New synthetic material will play an important role in
making solar energy more cost-effective, efficient, and reliable in the solar energy industry.
In the context of replacing fossil fuels, solar power plants is required to
have the capabilities and efficiency to meet the electrical output of
non-renewable energy sources. Taking innovative steps and development of new
products that can absorb and exchange heat at higher temperatures can be the
game-changer.
The solar panels in solar power plants
are massive in comparison to their panel counterparts used on hybrid cars. These
panels absorb thermal energy first and then convert that heat into a
fluid-filled converter called the heat exchanger. And, a liquid version of
carbon dioxide (CO2), supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2), is said to be the
medium in the energy conversion. So, the hotter the fluid, it produces more
electricity production. Researchers have stated about the new technology that
uses sCO2 as the medium fluid, lower electricity and manufacturing costs, and
promise a greater efficiency for future power plants.
Dorrin Jarrahbashi, an Assistant Professor in the
mechanical engineering department at Texas A&M University stated that the
current metal materials used to construct the heat exchangers in sCO2 energy cycles are stable up to 5500C.
And, if the heat rises above this level, the components will begin to break
down rapidly losing effectiveness. Researchers created a new composite material
to resolve this problem. The material is made of ceramic and tungsten, a
refractory metal known to withstand temperatures of over 7500C. The leap in the
absorption of heat can increase the efficiency of generating electricity in integrated
solar and sCO2 power plants by 20%.
The durability of the composite material and its low
production cost would not only enhance energy output, in fact it will also help
reduce the expense of constructing and maintaining power plants. Jarrahbashi,
in this regard, stated that using the material for manufacturing heat
exchangers is an important step towards direct competition with fossil fuel
power plants and a large reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, the
applications for the composite material are numerous with its chemical, thermal
and mechanical characteristics. The implications of this innovation stretch far
into the future of research and industry.
For
More:
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9717/7/1/3/pdf
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