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Low-Cost Solar Coatings for Improved Thermal Performance of Components in Concentrating Solar Power Systems

Award Information
Agency: Department of Energy
Branch: N/A
Contract: DE-FG02-09ER85261
Agency Tracking Number: 90795
Amount: $100,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: 23 c
Solicitation Number: DE-PS02-08ER08-34
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2008
Award Year: 2009
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
1485 South Main Street
Blacksburg, VA 24073
United States
DUNS: 008963758
HUBZone Owned: Yes
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Michelle Berg
 Ms.
 (540) 953-1785
 mberg@nanosonic.com
Business Contact
 Lisa Lawson
Title: Dr.
Phone: (540) 953-1785
Email: llawson@nanosonic.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

Conventional solar-receiver piping used in solar power systems uses steel pipe, an absorbing coating, and a concentric glass tube separated axially from the pipe by an evacuated space. This conventional pipe design works, but suffers from high manufacturing cost, a lack of environmental robustness, and difficulty of repair in the field. This project will design, develop, and construct prototypes of new, low-cost and energy efficient coatings for the surfaces of the receiver piping used in solar power generation systems. The proposed approach is to use aqueous-solution, spray-based self-assembly processing to form multilayer coatings on the outer surfaces of cylindrical stainless steel receiver piping. In Phase I, a patented multi-layer self-assembly coating production process will be used to fabricate ¿perfect absorber¿ coatings on prototype stainless steel test specimens. Then, the solar spectral absorption and heat transfer efficiencies will be evaluated, and an analysis will be conducted to determine how the coating process can be scaled-up to the large volumes of piping required by large-scale solar power generation systems. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The self-assembly process would be expected to create coatings of uniform thickness and properties on receiver piping components, at a per unit length production cost that is significantly lower than that of conventional glass-encapsulated and evacuated pipe sections. The enhanced economics should encourage the broad commercialization of these systems.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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