ABSTRACT The use of a thermoelectric generator (TEG) in generating useful power from solar thermal energy is demonstrated. This device represents a portable and autonomous power generation system operating from solar power, capable of powering micro/nano systems. The TEG was integrated with a micro solar thermal collector plate to enhance the thermal radiation absorption capacity of the hot sid...

This study compares environmental and economic impacts of using nanofluids to enhance solar collector efficiency as compared to conventional solar collectors for domestic hotwater systems. Results show that for the current cost of nanoparticles the nanofluid based solar collector has a slightly longer payback period but at the end of its useful life has the same economic savings as a convention...

This paper deals with the design and evaluation of the performance of fuzzy predictive controller in supervisory mode for a solar-concentration-based power plant, with cylindrical-parabolic solar collectors. For the design of the controller, the inner control loops present in this solar platform are included in the model of the plant. That is, a control loop consisting of a PI plus a feed-forwa...

Multiple Effect Distillation (MED) is generally considered to be the desalination technology most suited to integration with concentrating solar thermal collectors on a medium to large scale. However the cost and energy requirement of Reverse Osmosis (RO) have fallen significantly in recent years, so that solar thermal powered RO deserves consideration. We compare commercial desalination proces...

Photovoltaic (PV) modules and solar thermal collectors are convectional solar systems that convert solar radiation into electricity and heat energy respectively. PV modules generate clean electricity and ideal for use in developing countries where human settlement is scattered in remote rural areas and no grid electricity is available. However, electrical conversion efficiency of commercial PV ...

Hybrid photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) solar system comprises a solar collector which is disposed on photovoltaic solar cells. The disadvantage of a conventional photovoltaic cell is that its performance decreases as the temperature increases. Indeed, part of the solar radiation is converted into electricity and is dissipated as heat, increasing the temperature of the photovoltaic cell with respect...

We review several examples of how spectrally-selective photonic structures may be used to improve solar cell systems. Firstly, we introduce different spectrally-selective structures that are based on interference effects. Examples shown include Rugate filter, edge filter and 3D photonic crystals such as artificial opals. In the second part, we discuss several examples of photovoltaic (PV) conce...

Introduction: The Genesis Mission carried four collector arrays which where exposed to the solar wind depending upon solar conditions, representing the major solar regimes: Interstream is the “normal” SW, <500km/s, collected for 334 days by the L-array; Coronal Hole wind with speeds about 500-800 km/s was collected by the H-array for 313 days; the highest average and variable speed, Coronal Mas...