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Advances in Photovoltaic/Solar Collectors and Their Potential for an Industrial Decarbonization

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A2: Solar Energy and Photovoltaic Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 February 2025 | Viewed by 8979

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Bruno D. Tibúrcio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CEFITEC, Physics Department, NOVA School of Science and Technology, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Interests: concentrated solar power; solar-pumped lasers; tracking error in solar collectors; PV cells; applied optics; laser technology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The development of renewable energy technology is now widely considered of paramount importance to moving towards sustainable energy generation and climate change mitigation. The low-energy density and seasonal variations, with geographical dependence, make the development of high-solar-energy concentration systems an important and challenging investigation. Advances in solar collectors and solar energy concentration enable not only a massive scaling in energy production but also can lead to industrial decarbonisation. The efficiency of solar collectors and other solar energy concentration systems is significantly affected by errors in their alignment with the Sun. Thus, the necessity and the importance of solar tracking systems become a critical key for the development and implementation of any photovoltaic system or solar collector.

This Special Issue is intended to collect original research works, reviews and case studies on innovative technology developments to maximize the collection efficiency of different energy generation systems. The topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, the following:

- New progresses in solar collectors to maximize the collection efficiency of different energy generation systems.
- Advancements in the solar collection and concentration efficiency.
- PV technology/solar collectors and their potential applications for a low-carbon industry.
- Improved solar tracking for energy-production systems.
- Developments in solar cells for PV technology.
- Solar-pumped lasers.
- Solar energy collectors for hydrogen production.
- Integrated operation of solar collectors, energy storage and potential industrial applications.

Dr. Bruno D. Tibúrcio
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • solar collectors
  • industrial decarbonization
  • PV cells
  • solar tracking

