Super stable coal fly ash-based solid heat-collecting particles with excellent spectral selectivity

Abstract

Solar thermal power generation has been widely employed as an effective method for efficiently harnessing solar energy, with solid heat-collecting particles serving as the medium for collecting and storing solar energy, thus holding significant developmental potential. However, challenges such as high thermal radiation losses and inadequate high-temperature stability have hindered the further advancement of solid heat-collecting particles. The present study addresses these challenges by utilizing solid waste fly ash to prepare solar-selective absorbing solid heat-collecting particles. Specifically, particles sintered at 1070℃ exhibit impressive characteristics, including an average solar absorptance of 93.26 % at room temperature, an emissivity in the mid-infrared range of 68.12 %, and a specific heat capacity of 0.82 J/(g·℃). Moreover, rigorous high-temperature stability tests demonstrate that these particles maintain a stable solar absorptance in the ultraviolet–visible-near-infrared range, consistently around 93.26 %. Additionally, the particles exhibit outstanding wear resistance and stability, further enhancing their suitability for practical applications. This research achieves the dual objectives of environmental sustainability and cost reduction by utilizing solid waste materials, while the preparation process remains simple, bolstering the feasibility of implementing these findings in real-world scenarios. In summary, this study effectively addresses the challenges of high thermal radiation losses and poor high-temperature stability in solid heat-collecting particles for solar thermal power generation.