Solar Thermal Energy

Thrust Areas for Research and Development 

Basic Research

1. Development of advanced power cycles, to improve cyclic efficiencies (which are at best about 30% presently) and therefore the overall conversion efficiency of grid connected solar thermal power plant;
2. Development of advance selective coatings for applications on high temperature solar receivers for power generation and smart windows for solar buildings
3. Development of improved reflectors (new materials as well as upgrade of existing ones) having low cost and good outdoor durability, high solar reflectivity (>92%), good mechanical resistance to withstand periodical washing and low soiling coefficient (<0.15%).
4. Development of advance processes for solar detoxification of air and water, solar desalination, very high temperature applications.
5. Development of advanced solar thermal collectors (concentrating as well as heat-pipe) for generating heat beyond 80 deg C.
6. Development of thermal comfort standards for various category of habitats suitable for range of activities.

 

Applied Research

1. Development of organic Rankine cycle system suitable for solar thermal collectors for decentralized power generation.
2. Development of solar dish engine (Stirling/Steam/Micro-turbine) for decentralized power generation
3. Development of receiver systems for parabolic trough, solar-dish and central receiver power technologies.
4. Development of storage systems which are efficient in terms of energy and exergy losses, have low cost, long service life and low parasitic power requirements. This would include molten salts with lower freezing temperatures and PCM; options for low and medium temperature applications would also be targeted.
5. Development of heliostats with automatic tracking controls
6. Optimized designing of supporting structure for solar concentrators to have lower weight, reduced power requirement, accurate tracking, and simplified assembly to facilitate faster on-site installations
7. Power bloc suitable for solar power applications
8. Alternative design configurations of concentrating collector systems
9. Advanced solar systems for cooling (space cooling, cold storages, and refrigerators for PHCs)
10. Development of other applications, which would include innovative designs for solar cooking, solar air heating and drying applications.
11. Development of concepts and infrastructure prototypes  of solar/green buildings
12. Designing of test set-ups for performance characterization and test protocols
13. Thermal Engineering of various systems and processes including engineering modeling
14. Designing of structures, specially for solar thermal power projects
15. Development of co/poly generation solar thermal systems

 

Technology Validation and Pilot Projects

1. Demonstration projects related to different technology configurations of solar thermal power generation viz. line focusing and point focusing, having variance in storage option and nature of hybridization
2. Solar air conditioning systems for applications in domestic, commercial and industrial sectors.
3. Industrial process heat systems
4. Advanced solar thermal systems for various applications
5. Validation of solar passive concepts