Applications of Solar Energy (eBook)

Dr. Himanshu Tyagi is currently an associate professor of Mechanical Engineering at IIT Ropar. He has previously worked in Siemens (Germany and India) and Intel (USA). He received his PhD from Arizona State University, master's from University of Windsor, Canada and his bachelor's from IIT Delhi. At present he is working with a team to develop nanotechnology-based, clean and sustainable energy sources. Together with his co-authors he received a Best Paper Award at the ASME 2007 Energy Sustainability Conference.Prof. Avinash K Agarwal joined IIT Kanpur in 2001. His areas of interest are IC engines, combustion, alternative fuels, conventional fuels, optical diagnostics, laser ignition, HCCI, emission and particulate control, and large bore engines. He has published over 230 international journal and conference papers. Prof. Agarwal is a fellow of SAE (2012), ASME (2013), ISEES (2015) and INAE (2015). He has received several awards, including the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award (2016) in Engineering Sciences, Rajib Goyal prize (2015), NASI-Reliance Industries Platinum Jubilee Award (2012); INAE Silver Jubilee Young Engineer Award (2012); SAE International Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award (2008); INSA Young Scientist Award (2007); UICT Young Scientist Award (2007); and the INAE Young Engineer Award (2005).Dr. Prodyut Ranjan Chakraborty is currently working as an assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering at IIT Jodhpur. He has previously worked at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) Cologne and the G.E. Global Research Center Bangalore (India). He received his PhD and master’s from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, IISc Bangalore, and his bachelor’s from North Bengal University. His primary areas of research are numerical modeling of alloy solidification, latent-heat-based energy storage systems for high-temperature applications, thermal management and thermal comfort, and sorption cooling.Dr. Satvasheel Powar is currently working as an assistant professor at the School of Engineering, IIT Mandi. He has worked at Greatcell Solar S.A. in Switzerland, and G24i in the UK. He received his Ph.D. in Chemistry/Materials Engineering from Monash University, Australia in 2013. Before joining the IIT Mandi, he worked at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore as a postdoctoral research fellow. His primary area of research is new generation solar photovoltaic and solar thermal utilization.

Foreword 6
Preface 7
Contents 10
Editors and Contributors 12
General 17
1 Introduction to Applications of Solar Energy 18
Abstract 18
2 Distributed Polygeneration Using Solar Energy: A Future Sustainable Energy System for India 26
Abstract 26
1 Introduction 26
2 Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Energy 28
2.1 Essence of Formulating Solar Energy Policy 28
2.1.1 Initiatives by the Indian Government for Promotion of the Solar Energy 30
3 Availability of Solar Resources in Different Parts of India 30
4 Routes of Solar Energy Utilization 31
4.1 Different Types of Solar Collectors 31
4.2 Different Types of Solar Cells 33
5 Intermittency of Renewable and Need for Polygeneration 34
5.1 Definition of Polygeneration 34
5.2 Problems of Electrochemical Storage 35
5.3 Hybridization of Solar Energy Devices for Polygeneration 35
5.4 Operation and Control of Polygeneration System 36
6 Conclusions 39
References 39
Heat Transfer Aspects of Solar Thermal Collectors 42
3 Effect of Reflector Absorptivity on Radiative Heat Exchange in Case of Solar Receiver Collection Systems 43
Abstract 43
1 Introduction 45
2 Methodology 48
2.1 Methodology for Configuration Factor Evaluation 48
2.2 Methodology for Radiative Heat Transfer 49
2.3 Data Selection 52
3 Results and Discussion on Configuration Factor Evaluation 53
3.1 Configuration Factor Between Two Circular Parallel Discs 54
3.2 Configuration Factor Between a Circular Disc and a Parallel Rectangular Plate 55
3.3 Configuration Factor Between a Circular Disc and an Offset Rectangular Plate 59
3.4 Configuration Factor Between a Circular Disc and Offset and Tilted Rectangular Plate 63
