Search Results (49)

Parabolic dish collectors (PDCs) focus solar radiation onto a small area, minimizing the heat-loss area of the solar receiver and improving the heating of the working fluid. This fluid usually drives a Stirling-like or micro-gas turbine (Brayton-like) power generator. PDCs, initially intended for small-capacity applications, are well-suited for electricity and heat generation in remote rural areas, working alone and/or as parabolic dish arrays. PDCs have received considerable attention among solar thermal collectors due to their high concentration ratios and the high temperatures they achieve. However, nowadays, they are the least developed and least commissioned among concentrated solar power configurations, lacking a well-established technology. This review aims to compile the evolution of research on PDCs over recent years from a global perspective and is mainly focused on the subsystems constituting a PDC plant, their integration, and overall system optimisation, thereby addressing a gap in the current literature. Methodological tools used in the field are comprehensively revised, and recent related projects are summarized. Some innovative and promising applications are also highlighted. Full article

The transition to low-carbon energy systems necessitates innovative design strategies for decarbonizing hydrogen production, particularly in industrial-scale applications where steam methane reforming (SMR) remains predominant. This study proposes a novel, integrated process design for blue hydrogen production that addresses both energy and environmental sustainability through process intensification and resource valorization. A hybrid system was developed that combines solar thermal energy input with the catalytic potential of industrial waste, specifically, red mud, a byproduct of alumina refining. A solar parabolic dish (SPD) was engineered to contribute 10% of the heat demand, generating superheated steam at 477 °C. This work serves as a proof-of-concept, demonstrating the technical viability of integration at a bench scale. In parallel, red mud was characterized, thermochemically activated, and formulated into a low-cost catalyst for the SMR process. The integrated system includes solar-assisted steam generation, red mud-based catalytic reforming, CO₂ capture using methyl diethanolamine (MDEA), and hydrogen purification via pressure swing adsorption (PSA). The full process was modeled and optimized using ASPEN Plus, ASPEN Adsorption, and COMSOL Multiphysics^® Under optimal conditions (900 °C, 25 bar, steam-to-carbon ratio of 3), the system produced 1070 kg/h of hydrogen, achieving 95% CO₂ capture efficiency and 99.99% hydrogen purity. Techno-economic analysis revealed the red mud-derived catalyst costs 3.89 SAR/g (1.04 USD/g), a 77% cost reduction compared to conventional Ni-based catalysts. The integration of solar thermal energy, while offering modest direct economic savings of approximately 9500 SAR (2530 USD) annually, primarily demonstrates the technical feasibility of renewable heat integration for reducing the carbon intensity of hydrogen production. Full article

There is an urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide (CO₂). Currently, numerous research initiatives are underway to develop CO₂ Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies aiming for net-zero emissions, especially in sectors that are difficult to decarbonize, such as fossil fuel power generation. Integrating solar thermal energy into CO₂ capture facilities (CCFs) for fossil fuel-based power plants offers a promising approach to reduce the high operational costs associated with CO₂ capture processes. However, a comprehensive systematic review focusing on the integration of solar thermal energy with CCFs in fossil fuel power generation is currently lacking. To address this gap, this study systematically evaluates the technological frameworks involved, including (a) various generation technologies such as coal-fired Rankine cycle plants, natural gas combined cycle plants, and cogeneration units; (b) concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies, including parabolic trough collectors, linear Fresnel reflectors, solar power towers, and Stirling dish systems; and (c) post-combustion CO₂ capture systems. Additionally, this research analyzes relevant projects, patents, and scholarly publications from the past 25 years that explore the coupling of CSP technologies with fossil fuel power plants and post-combustion CO₂ capture systems. This literature review encompasses diverse methodologies, such as innovative patents, conceptual models, evaluations of solar collector performances, thermal integration optimization, and various system configurations. It also investigates technical advancements aimed at improving efficiency, reliability, and flexibility of fossil fuel power plants while mitigating the inherent challenges of CO₂ capture. Beyond the energy-focused aspects, we explore complementary circular economy strategies—such as by-product valorization and material substitution in sectors like mining, cement, and steel manufacturing—that can reduce embodied emissions and enhance the overall system benefits of solar-assisted CO₂ capture. The review employs a bibliometric approach using digital tools including Publish or Perish, Mendeley, and VOSviewer to systematically analyze the scholarly landscape. Full article

