[en] A procedure for assessing the techno-economic viability of solar thermal systems in a dynamic economic environment is developed. It is shown analytically that the period for replacement of these systems depends upon the nature of their use. While determining investment viability, it is necessary to ascertain the exact life of the system. The life of a solar thermal system for non-commercial use is determined by optimum life for replacement, which is not influenced by energy inflation and energy saved. It is a function of maintenance cost and decreases with increases with increase in maintenance cost. For commercial purposes, the lifetime of the system is governed by optimum return on investment mode (Ζ), which is a strong function of energy inflation and energy saved per unit capital cost. (author)

[en] TTL Dynamics, UK has developed in collaboration with Australian-based Orion Energy a highly performant hybrid solar turbine. Its simplicity resulted in substantially reduced maintenance cost and longevity compared with traditional diesel generators. It is claimed to cost only a fraction of the installation cost of a similar output photovoltaic system and have wider applicability than wind turbines

[en] The future potential for solar thermal electric power plants is quite significant. The size of the renewable energy resource base for the United States of America alone is almost 500 times its current primary energy consumption. Unfortunately, the levels of current utilization are quite small. Why have these technologies not made a larger contribution to today's market? The answer is that significant barriers still exist. (orig.)

[en] The use of ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) to generate electricity is one of the methods proposed to utilize renewable energy and to protect the environment. In this study, simulations were performed to investigate the effect of weather conditions in the Ulsan region, Korea, on the efficiency of a solar heating OTEC (SH OTEC) system. This system utilizes solar thermal energy as the secondary heat source. Various working fluids were also simulated to select one that is suitable for this system. The results showed that R152A, R600, and R600A, in that order, were the most suitable working fluids. The effective area of the solar collector for a 20 .deg. C increase in the collector outlet temperature fluctuated from 50 to 97m'2' owing to the change in the monthly average solar gain. The annual average efficiency of the SH OTEC increases to 6.23%, compared to that of a typical conventional OTEC, which is 2-4%

[en] Many cases of radiation transport in nature and technology can be described as a continuum transport process through an interacting Participating Medium, governed by the Radiative Transfer Equation. Current numerical methods for solving the RTE, in particular Discrete-Ordinates based methods, are in a process of rapid development during recent years. However, they are still lacking in generality and sometimes suffer from performance limitations in three-dimensional problems involving strong coupling between ordinate directions. We present a new numerical solution procedure for the Discrete Ordinates approximation of the RTE, including treatment of anisotropic optical properties and generalized boundary conditions. The numerical schemes used here are well established in CFD, but have not been applied previously to the solution of the RTE. The new scheme is guaranteed to converge, subject to a numerical stability condition. We demonstrate the validity of the developed code on a series of verification cases

[en] Highlights: • An irreversible solar-driven heat engine is optimized. • Developed multi objective evolutionary approaches is used. • Power output, ecological function and thermal efficiency are optimized. - Abstract: The present paper illustrates a new thermo-economic performance analysis of an irreversible solar-driven heat engine. Moreover, aforementioned irreversible solar-driven heat engine is optimized by employing thermo-economic functions. With the help of the first and second laws of thermodynamics, an equivalent system is initially specified. To assess this goal, three objective functions that the normalized objective function associated to the power output (F_P) and Normalized ecological function (F_E) and thermal efficiency (η_t_h) are involved in optimization process simultaneously. Three objective functions are maximized at the same time. A multi objective evolutionary approaches (MOEAs) on the basis of NSGA-II method is employed in this work

