The possibility of using magnesium based eutectic metal alloys as phase change material (PCM) for thermal energy storage (TES) in concentrated solar power (CSP) applications is analysed. An extensive thermophysical characterization of the Mg–51%Zn eutectic metal alloy between room temperature...

In the design of solar air heaters (SAHs), channel depth is a principal variable to be fixed. In this paper, the effect of the channel depth on the energy gain of type I and type III SAHs has been investigated by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Laminar model and k–ω turbulence...

An experimental campaign has been conducted on a solar parabolic trough collector feeding a micro-CHP system (micro-cogeneration). The originality of the solar field is the DSG (direct steam generation) using a two axis tracker and a small size (46.5 m2) collector. The first step of the...

Solar thermal power is a promising and ever-growing source of carbon-free electricity. To date, analysis and design tools for solar thermal power generation with parabolic troughs are mathematically complex. We have developed a model of a solar parabolic trough, which advances the simulation of...

In this paper a unified model of a solar electric generation system (SEGS) is developed using a thermo-hydrodynamic model of a trough collector combined with a model of a traditional steam power-house. The model evaluates thermal properties, steam flow rate and pressure drop in a direct steam...

This paper presents the development and testing of an innovative code for the prediction of thermodynamic performances at nominal conditions, as well as a preliminary plant sizing and investment costs estimation for different parabolic trough solar fields. Part A of the paper presented in detail...

Integrated solar combined cycle (ISCC) systems have become more and more popular due to their high fuel and solar energy utilization efficiencies. Conventional ISCC systems with direct steam generation (DSG) have only one-stage solar input. A novel ISCC with DSG system has been proposed and...

Using PTC (parabolic-trough solar collectors) for industrial thermal processes in the temperature range up to 300 °C is not new, but in recent years there is a boosted interest in this type of concentrating solar technology. One of the problems that arise when designing PTC solar fields is how...

Parabolic-trough collectors (PTC) solar systems are one of the most promising of a wide range of the available solar technologies. Continuous breakthroughs are being achieved. Mainly due to the considerable amount of solar PTC plants that are being under operation in different countries. Within...

The contribution of solar thermal power to improve the performance of gas-fired combined cycles in very hot and dry environmental conditions is analyzed in this work, in order to assess the potential of this technique, and to feature Direct Steam Generation (DSG) as a well suited candidate for...