Development of soiling-process characterization methods for solar mirrors, for analysing mirror-cleaning-processes

这个EngD项目的重点是了解等离子体辅助表面处理低铁玻璃太阳能反射镜在聚光太阳能热能应用中的应用。2016年，全球聚光太阳能(CSP)市场价值超过30亿美元，预计到2025年将增长13%。CSP工厂通过利用通常位于沙漠地区的大型反射镜来集中太阳光来发电。因此，镜子上覆盖着沙子和灰尘，需要定期用刷子和水清洗。目前，大量的水被用来清洗镜子，这是干旱地区的一种宝贵资源。本项目的目的是研究一种用于调整CSP聚光镜的新型大气压等离子体系统的特性，该系统将能够减少清洗过程中使用的水量。也有一个令人信服的商业愿望来承担这个项目。一种新型常压等离子体系统的开发将对CSP市场的游戏规则产生重大影响。该项目将在整个研究方法中包括以下阶段：1)对各种不同地理位置的镜面上的沙尘沉积进行建模和模拟；2)对太阳带内干旱地区(通常在热带纬度内)的沙尘跃迁、侵蚀、磨损和悬浮进行实验分析。3)通过干涉法、扫描电子显微镜和能量色散X射线分析对镜面进行表征，以确定镜面的成分；3)对镜面进行摄影测量，以确定形状变形；3)通过镜面反射率的反射法和接触角的测量来确定表面状况。

The focus of this EngD project is to understand the utilisation of plasma-assisted surface conditioning of low-iron glass solar reflecting mirrors for concentrating solar thermal power applications. The Global Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) market was valued at over $3 Billion US in 2016 and is anticipated to grow by 13% by 2025. CSP plants generate electricity by concentrating sun light with large arrays of mirrors which are usually located in desert regions. Consequently, the mirrors get covered in sand and dust, and require cleaning with brushes and water on a regular basis. Currently much water is used to clean the mirrors, a precious resource in arid terrains. The aim of this project is to investigate the characteristics of a novel atmospheric pressure plasma system used to condition CSP concentrating mirrors which will be capable of reducing the amount of water used in the cleaning process. There is also a compelling business desire to undertake this project. The development of a novel atmospheric pressure plasma system will be a significant game changer in the CSP market. Such a disruptive technology is anticipated to yield significant commercial benefits.The project will include the following stages within the overall research methodology:1) Modeling and simulation of the deposition of sand and dust onto mirror surfaces at a variety of different geographical locations2) Experimental analysis of sand and dust saltation, erosion, abrasion, and suspension in arid regions within the solar belt (typically within the tropical latitudes).3) Characterisation of mirror surfaces by interferometry, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray analysis for elemental compositional identification, photogrammetry for shape distortion, reflectometry for specular reflectance, and contact angle measurements to determine surface condition.