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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TL;DR: In this paper, the two-step thermochemical cycle with regard to reaction heat source, metal oxide characteristics, and chemical reactors was reviewed. And the possibility of achieving large-scale industrial production and the perspective on future material development were also analyzed.
72 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the current state of electricity generation and the development of the biomass, wind and solar energy industry in South Africa are discussed and recommendations are suggested on the steps that can further drive the integration of renewable energy technologies into the present energy mix of the country.
Abstract: The rising energy demand has started to overwhelm the existing power generating plants in South Africa. Also, the conventional electricity generating plants are largely responsible for the high greenhouse gas emissions recorded in the country. In an attempt to mitigate CO2 emissions and provide reliable electricity for its people, South Africa is gradually developing its renewable energy sector. This review chronicles electricity generation in South Africa from inception to date. It examines the current state of electricity generation and the development of the biomass, wind and solar energy industry in South Africa. Additionally, the growth of renewable energy technologies is discussed and recommendations are suggested on the steps that can further drive the integration of renewable energy technologies into the present energy mix of the country.
39 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the design of an energy conversion system operating on solar radiation harvesting and converting it into electricity with the help of thermopiles is presented, where the major major...
Abstract: The present work aims at improving the design of an energy conversion system operating on solar radiation harvesting and converting it into electricity with the help of thermopiles. Here, the major...
16 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a solar thermal system which uses solar dish collector is applied in order to provide a portion of the required thermal load in the process and the results demonstrate that by this modification number of units of the Zn system reduces and the chemical process is simplified.
16 citations
References
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30 Jun 2016
TL;DR: In this paper, a thermal analysis of Concentrated Solar Power plants is conducted considering parabolic trough collectors (PTC), linear Fresnel collectors using direct steam generation scheme (LFC-DSG) and central receiver system using both molten nitrate salts (CRS-MNS) direct steam generator (DSG), and the analysis focuses on the environmental conditions of selected locations in South America.
Abstract: A thermal analysis of Concentrated Solar Power plants is conducted considering parabolic trough collectors (PTC), linear Fresnel collectors using direct steam generation scheme (LFC-DSG) and central receiver system using both molten nitrate salts (CRS-MNS) direct steam generation (CRS-DSG). The plant capacities were ranged from 50 to 800 MWth and the analysis focuses on the environmental conditions of selected locations in South America. Thus, the study considers a parametric analysis of the main design parameter for different plant scales, in terms of the thermal performance indicators as solar field aperture area, power block rating capacity and plant annual efficiencies. The annual production of the plants is calculated by using the Transient System Simulation program (TRNSYS), which considers a new component library developed for that purpose. This library is based in the open access models developed by the U.S National Renewable Energy Laboratory and currently employed by the System Advisor Model (SAM) program. In addition, a new fluid properties subroutine compatible with TRNSYS codes standards was developed, which uses the freeware CoolProp library. These approaches allowed to modify and create new configurations for CSP plants, e.g. thermal storage for the DSG scheme.
2 citations
01 Jan 2015
1 citations
"An overview of concentrated solar e..." refers methods in this paper
...In order of deployment level following are the configurations that are currently used commercially (Lovegrove and Stein 2012; Starke et al. 2016):...
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...In order of deployment level following are the configurations that are currently used commercially (Lovegrove and Stein 2012; Starke et al. 2016): (1) Parabolic trough collectors (PTCs); (2) Central receiver tower or tower solar power (TSP); (3) Linear Fresnel collectors (LFCs); (4) Parabolodial…...
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Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this article, the effect of geometric curvature on the performance of a stationary line focus solar collector was investigated in South western part of Nigeria between 10th and 16. th of July 2012 during which the weather condition was characterized with frequent cloud cover, rain and drizzling.
Abstract: This research work presents experimental investigation of the effect of geometric curvature on the performance of a stationary line focus solar collector. A three segments prototype line focus concentrating structures was constructed with each segment having geometric curvatures namely; Hyperbola, Sub-cylindrical and Parabola. The experimental investigation was carried out in South western part of Nigria (Ado-Ekiti) between 10th and 16. th of July 2012 during which the weather condition was characterized with frequent cloud cover, rain and drizzling. Based on the daily average value, The maximum value of absorber output temperature recorded during the 7 days of experimental setup was 1160C .However, the sub-cylindrical geometric curvature segment was found to be the most efficient compared to the hyperbolic and parabolic geometric curvatures -with a difference of up to 100C on a clear day. The Concentration ratio of the prototype system was estimated to be 2.86, daily average value of the useful heat gain rate was estimated to be 9.6W while the heat loss coefficient is approximately 4.637W/m2-K. The highest Instantaneous performance efficiency (based on beam radiation (Ib) alone) observed for a clear day was approximately 45%. These observations showed that the effect of geometric curvature is significant on the performance efficiency.
1 citations
"An overview of concentrated solar e..." refers background in this paper
...A non-concentrating collector has the same area for intercepting and for absorbing solar radiation, whereas as concave reflecting surfaces to intercept and focus the sun’s beam radiation to a smaller receiving area, thereby increasing the radiation flux used in concentrating solar collector (Kalogirou 2004; Fatigun et al. 2013)....
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...…the same area for intercepting and for absorbing solar radiation, whereas as concave reflecting surfaces to intercept and focus the sun’s beam radiation to a smaller receiving area, thereby increasing the radiation flux used in concentrating solar collector (Kalogirou 2004; Fatigun et al. 2013)....
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...But, these collectors have increased requirements for precision in optical quality and positioning of the optical system (Kalogirou 2004; Fatigun et al. 2013)....
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