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 10436 KiB  
Article
Multirod Pumping Approach with Fresnel Lens and Ce:Nd:YAG Media for Enhancing the Solar Laser Efficiency
by Joana Almeida, Hugo Costa, Cláudia R. Vistas, Bruno D. Tibúrcio, Ana Matos and Dawei Liang
Energies 2024, 17(22), 5630; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17225630 - 11 Nov 2024
Viewed by 678
Abstract
A multirod Ce:Nd:YAG solar laser approach, using a Fresnel lens as a primary concentrator, is here proposed with the aim of considerably increasing the efficiency of solar-pumped lasers. Fresnel lenses are cost-effective, rendering solar lasers more economically competitive. In this work, solar-pumped radiation [...] Read more.
A multirod Ce:Nd:YAG solar laser approach, using a Fresnel lens as a primary concentrator, is here proposed with the aim of considerably increasing the efficiency of solar-pumped lasers. Fresnel lenses are cost-effective, rendering solar lasers more economically competitive. In this work, solar-pumped radiation collected and concentrated using the Fresnel lens is received by a secondary three-dimensional compound parabolic concentrator which transmits and funnels the light toward the Ce:Nd:YAG laser rods within a water-cooled tertiary conical concentrator that enables efficient multipass pumping of the rods. To explore the full potential of the proposed approach, the performance of various multirod configurations is numerically evaluated. Through this study, configurations with three and seven Ce:Nd:YAG rods are identified as being the most efficient. A maximum continuous wave total laser power of 122.8 W is reached with the three-rod configuration, marking the highest value from a Ce:Nd:YAG solar laser, leading to solar-to-laser conversion and collection efficiencies of 7.31% and 69.50 W/m2, respectively. These results represent enhancements of 1.88 times and 1.79 times, respectively, over the previous experimental records from a Ce:Nd:YAG/YAG single-rod solar laser with a Fresnel lens. Furthermore, the above results are also 1.58 times and 1.68 times, respectively, greater than those associated with the most effective three-rod Ce:Nd:YAG solar laser utilizing a parabolic mirror as the main concentrator. The present study also shows the great usefulness of the simultaneous pumping of multiple laser rods in terms of reducing the thermal stress effects in active media, being the seven-rod configuration the one that offered the best compromise between maximum efficiency and thermal performance. This is crucial for the applicability of this sustainable technology, especially if we wish to scale our system to higher power laser levels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Photovoltaic/Solar Collectors and Their Potential for an Industrial Decarbonization)
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22 pages, 5766 KiB  
Article
Studying the Improvement of Solar Collector Mechanism with Phase Change Materials
by Maha Rahman Rahi, Saba Ostadi, Amin Rahmani, Mahdieh Dibaj and Mohammad Akrami
Energies 2024, 17(6), 1432; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17061432 - 16 Mar 2024
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1890
Abstract
This study delves into the integration of phase change materials (PCM) in solar thermal collector systems to address this challenge. By incorporating nano encapsulated PCMs, researchers have mitigated concerns surrounding PCM leakage, revolutionizing the potential of solar collector systems to elevate energy efficiency, [...] Read more.
This study delves into the integration of phase change materials (PCM) in solar thermal collector systems to address this challenge. By incorporating nano encapsulated PCMs, researchers have mitigated concerns surrounding PCM leakage, revolutionizing the potential of solar collector systems to elevate energy efficiency, diminish carbon emissions, and yield manifold benefits. This article comprehensively investigates the design and utilization of solar phase change energy storage devices and examines the transformative impact of employing nano-coated phase change materials (Nano capsules) to augment solar collector performance. The integration of paraffin-based PCM and the insulation of the collector system have been crucial in optimizing heat retention and operational efficacy. The composition of the PCM involves a balanced blend of octadecane phase-change particles and water as the base fluid, designed to maximize thermal performance. Analysis of the experimental findings demonstrates the dynamic thermal behavior of the nano encapsulated phase change material, revealing distinctive temperature profiles about fluid dynamics and absorbent characteristics. Notably, the study emphasizes the nuanced trade-offs associated with the conductivity and melting temperature of the Nano encapsulated PCM, yielding valuable insights into energy storage capacity limitations and thermal performance variations throughout diurnal cycles. Central to the investigation, the optimal nanoparticle proportion is elucidated, shedding light on its pivotal role in modulating PCM performance. Furthermore, findings underscore the complex interplay between nanoparticle volume fraction and thermal fluid temperature, providing critical perspectives on optimizing PCM-enhanced solar collector systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Photovoltaic/Solar Collectors and Their Potential for an Industrial Decarbonization)
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25 pages, 4510 KiB  
Article
Techno-Economic Assessment of the Viability of Commercial Solar PV System in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
by Muzan Williams Ijeoma, Hao Chen, Michael Carbajales-Dale and Rahimat Oyiza Yakubu
Energies 2023, 16(19), 6803; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16196803 - 25 Sep 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2999
Abstract
Supermarkets in Port Harcourt (PH) city, Nigeria, predominantly rely on diesel electricity generation due to grid instability, leading to high electricity prices. Although solar photovoltaic (PV) systems have been proposed as an alternative, these supermarkets have yet to adopt them, mainly due to [...] Read more.
Supermarkets in Port Harcourt (PH) city, Nigeria, predominantly rely on diesel electricity generation due to grid instability, leading to high electricity prices. Although solar photovoltaic (PV) systems have been proposed as an alternative, these supermarkets have yet to adopt them, mainly due to high investment costs and a lack of awareness of the long-term financial and environmental benefits. This paper examines the technical and economic practicality of a PV system for these supermarkets using the PVsyst software and a spreadsheet model. Solar resources showed that PH has a daily average solar radiation and temperature of 4.21 kWh/m2/day and 25.73 °C, respectively. Market Square, the supermarket with the highest peak power demand of 59.8 kW and a 561 kWh/day load profile, was chosen as a case study. A proposed PV system with a power capacity of 232 kW, battery storage capacity of 34,021 Ah, a charge controller size of 100 A/560 V, and an inverter with a power rating of 60 V/75 kW has been designed to meet the load demand. The economic analysis showed a $266,936 life cycle cost, $0.14 per kWh levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), a 4-year simple payback time, and a 20.5% internal rate of return (IRR). The PV system is feasible due to its positive net present value (NPV) of $165,322 and carbon savings of 582 tCO2/year. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Photovoltaic/Solar Collectors and Their Potential for an Industrial Decarbonization)
