SOLAR ENERGY CONVERTER CREATES POWER AND HEAT FOR CHEAP
{A brand-new} {crossbreed} solar {power} converter generates {electrical power|electrical energy|power} and {heavy vapor} with high {effectiveness|performance} and {inexpensive|affordable}, {scientists} {record}.
"Thermal {power} consumption is a huge {item} of the global {power} economy—much {bigger} {compared to} {electrical power|electrical energy|power} use. There has been a rising {rate of passion} in solar combined heat and power systems to deliver both {electrical power|electrical energy|power} and process heat for zero-net-energy and greenhouse-gas-free development," says Matthew Escarra, {partner|affiliate} {teacher} of physics and {design} physics at Tulane {College}.
The {crossbreed} solar {power} converter uses {a method|a technique|a strategy} that more fully {catches|records} {the entire} {range} of {sunshine}. It generates {electrical power|electrical energy|power} from high {effectiveness|performance} multi-junction solar cells that also redirect infrared rays of {sunshine} to a thermal receiver, which {transforms} those rays to thermal {power}.
The thermal {power} can be {kept|saved} until needed and used to provide heat for {a broad|a large|a vast} range of {industrial|business} and {commercial} uses, such as food processing, chemical {manufacturing}, {sprinkle} {therapy}, or {improved|boosted} oil {healing|recuperation}.
The {group} {records} that the system {shown} 85.1% {effectiveness|performance} and delivered {heavy vapor} at up to 248°C. They project the system will have a system levelized cost of 3 cents {each} kilowatt {hr}.
"We are {delighted|happy} to have {shown} high {efficiency} {area} {procedure} of our solar converter," Escarra says, "and {appearance} {ahead|onward} to its ongoing {industrial|business} development."
The paper {shows up} in Cell {Records} Physical {Scientific research}. Additional coauthors are from the {College} of California, San Diego; San Diego {Specify|Mention} University; Boeing-Spectrolab; and Otherlab.
{Financing} for the work {originated from} a US {Division} of {Power} ARPA-E. With follow-on {financing} from the Louisiana Board of Regents and Reactwell, {a regional|a neighborhood} commercialization {companion}, the {group} will {proceed} to {fine-tune|improve} the technology and move towards pilot-scale {recognition}.