Category: Recently Published CSP Papers in Journals

Abstract: Mixed chloride salts and mixed carbonates are ideal thermal storage materials for future high-temperature concentrated solar power (CSP) plants. However, due to the strong corrosiveness and poor thermal capacity of chloride salts as well as high material costs of carbonates, these two types of molten salts are not suitable for large-scale thermal energy storage …

Continue reading “Published at Energy – Study on high-temperature carbonate-chloride molten salt applied to supercritical CO2 concentrated solar power plant”

Abstract: Concentrated solar power integrated with the calcium looping process enables dispatchable power generation. However, from an equipment perspective, various challenges such as high energy demand of CO2 compressors and the immaturity of solid–solid heat exchangers impede the application of such a system. In the present work, an integrated system incorporating concentrated solar power and …

Continue reading “Published at Energy Conversion and Management – Co-generation of methanol and electricity using integrated concentrated solar power, calcium looping, and methane bi-reforming: Energy, exergy and economic analyses”

Abstract: The solidification and molding of lunar regolith are essential for constructing lunar habitats. This study introduces an innovative lunar regolith molding technique that synergistically combines solar concentration, flexible optical fiber bundle energy transfer, and powder bed fusion. A functional prototype is developed to validate the proposed scheme. Systematic experiments including fixed beam spot melting, …

Continue reading “Published at Acta Astronautica – Feasibility study and prospects analysis of lunar regolith forming based on concentrated solar energy”

Abstract The production of alternative renewable fuels is imperative for decarbonising hard-to-electrify sectors. Dimethyl ether (DME) is an aerosol propellant and a low-emission candidate for fossil fuel substitution. The main conventional DME production process is the indirect dehydration of methanol produced from fossil natural gas. This work analyses the direct use of green methanol for …

Continue reading “Published at Chemical Engineering Journal – Methanol to dimethyl ether (DME) assessment toward thermochemical energy storage”

Abstract This research, developed in the framework of the SCARABEUS project, studies the off-design performance of transcritical power cycles running on C2-S2 mixtures in Concentrated Solar Power applications. The objective of this work is to identify optimum operational strategies that maximize net energy production when exposed to variable ambient temperature, with special focus on the …

Continue reading “Published at Applied Thermal Engineering – Principles of operational optimization of CSP plants based on carbon dioxide mixtures”

Abstract This paper proposes and builds the first megawatt thermal (MWth) class particle/supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) fluidized bed heat exchanger system for next generation concentrated solar power (CSP) plant. In this CSP plant, particles were chosen as the heat absorbing medium for solar collectors, and transfered heat to sCO2 through the heat exchanger, and then …

Continue reading “Published at Solar Energy – Design and performance study of the particle/supercritical CO2 fluidized bed heat exchanger system for next generation CSP plant”

Abstract This paper aims to present a numerical study that aims to enhance the thermal efficiency of externally finned solar absorber tubes for use in the solar parabolic trough collector (SPTC). Compared to the internal finned tube, the external finned radiation absorber tube boasts an improved geometry and a simple and straightforward manufacturing process. This …

Continue reading “Published at Applied Thermal Engineering – Optimizing the configuration of external fins of solar receiver tubes for the solar parabolic trough collector”

Abstract: This paper concerns solar-to-thermal energy conversion processes in an open cavity volumetric receiver for a 50-MWth integrated beam-down receiver-storage concentrating solar thermal system. A multiphysical model was developed in a COMSOL Multiphysics 6.1 environment. The model was validated against experimental and modelling data from the literature. The model incorporates specific solar irradiation profiles tailored …

Continue reading “Published at Renewable Energy – Modelling of radiative and convective heat transfer in an open cavity volumetric receiver for a 50-MWth beam-down integrated receiver-storage concentrating solar thermal system”

Abstract: High–temperature solar reactors, which directly heat particle materials, are one of the promising paths leading to more sustainable industrial processes. In case of controlled atmosphere processes, the presence of a window could strongly increase the system efficiency. Nevertheless, so far, particle deposition on the window remains a challenge. This paper proposes an innovative solution …

Continue reading “Published at Applied Thermal Engineering – Investigation of high temperature electrostatic precipitation for implementation in a solar reactor”

Abstract One objective for the 3rd Generation of Concentrating Solar Power technologies is to improve the efficiency of Central Tower, which is among the most promising solar concentration technologies. Central Tower Power Generation Plants are made up of hundreds of heliostats that redirect solar radiation to a target. The precision of the solar tracking is …

Continue reading “Published at Solar Energy – Heliostat drift prediction model to improve heliostat position control in solar fields”