The ocean, as one of the largest thermal energy storage bodies on earth, has great potential as a thermal-electric energy reserve. Application of the relatively fixed-temperature ocean as the heat sink, and using concentrated solar energy as the heat source, one may construct a mobile power station on the ocean’s surface. However, a traditional solar-based heat source requires a large footprint to concentrate the light beam, resulting in bulky parabolic dishes, which are impractical under ocean engineering scenarios. For buoy-sized applications, the small form factor of the energy collector can only achieve limited temperature differential, and its energy quality is deemed to be unusable by traditional spring-loaded free piston Stirling engines. Facing these challenges, a low-temperature differential free piston Stirling engine is presented. The engine features a large displacer piston (ϕ136, 5 mm thick) made of corrugated board, and an aluminum power piston (ϕ10). Permanent magnets embedded in both pistons couple them through magnetic attraction rather than a mechanical spring. This magnetic “spring” delivers an inverse-exponential force–distance relation: weak attraction at large separations minimizes damping, while strong attraction at small separations efficiently transfers kinetic energy from the displacer to the power piston. Engine dynamics are captured by a lumped-parameter model implemented in Simulink, with key magnetic parameters extracted from finite-element analysis. Initial results have shown that the laboratory prototype can operate continuously across heater-to-cooler temperature differences of 58–84 K, sustaining flywheel speeds of 258–324 RPM. Full article

The integration of renewable energy into industrial processes is crucial for reducing the carbon footprint of conventional hydrogen production. This work presents detailed design, optical–thermal simulation, and performance analysis of a solar parabolic dish (SPD) system for supplying high-temperature steam to a Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) plant. A 5 m diameter dish with a focal length of 3 m was designed and optimized using COMSOL Multiphysics (version 6.2) and MATLAB (version R2023a). Optical ray tracing confirmed a geometric concentration ratio of 896×, effectively focusing solar irradiation onto a helical cavity receiver. Thermal–fluid simulations demonstrated the system’s capability to superheat steam to 551 °C at a mass flow rate of 0.0051 kg/s, effectively meeting the stringent thermal requirements for SMR. The optimized SPD system, with a 5 m dish diameter and 3 m focal length, was designed to supply 10% of the total process heat (≈180 GJ/day). This contribution reduces natural gas consumption and leads to annual fuel savings of approximately 141,000 SAR (Saudi Riyal), along with a substantial reduction in CO₂ emissions. These quantitative results confirm the SPD as both a technically reliable and economically attractive solution for sustainable blue hydrogen production. Full article

This research offers valuable improvements in the efficiency and water yield of a parabolic dish concentrator (PDC) solar distillation system, contributing to more sustainable and effective renewable energy solutions. Three hybrid nanofluids were evaluated, and their performance was measured through experiments and simulations. The numerical model is within 5% agreement with the measurements. Daily distilled water production increases by 25.7% with hybrid nanofluids (from 4.50 L to 5.67 L). The average exergy efficiency is approximately 19%. Furthermore, an interpretable, rule-based AI controller optimized with the Coati algorithm was integrated; this controller suggested operating setpoints and revealed transparent decision thresholds. This work is the first systematic PDC study where three different hybrid nanofluids were examined and explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) was applied within a single framework. The results demonstrate that higher performance and more predictable operation are achievable for producing distilled water based on PDC. Full article

