High Entropy Alloy for Concentrated Solar Power
ENGS 24: Materials Science
January 2018
Objectives: Research the energy conversion efficiency of a newly developed high entropy alloy for concentrated solar applications.
Skills:
-
Scanning Electron Microscope
-
Spectroscopy and Spectrophotometry
-
MATLAB
High entropy alloy (Fe30Ni20Mn35Al15 doped with 6% Cr) applied here:
Context: Concentrated Solar Power systems (CSPs) collect and store solar energy with simple and scalable technology. CSPs use an array of mirrors to focus sunlight onto a central body where a working fluid (molten salt) heats up to over 800 degrees. Heat energy is easily stored for hours or days before conversion for use.
Our work: Test whether the new high entropy alloy Fe30Ni20Mn35Al15 doped with 6% Cr can improve CSP's conversion efficiency from 40% to greater than 90%.
Samples.
Blank samples were annealed to simulate oxidized working conditions and improve performance.
Before Oxidation: Smooth
After Oxidation: Roughing
Results.
I used MATLAB to process and analyze raw spectrophotometry data. I used these equations for absorption: and emmittance:
Figures: (left) Spectrophotemetry Data of the new sample, measuring percent of solar energy absorbed. (right) FTIR Data of the new sample, measuring potential for black body radiation (we seek to maximize heat conducted to working fluid).