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PhD Project (Completed in
2016):
Solar-energy Driven Chemical
Processes
In essence, the project will
examine theoretically and experimentally the
opportunities for using renewable energy source
i.e. solar energy for driving chemical processes
such as chemical reaction and separation. By
enhanced integration of state-of-the-art solar
thermal system components - solar concentrator,
high temperature thermal storage, enhanced pumps
and pipes and so on, a high efficiency solar
thermal system is envisioned. Liaison with
experts in solar process heat field such as the
AEE INTEC in Austria is expected, as well as
with the University of Manchester, THERMACORE (a
major manufacturer of heat pipes and other
thermal systems) and so on. The inventory of
work package (true at the time) is as follows:
1. Determination of
state-of-the-art solar collector/concentrator
that can deliver working temperature of up to
400°C (medium temperature) effectively.
2. Design of efficient high
temperature thermal energy storage provisionally
based on phase change material concepts and heat
pipe technologies.
3. Intensifying the
thermal energy storage in (2) into a device of
relatively smaller volume, high capacity, with
minimal heat loss. Proper control of heat flows
into/from the storage device is to be
investigated.
4. Selection/design of high
efficiency pumps and piping that conduct heat
transfer fluids with minimal heat loss
throughout the solar thermal system.
5. Develop standardized
process controller for the solar thermal system
to enable efficient time shifting management
between heat supply and demand in the system.
For more details please
contact
Prof Adam
Harvey or
Prof David Reay.
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