Design requirements, solar energy

The construction of solar energy conversion systems requires the combination of molecularly designed functional materials. Functional polymers play deciding roles for this purpose. 

Table 1. Cost, Performance, Durability, and Design Requirements in Multilayer Stacks for Collecting Solar Energy...

The one area where oxyhydrogen combustion is desirable is where high flame temperatures are required, such as in welding. In all other applications the most efficient system is to use fuel cells and the least expensive configuration is to use my new reversible fuel cell design (Section 1.3.5.4), which can operate both in the electrolyzer and the fuel cell modes and uses free solar energy to drive the electrolyzer. 

This chapter reviews some of the main topics involved in the design and modeling of solar photocatalytic reactors, with particular emphasis on the authors research experience. Solar photons are source of energy that initiates photocatalytic degradation. Thus, proper consideration of radiative processes is key to address this subject. The determination of the directional and spectral characteristics of solar UV radiation, the interaction of the catalyst with radiation inside reaction spaces, the optical design of solar collectors, and the optical properties of the materials involved are all subjects where these concepts are necessary. Therefore, developments in this area should be solidly grounded on the fields of solar collector optics and radiative transfer, besides the more traditional chemical engineering aspects involved. This requires a multidisciplinary approach. 

The degradation follows an apparent first order reaction with an initial rate (up to 2000 hours exposure in a QUV apparatus) that is faster than the subsequent rate. An assessment of the kinetic data in terms of proposed reaction mechanisms and concurrent changes in properties such as dynamic mechanical behavior can serve as a preliminary basis for evaluation of the material s ability to retain useful properties for time periods consistent with certain design requirements for solar energy system applications. 

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