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J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 1, 052701 (2009); doi:10.1063/1.3212675 (23 pages)

Recent advances in direct solar thermal power generation

Yue-Guang Deng
and Jing Liu

Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People’s Republic of China Map This map

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The recent energy crisis and environmental burden are becoming increasingly urgent and drawing enormous attention to solar-energy utilization. Direct solar thermal power generation technologies, such as thermoelectric, thermionic, magnetohydrodynamic, and alkali-metal thermoelectric methods, are among the most attractive ways to provide electric energy from solar heat. On the one hand, these methods have the potential to be more efficient than traditional ways since they can convert heat to electricity directly without experiencing the conventional intermediate mechanical energy conversion process; on the other hand, these electricity generators are generally silent, reliable, and scalable, making them very suitable to serve as a distributed power generation system for certain specialized fields, such as military and space applications. A lot of effort has been devoted to investigate the energy conversion theory and practical applications thus far. This paper is intended to present a thorough review on recent advances in developing the thermoelectric, thermionic, magnetohydrodynamic, and alkali-metal thermoelectric technologies for direct solar thermal power generation. Both the fundamental issues and latest application research are illustrated and critical issues are discussed. The paper concludes with a description of future developments expected in the subjects covered.

© 2009 American Institute of Physics

Article Outline

  1. INTRODUCTION
    1. Thermoelectric technology
    2. Thermionic technology
    3. Magnetohydrodynamic technology
    4. Alkali-metal thermoelectric technology
  2. ADVANCES IN DIRECT SOLAR THERMAL POWER GENERATION
    1. Solar thermoelectric power generation
    2. Solar thermionic power generation
    3. Magnetohydrodynamic and AMTEC technology
    4. Cascade system
  3. REMARKS AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
  4. CONCLUSION

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KEYWORDS and PACS

Keywords

distributed power generation, magnetohydrodynamic conversion, power utilisation, solar power stations, thermionic conversion, thermoelectric conversion

PACS

  • 88.40.-j

    Solar energy

  • 07.87.+v

    Spaceborne and space research instruments, apparatus, and components (satellites, space vehicles, etc.)

  • 88.05.-b

    Energy analysis

  • 84.60.Rb

    Thermoelectric, electrogasdynamic and other direct energy conversion

  • 84.60.Lw

    Magnetohydrodynamic conversion

  • 84.60.Ny

    Thermionic conversion

ARTICLE DATA

History
Received 14 April 2009
Accepted 29 July 2009
Published 2 October 2009
Permalink
http://link.aip.org/link/JRSEBH/v1/i5/p052701/s1

PUBLICATION DATA

ISSN:

19417012 (print)  
19417012 (online)

Publisher:

$abstract.society.value is a Member of CrossRef American Institute of Physics

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Figures (click on thumbnails to view enlargements)

FIG. 1
The schematic view of (a) thermoelectric device and (b) thermoelectric couple. Reprinted with permission from G. J. Snyder and E. S. Toberer, Nature Mater. 7, 105 (2008). Copyright © 2008, Nature Publishing Group.
FIG. 1 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 2
The schematic view of a thermionic converter.
FIG. 2 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 3
The schematic view of MHD power generation. Reprinted with permission from H. Yamaguchi, X. R. Zhang, S. Higashi, and M. J. Li, J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 320, 1406 (2008). Copyright © 2008, North-Holland.
FIG. 3 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 4
Schematic of a typical solar-assisted liquid metal MHD power generation system (Ref. 15).
FIG. 4 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 5
Schematic view of AMTEC. Reprinted with permission from M. S. El-Genk and J. M. P. Tournier, Energy Convers. Manage. 45, 511 (2004). Copyright © 2004, Pergamon.
FIG. 5 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 6
Schematic view of (a) two-stage concentrator and (b) receiver system. Reprinted with permission from S. A. Omer and D. G. Infield, Energy Convers. Manage. 41, 737 (2000). Copyright © 2000, Pergamon.
FIG. 6 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 7
Schematic of the TE-RSC power generator. Reprinted with permission from S. Maneewan, J. Khedari, B. Zeghmati, J. Hirunlabh, and J. Eakburanawat, Renewable Energy 29, 743 (2004). Copyright © 2004, Pergamon.
FIG. 7 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 8
Schematic of the TEG-TEC system with solar reflectors. Reprinted with permission from N. M. Khattab and E. T. El Shenawy, Energy Covers. Manage. 47, 407 (2006). Copyright © 2006, Pergamon.
FIG. 8 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 9
Simple structure combining PV and thermoelectric conversion (Ref. 33).
FIG. 9 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 10
Separated structure combining PV and thermoelectric conversion (Ref. 34).
FIG. 10 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 11
Combined system utilizing wavelength band divider (Ref. 35).
FIG. 11 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 12
Schematic of thermionic-based solar bimodal SEPS. Reprinted with permission from B. G. Ogloblin, E. Y. Kirillov, A. V. Klimov, A. I. Shalaev, D. P. Shumov, A. Y. Ender, V. I. Kuznetsov, and V. I. Sitnov, Space Technology and Application International Forum (Albuquerque, 1996). Copyright © 1996, American Institute of Physics.
FIG. 12 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 13
Schematic of HPALM solar space power system, Reprinted with permission from M. R. Martinez, O. Izhvanov, B. Robertson, P. N. Clark, H. H. Streckert, and J. L. Desplat, Space Technology and Application International Forum (Albuquerque, 2005). Copyright © 2005, American Institute of Physics.
FIG. 13 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 14
Single cell cylindrical inverted converter. Reprinted with permission from P. N. Clark, J. L. Desplat, H. H. Streckert, S. F. Adams, and J. W. Smith, Space Technology and Application International Forum (Albuquerque, 2006). Copyright © 2006, American Institute of Physics.
FIG. 14 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 15
The schematic of experimental platform. Reprinted with permission from P. N. Clark, J. L. Desplat, H. H. Streckert, S. F. Adams, and J. W. Smith, Space Technology and Application International Forum (Albuquerque, 2006). Copyright © 2006, American Institute of Physics.
FIG. 15 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 16
The schematic of cascade solar cogeneration system. Reprinted with permission from A. Y. Ender, V. I. Kuznetsov, V. I. Sitnov, E. M. Kushner, E. P. Malamed, and D. V. Paramonov, Space Technology and Application International Forum (Albuquerque, 1999). Copyright © 1999, American Institute of Physics.(Ref. 46).
FIG. 16 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 17
Schematic of liquid metal MHD power system for solar and waste heat. Reprinted with permission from P. Satyamurthy, N. Venkatramani, A. M. Quraishi, and A. Mushtaq, Energy Convers. Manage. 40, 913 (1999). Copyright © 1999, Pergamon.
FIG. 17 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 18
Schematic of solar MHD power plant. Reprinted with permission from E. P. Chivington, T. L. Hershey, and M. Schuller, IEEE Trans. Energy Convers. 21, 491 (2006). Copyright © 2006, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
FIG. 18 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 19
Schematic of solar heated AMTEC spacecraft power system (Ref. 50).
FIG. 19 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 20
Schematic of solar AMTEC power system. Reprinted with permission from G. Hohnson, M. E. Hunt, W. R. Deteman, P. A. HoSang, J. Ivanenok, and M. Schuller, IEEE Aerosp. Electron. Syst. Mag. 12, 33 (1997). Copyright © 1997, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
FIG. 20 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)

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