National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC

The Australian National University

Other

Allied Mineral Products, Inc.

Joshua Mark Christian

Clifford Kuofei Ho

John Downing Pye

Kevin Albrecht

Michael J K Abere

Charles Hanks

Timothy A Harvey

Jesus Daniel Ortega

Jeremy Niko I Sment

Matthew Lambert

Kimberly D Wakefield

Jeffrey Daniel Engerer

An apparatus for thermal ablation testing is provided. The apparatus comprises: a chamber; an optically transparent window in the chamber; a sample holder inside the chamber; a test sample in the sample holder; a number of bare-wire thermocouples connected to the test sample, wherein the thermocouples generate temperature data in the form of voltage; a mass balance inside the chamber, wherein the mass balance is configured to hold the sample holder and dynamically detect changes in mass of the test sample; an external radiant heat source configured to heat the test sample through the window; and a pyrometer directed at the test sample.

Solar thermal testing of ablators and composites

Systems and methods are disclosed that minimize erosion within a high-temperature storage bin by using particle-on-particle flow whereby flow against the wall is minimized thus protecting the walls from erosion. The flat bottom of the bin promotes a stagnant bed of particles around the outlet that provides thermal insulation and protection for the base. The systems and methods may be used for storing particles in a concentrating solar power system.

Systems and methods for high temperature bulk solid storage and handling

A bladed solar thermal receiver for absorbing concentrated sunlight is disclosed. The receiver includes a plurality of panels arranged in a bladed configuration for absorbing sunlight. The bladed configurations can be radial or planar. The receiver design increases the effective solar absorptance and efficiency by providing a light trap for the incident solar radiation while reducing heat losses from radiation and convection.

Bladed solar thermal receivers for concentrating solar power

Solar receivers including a plurality of multi-scale solar absorbing surfaces arranged such that light or heat reflected from or emitted from one or more of the plurality of solar absorbing surfaces impinges one or more other solar absorbing surfaces of the solar receiver. The disclosed receivers increase the amount of absorbed energy from a concentrated light source, such as a heliostat field, and reduce radiative and convective heat losses.

Solar thermal receivers with multi-scale light trapping geometry and features

Growing community of inventors

Albuquerque, NM, United States of America

Joshua Mark Christian