Access to clean cooking remains a major challenge in rural and off-grid areas where traditional fuels are costly, harmful, or scarce. Solar cooking offers a sustainable solution, but many existing systems suffer from fixed positioning and low efficiency. This study presents a low-cost, dual-axis solar tracking parabolic dish cooker designed for such regions, featuring adjustable pot holder height and portability for ease of use. The system uses an Arduino UNO, LDR sensors, and a DC gear motor to automate sun tracking, ensuring optimal alignment throughout the day. A 0.61 m parabolic dish with ≥97% reflective silver-coated mirrors concentrates sunlight to temperatures exceeding 300 °C. Performance tests in April, June, and November showed boiling times as low as 3.37 min in high-irradiance conditions (7.66 kWh/m²/day) and 6.63 min under lower-irradiance conditions (3.86 kWh/m²/day). Compared to fixed or single-axis systems, this design achieved higher thermal efficiency and reliability, even under partially cloudy skies. Built with locally available materials, the system offers an affordable, clean, and effective cooking solution that supports energy access, health, and sustainability in underserved communities. Full article

The growing imperative to mitigate climate change and accelerate the shift toward energy sustainability has called for a critical evaluation of heat and electricity generation methods. This article presents a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) of solar and biogas energy systems on a common basis of 1 kWh of useful energy using SimaPro, the ReCiPe 2016 methodology (both midpoint and endpoint indicators), and cumulative energy demand (CED) analysis. This study is the first to evaluate co-located solar PV, solar thermal compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) and biogas combined heat and power (CHP) systems with in situ data collected under identical climatic and operational conditions. The project costs yield levelized costs of electricity (LCOE) of INR 2.4/kWh for PV, 3.3/kWh for the solar thermal dish and 4.1/kWh for biogas. However, the collaborated findings indicate that neither solar-based systems nor biogas technology uniformly outperform the others; rather, their effectiveness hinges on contextual factors, including resource availability and local policy incentives. These insights will prove critical for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and local communities seeking to develop effective, context-sensitive strategies for sustainable energy deployment, emissions reduction, and robust resource management. Full article

Cooking food is a factor that contributes to global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. This research proposes the design, simulation using thermal resistances with MATLAB Simulink, and experimental evaluation of an automated double-concentrated solar cooking system operable from inside a home. Water was used as a cooking load. Each test for 25 min was entered into a system integrated by a programmable elevator to transport the food to the roof, a configurable temperature display, a photovoltaic power source, and double solar collection (direct through a modified box oven and reflected by a parabolic dish collector). When both solar components operated simultaneously, the system reached a temperature of 79 °C, representing a 57.34 °C increase. On average, the solar concentrator provided 78.02% more energy than the oven alone. This approach is expected to reduce cooking time and contribute to sustainable home design aimed at mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Full article

The growing demand for efficient and sustainable energy solutions underscores the importance of advancing solar energy technologies, particularly Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) systems. This review presents a structured evaluation of two key innovation domains in CSP: the application of nanofluids and the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies. The first part analyzes experimental and simulation-based studies on nanofluid-enhanced CSP systems, covering four major collector types—parabolic trough, solar power tower, solar dish, and Fresnel reflectors. Nanofluids have been shown to significantly enhance thermal efficiency, with hybrid formulations offering the greatest improvements. The second part examines the role of Industry 4.0 technologies—including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and digital twins (DT)—in improving CSP system monitoring, performance prediction, and operational reliability. Although a few recent studies explore the combined use of nanofluids and Industry 4.0 tools in CSP systems, most research addresses these areas independently. This review identifies this lack of integration as a gap in the current literature. By presenting separate yet complementary analyses, the study offers a comprehensive overview of emerging pathways for CSP optimization. Key research challenges and future directions are highlighted, particularly in nanofluid stability, system cost-efficiency, and digital implementation at scale. Full article

The industrial sector’s movement toward decarbonization is regarded as essential for governments. This paper assesses a system that uses only solar energy to synthesize liquid hydrogen and ammonia as energy carriers. Photovoltaic modules deliver electrical power, while parabolic dish collectors are responsible for directing thermal energy to the solid oxide electrolyzer for hydrogen production, which then mixes with nitrogen to produce ammonia after a number of compression stages. To investigate the proposed system, comprehensive thermodynamic and exergo-economic studies are performed using an engineering equation solver and ASPEN PLUS software. Full article

