Experiment and numerical simulation on flow and heat transfer in all-glass evacuated tube solar collectors

The experimental study of natural convection in allglass evacuated tube solar collectors is performed through the experimental platform of the solar-assisted fuel cell system.The experimental facility includes solar collectors with different length and diameter tubes, different coating materials, and with / without guide plates, respectively. Threedimensional mathematical models on natural and forced convections in the solar collectors are established and the experimental data is validated by field synergy and entransy principles. The results of natural convection show that the water temperature increases and thermal efficiency decreases gradually with the evacuated tube length. The thermal efficiency increases when absorption rates increase from 0. 95 to 1. 0 and emission rates decrease from 0. 16 to 0. 06. The thermal efficiency of solar collectors is increased after being equipped with the guide plate, which is attributed to the disappearance of the mixed flowand the enhancement of the heat transfer at the bottom of the evacuated tube. The results of forced convertion indicate that the Reynolds, Nusselt and entransy increments of the horizontal double collectors are higher than those of the vertical single collector while the entransy dissipation is lower than that of the vertical single collector. It is concluded that the solar collectors with guide plates are suitable for natural convection while the double horizontal collectors are suitable for forced convection in the thermal field of solar-assisted fuel cell systems with lowand medium temperatures.

Thermodynamic evaluation of new metallurgical refining processes for SOG-silicon production

With the aim of developing a new silicon refining process for production of solar grade silicon, a low-temperature refining technique referred to as ＂solidification refining of silicon with a Si-Al solvent at low temperature＂ was studied. The refinability of silicon by the partial solidification from a Si-Al solvent was discussed with thermodynamic evaluation for the impurity segregation between solid silicon and a Si-Al solvent. Impurity segregation ratios were measured by using temperature gradient zone melting method for phosphorus and boron and were estimated by the thermodynamic calculation for metallic impurities. The excellent refinability was clarified from the extremely small segregation ratios of impurities at lower temperature and was also confirmed by the test refining with the partial solidification under the induction heating. Furthermore, silicon crystal growth was studied by directional solidification experiments of a Si-Al alloy, and was estimated to be diffusion controlled.

The Comparison between Solar Water Distillation with and without a Cooling Tube

A solar still system is designed and built to utilize solar energy in the Gulf States region to produce fresh water from brackish and sea water. This experimental work has been conducted with and without a cooling tube. The results showed that the daily production rate of the simple solar still without a cooling tube is slightly higher than that with a cooling tube. This could be due to the fact that the cooling tube has a smaller effective condensation surface area than the glass cover of the simple still. The cooling tube also reduces the solar energy that reaches the water in the still. It might also be due to the fact that the use of a cooling tube has the effect of reducing the average temperature in the solar still cavity. This resulted in reducing the evaporation rate and consequently reduced the production rate.

Feasibility of Hybrid Wind and Solar Energy System for Heating Residential Buildings in Amman-Jordan

A design of a solar-wind electrical hybrid system to supply space heating requirements for a 1,200 m^2 residential building in Amman-Jordan was implemented. The building heating requirements were estimated from existing heating building data based on traditional heating design already adopted by engineering firms in Jordan. The traditional heating load was transferred into electrical load to be supplied by hybrid system. The hybrid system consists of a 75 kW vertical axis windmill and 140 solar modules. Because of the high cost of land in residential buildings, the hybrid system is to be installed on the building roof. The hybrid system and the conventional systems＇ cost were found to be compatible in four years period when oil prices reach $100 per barrel. As the international price of oil rises above $100 per barrel, the proposed hybrid system becomes more economical than the already existing hot water heating system.

Effects of the thermal environment on the thermal control system of AMS

This paper presents an overview of the AMS thermal control system and its thermal environment on the ISS.We give examples of analysis and correlation of space environmental impacting on the thermal control system of AMS.The most critical factors that affect the thermal environment to AMS are beta angle,attitude of ISS,ISS solar array and ISS radiator positions.The design of a special sandwich structure with embedded heat pipes provides the radiator with higher heat transfer ability for electronics and power crates,and it provides a large heat retaining capacity to balance the frequent changes of the space environment temperatures as well.In cold cases,the thermostatically controlled heaters are working actively to protect AMS.However,sometimes,because of ISS special operations plus extreme beta angle condition,AMS needs to request NASA to adjust the ISS configuration for thermal control.The AMS thermal control system is reliable and stable,which has been verified by its operation on the ISS for more than three years.All the detectors operate normally,the electronics and crates work within their specific temperature limits.

ZnO hierarchical aggregates： Solvothermal synthesis and application in dye-sensitized solar cells

ZnO hierarchical aggregates have been successfully synthesized by solvothermal methods through reaction of zinc acetate and potassium hydroxide in methanol solution. The shapes of the aggregates were controlled by varying the ratio of Zn2~ and OH- ions in the reaction system, while the size can be tuned from 2μm to 100 nm. Oriented attachment was found to be the main mechanism of the three-dimensional assembly of small ZnO nanocrystallites into large aggregates. The performance of these aggregates in dye-sensitized solar cells （DSCs） indicated that hierarchical structured photoelectrodes can increase energy conversion efficiency of DSCs effectively when the sizes of aggregates match the wavelengths of visible light.