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INTRODUCTION
One of the critical global crises of this era is global warming. This crisis has drawn global attention since the 1990s because of the increase in the global average of air and ocean temperatures, the increase in the global average sea level, widespread glacier melting and other pieces of evidence (Effects of global warming, 2017). The Copenhagen Accord in 2009 set a limit at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to keep the threshold for “dangerous” human interference with the climate system. This limit was set at a 2 degrees Celsius rise from pre-industrial times (UNFCCC, 2009).
The most influential factor in global warming is greenhouse gas emissions (e.g. carbon dioxide – CO2) due to the burning of fossil fuels. For example, in 2013, about 81.4% of the world’s primary energy was supplied from fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal); resulting in about 32 190 million tons of CO2 (IEA, 2015a).
To achieve the 2 °C Copenhagen Accord goal, stabilising greenhouse gas emissions and limiting fossil fuel consumption are inevitable (IEA, 2015b). However, due to human energy dependence on fossil fuels and global energy demand growth, the reduction of fossil fuel consumption without a source of energy substitution leads to the energy crisis and economy instability especially. According to the International Energy Outlook 2016 (EIA, 2016), the world primary energy demand has increased by 48% from 2012 to 2040; from 549 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) in 2012 to 815 quadrillion Btu in 2040.
In this regard, renewable energy sources can play a vital role. Solar power generation holds endless opportunities for people worldwide. Trieb et al. (2009) investigated the global otential of concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies. They found that the global technical CSP potential was almost 3 000 000 TWh/a, which hugely exceeded the world electricity consumption at that stage, which was 18 000 TWh/a. Figure 1.1 shows the world map of the long-term average direct normal irradiance of the sun (GeoModel Solar, 2016), indicating the widespread availability of solar energy.
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
1.2 MOTIVATION
1.3 PROBLEM STATEMENT
1.4 OBJECTIVE
1.5 LAYOUT OF THE THESIS
2 LITERATURE STUDY
2.1 INTRODUCTION
2.2 CONCENTRATING SOLAR POWER
2.3 LINEAR FRESNEL COLLECTOR HISTORY.
2.4 LFC MIRROR FIELD DESIGN
2.5 LFC RECEIVER DESIGN
2.6 OPTIMISATION
2.7 ECONOMIC MODELLING IN LITERATURE
2.8 OPTICAL MODELLING IN LITERATURE
2.8.1 Monte Carlo ray-tracing (MCRT) approach
2.8.2 CFD FV ray-tracing approach
2.9 THERMAL MODELLING IN LITERATURE
2.10 CONCLUSION
3 OPTICAL MODELLING
3.1 INTRODUCTION.
3.2 LAYOUT OF MULTI-TUBE LFC TEST CASE
3.3 SOLTRACE OPTICAL SIMULATION
3.4 CFD FV OPTICAL SIMULATION
3.5 COMPARING ANSYS FLUENT RESULTS WITH SOLTRACE
3.6 COMPLEMENTARY CASE STUDY: MCRT AND CFD FV OPTICAL SIMULATION OF AN LFC WITH MONO-TUBE SECONDARY REFLECTOR CAVITY RECEIVER
3.7 FURTHER DISCUSSION OF ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF RAY TRACING USING CFD VERSUS MONTE CARLO FOR OPTIMISATION STUDY
3.8 CONCLUSION
4 THERMAL MODELLING
5 OPTICAL, THERMAL AND ECONOMIC OPTIMISATION OF AN LFC
