Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Arslan A. Rizvi, Dong Yang
Summary: The importance of shading and blocking factors in designing heliostat fields is highlighted in this paper, with a focus on the famous center point projection method. The method aids in calculating optical losses and optimizing the design of high-efficiency heliostat fields.
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
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
Energy & Fuels
Manish Raj, Jishnu Bhattacharya
Summary: The study demonstrates an improved method to evaluate the optical efficiency of a heliostat field, eliminating drawbacks of existing methods and improving accuracy. By systematically reducing nonessential checking for shading and blocking, the proposed method enhances computational efficiency.
Article
Thermodynamics
Saboora Khatoon, Man-Hoe Kim
Summary: In pursuit of efficient renewable electricity generation, this study focuses on the application of concentrating solar power technology using receiver tower and heliostat field. Through the development of a suite of code, influential parameters of the system, including heliostat field design, thermal energy storage, and the Brayton power cycle, are calculated. The study evaluates the performance of the system under different climatic conditions and demonstrates the higher efficiency and net power output of the system when using the recompression cycle configuration. The findings and methodology are significant for the future utilization of supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle in concentrated solar power plants.
ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Manish Raj, Jishnu Bhattacharya
Summary: This article presents an improved method to estimate the optical efficiency of a heliostat field. The method combines Elliptical Gaussian Distribution and Pseudo Ray Tracing to estimate flux in the image plane and translates the flux to the receiver for spillage estimation. The method is rigorously validated and achieves high accuracy with low computational cost.
Article
Thermodynamics
Gang Xiao, Jichuan Zeng, Jing Nie
Summary: A new practical method for evaluating the thermal efficiency of solar molten salt receivers has been proposed and validated with experimental data. By mining operating parameters under different irradiance conditions and considering the effects of the heliostat field, test time, and ambient conditions, the method successfully achieved an improvement in thermal efficiency.
APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jinli Chen, Gang Xiao, Haoran Xu, Xin Zhou, Jiamin Yang, Mingjiang Ni, Kefa Cen
Summary: This study investigates the dynamic performance of a solar collector through experiments and modeling, and the proposed method is beneficial for the design and optimization of solar collectors.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Elisa Ghirardi, Giovanni Brumana, Giuseppe Franchini, Antonio Perdichizzi
Summary: An optimization procedure for heliostat layout design in Solar Tower plants is introduced, aiming to maximize overall efficiency and minimize LCOE for specific periods. Results show the layouts achieve maximum annual field efficiency and different LCOE values for different design periods.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
M. Fernandez-Torrijos, P. A. Gonzalez-Gomez, C. Sobrino, D. Santana
Summary: This study analyzed the creep-fatigue behavior of a supercritical CO2 central-receiver, revealing the significant impact of tube size and 2D modeling on creep-fatigue calculations. Results showed that smaller tube sizes allowed for higher heat flux, reducing design costs and improving overall efficiency of the solar power plant.
Article
Thermodynamics
Ahmed Gamil, Peiwen Li, Abdel Latif Khammash
Summary: This study focuses on modeling and optimizing a novel relocatable solar power tower system for low to medium-temperature industrial process heat applications. The system uses small-size removable heliostats and a 40 m-high steel truss tower with an external receiver for steam production. The approach was validated through the analysis of reference solar thermal power plants and a comparison with a radial staggered heliostat field.
ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
R. P. Merchan, M. J. Santos, A. Medina, A. Calvo Hernandez
Summary: Central tower plants are considered to be one of the most promising technologies for producing clean energy in the next few years. This review summarizes the current state-of-the-art and challenges of this technology, as well as presents ongoing projects. The potential for improvement in various subsystems and the importance of holistic plant design are emphasized. Future research and development prospects in this field are also discussed.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Wen-Qi Wang, Rui Jiang, Ya-Ling He, Dong Li
Summary: This study investigates the performance of three gradually sparse biomimetic heliostat field layouts in a solar power tower system. The results show that the layout with a linear increasing factor exhibits the best optical performance, with increased intercepted energy and improved heat flux distribution of the receiver.
Article
Thermodynamics
Prashant Mishra, Mukesh Pandey, Yutaka Tamaura, Sumit Tiwari
Summary: This study investigates the thermal-hydraulic behavior of CLR in a Cross Linear Concentrating Solar Power system using a combined optical and thermal analysis. The numerical model simulates the performance parameters of the receiver, showing high non-uniformity in solar flux and temperature distribution on the receiver tubes.
Article
Thermodynamics
Mohamed Qenawy, Hany S. El-Mesery, Junfeng Wang, Salama Abdelhady
Summary: This paper presents a detailed design, construction, and operation of a small-scale concentrated solar tower (CST) for water heating in Aswan. By mathematical modeling and experimental verification, the feasibility of CST technology is confirmed. The designed optical efficiency is X85.46% and the thermal efficiency is X52%, providing a prototype for advanced CST application in the future.
CASE STUDIES IN THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Antonio Rovira, Marta Munoz, Consuelo Sanchez, Ruben Barbero
APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2020)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Guillermo Ortega, Antonio Rovira
Article
Thermodynamics
Antonio Rovira, Ruben Abbas, Consuelo Sanchez, Marta Munoz
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Guillermo Ortega, Antonio Rovira
Article
Thermodynamics
Andres Sebastian, Ruben Abbas, Manuel Valdes, Antonio Rovira
Summary: This paper studies a new modular micro-scale trigeneration system named SunDial, based on a rotary Fresnel collector, integrating an organic Rankine cycle and a vapor compression heat pump. Different heat management strategies are explored to maximize energy supply, with isobutane and propane selected as working fluids and a consistent system performance metric defined for evaluation. Energy flow sizing is presented for a 15 kWth solar thermal input SunDial module applied to various industrial end-users.
ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
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
Nuclear Science & Technology
L. Barucca, W. Hering, S. Perez Martin, E. Bubelis, A. Del Nevo, M. Di Prinzio, M. Caramello, A. D'Alessandro, A. Tarallo, E. Vallone, I Moscato, A. Quartararo, S. D'amico, F. Giannetti, P. Lorusso, V Narcisi, C. Ciurluini, M. J. Montes Pita, C. Sanchez, A. Rovira, D. Santana, P. Gonzales, R. Barbero, M. Zaupa, M. Szogradi, S. Normann, M. Vaananen, J. Ylatalo, M. Lewandowska, L. Malinowski, E. Martelli, A. Froio, P. Arena, A. Tincani
Summary: This paper describes the pre-concept design of the Balance of Plant (BoP) systems of the EU-DEMO power plant, including two assessed breeding blanket concepts and preliminary evaluation of BoP variants. The paper outlines the steps of BoP design development and the plan for reaching a mature BoP concept for DEMO.
FUSION ENGINEERING AND DESIGN
(2022)
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
Energy & Fuels
Antonio Rovira, Ruben Barbero, Guillermo Ortega, Antonio Subires, Marta Munoz
Summary: This paper proposes and analyzes configurations for hybridizing CSP plants with CCGT in order to increase solar contribution while maintaining synergies. Two thermal energy management systems are introduced at different temperature levels. The enhanced configuration overcomes the issue with solar dumping and improves performance from both thermodynamic and economic perspectives.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH
(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)
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)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Maria Jose Montes, Jose Ignacio Linares, Ruben Barbero, Antonio Rovira
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.
