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A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Processes".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 May 2023) | Viewed by 11106

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Prof. Dr. Martin Schmücker

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Institute of Mechanical Engineering, HRW University of Applied Sciences, Duisburger Str. 100, 45479 Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany
Interests: (micro)structure/properties relations of structural and functional ceramics; fiber-reinforced ceramics; inorganic materials for energy application; microkinetics and thermodynamics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Solar energy is one of the most important sources for future electrical power supply and contributes significantly to a future sustainable and efficient energy mix.

Concentrated solar technology together with suitable thermal energy storage systems may provide baseload power. Moreover, concentrated solar energy can be used for high-temperature process technology, e.g., for the production of fuels or chemicals. Material requirements in the field of concentrated solar energy are manifold: besides thermal, thermomechanical and chemical stability, lifetime and environmental resistance, appropriate functional properties (optical, chemical, and thermal properties) must also be considered.

In this Special Issue, we invite submissions focused on CSP-related materials in a broader sense. In particular, the following topics will be covered:

Absorber materials
Mirrors and mirror coatings
Heat transfer media with improved stability and wider operating temperatures;
Novel materials for thermal energy storage systems
Materials for solar-thermochemical processes to produce H2, CO, or synthetic fuels
High-temperature construction and isolation materials for solar receivers and solar reactors

Prof. Dr. Martin Schmücker
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Processes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

concentrated solar power
redox materials
heat transfer and storage materials
absorber materials
reflector materials

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 3188 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of CO₂ Splitting on Ceria-Based Redox Materials for Low-Temperature Solar Thermochemical Cycling with Oxygen Isotope Exchange Experiments

by Daniel Uxa, Lars Dörrer, Michal Schulz, Nicole Knoblauch, Peter Fielitz, Martin Roeb, Martin Schmücker and Günter Borchardt

Processes 2023, 11(1), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11010109 - 30 Dec 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2177

Abstract

The surface exchange and bulk transport of oxygen are highly relevant to ceria-based redox materials, which are envisaged for the solar thermochemical splitting of carbon dioxide in the future. Experimental investigations of oxygen isotope exchange on CeO_2-δ, Ce_0.9M³⁺_0.1O_1.95-δ (with M³⁺ = Y, Sm) and Ce_0.9M⁴⁺_0.1O_2-δ (with M⁴⁺ = Zr) samples were carried out for the first time utilizing oxygen-isotope-enriched C¹⁸O₂ gas atmospheres as the tracer source, followed by Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS), at the temperature range 300 ≤ T ≤ 800 °C. The experimental

{\tilde{K}}_{O}

and

{\tilde{D}}_{O}

data reveal promising results in terms of CO₂ splitting when trivalent (especially Sm)-doped ceria is employed. The reaction temperatures are lower than previously proposed/reported due to the weak temperature dependency of the parameters

{\tilde{K}}_{O}

and

{\tilde{D}}_{O}

. The majority of isotope exchange experiments show higher values of

{\tilde{K}}_{O}

and

{\tilde{D}}_{O}

for Sm-doped cerium dioxide in comparison to Y-doped and Zr-doped ceria, as well as nominally undoped ceria. The apparent activation energies for both

{\tilde{K}}_{O}

and

{\tilde{D}}_{O}

are lowest for Sm-doped ceria. Using Zr-doped cerium oxide exhibits various negative aspects. The Zr-doping of ceria enhances the reducibility, but the possible Zr-based surface alteration effects and dopant-induced migration barrier enhancement in Zr-doped ceria are detrimental to surface exchange and oxygen diffusion at lower temperatures of T ≤ 800 °C. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials for Solar Thermal Energy Conversion and Storage)

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8 pages, 1318 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Possibility of Silicon Purification by Metallurgical Methods: Part I

by Abay Serikkanov, Artem Pavlov, Bolat Mukashev, Tleuzhan Turmagambetov, Dinara Kantarbayeva and Kairat Zholdybayev

Processes 2022, 10(7), 1353; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr10071353 - 12 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2260

Abstract

This silicon purification research work has two stages and results will be provided in two articles due to the large scope of work. This paper provides the results of the first stage, concerning the metallurgical silicon purification. Silicon was purified by a combined method consisting of slag refining with new slag composition and acid leaching. In the first phase, the metallurgical grade silicon produced by the classical carbothermic reduction method was investigated. In the second phase, the metallurgical purification by slag refining was completed using slags of various new compositions. The purified silicon samples obtained after the melting processes were analyzed for concentrations of impurities. Finally, acid leaching treatment of the obtained silicon was done, followed by elemental analysis of purified silicon. According to our experience we can determine that obtained silicon purity is adequate for further stages of planned study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials for Solar Thermal Energy Conversion and Storage)

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23 pages, 6425 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Improved Bald Eagle Search Algorithm for Parameter Estimation of Different Photovoltaic Models

by Abdelhady Ramadan, Salah Kamel, Mohamed H. Hassan, Tahir Khurshaid and Claudia Rahmann

Processes 2021, 9(7), 1127; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9071127 - 29 Jun 2021

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 2757

Abstract

Clean energy resources have become a worldwide concern, especially photovoltaic (PV) energy. Solar cell modeling is considered one of the most important issues in this field. In this article, an improvement for the search steps of the bald eagle search algorithm is proposed. The improved bald eagle search (IBES) was applied to estimate more accurate PV model parameters. The IBES algorithm was applied for conventional single, double, and triple PV models, in addition to modified single, double, and triple PV models. The IBES was evaluated by comparing its results with the original BES through 15 benchmark functions. For a more comprehensive analysis, two evaluation tasks were performed. In the first task, the IBES results were compared with the original BES for parameter estimation of original and modified tribe diode models. In the second task, the IBES results were compared with different recent algorithms for parameter estimation of original and modified single and double diode models. All tasks were performed using the real data for a commercial silicon solar cell (R.T.C. France). From the results, it can be concluded that the results of the modified models were more accurate than the conventional PV models, and the IBES behavior was better than the original BES and other compared algorithms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials for Solar Thermal Energy Conversion and Storage)

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Review

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11 pages, 2410 KiB

Open AccessReview

Integration of Kazakhstan Technologies for Silicon and Monosilane Production with the Suitable World Practices for the Production of Solar Cells and Panels

by Abay Serikkanov, Aigul Shongalova, Kairat Zholdybayev, Nurlan Tokmoldin, Tleuzhan Turmagambetov, Artem Pavlov and Bolat Mukashev

Processes 2022, 10(7), 1303; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr10071303 - 1 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3135

Abstract

In this review article, the state of the art of the complete processing chain in the production of solar photo-electric modules from raw materials (quartzites, quartz sand) is detailed. In particular, the silicon and silane production technologies of the Institute of Physics and Technology of Almaty, Kazakhstan, can become part of an expansive technologies chain. Such integration could present a number of benefits in comparison with the analogs, including less environmental pressure and increased safety. The combination of innovative production technologies of highly effective solar cells and modules with competitive production technologies of solar-grade silicon and silane constitutes a basis for the creation of an industrial cluster in the field of silicon solar photo energy with a complete vertically integrated production cycle. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials for Solar Thermal Energy Conversion and Storage)

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