This study proposes parabolic dish-based, toroidal-structured fractal solar collectors. The potential of fractal geometry to increase heat transfer and the ability of the parabolic dish to concentrate solar rays form the basis of the proposed design for increasing efficiency. In this study, the thermal and hydrodynamic behaviors of the proposed 3-row, 4-row, and 5-row parabolic collectors were investigated comprehensively. Using theoretical modeling and experimental results, the performances of the proposed parabolic dish-based toroidal fractal solar collectors were evaluated and compared via numerical simulation methods. After the experimental studies of the 3-row toroidal fractal collector, the analysis studies were completed using the ANSYS-Fluent program. Then, simulations were carried out for other toroidal solar collectors using the results of these experimental studies. As a result of the converging numerical analyses, the radiative, hydrodynamic, and thermal analysis results of the toroidal absorbers in 3-row, 4-row, and 5-row structures integrated with the parabolic dish were compared. In the temperature distribution analysis, it was observed that the parabolic dish effectively focuses on the sun rays and provides a gradual temperature increase of approximately 21 K for the fractal collector. It is observed that 96.84% convergence was achieved between the experimental and numerical results. Full article

This study presents a solar-powered parabolic dish desalination system with a solar tracking system and conical receiver. It efficiently transforms solar radiation into heat and evaporates saltwater, producing fresh water. The system is sustainable and affordable, making it a viable solution for water desalination in areas with limited access to fresh water. It achieves a high conversion rate from saltwater to fresh water, while consuming minimal energy. The results indicate that the system effectively utilizes solar energy, exhibiting high efficiency levels ranging from 78.56% to 82.77%, with an average efficiency of 80.79%. This system offers an effective solution to meet the growing demand for fresh water in water-scarce regions. Full article

Photocatalysis, a promising semiconductor-based technology activated by free and eternal solar energy, has great potential for addressing environmental remediation and energy conversion challenges. Concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies, namely parabolic trough reflectors, solar power towers, parabolic dish reflectors and linear Fresnel reflectors, exhibited excellent feasibility for boosting solar-driven photocatalytic processes. Based on the structural characteristics of CSP technologies, the CSP-based photocatalytic reactors could be divided into concentrated types and non/low-concentrated types. This academic review comprehensively investigated the integration of CSP technology in photocatalysis, emphasizing the feasibility of sunlight as an ideal energy source. Additionally, considering the optimal light irradiance and reaction temperature demands for achieving efficient photocatalytic processes, the significance of introducing CSP into solar light-driven photocatalytic reactions was highlighted. Moreover, the current challenges that exist in CSP-based photoreactors were identified, and potential solutions were proposed accordingly. This work hopes to provide some references for the future study of CSP-based photocatalytic reactors under the theme of sustainable development. Full article

The present research discloses a novel hybrid water-cooled Photovoltaic/Parabolic Dish Concentrator coupled with conical cavity receiver and spectral beam splitter (PV/PDC-CCR-BSF). In effect, a compact co-generating solar-concentrating PV system involving a subsequent optical interface has been fully developed and numerically tested. The optical performance of the proposed hybrid solar-concentrating system was modeled and assessed using the RT 3D-4R method while the thermal yield of the system was examined using the Finite Element Method. In addition to that, different configurations of serpentine-shape embedded water-cooling pipes (rectangle, semicircle, semi-ellipse and triangle) have been tested and optimized for maximum heat collection and minimum operating cell temperature. The performance of all the tested serpentine-shape embedded water-cooling pipes was evaluated with respect to conventional serpentine-shape water-cooling pipes. The outcomes indicated that the triangular cross-section outperforms other shapes in terms of heat dissipation capabilities, with about −446 W and maximum useful thermal power in the medium of the heat transfer fluid of 11.834 kW. Full article