4 Radiation Analysis 64
4.1 Results and Discussion on Radiative Heat Exchange 66
5 Conclusions 67
Acknowledgements 68
References 68
4 Numerical Investigation of the Temperature Distribution of a Solar Cavity Receiver Wall Using Finite Element Method 70
Abstract 70
1 Introduction 71
2 Methodology 77
2.1 Problem Formulation Using FEM 77
2.2 Data Selection 81
2.3 Computational Domain and Discretisation 83
2.4 Grid Independence Test 83
3 Results and Discussion 85
3.1 Temperature Distribution with no Internal Convection Heat Transfer 86
3.2 Temperature Distribution with Internal Fluid Temperature of 100 °C (for hi = 6 W/M2K and Ti = 100 °C) 87
3.3 Temperature Distribution with Internal Fluid Temperature of 400 °C (for hi = 6 W/M2K and Ti = 400 °C) 87
3.4 Temperature Distribution with Internal Fluid Temperature of 700 °C (for hi = 6 W/M2K and Ti = 700 °C) 88
4 Conclusions 89
Acknowledgements 90
References 90
Volumetric Solar Thermal Collectors 92
5 Direct Absorption Solar Thermal Technologies 93
Abstract 93
1 Incumbent Solar Thermal Systems 94
1.1 Need for Concentrating Solar Power 95
1.2 Surface Absorption-Based Concentrating Solar Thermal Systems 96
2 Relevance of Nanofluid-Based Volumetric Absorption Solar Thermal Systems 101
2.1 Preparation Techniques and the Stability of the Prepared Nanofluids 101
2.2 Measuring Devices or Techniques Employed for Measuring Optical Properties 101
2.3 Limitations of Selective Surfaces in Curbing Radiative Losses 103
2.4 Limitations of Selective Surfaces in Transferring the Absorbed Energy to the Working Fluid 103
2.5 Overheat Temperatures in Nanoparticle Dispersions 105
3 Representative Experimental Study 106
4 Conclusions 108
References 108
6 Solar Thermal Energy: Use of Volumetric Absorption in Domestic Applications 110
Abstract 110
1 Introduction 111
2 Theoretical Model 114
3 Results and Discussions 118
4 Conclusion 122
References 122
7 Thermal and Materials Perspective on the Design of Open Volumetric Air Receiver for Process Heat Applications 124
Abstract 124
1 Introduction 126
2 Thermal-Hydraulic Analysis 128
2.1 Results and Discussions 129
3 Coating Development and Characterization 132
3.1 Experimental Details 132
3.2 Characterization 133
3.3 Results and Discussions 135
4 Conclusion 136
Acknowledgements 136
References 137
Thermal Storage of Solar Energy 139
8 Solar Thermal Energy Storage 140
Abstract 140
1 Classification of Thermal Energy Storage 141
1.1 Selection Criteria for Thermal Storage 144
2 Sensible Heat Storage 145
2.1 Based on Material Used for Sensible Heat Storage System 145
2.1.1 Liquid Water 145
2.1.2 Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage [ATES] 145
2.1.3 Other Liquids for TES 148
2.2 Based on Construction or Storage Configuration 150
2.2.1 Liquid Storage Tank 150
3 Latent Heat Storage 159
4 Chemical Heat Storage 165
References 169
9 Review on Integration of Solar Air Heaters with Thermal Energy Storage 172
1 Introduction 172
2 Renewable Energy 174
3 The Sun 175
4 Solar Spectrum 176
5 Availability of Solar Radiation on Earth 177
6 Diffuse and Direct Radiations 177
7 Methods for Harnessing Solar Energy 178
8 Different Utilizations of Solar Energy 179
9 Solar Air Heater 182
9.1 General Description of Solar Air Heater 182
9.2 Various Components of the Solar Air Heater 182
9.3 Types of Solar Air Heater 184
9.3.1 Non-porous Type Solar Air Heater 185
9.3.2 Porous Type Solar Air Heaters 185
9.4 Parameters for Manufacturing of Solar Air Heater 188
10 Thermal Energy Storage System 189
10.1 Sensible Heat Storage 189
10.2 Latent Heat Storage (Using Phase-Change Materials) 190
11 Integration of Solar Air Heater and Thermal Energy Storage 191
References 193
10 Solar Thermal Energy Storage Using Graphene Nanoplatelets-Added Phase Change Materials 196
Abstract 196
1 Introduction 197
2 Methods 199
2.1 Materials 199
2.2 Sample Preparation and Thermal Cycling 199
3 Characterisation Techniques 200
3.1 Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) 200
3.2 Thermo-gravimetric Analysis (TGA) 200
3.3 Fourier-Transform Infrared Analysis (FTIR) 200
3.4 Laser Flash Apparatus (LFA) 201
4 Results and Discussion 201
