Direct Capture, Storage and Conversion of Solar Thermal Energy

Lead Research Organisation: Heriot-Watt University
Department Name: Sch of Engineering and Physical Science

Abstract

See main application document

Publications

10 25 50
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Amber I (2017) A numerical simulation of heat transfer in an enclosure with a nonlinear heat source in Numerical Heat Transfer, Part A: Applications

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Amber I (2017) Heat transfer in a molten salt filled enclosure absorbing concentrated solar radiation in International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer

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Amber I (2018) Natural convection induced by the absorption of solar radiation: A review in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

 
Description We have developed a solar concentrator that tracks the sun to focus on a single point. This was a key development as it is fundamentally different from the state-of-the-art where the focal point moved with the concentrator. It is believed that this approach will significantly reduce the cost of solar energy by removing complicated auxiliary components
Exploitation Route The next step would be to develop a prototype for small scale testing. It is believed that this would be feasible for a 5kWe system that could be used to power a small off-grid community
Sectors Energy

 
Description Solar Tracking Collaboration 
Organisation UK Astronomy Technology Centre (ATC)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Our research team has a background in heat transfer and thermodynamics. We developed a thermal model of a directly heated molten salt thermal store using a concentrated solar source in this project, with the objective of working with a fixed focus solar concentrator.
Collaborator Contribution Collaborators in the UKATC brought expertise in ray-trace analysis and solar tracking to develop a fixed focus solar concentrator. This could then be used to directly charge a molten salt thermal store.
Impact A research paper has been produced and one PhD student successfully defended his thesis on this topic; more journal papers are planned. While the collaboration is not active currently, researchers from both parties are keen to take the work forward and looking for opportunities to facilitate this.
Start Year 2012