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

该工程师项目的重点是了解低铁玻璃太阳能反射镜的等离子体辅助表面调节在聚光太阳能热发电应用中的应用。2016年，全球聚光太阳能发电（CSP）市场价值超过30亿美元，预计到2025年将增长13%。光热发电厂通过使用通常位于沙漠地区的大型镜子阵列集中太阳光来发电。因此，镜子会被沙子和灰尘覆盖，需要定期用刷子和水清洗。目前，许多水被用来清洁镜子，这是干旱地区的宝贵资源。本项目的目的是研究一种新的大气压等离子体系统的特点，用于条件CSP聚光镜，这将能够减少清洗过程中使用的水量。企业也有强烈的愿望来实施这个项目。新型大气压等离子体系统的开发将成为CSP市场的重要改变者。预计这种颠覆性技术将产生巨大的商业效益。该项目将在整体研究方法中包括以下阶段：1）模拟和模拟沙尘在各种不同地理位置的镜面上的沉积2）太阳带内干旱地区沙尘跃移、侵蚀、磨蚀和悬浮的实验分析（典型地在热带纬度内）。3）通过干涉测量、扫描电子显微镜和能量色散X射线分析表征镜面，用于元素成分鉴定，用于形状变形的摄影测量法、用于镜面反射的反射测量法和用于确定表面状况的接触角测量法。

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.