4.1 Thermal Stability Analysis 201
4.2 Phase Change Temperature and Enthalpy 204
4.3 Chemical Compatibility Studies 207
4.4 Thermal Conductivity Measurements 211
5 Conclusion 212
Acknowledgements 213
References 213
Various Applications of Solar Energy: Cooling, Cooking, Efficient Buildings 215
11 Water–Lithium Bromide Absorption Chillers for Solar Cooling 216
Abstract 216
1 Absorption Cooling 217
1.1 Working Principles of Basic Water–Lithium Bromide-Based Absorption Cooling 218
1.2 Working Principles of Water–Lithium Bromide Absorption Cooling System for Continuous Operation 220
1.2.1 Coefficient of Performance (COP) and Maximum Obtainable COP 222
1.3 Steady Flow Analysis of Single-Effect Water–Lithium Bromide Systems 224
1.4 Thermodynamic Properties of H2O–LiBr Solutions 231
1.4.1 Crystallization 233
1.5 Commercial H2O–LiBr Absorption Cooling Systems and Multi-Effect Absorption Cooling Systems 234
1.6 Closure 236
References 238
12 Solar Assisted Solid Desiccant—Vapor Compression Hybrid Air-Conditioning System 240
Abstract 240
1 Introduction 241
2 Experimental Investigation 246
3 Performance Prediction Using TRNSYS 252
4 Conclusions and Future Prospects 255
References 255
13 Solar Food Processing and Cooking Methodologies 258
Abstract 258
1 Introduction 260
1.1 History 260
1.2 Solar Food Processing 262
1.2.1 Concepts of Thermal Processing 264
1.2.2 Effect of Heat on Nutritional and Sensory Characteristics 266
1.3 Cooking Scenarios in Different Countries 266
1.3.1 Household Cooking Patterns, Fuel Switching, and Policies 268
2 Solar Drying Technologies 272
2.1 Types of Solar Dryers 272
2.2 Solar Open Drying 274
2.3 Solar Cabinet Drying 274
3 Solar Cooking 279
3.1 Types of Solar Collector and Solar Cookers 279
3.1.1 Tracking Solar Cookers 280
3.1.2 Non-tracking Solar Cookers 281
3.1.3 Indirect-Type Solar Cookers 281
3.1.4 Hybrid Solar Cookers 282
3.2 Cooking Methodologies and the Use of Solar Cookers 282
3.3 Energy Savings Through Solar Cooking 284
4 Hybrid Systems for Solar Drying and Cooking 286
5 Thermal Analysis of Solar Cookers 290
5.1 Thermal Performance of Box Cooker 291
5.2 Thermal Performance of Dish Cooker 292
6 Thermal Analysis of Solar Dryers 293
7 Conclusion 295
References 296
14 Visual Comfort Based Algorithmic Control for Roller Shade and Assessment of Potential Energy Savings 302
Abstract 302
1 Introduction 303
1.1 Energy Efficiency in Buildings 303
1.2 Daylighting: Pros and Cons 304
1.3 Glare: Definition and Measurement 304
1.4 Shading Systems 305
2 Methodology 306
3 Result and Discussions 308
3.1 Visualization of Test Space 308
3.2 Placing Work Plane Observation Grid 308
3.3 Observation of Interior Illumination 309
3.4 Observation of Glare 310
3.5 Formation of Illuminance Matrices 310
3.6 Identifying Glare Scenario 311
3.7 Estimation of Energy Savings Through Lighting 315
3.7.1 Collecting DGP Values 315
3.7.2 Decision Flow Chart 316
3.7.3 Selected Blind Positions 317
3.7.4 Calculation of Lighting Energy Consumption 318
4 Conclusions 322
References 322
Power Generation Using Solar Energy 324
Solar Updraft Tower---A Potential for Future Renewable Power Generation: A Computational Analysis 325
1 Introduction 327
2 Mathematical Model 330
3 Geometry and Grid Generation 331
4 Boundary Conditions and Soil Modeling 333
5 Validation 334
6 Grid Independent Test 336
7 Results and Discussions 336
7.1 Steady-State Simulation Without Radiation Model and Thermal Storage 336
7.2 Transient Simulation Without Radiation Model and Thermal Storage 340
7.3 Transient Simulation Without Radiation Model and with Thermal Storage 341
7.4 Steady-State Simulation with Radiation Model and Without Thermal Storage 343
8 Conclusions 344
References 345
16 Manufacturing Techniques of Perovskite Solar Cells 346
Abstract 346
1 Introduction 346
2 Manufacturing Techniques 350
2.1 Solution Processing-Based Techniques 351
2.2 Roll-to-Roll Printing 353
2.2.1 Spray Coating 353
2.2.2 Blade Coating 356
2.2.3 Slot Die Coating 357
2.2.4 Brush Painting 357
2.2.5 Electrodeposition 359
2.2.6 Ink-Jet Printing 359
2.3 Vapor-Based Techniques 360
2.3.1 CVD 362
2.3.2 Physical Vapor Deposition 363
2.3.3 Vapor-Assisted Solution Process 364
3 Conclusion 364
References 365