Tungsten Nanowire Metamaterials as Selective Solar Thermal Absorbers by Excitation of Magnetic Polaritons

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.-Y. Chang ◽  
H. Wang ◽  
L. P. Wang
Keyword(s):  
High Efficiency ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Nanowire Array ◽  
Radiative Properties ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Solar Thermal Energy ◽  
Nanowire Diameter ◽  
Solar Absorber ◽  
Potential Applicability ◽  
Magnetic Polariton

The present study focuses on nanowire based metamaterials with excitation of magnetic polariton (MP) as selective solar absorbers. Finite-difference time-domain simulation is employed for numerically designing a broadband solar absorber made of lossy tungsten nanowires which exhibit spectral selectivity due to the excitation of MP. An inductor-capacitor circuit model of the nanowire array is developed in order to predict the resonance wavelengths of the MP harmonic modes. The effects of geometric parameters such as nanowire diameter, height, and array period are investigated and understood on tuning the magnetic polariton resonance and the resulting optical and radiative properties. In addition, the independence of incidence angles is demonstrated, which illustrates the potential applicability of the nanowire-based metamaterial as a high-efficiency wide-angle selective solar absorber. The results will facilitate the design of novel low-cost and high-efficiency materials for enhancing solar thermal energy harvesting and conversion.

Tungsten Nanowire Metamaterials as Selective Solar Thermal Absorbers by Excitation of Magnetic Polaritons

2017 ◽  
Vol 139 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jui-Yung Chang ◽  
Hao Wang ◽  
Liping Wang
Keyword(s):  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Incident Angle ◽  
Nanowire Array ◽  
Geometric Parameters ◽  
Radiative Properties ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Fdtd Simulation ◽  
Nanowire Diameter ◽  
Solar Absorber

The present study focuses on nanowire-based metamaterials selective solar absorbers. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation is employed for numerically designing a broadband solar absorber made of lossy tungsten nanowires which exhibit spectral selectivity due to the excitation of magnetic polariton (MP). An inductor–capacitor circuit model of the nanowire array is developed in order to predict the resonance wavelengths of the MP harmonic modes. The effects of geometric parameters such as nanowire diameter, height, and array period are investigated and understood by the sweep of geometric parameters, which tunes the MP resonance and the resulting optical and radiative properties. In addition, the optical properties and conversion efficiency of this nanowire-based absorber are both demonstrated to be insensitive on incidence angles, which illustrates the potential applicability of the proposed nanowire-based metamaterial as a high-efficiency wide-angle selective solar absorber. The results show that the nanowire-based selective solar absorber with base geometric parameters can reach 83.6% of conversion efficiency with low independence of incident angle. The results will facilitate the design of novel low-cost and high-efficiency materials for enhancing solar thermal energy harvesting and conversion.

scholarly journals Theoretical Design of a Multilayer Based Spectrally Selective Solar Absorber Applied Under Ambient Conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuang Shi ◽  
Huaiyu Liu ◽  
Lei Wang ◽  
Yu Bie ◽  
Yue Yang
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Multilayer Film ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Solar Thermal Energy ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Solar Absorption ◽  
Solar Absorptance ◽  
Energy Density Distribution ◽  
Solar Absorber

With the increasing of global energy requirements and environmental problems, the use of solar thermal energy has attracted widespread attention. The selective solar absorption coating is the most important part of a solar thermal conversion device. At present, most of the coatings work well in a vacuum at a high temperature, while not stably in the air environment. Based on the high-temperature resistant and infrared-reflective properties of ITO, a multilayer film of SiO2/Si3N4/SiO2/ITO/Cr has been designed as a selective solar absorber. The genetic algorithm is applied to optimize the material and thickness selection for each layer. The results show that the optimized multilayer film could achieve a high solar absorptance up to 90% while keeping a relatively low infrared emittance around 50% for temperature change between 600°C and 900°C. All the materials composing this film have been tested before to be chemically stable at a high temperature up to 900°C in the air environment. It is also adaptive to different incident angles from 0° to 60°. The finite-difference time-domain method was also adopted to plot the energy density distribution for different wavelengths, which provided the underlying mechanism for the selective emission spectrum. The findings in this study would provide valuable guidance to design a low-cost selective solar absorption coating without the need for vacuum generation.

Pyrazolium Phase Change Materials for Solar-Thermal and Wind Energy Storage

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karolina Matuszek ◽  
R. Vijayaraghavan ◽  
Craig Forsyth ◽  
Surianarayanan Mahadevan ◽  
Mega Kar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Phase Change Materials ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Energy Storage Materials ◽  
Solar Thermal Energy ◽  
Storage Materials

Renewable energy has the ultimate capacity to resolve the environmental and scarcity challenges of the world’s energy supplies. However, both the utility of these sources and the economics of their implementation are strongly limited by their intermittent nature; inexpensive means of energy storage therefore needs to be part of the design. Distributed thermal energy storage is surprisingly underdeveloped in this context, in part due to the lack of advanced storage materials. Here, we describe a novel family of thermal energy storage materials based on pyrazolium cation, that operate in the 100-220°C temperature range, offering safe, inexpensive capacity, opening new pathways for high efficiency collection and storage of both solar-thermal energy, as well as excess wind power. We probe the molecular origins of the high thermal energy storage capacity of these ionic materials and demonstrate extended cycling that provides a basis for further scale up and development.

