Low carbon technological development
Phase change in direct steam generation solar systems: A path towards an energy sustainable future
Ali Amin
This research project is carried out as part of a broader 5-year/£1M Royal Society and Department for International Development funded Africa Capacity Building Initiative aiming to develop Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and Direct Steam Generation (DSG) technology. Even in the most conservative scenario up to 12% of the planet’s total electricity will be generated by this technology by 2050. However, further research is required into the simultaneous flow of two phases in absorber tubes which presents complexities due to the introduction of flow patterns. The accurate prediction of the pressure drops and heat transfer coefficient is of paramount importance for plant design, performance and safety.
Supervisors:
Prof. Christos N. Markides, Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London
Hannah Moran, Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London
Using Flexibility Analysis and Decision Rules to Enhance Performance of Future Nuclear Power Systems
Bruno Cameran
Renewables have made significant progress in decarbonising the UK’s power supply, however, one challenge still faced is the ability to provide clean and reliable baseload generation. Nuclear power is one candidate to combat this issue, but nuclear construction in the UK has been plagued by spiralling costs and delays. It is hence of great interest to study how Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) may be able to solve the issues faced by conventional reactors. Flexibility analysis has proven to be a powerful tool in improving economic performance of engineering systems, paired with intuitive decision rules these techniques can be leveraged to make a compelling case for the deployment of SMRs.
Supervisors:
Dr. Michel-Alexandre Cardin, Dyson School of Design Engineering, Imperial College London
Retrofit solar PV and battery storage system for commercial buildings in the UK context
Dusit Munkong
This paper focusses on optimizing solar photovoltaics (PV) and/or battery energy storage (BES) to supply the energy demand of commercial buildings. With system price reduction and changing policy incentives, TSO model framework is developed to reassess investment return PV and/or battery for commercial buildings. As each building has specific energy demand and resource availability, TSO model relies on Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) algorithm to select the optimum installed capacity and technology of PV and/or battery for a specific site. Financial indicators are also provided. A case study of new system installation and aging PV system retrofit will be discussed.
Supervisors:
Dr. Salvador Acha, Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London
Prof. Nilay Shah, Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London
Solar-Driven Hydrogel Evaporation for Photovoltaic Cooling and Vapour Generation
Hugo Dalla-Torre
Photovoltaic-thermal technology (PVT) seeks to improve the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) modules by cooling them and utilizing the heat extracted for industrial or domestic applications. This tackles the drop in efficiency experienced by PV modules when their temperature rises, while extracting useful thermal energy. This project seeks to investigate the newest advance in PV module cooling: hydrogel evaporation. Hydrogel is a very inexpensive material that allows high rate of water evaporation at relatively low temperatures, inducing a cooling of the PV module if in contact with it.
Supervisors:
Dr. Gan Huang, Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London
Prof. Christos Markides, Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London
Phase change in direct steam generation solar systems: A path towards an energy sustainable future
Josh Layall
Direct steam generation (DSG) concentrated solar power (CSP) technology poses a unique opportunity to provide a simple, affordable and clean source of energy with excellent potential in many developing countries. However, the technology faces some difficulties, these are associated with the water-steam phase change process causing complex fluid flow, heat transfer and pressure drop behaviour within the system. This research aims to contribute to the understanding of these phenomena by investigating flow boiling of R245fa in macro-scale horizontal tubes, ultimately supporting the development of DSG technologies.
Supervisors:
Prof. Christos Markides, Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London
Dr. Victor Voulgaropoulos, Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London
Hannah Moran, Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London
LCA of the production of redox flow batteries for the use in stationary energy storage
Speed (Man Yuet) Fung
Stationary energy storage is a key technology that can pave the way to increased renewable energy utilisation, as well as to implement energy efficiency measures, both at residential, industrial, and grid level. Redox flow batteries with lower degradation and longer-duration capability could provide an attractive alternative to the Li ion batteries. Currently there is no systematic assessment of the environmental impact of redox flow batteries. This thesis project will aim to develop a robust and high quality life cycle inventory model to gain a better understanding not only of the GHG emissions associated with redox flow battery production, but also on wider sustainability implications.
Supervisors:
Prof. Anna Korre, Energy Futures Lab / Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London
Prof. Anthony Kucernak, Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London
Analysis of Typhoon Impact on Offshore Wind Farms in Fujian and Guangdong Provinces, China
Teresa Irigoyen-Lopez
During the past decade, China has embraced the concept of global climate governance and, to date, has installed the world's largest capacity of wind power. The Chinese offshore wind market in particular is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years, but most of the national offshore wind resources are located off the coasts of south-eastern coastal provinces where the occurrence of typhoons will bring about a new set of challenges. This project employs WAsP software to model wind farm response to typhoons in the coasts of Fujian and Guangdong provinces, and provides recommendations to help reduce system integrity risks under extreme events and ensure China's success in offshore power.
Supervisors:
Prof. Matthew Piggott, Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London
Pressure-driven oscillating gas-to-wall heat transfer in reciprocating devices
Yann Munschy
Reciprocating engines are a key component of many renewable technologies. Therefore, being able to accurately predict losses that arise in such devices is critical. A model of pressure-driven oscillating gas-to-wall heat transfer is solved using different algorithms and is used to compute losses. The model is then applied to a hydrogen storing technology that involves a liquid piston to compress the gas.
Supervisors:
Dr. Paul Sapin, Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London
Dr. Michael Simpson, Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London