvement reduces the reliance on fossil fuel backup system and lowers the specific energy cost of the PTPP.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
P. Ferrer, Khaled Mohamad, M. C. Cyulinyana, Victor Kaluba
Summary: In this article, design approaches to a receiver enclosed in an opaque cavity and heated by a solar parabolic trough collector are discussed. The optimization of the interaction between the cavity receiver and the solar radiation from a collector mirror is explored, which differs from conventional receivers and is essential for utilizing the benefits of using a cavity sleeve. Through simulations, different focal plane positions and the relative sizes of the receiver elements are investigated, and a focal plane close to the surface of the absorber pipe is found to have the highest efficiency at 62%. An experimental cavity receiver and parabolic trough system are then built based on the simulations, and the simulation results are validated against measured data with a maximum discrepancy of 8%. A novel method using the cooling behavior of the receiver is also applied to confirm the physical parameters through simulations.
APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Sara Ruiz-Moreno, Jose Ramon D. Frejo, Eduardo F. Camacho
Summary: Using artificial neural networks to approximate the optimal flow rate given by an MPC controller significantly reduces the computational load to 3% of the MPC computation time. The neural network controllers provide practically the same mean power as the MPC controller with less abrupt changes at the output and slight violations of the constraints.
Article
Thermodynamics
M. Arun, Debabrata Barik, K. P. Sridhar
Summary: This research analyzed the performance of a parabolic trough solar collector with a dimple tube and TiO2/DI-H2O nanofluid using computational fluid dynamics. The results showed that using nanofluids can significantly enhance the efficiency and convective heat transfer coefficient of the solar collector.
JOURNAL OF THERMAL ANALYSIS AND CALORIMETRY
(2022)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Anish Malan, K. Ravi Kumar
Summary: This study provides a critical summary of various raytracing techniques to investigate the optical and thermal performance of the parabolic trough solar collector (PTSC). It examines the journey of flux distribution studies, different methods like analytical approach, measurements techniques, and modeling software, with a focus on the impact of various parameters on the flux distribution. The study also suggests numerical studies for future research in this domain.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND ASSESSMENTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Youssef Drira, Nadim Fakhfakh, Skander Jribi, Hatem Bentaher, Ilyes Benhassine, Lotfi Ammar
Summary: Parabolic trough collectors (PTCs) are advanced and widely used in solar concentrating systems, but their high cost and technology requirements hinder their implementation in low-income countries. This study assessed the performance of two small-scale solar thermal production units (SPLFR and PTC-SS) as alternatives to PTCs.
ARABIAN JOURNAL FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Shaobing Wu, Runsheng Tang, Changmei Wang
Summary: The numerical algorithm proposed for calculating the intercept factors of a parabolic trough solar collector was found to provide quick and convenient results, which are accurate for various types of secondary reflection concentrators.
Article
Thermodynamics
Caiyan Qin, Jungchul Lee, Bong Jae Lee
Summary: By using a semi-cylindrical absorbing coating in the DAPTSC, both volumetric and surface absorption of solar radiation can be achieved, leading to significantly higher thermal efficiency compared to the design with a reflective coating, especially when the absorption coefficients of the nanofluids are low. This presents a new opportunity for further reducing the nanoparticle concentration in a DAPTSC.
APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Anish Malan, K. Ravi Kumar
Summary: This study investigates the impact of wind load on the stability of a large aperture parabolic trough solar collector (PTSC) and provides analysis and estimation. The findings contribute to optimizing the structural design and operational stability of solar thermal power plants.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Ridha Chargui, Bourhan Tashtoush, Sami Awani
Summary: This study presents an experimental evaluation of a new design of a parabolic trough solar collector, which achieved significant improvements in maximizing energy yield and system thermal efficiency compared to other designs. An economic study indicated a gross payback period of 3.3 years, demonstrating promising economic feasibility.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH
(2022)
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
Energy & Fuels
R. A. Nicholls, M. A. Moghimi, A. L. Griffiths
Summary: This study investigates the impact of fin type and orientation on the charging and discharging processes of a horizontal concentric filled with phase change material. The results show that the performance is significantly improved with the use of transversal corrugated fin design. The melting process is mainly influenced by natural convection, while conduction is the main mode of heat transfer in the solidification process. The transversal corrugated fin design outperforms other cases in terms of melting time reduction, and the overall processing time is significantly shorter.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY STORAGE
(2022)
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.