An overview of concentrated solar energy and its applications
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present general descriptions, current projects and summary of the concentrated solar energy (CSE) technologies and present application areas show that CSE can be used in a wide variety of systems, could provide significant environmental and monetary benefits.
Abstract: Overview of the present-day concentrated solar energy (CSE) technologies is presented. Approaches to concentrating solar energy are reviewed and the current projects worldwide of CSE technologies are compared. This paper presents general descriptions, current projects and summary of the CSE technologies. Parabolic trough collectors (PTCs) technology is found to be a mature technology. The linear Fresnel collectors (LFCs) technology is still in the experimental stage. The tower solar power (TSP) technology is preferred for large scale due to the cheapness. Sterling/dish collectors (SDCs) technology is designed especially for remote applications and has the highest overall efficiency and the highest operating temperature. The application areas show that CSE can be used in a wide variety of systems, could provide significant environmental and monetary benefits.
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01 Mar 2019
TL;DR: The CSES technique can be used to solder on-site electronics components used in nuclear, space, automobiles, computer hardware, electronic circuits used in process equipment's, etc and in the remote areas CSES will be useful to solder various components, circuits, etc.
Abstract: Concentrated solar energy (CSE) is being used for material processing. In this work, CSE is applied for soldering and named as the “Concentrated Solar Energy Soldering (CSES) technique”. A Fresnel lens along with a two-axis sun tracker to concentrate the solar energy required for soldering is used. Cu substrates are soldered with CSES technique using SAC 305 & SACX 0307 lead-free solders. Feasibility study along with the initial results are discussed. CSES technique, a green technology is found to be encouraging. The CSES technique can be used to solder on-site electronics components used in nuclear, space, automobiles, computer hardware, electronic circuits used in process equipment's, etc. Specifically, in the remote areas CSES will be useful to solder various components, circuits, etc.
5 citations
Cites background from "An overview of concentrated solar e..."
...Significant environmental and economic benefits can be obtained with CSE for a wide variety of systems [5]....
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01 Jan 2021
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used a Fresnel lens accompanied by a two-axis sun tracker to concentrate the solar energy needed for soldering, which can be used to solder on-site electronics apparatuses used in nuclear, space, automobiles, computer hardware, etc.
Abstract: Since the start of electronics, soldering has been studied a dynamicactivity in the design of hi-techmicroelectronic circuitry, and substantialimprovement in soldering practices is perceived in the near future. Concentrated solar energy (CSE) is being used for material treating. In this study, CSE is utilized for soldering and named as the “Concentrated Solar Energy Soldering (CSES) technique.” A Fresnel lens accompanied by a two-axis sun tracker to concentrate the solar energy needed for soldering is used. CSES technique, a green technology, is discovered to be promising. The CSES technique can be used to solderon-site electronics apparatuses used in nuclear, space, automobiles, computer hardware, electronic circuits used in process equipment’s, etc. Exclusively, in the secluded areas, CSES will be beneficial to solder numerous components, circuits, etc.
4 citations
TL;DR: A comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art solar tracking systems for central receiver systems is presented to illustrate the current direction of research regarding the design of low-cost tracking systems in terms of computational complexity, energy consumption, and heliostat alignment accuracy.
Abstract: Electricity is one of the most crucial resources that drives any given nation’s growth and development. The latest Sustainable Development Goals report indicates Africa still has a high deficit in electricity generation. Concentrating solar power seems to be a potential option to fill the deficit. That is because most of the components of concentrating solar power plants are readily available on the African market at affordable prices, and there are qualified local persons to build the plants. Pilot micro-concentrating solar power plants have been implemented in Sub-Saharan Africa and have shown promising results that could be expanded and leveraged for large-scale electricity generation. An assessment of a pilot concentrating solar power plant in the sub-region noticed one noteworthy obstacle that is the failure of the tracking system to reduce the operating energy cost of running the tracking control system and improve the multifaceted heliostat focusing behavior. This paper highlights the energy situation and the current development in concentrating solar power technology research in Africa. The paper also presents a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art solar tracking systems for central receiver systems to illustrate the current direction of research regarding the design of low-cost tracking systems in terms of computational complexity, energy consumption, and heliostat alignment accuracy.
3 citations
Cites background from "An overview of concentrated solar e..."
...This makes it necessary to forgo the collection of some of the incoming rays [20]....
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Posted Content•
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art solar tracking systems for central receiver systems to illustrate the current direction of research regarding the design of low-cost tracking systems in terms of computational complexity, energy consumption, and heliostat alignment accuracy.