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12 pages, 3751 KiB  
Article
Fresnel Lens Solar-Pumped Laser with Four Rods and Beam Merging Technique for Uniform and Stable Emission under Tracking Error Influence
by Bruno D. Tibúrcio, Dawei Liang, Joana Almeida, Dário Garcia, Miguel Catela, Hugo Costa and Cláudia R. Vistas
Energies 2023, 16(12), 4815; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16124815 - 20 Jun 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1345
Abstract
Significant numerical improvements in Fresnel lens Nd:YAG solar laser collection efficiency, laser quality factors and tracking error compensation capacity by two Fresnel lenses as primary solar concentrators are reported here. A Nd:YAG four-rod side-pumping configuration was investigated. The four-rod side-pumping scheme consisted of [...] Read more.
Significant numerical improvements in Fresnel lens Nd:YAG solar laser collection efficiency, laser quality factors and tracking error compensation capacity by two Fresnel lenses as primary solar concentrators are reported here. A Nd:YAG four-rod side-pumping configuration was investigated. The four-rod side-pumping scheme consisted of two large aspherical lenses and four semi-cylindrical pump cavities, where the Nd:YAG laser rods were placed, enabling an efficient solar pumping of the laser crystals. A 104.4 W continuous-wave multimode solar laser power was achieved, corresponding to 29.7 W/m2 collection efficiency, which is 1.68 times that of the most efficient experimental Nd:YAG side-pumped solar laser scheme with heliostat–parabolic mirror systems. End-side-pumped configuration has led to the most efficient multimode solar lasers, but it may cause more prejudicial thermal effects, poor beam quality factors and a lack of access to both rod end-faces to optimize the resonant cavity parameters. In the present work, an eight-folding-mirror laser beam merging technique was applied, aiming to attain one laser emission from the four laser rods that consist of the four-rod side-pumping scheme with a higher brightness figure of merit. A 79.8 W multimode laser output power was achieved with this arrangement, corresponding to 22.7 W/m2. The brightness figure of merit was 0.14 W, being 1.6, 21.9 and 15.7 times that of previous experimental Nd:YAG solar lasers pumped by Fresnel lenses. A significant advance in tracking error tolerance was also numerically attained, leading to a 1.5 times enhancement in tracking error width at 10% laser power loss (TEW10%) compared to previous experimental results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Photovoltaic/Solar Collectors and Their Potential for an Industrial Decarbonization)
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17 pages, 24915 KiB  
Article
Developed Brinkman Model into a Porous Collector for Solar Energy Applications with a Single-Phase Flow
by Mojtaba Rezapour, Sayyed Aboozar Fanaee and Maryam Ghodrat
Energies 2022, 15(24), 9499; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15249499 - 14 Dec 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1419
Abstract
In this paper, the effects of the fluid-thermal parameters of a porous medium with different values of porosity and permeability on the fluid flow, heat, and concentration parameters were investigated for solar energy applications. The characteristics of the boundary layer, velocity profiles, pressure [...] Read more.
In this paper, the effects of the fluid-thermal parameters of a porous medium with different values of porosity and permeability on the fluid flow, heat, and concentration parameters were investigated for solar energy applications. The characteristics of the boundary layer, velocity profiles, pressure drop, and thermal and high heat concentration distribution have been analyzed. A developed Brinkman equation for fluid flow and a power law model for thermal conductivity (considering the porosity and permeability factors) were calculated with constant solar heat flux. The numerical model was developed based on the finite element method by the LU algorithm using the MUMPS solver. The Brinkman equations were solved under steady and unsteady states for velocity, pressure, thermal, and concentration distribution effects, respectively. In a porous medium, the normalized temperature of the presented model had an acceptable agreement with the experimental data, with a maximum error of 3%. At constant permeability, by decreasing the porosity, the velocity profile was extended. This was mainly due to the presence of pores in the collector. With an accelerated flow, the maximum velocity of 2.5 m/s occurred at a porosity of 0.2. It was also found that in the porous collector, the Nusselt number increased where the maximum difference between the porous and the nonporous collectors occurred at the beginning of the collector, with a value of 32%, and the minimum difference was 27%. The results also indicate that in the porous collector, solar energy absorbance was higher and the heat transfer was improved. However, an increase in the pressure drop was noted in the porous collectors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Photovoltaic/Solar Collectors and Their Potential for an Industrial Decarbonization)
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Design and implementation of microcontroller-based solar charge controller using modified incremental conductance MPPT algorithm
Authors: Mustafa Sacid Endiz
Affiliation: Necmettin Erbakan University, Engineering Faculty
Abstract: This paper presents the modeling, design, and implementation of a rapid prototyping low-power solar charge controller with maximum power point tracking (MPPT). The implemented circuit consists of a 60 W photovoltaic (PV) module, a buck converter with an MPPT controller, and a 13.5V-48Ah battery. The performance of the solar charge controller is increased by operating the PV module at the maximum power point (MPP) using a modified incremental conductance (IC) MPPT algorithm. While the traditional IC MPPT approach requires a substantial amount of code and algorithmic steps to keep the PV module at the MPP, the proposed IC achieves the same process with a reduced number of lines of code, owing to its optimized algorithmic approach. By adjusting the duty cycle of the generated Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signal, maximum power transfer from the PV module is attained during the operation of the battery charging process. The simulation model is configured and tested in Matlab/Simulink environment under different solar data (1000 W/m2, 500 W/m2, 800 W/m2) with constant temperature (25 °C). To validate the simulations, experimental studies are conducted using the developed rapid prototype with the 32-bit embedded microcontroller in the laboratory. According to the obtained results, the proposed IC tracks the MPP more accurately with less steady-state oscillation and provides maximum available power with 98.6% average tracking efficiency for battery charging at different solar radiations compared to the traditional IC approach. For low-powered electric devices, the proposed system can be used to provide a charging infrastructure solution.

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