Mahmoud Abdelhamid

Hybrid solar collector using nonimaging optics and photovoltaic components

The project team of University of California at Merced (UC-M), Gas Technology Institute, and Dr. Eli Yablonovitch of University of California at Berkeley developed a novel hybrid concentrated solar photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) collector using nonimaging optics and world record single-junction Gallium arsenide (GaAs) PV components integrated with particle laden gas as thermal transfer and storage media, to simultaneously generate electricity and high temperature dispatchable heat. The collector transforms a parabolic trough, commonly used in CSP plants, into an integrated spectrum-splitting device. This places a spectrum-sensitive topping element on a secondary reflector that is registered to the thermal collection loop. The secondary reflector transmits higher energy photons for PV topping while diverting the remaining lower energy photons to the thermal media, achieving temperatures of around 400°C even under partial utilization of the solar spectrum. The collector uses the spectral selectivity property of Gallium arsenide (GaAs) cells to maximize the exergy output of the system, resulting in an estimated exergy efficiency of 48%. The thermal media is composed of fine particles of high melting point material in an inert gas that increases heat transfer and effectively stores excess heat in hot particles for later on-demand use.

Role of PV generated DC power in transport sector: Case study of plug-in EV

The challenge of meeting the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards of 2025 is leading to major developments in the transportation sector, not the least of which is the utilization of clean energy sources. Solar energy as a main source of on-board fuel has not been extensively investigated. This paper reports on the usage of solar energy for transportation and investigates the extended driving range, the economic value, and the energy return of investment (EROI) of adding on-board photovoltaic (PV) technologies to plug-in electric vehicles (EV). The study develops a comprehensive PV system model and optimizes the solar energy to DC electrical power output ratio for on-driving mode. In times of no-use, the proposed system transforms into a flexible energy generation system that can be fed into the grid and used to power DC electrical devices in homes and offices. The results show that by adding on-board PVs to cover less than 50% of the projected horizontal surface area of a typical passenger EV, up to 50% of the total daily miles traveled by a person in the U.S. could be driven by solar energy. For the lifetime driving cost, even with low electricity price (0.13

Impacts of Adding Photovoltaic Solar System On-Board to Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles Towards Meeting 2025 Fuel Economy CAFE Standards

/kWh), adding on-board PV shows a positive impact if the system is operating in high solar energy environment (e.g. Arizona). If the electricity price is high ((0.35

Nonimaging optics maximizing exergy for hybrid solar system

/kWh), there is positive economic impact even in low solar energy environments (e.g. Massachusetts). The energy payback time (EPBT) is found in a range 3.5-4.8 years, depending on where the system operates and energy return of investment (EROI) is between 6.2 to 8.6 times.

Design, simulation and experimental characterization of a novel parabolic trough hybrid solar photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) collector

The challenge of meeting the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards of 2025 has led to major developments in thetransportation sector, among which is the attempt to utilize clean energy sources. To date, use of solar energy as an auxiliary source ofon-board fuel has not been extensively investigated. This paper is the first study at undertaking a comprehensive analysis of using solarenergy on-board by means of photovoltaic (PV) technologies to enhance automotive fuel economies, extend driving ranges, reducegreenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and ensure better economic value of internal combustion engine (ICE) -based vehicles to meet CAFEstandards though 2025. This paper details and compares various aspects of hybrid solar electric vehicles with conventional ICE vehicles.Different driving locations, vehicle sizes, various driving patterns and different cost scenarios are used in order to enhance the currentunderstanding of the applicability and effectiveness of using on-board PV modules in individual automobiles and ensure an accuraterepresentation of driving conditions in all U.S states at any time. These times and location-dependent results obtained over a year show anincrease in the combined mile per gallon (MPG) at noon in the range of 2.9-9.5% for a vehicle similar to a Tesla S, and a significantincrease in the range of 10.7-42.2% for lightweight and aerodynamic efficient vehicles. In addition, by adding on-board PVs to cover lessthan 50% of the projected horizontal surface area of a typical mid-size vehicle (e.g., Toyota Camry or Nissan Leaf), up to 50% of totaldaily miles traveled by an average U.S. person could be driven by solar energy. Also, the return on investment (ROI) of adding PVson-board with ICE vehicle over its lifetime shows only negative values when the price of gasoline remains below

Novel double-stage high-concentrated solar hybrid photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) collector with nonimaging optics and GaAs solar cells reflector

4.0 per gallon and thevehicle is driven in low-solar energy area (e.g., Boston, MA). The same ROI is more than 250% if the vehicle is driven in high-solarenergy area (e.g., Arizona), even if the gasoline price remains low. For future price scenarios, this ROI is much higher - nearly 10 times theinvestment cost under some scenarios, with the assumption of an eventual decline in battery costs. With regard to environmental impacts,significant gasoline gallons savings (~500-3400) and CO2 emission reduction (~5.0 to 34.0 short tons) are achieved.

Full Spectrum Solar System: Hybrid Concentrated Photovoltaic/Concentrated Solar Power (CPV-CSP)

The project team of University of California at Merced (UC-Merced), Gas Technology Institute (GTI) and MicroLink Devices Inc. (MicroLink) are developing a hybrid solar system using a nonimaging compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) that maximizes the exergy by delivering direct electricity and on-demand heat. The hybrid solar system technology uses secondary optics in a solar receiver to achieve high efficiency at high temperature, collects heat in particles and uses reflective liftoff cooled double junction (2J) InGaP/GaAs solar cells with backside infrared (IR) reflectors on the secondary optical element to raise exergy efficiency. The nonimaging optics provides additional concentration towards the high temperature thermal stream and enables it to operate efficiently at 650 °C while the solar cell is maintained at 40 °C to operate as efficiently as possible.