Abstract: Electricity is one of the most crucial resources that drives any given nation's growth and development. The latest Sustainable Development Goals report indicates Africa still has a high deficit in electricity generation. Concentrating solar power seems to be a potential option to fill the deficit. That is because most of the components of concentrating solar power plants are readily available on the African market at affordable prices, and there are qualified local persons to build the plants. Pilot micro-concentrating solar power plants have been implemented in Sub-Saharan Africa and have shown promising results that could be expanded and leveraged for large-scale electricity generation. An assessment of a pilot concentrating solar power plant in the sub-region noticed one noteworthy obstacle that is the failure of the tracking system to reduce the operating energy cost of running the tracking control system and improve the multifaceted heliostat focusing behavior. This paper highlights the energy situation and the current development in concentrating solar power technology research in Africa. The paper also presents a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art solar tracking systems for central receiver systems to illustrate the current direction of research regarding the design of low-cost tracking systems in terms of computational complexity, energy consumption, and heliostat alignment accuracy.
3 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors presented computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling results obtained for the first cycle on a sensible thermal energy storage system based on rocks and pebbles freely poured into a mild steel tank.
2 citations
References
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TL;DR: A survey of the various types of solar thermal collectors and applications is presented in this paper, where an analysis of the environmental problems related to the use of conventional sources of energy is presented and the benefits offered by renewable energy systems are outlined.
2,620 citations
TL;DR: An overview of the parabolic-trough collectors that have been built and marketed during the past century, as well as the prototypes currently under development can be found in this paper.
Abstract: This paper presents an overview of the parabolic-trough collectors that have been built and marketed during the past century, as well as the prototypes currently under development. It also presents a survey of systems which could incorporate this type of concentrating solar system to supply thermal energy up to 400 °C, especially steam power cycles for electricity generation, including examples of each application.
915 citations
"An overview of concentrated solar e..." refers background in this paper
...Applications of CSE is found in different fields (Rabl 1976; Fernandez-Garcia et al. 2010; Zhang et al. 2013; Francis and Bupesh Raja 2015)....
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a methodology to predict hourly beam (direct) irradiation from available monthly averages, based upon combined previous literature findings and available meteorological data, and illustrate predictions for different selected STC locations.
Abstract: Concentrated solar power plants (CSPs) are gaining increasing interest, mostly as parabolic trough collectors (PTC) or solar tower collectors (STC). Notwithstanding CSP benefits, the daily and monthly variation of the solar irradiation flux is a main drawback. Despite the approximate match between hours of the day where solar radiation and energy demand peak, CSPs experience short term variations on cloudy days and cannot provide energy during night hours unless incorporating thermal energy storage (TES) and/or backup systems (BS) to operate continuously. To determine the optimum design and operation of the CSP throughout the year, whilst defining the required TES and/or BS, an accurate estimation of the daily solar irradiation is needed. Local solar irradiation data are mostly only available as monthly averages, and a predictive conversion into hourly data and direct irradiation is needed to provide a more accurate input into the CSP design. The paper (i) briefly reviews CSP technologies and STC advantages; (ii) presents a methodology to predict hourly beam (direct) irradiation from available monthly averages, based upon combined previous literature findings and available meteorological data; (iii) illustrates predictions for different selected STC locations; and finally (iv) describes the use of the predictions in simulating the required plant configuration of an optimum STC. The methodology and results demonstrate the potential of CSPs in general, whilst also defining the design background of STC plants.
834 citations
"An overview of concentrated solar e..." refers background in this paper
...Comparison between CSE technologies (Zhang et al. 2013)....
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...Applications of CSE is found in different fields (Rabl 1976; Fernandez-Garcia et al. 2010; Zhang et al. 2013; Francis and Bupesh Raja 2015)....
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TL;DR: This paper reviews the present day solar thermal technologies and performance analyses of existing designs, mathematical simulation, design and fabrication of innovative designs with suggested improvements have been discussed.
Abstract: The use of solar energy in recent years has reached a remarkable edge. The continuous research for an alternative power source due to the perceived scarcity of fuel fossils is its driving force. It has become even more popular as the cost of fossil fuel continues to rise. The earth receives in just 1 h, more energy from the sun than what we consume in the whole world for 1 year. Its application was proven to be most economical, as most systems in individual uses requires but a few kilowatt of power. This paper reviews the present day solar thermal technologies. Performance analyses of existing designs (study), mathematical simulation (design) and fabrication of innovative designs with suggested improvements (development) have been discussed in this paper.
640 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors compared a variety of solar concentrators in terms of their most important general characteristics, namely concentration, acceptance angle, sensitivity to mirror errors, size of reflector area and average number of reflections.
541 citations
"An overview of concentrated solar e..." refers background in this paper
...Applications of CSE is found in different fields (Rabl 1976; Fernandez-Garcia et al. 2010; Zhang et al. 2013; Francis and Bupesh Raja 2015)....
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