[en] Short communication

[en] Within this publication a detailed overview about the national and international solal't1lel1nai standards is made. The various tests are described and a cross reference list for comparing the different standards is given. Moreover a certification model is presented and the advantage of third party assessment is carried out. The requirement for a solar thermal test laboratory to conduct independent third party assessment by means of an ISO/IEC17065 accreditation is given. Finally the concept of a quality system for solar thermal markets is explained and major advantages are outlined. Solar thermal systems and their components are described in various national and international standards. In Europe the standard EN12975 defines the regulations and requirements for solar thermal collectors. The standard EN12976 is established for the evaluation of factory made solar thermal systems. The EN12977 is the state of the art standard for the evaluation of custom build systems. Nowadays in Libya the standard ISO9806 for solar collectors and the standard ISO9459 for domestic water heating systems define the regulations and requirements for solar thermal collectors and systems. In the meanwhile, empowered Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Certification Body is under construction. This body is working now to set the minimum requirements of the testing facilities of solar thermal systems. The international standard for collector testing is the ISO9806 and the standard ISO9459 Part 2, 4, 5 for domestic water heating systems. Within the year 2013 a revision of the ISO9806 will be published and, for the first time, a consistent harmonized standard for the main solar thermal markets will be set in force. Besides the various standards for solar thermal products a meaningful element for the quality assurance and the customer protection is third party certification. Third party certification involves an independent assessment, declaring that specified requirements regarding a product are fulfilled. In a certification process based on specified certification rules an authorized certification body is confirming that a solar thermal product has passed performance tests, reliability tests and further requirements according to the standards. In Europe a certification body holds an accreditation according to EN45011. At international level the standard ISO/IEC17065 is in force. Test results as a basis for product certification are determined by solar thermal test laboratories. The implementation and the business operation of such a solar thermal test laboratory is an important element within the national/regional solar thermal market. To ensure the quality of the products and to attend the role of an observer on the market, the test facility has to fulfill a number of requirements. Besides the necessary technical equipment and the implementation of tests in accordance with the various national and international standards, the laboratory shall realize a quality management system to guarantee the quality of tests and services. Based on the technical equipment, the testing scope and an implemented Quality Management System (QMS), the test laboratory can achieve an accreditation according to ISO/IEC17025 as basis for independent third party testing. Independent testing and evaluation of solar thermal collectors and components like hot water stores and controllers offers an important medium for quality assurance. To guarantee a high degree of product quality and consumer protection a quality system for the solar thermal market is necessary. Core of the quality assurance of a functioning solar thermal market are the national standards body, which is developing standards and regulations as a working basis ill technical committees, the national metrology institute that guarantees the traceability of measurements on fundamental and natural constants, and finally the national accreditation body which ensures the conformity of the various actors to a specific standard. Laboratories work closely with the certification authorities and apply the developed specific norms and standards. The certification bodies must ensure the conformance of their test laboratories with the standard ISO/IEC17025, which include the quality standard ISO 9001:2008 and also include additional requirements. The traceability of the metrics of solar thermal testing laboratories is usually made with the help of calibration laboratories that are specialized on certain measurements. Those are also accredited and ensure the traceability of their measurements to the national meteorology institute. Other stake holders are the group of importers and exporters and foreign investors who are on the national market in entrepreneurial activities, as well as the group of consumer organizations that represent the interests of customers. By means of good networking of stake holders and focusing 011 the quality process, a high-quality and flourishing solar thermal market can be created.(author)

[en] The earth, covered more than 70.8% by the ocean, receives most of its energy from the sun. Solar energy is transmitted through the atmosphere and efficiently collected and stored in the surface layer of the ocean, largely in the tropical zone. Some of the energy is re-emitted to the atmosphere to drive the hydrologic cycle and wind. The wind field returns some of the energy to the ocean in the form of waves and currents. The majority of the absorbed solar energy is stored in vertical thermal gradients near the surface layer of the ocean, most of which is in the tropical region. This thermal energy replenished each day by the sun in the tropical ocean represents a tremendous pollution-free energy resource for human civilization. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) technology refers to a mechanical system that utilizes the natural temperature gradient that exists in the tropical ocean between the warm surface water and the deep cold water, to generate electricity and produce other economically valuable by-products. The science and engineering behind OTEC have been studied in the US since the mid-seventies, supported early by the U.S. Government and later by State and private industries. There are two general types of OTEC designs: closed-cycle plants utilize the evaporation of a working fluid, such as ammonia or propylene, to drive the turbine-generator, and open-cycle plants use steam from evaporated sea water to run the turbine. Another commonly known design, hybrid plants, is a combination of the two. OTEC requires relatively low operation and maintenance costs and no fossil fuel consumption. OTEC system possesses a formidable potential capacity for renewable energy and offers a significant elimination of greenhouse gases in producing power. In addition to electricity and drinking water, an OTEC system can produce many valuable by-products and side-utilizations, such as: hydrogen, air-conditioning, ice, aquaculture, and agriculture, etc. The potential of these by-products, especially drinking water, aquaculture and mariculture, can easily translate into billions of dollars in business opportunities. The current status of the OTEC system definitely deserves to be carefully revisited. This paper will examine recent major advancements in technology, evaluate costs and effectiveness, and assess the overall market environment of the OTEC system and describe its great renewable energy potential and overall benefits to the nations of the world

[en] The U.S. Department of Energy (US DOE) has mobilized its National Laboratories to address the broad range of environmental effects of ocean and river energy development. The National Laboratories are using a risk-based approach to set priorities among environmental effects, and to direct research activities. Case studies will be constructed to determine the most significant environmental effects of ocean energy harvest for tidal systems in temperate estuaries, for wave energy installations in temperate coastal areas, wave installations in sub-tropical waters, and riverine energy installations in large rivers. In addition, the National Laboratories are investigating the effects of energy removal from waves, tides and river currents using numerical modeling studies. Laboratory and field research is also underway to understand the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF), acoustic noise, toxicity from anti-biofouling coatings, effects on benthic habitats, and physical interactions with tidal and wave devices on marine and freshwater organisms and ecosystems. Outreach and interactions with stakeholders allow the National Laboratories to understand and mitigate for use conflicts and to provide useful information for marine spatial planning at the national and regional level.