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This paper is a summary of the last ten years of work on the study of parabolic trough collectors (PTCs) and compound parabolic collectors (CPCs) coupled to photovoltaic and thermal solar receiver collectors (SCR-PVTs). While reviewing the state of the art, numerous review papers were found that focused on conventional solar receiver collector (SRC) technology for solar thermal generation. However, there is a lack of review papers summarizing SRC-PVT hybrid technology for solar electric/thermal generation, which would be beneficial for researchers interested in this area of research. This paper provides a review of SRC-PVT hybrid technologies. The theoretical foundations for analyzing and modeling PTC and CPC concentrators coupled to SRC-PVT are described, with an emphasis on modeling through thermal resistances and energy balances. Additionally, this section provides a concise overview of previous studies that have addressed the modeling of PTC and CPC collectors coupled to SCR-PVT, as well as experimental information useful for the validation of new mathematical models of SRC-PVT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper concerns technology challenges for the wind and solar sectors and the role of computational science in addressing the above. Wind energy challenges include understanding the atmospheric flow physics, complex wakes and their interaction with wind turbines, aeroelastic effects and the associated impact on materials, and optimisation of wind farms. Concentrated solar power technologies require an optimal configuration of solar dish technology and porous absorber in the volumetric solar receiver for efficiency and durability and to minimise the convective heat losses in the receiver. Computational fluid dynamics and heat transfer have advanced in terms of numerical methods and physics-based models and their implementation in high-performance computing facilities. Despite this progress, computational science requires further advancement to address the technological challenges of designing complex systems accurately and efficiently, as well as forecasting the system's performance. Machine Learning models and optimisation techniques can maximise the performance of simulations and quantify uncertainties in the wind and solar energy technologies. However, in a similar vein, these methods require further development to reduce their computational uncertainties. The need to address the global energy challenges requires further investment in developing and validating computational science methods and physics-based models for accurate and numerically efficient predictions at different scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates and compares several highly efficient thermodynamic cycles that are suitable for coupling with particle-in-tube fluidized-bed solar receiver technology. In such a receiver, high-temperature particles are used as both a heat transfer fluid and a storage medium. A dense particle suspension (DPS) is created through an upward bubbling fluidized-bed (UBFB) flow inside the receiver tubes, which constitutes the "particle-in-tube" solar receiver concept. Reaching higher temperatures is seen as a key factor for future cost reductions in the solar plant, as this leads to both higher power conversion efficiency and increased energy storage density. Three advanced thermodynamic cycles are analyzed in this work: the supercritical steam Rankine cycle (s-steam), supercritical carbon dioxide cycle (s-CO2) and integrated solar combined cycle (ISCC). For each one, 100% solar contribution, which is considered the total thermal input to the power cycle, can be satisfied by the solar particle receiver. The main findings show that the s-CO2 cycle is the most suitable thermodynamic cycle for the DPS solar plant, exhibiting a net cycle efficiency above 50% for a moderate temperature range (680–730 °C). For the other advanced power cycles, 45.35% net efficiency can be achieved for the s-steam case, while the efficiency of the ISCC configuration is limited to 45.23% for the solar-only operation mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concentrating solar thermal (CST) systems are unique among renewable energy options for the ease of integration with thermal energy storage (TES). This enables dispatchable (or continuous) production of electricity, process heat, solar fuels, or other chemical products. The solar receiver in a CST system converts concentrated sunlight to transportable thermal energy. In solar power towers, the solar receiver's physical limitations are often the constraining conditions for the system; they restrict maximum temperature, maximum solar concentration, or controllable chemical production. It is also a uniquely challenging component to prototype and test at sizes beyond the laboratory scale. Transitioning exceptional research innovations into viable components for an integrated system and ultimately leading to CST market adoption requires a multiscale vision for component de-risking and development. Technical requirements for holistic novel receiver development are reviewed based on learnings from the US Department of Energy's (USDOE) SunShot Initiative, its active Third Generation of Concentrating Solar Power Systems (Gen3 CSP) program, and anticipation of requirements for future high value applications for CST. Context and learnings from the Gen3 CSP program are provided to exemplify successful receiver risk-reduction paradigms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]