 |
Microscale features are smaller than a human hair is thick, but if designed properly they can increase the amount of sun's energy that can be collected and used. Given how much energy we use in the US and our diminishing fuel supply, this could be pretty important. In our lab, we add microscale channels to conventionally smooth surfaces and determine how much more of the sun's energy is being absorbed by that surface. Typically, the microstructured surfaces collect 40% more of the sun's energy.
|
Keywords
|
Related Topics
|
- Solar Thermal Propulsion
- Microchannels
|
|
Project Timeline
- Project Began: June 1, 2010
- Project Ended: June 1, 2011
Principal Investigators:
|
Microstructured test pieces A, B, C, D,
and E from left to right
|
Results and Impacts
|
Solar thermal propulsion (STP) is a viable alternative to conventional chemical rocket propulsion. Microsatellite systems utilizing STP can achieve comparable thrust and specific impulse as chemical counterparts. A system that uses ammonia propellant and has pre-nozzle temperatures exceeding 2500 K can achieve specific impulse values 407s [1]. A key component of the STP system is the solar collection subsystem. The objective of this work was to use microscale physics to improve the efficiency of this collection system and as a result increase propellant temperature.
|
Energy absorbed (ΔT) by each microstructured test piece and compared to a smooth control piece at varying angles of incidence.
|
Publications
|
Horvath, J.A., Webb, R.N., 2011, “Experimental Study of Radiation Absorption by Microchannels of Varying Aspect Ratios,” 85, pp. 1035 – 1040.
Webb, R., Horvath, J., and Boartfield, A., "Enhanced Heat Collection Element Performance Through Surface Geometry," in 5th International Conference on Energy Sustainability, Washington, DC, Pending Publication.
|
Links
|
SECanT Laboratory Homepage: http://www.eas.uccs.edu/rwebb/
|
 |
More Pictures
|
SECanT Laboratory research group
|
Page last edited by JI on 7-20-11
|
