The use of graphite foams for simultaneous collection and storage of concentrated solar energy

Badenhorst, Heinrich; Fox, Natasha; Mutalib, Ashraf

doi:10.1016/j.carbon.2015.11.071

Cited by 20 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…This showed that the response time had been reduced and the efficiency of the TES had been increased. The numerical result agreed with the experimental result from Badenhorst et al [166]. In this study, graphite foam was used for storage of concentrated solar energy and solar energy capture.…”

Section: Thermal Energy Storage Systemssupporting

confidence: 87%

Overview of porous media/metal foam application in fuel cells and solar power systems

Tan¹,

Saw²,

Thiam³

et al. 2018

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

134

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Fuel cells and solar energy are promising candidates for electricity generation. It is forecast that fuel cells and solar power systems will play an important role in reducing the greenhouse gas footprint and replacing fossil fuels. Therefore, the limitations of fuel cells and solar power systems, such as low efficiency, high cost, and low reliability, must be addressed appropriately to enable their full potentials. Metal foam is a new class of material that has gained immense attention due to its excellent properties suitable for a wide range of applications. Its unique characteristics distinguish it from typical solid metals. The properties of metal foam can be modified during the fabrication stage by manipulating its physical structure. The goal of this paper is to review the application of metal foam in fuel cells and solar power systems. Besides, the performance of metal foam in fuel cells and solar systems is also discussed. Metal foam has been applied to the electrodes, gas diffusion layer and flow field of fuel cells to enhance performance, especially in regard to current density and flow distribution. Furthermore, metal foam is a heat exchanger for the solar energy harvesting system to improve its efficiency. Superior performances in experimental testing allows the possibility of commercialization of metal foam products in the renewable energy field.

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Section: Thermal Energy Storage Systemssupporting

confidence: 87%

Overview of porous media/metal foam application in fuel cells and solar power systems

Tan¹,

Saw²,

Thiam³

et al. 2018

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

134

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…These materials have oil absorption up to 130 times their graphene mass, but are unlikely candidates for solvent or oil absorption applications due their cost. Other foams based on graphene oxide have been prepared by a “leavening” process, or from coal‐tar pitch, and have targeted applications, such as low cost solar thermal collectors . Table S1 (Supporting Information) summarizes the absorbance properties of different types of graphene and carbon nanotube (CNT)‐based, sponge‐like materials, previously reported in literature.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Controlled 3D Assembly of Graphene Sheets to Build Conductive, Chemically Selective and Shape‐Responsive Materials

et al. 2017

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Driven by the surface activity of graphene, electrically conductive elastomeric foams have been synthesized by the controlled reassembly of graphene sheets; from their initial stacked morphology, as found in graphite, to a percolating network of exfoliated sheets, defining hollow spheres. This network creates a template for the formation of composite foams, whose swelling behavior is sensitive to the composition of the solvent, and whose electrical resistance is sensitive to physical deformation. The self-assembly of graphene sheets is driven thermodynamically, as graphite is found to act as a 2D surfactant and is spread at high-energy interfaces. This spreading, or exfoliation, of graphite at an oil/water interface stabilizes water-in-oil emulsions, without the need for added surfactants or chemical modification of the graphene. Using a monomer such as butyl acrylate for the emulsion's oil phase, elastomeric foams are created by polymerizing the continuous oil phase. Removal of the aqueous phase then results in robust, conductive, porous, and inexpensive composites, with potential applications in energy storage, filtration, and sensing.

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“…In this capacity, the stores must be rapidly charged and discharged. However, frequently the best storage medium, in terms of energy density, exhibits low thermal conductivity leading to unacceptably low heat transfer rates (Badenhorst et al , 2016; Mhike et al , 2018; Zeng et al , 2014). Even in phase transition systems, conduction through the solid is usually the rate limiting process (Badenhorst, 2015; Badenhorst and Cabeza, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparison of topology optimization and genetic algorithms for the optimization of thermal energy storage composites

Badenhorst

2019

HFF

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to apply two optimization methods to the issue of sensible energy store design. Design/methodology/approach This paper is a comparison of topology optimization and genetic algorithms. Findings Genetic algorithms are prone to converge to local maxima while requiring significantly longer convergence times compared to topology optimization. Topology optimization resulted in structures representing parallel sheets, which are as thin as the grid allows. These configurations can maintain the maximum surface area between the low and high conductivity materials at high refinement, resulting in the best performance. Practical implications Time required for 99 per cent store discharge is decreased by 70 per cent using a 50 × 50 optimization grid at a loading of 10 Vol.%. Originality/value These approaches have not been compared nor applied to this specific problem before. Value is in the key finding that maximization of surface area is only possible with fins/sheets and not tree structures. This dictates the optimal solution for dynamic behaviour.

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The use of graphite foams for simultaneous collection and storage of concentrated solar energy

Cited by 20 publications

References 31 publications

Overview of porous media/metal foam application in fuel cells and solar power systems

Overview of porous media/metal foam application in fuel cells and solar power systems

Controlled 3D Assembly of Graphene Sheets to Build Conductive, Chemically Selective and Shape‐Responsive Materials

A comparison of topology optimization and genetic algorithms for the optimization of thermal energy storage composites

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