Ceramic Technology for Solar Thermal Receivers

1983 ◽  
Vol 105 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-79
Author(s):  
A. A. Kudirka ◽  
R. H. Smoak
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Ceramic Materials ◽  
Ceramic Technology ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Receiver Design ◽  
Solar Thermal Energy ◽  
Energy Applications ◽  
Temperature Capability ◽  
Solar Applications

Development of ceramic receiver technology for advanced solar thermal energy applications is being pursued in order to achieve significant reductions in energy cost and increase the potential application of solar thermal energy. Basically, structural ceramics are being seriously considered for solar applications because of their high temperature capability, their nonstrategic nature, and their potential for low cost. In this paper, candidate ceramic materials for solar receivers and their characteristics are described, potentially applicable fabrication and processing methods are discussed, and their applicability and promise for solar receivers is assessed. Receiver design requirements as well as system requirements for solar applications are reviewed. Promising areas of application of ceramic receivers in the near future are also discussed. Current ceramic receiver development status and plans are described, including one receiver which has been successfully tested at gas exit temperatures of up to 1425°C.

scholarly journals Design and development of solar dryer for food preservation

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-160
Author(s):  
S Tabassum ◽  
MS Bashar ◽  
MS Islam ◽  
A Sharmin ◽  
SC Debnath ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Food Preservation ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Solar Thermal Energy ◽  
Alternative Source ◽  
Solar Dryer ◽  
Large Production ◽  
Dry Food

Solar thermal energy is an alternative source of energy which can be used for drying vegetables, fishes, fruits or other kinds of material, such as wood. In Bangladesh, there exist significant post-harvest losses of agricultural products due to lack of the use of proper preservation system. Drying by using solar thermal energy can be an effective solution for this loss. As Bangladesh is situated in latitude 23°43’N and longitude 90°26’E, this is very much suitable to use solar thermal energy. To reduce the limitations of the natural sun drying e.g. exposure of the foodstuff to rain and dust; uncontrolled drying; exposure to direct sunlight; infestation by insects etc., two types of solar dryer (low cost solar dryer for small production and solar dryer for large production) were developed. The design was based on the geographical location of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The experiments were conducted to dry vegetables and fishes. The obtained results revealed that the temperatures inside the dryer were much higher than the ambient temperature. The rapid rate of drying proves its ability to dry food to keep in safe moisture level in a hygienic environment. Microbiological and nutritional values ensure a superior quality of the dried product also. Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res.54(2), 155-160, 2019

scholarly journals Low-Cost High Energy Density Material for Solar Thermal Heat Storage

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 46-56
Author(s):  
Rebhi Damseh
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Energy Density ◽  
Heat Storage ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Energy Storage Density ◽  
Solar Thermal Energy ◽  
Storage Density

A low-cost and enhanced thermal properties composite material for sensible heat storage in solar thermal energy storage applications is introduced. The proposed material is produced primarily for small scale solar thermal applications. However, it can be utilized for large scale solar thermal plants. The material has the advantages of high thermal conductivity and large energy storage density. The introduced material is composed of a mixture of cement and cast-iron particles. To obtain an optimal mixture, different samples of the material are prepared with different ratios of the cement-iron weights. The thermal conductivity of the produced samples is measured by using the linear heat conduction method. The specific heat capacity of the produced mixtures is calculated by using the Rule of the mixture. The obtained results show that the introduced material has a significant enhancement in thermal conductivity. Where, thermal conductivity as high as ~6.0 W/m.K and energy storage density as high as ~788 Joule/cm3 are achieved. The estimated volume energy density is ~89% higher than that of water. The produced material has the advantage of high energy volume density, being unhazardous, chemically stable, eco-friendly, easy to fabricate, and integrate with solar thermal energy systems and is a low-cost material.

scholarly journals Selection of low temperature thermal power cycles

2020 ◽  
pp. 165-165
Author(s):  
Mukundjee Pandey ◽  
Biranchi Padhi ◽  
Ipsita Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Low Temperature ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Organic Rankine Cycle ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Heat Extraction ◽  
Solar Thermal Energy ◽  
Kalina Cycle

In today?s world, we are facing the problem of fossil fuel depletion along with its cost continuously increasing. Also, it is getting difficult to live in a pollution free environment. Solar energy is one of the most abundantly and freely available form of energy. Out of the various ways to harness solar en-ergy, solar thermal energy is the most efficient as compared to photo-voltaic technology. There are various cycles to convert the solar thermal energy to mechanical work, but Kalina cycle (KC) is one of the best candidates for high efficiency considerations. Therefore, the authors have proposed a novel KC having the double separator arrangements to increase the amount of ammonia vapors at the inlet of turbine, and hence have tried to minimize the pumping power for Double Separator Kalina Cycle (DS-KC) by reducing the fraction of gas/vapors through it. Here, in this paper we have tried to com-pare Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), Brayton Cycle (BC) and Double Sepa-rator Kalina Cycle (DS-KC) for low temperature heat extraction from para-bolic trough collectors having arc-circular plug with slits (PTC). The effect of different operating conditions; like the number of PTCs, mass flow rate of fluids in different cycles, pressure difference in turbine are analyzed. The ef-fect of these different operating conditions on different parameters like net work done, heat lost by condenser, thermal efficiency and installation cost per unit kW for DS-KC, ORC and BC are studied.

Low cost solar thermal energy generation for developing economies

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darick W. LaSelle ◽  
Robert Liechty ◽  
Hassan Alzamzam ◽  
Robert Foster ◽  
Jasmin Dzabic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Energy Generation ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Solar Thermal Energy
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