A photobioreactor with an optical system that spatially dilutes solar photo synthetic active radiation has been designed, built, and tested at the Utah State University Biofuels Center. This photobioreactor could be used to produce microalgal biomass for a number of purposes, such as feedstock for an energy conversion process, or high-value products, such as Pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. In addition, the reactor could be used to perform sen>ices such as removing nitrates, phosphates, and other contaminants from waste water, as well as scrubbing toxic gases and carbon dioxide from fiue gas. Preliminary tests were performed that compared growth and productivity kinetics of this reactor with that of a control reactor without spatial light-dilution. Tests indicated higher specific growth rates and higher area! and volumetric yields compared with the control reactor. The maximum specific growth rate, volumetric yield, and areal yield were 0.21 day~', 0.059 gm /"' day~', and 15 gm m~-day^', respectively. Over 10 days of sequential-batch operation, the prototype photobioreactor converted direct-normal solar energy to energy stored in biomass at an average efficiency of 1%. The areal productivity, as mass per aperture per time, was three times higher than that of the control reactor, indicating the photobioreactor design investigated holds promise.
The Senior Mechanical Engineering students at Saint Martin’s College designed and built a unique, safe air conditioning/refrigeration bench experimentation apparatus. The apparatus is currently used as laboratory equipment to support instruction in four thermal engineering courses. This system demonstrates the fundamentals of the refrigeration cycle and psychrometric properties of air, as well as some fundamental concepts in heat transfer, heat exchangers, and thermodynamics. The refrigeration cycle working fluid is R-134a. The cycle operates with pressures between 760 kPa and 210 kPa, and with temperatures between 44 °C and −7 °C with flow rate of 6.8 kg/h. The apparatus is equipped with an instrumentation package to monitor the psychrometric properties of the effected air inside the ductwork. In addition the instrumentation package contains instrumentation to monitor the working fluid properties via computerized data logging equipment. Technical details about the uniqueness of this design and operation are given in the article.
A full-spectrum solar energy system is being designed by a research team lead by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Nevada, Reno. [1,2] The benchmark collector/receiver and prototype thermophotovoltaic (TPV) array have been built [3], so the work performed here is to match the two systems together for optimal performance. It is shown that a hollow, rectangular-shaped non-imaging (NI) device only 23 cm long can effectively distribute the IR flux incident on the TPV array mounted behind the secondary mirror. Results of the ray-tracing analysis of the different systems tested are presented.
A nonimaging (NI) device and infrared-photovoltaic (IR-PV) array for use in a full-spectrum solar energy system has been designed, built, and tested (Dye et al., 2003, “Optical Design of an Infrared Non-Imaging Device for a Full-Spectrum Solar Energy System,” Proceedings of the ASME International Solar Energy Society Conference; Dye and Wood, 2003, Infrared Transmission Efficiency of Refractive and Reflective Non-Imaging Devices for a Full-Spectrum Solar Energy System,” Nonimaging Optics: Maximum Efficiency Light Transfer VII, Proc. SPIE, 5185; Fraas et al., 2001, Infrared Photovoltaics for Combined Solar Lighting and Electricity for Buildings,” Proceedings of 17th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference}. This system was designed to utilize the otherwise wasted infrared (IR) energy that is separated from the visible portion of the solar spectrum before the visible light is harvested. The IR energy will be converted to electricity via a gallium antimonide (GaSb) IR-PV array. The experimental apparatus for the testing of the IR optics and IR-PV performance is described. Array performance data will be presented, along with a comparison between outdoor experimental tests and laboratory flash tests. An analysis of the flow of the infrared energy through the collection system will be presented, and recommendations will be made for improvements. The IR-PV array generated a maximum of 26.7W, demonstrating a conversion efficiency of the IR energy of 12%.
A non-imaging (NI) device and thermophotovoltaic (TPV) array for use in a full-spectrum solar energy system has been designed, built, and tested [1,2,3]. This system was designed to utilize the otherwise wasted infrared (IR) energy that is separated from the visible portion of the solar spectrum before the visible light is harvested. The IR energy will be converted to electricity via a gallium antimonide (GaSb) TPV array. The experimental apparatus for the testing of the IR optics and TPV performance is described. Array performance data will be presented, along with a comparison between outdoor experimental tests and laboratory flash tests. An analysis of the flow of the infrared energy through the collection system will be presented, and recommendations will be made for improvements. The TPV array generated a maximum of 26.7 W, demonstrating a conversion efficiency of the IR energy of 12%.
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