The course aims at introducing students to state-of-the-art technologies for solar energy conversion. The fundamental concepts for solar-to-thermal, solar-to-electrical and solar-to-chemical energy conversion are presented and discussed along with some practical applications.

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Introduction: Introduction to solar energy and its potential in the context of the current global policies on green-house gas mitigation. Overview on the different solar energy conversion technologies and state-of-the-art storage techniques. (1.5h) Solar-to-thermal energy conversion: Fundamental concepts of heat and mass transfer for the analysis of surface and volumetric solar absorption. Governing equations for the problem: the Radiative Transfer and the Navier-Stokes-Fourier equations. Nano-fluids for direct solar absorption: advantages and drawbacks of carbon-based nano-particle suspensions; alternative bio-compatible colloids. (3h) Solar-to-electrical energy conversion: State of the art in photovoltaic technologies: general advantages and drawbacks. The current-voltage characteristic curve (I-V curve) and the equivalent circuit of the solar cell; dependence on irradiance and temperature. Structure of a PV module; datasheets of commercial PV modules. (3h) Coupling of a photovoltaic (PV) device and a passive multi-stage membrane distillation unit for water desalination. Considerations on the recovery and use of low-grade heat. Coupling of a photovoltaic device and electrolyzers for water splitting: working principles and state of the art technologies. (2.5h) Solar-to-chemical energy conversion: Overview on solar fuels. Basic concepts for understanding photosynthesis: fundamentals of light absorption, involved reactions, natural and artificial photosynthesis, photocatalytic devices. Photoreactive self-assembled membranes: soft membranes, soap films and foams. Modeling concepts for self-assembled membranes: continuum and discrete approaches. (5h)

In presenza

Presentazione report scritto

P.D.1-1 - Novembre

The calendar of the course is as follows: Tue 12 November 2024 at 14:30-16:00 Thu 14 November 2024 at 16:00-19:00 Fri 15 November 2024 at 14:30-16:30 Mon 18 November 2024 at 14:30-17:30 Thu 21 November 2024 at 14:30-17:30 Thu 28 November 2024 at 14:30-17:00 The room for each lesson will be comunicated on the teaching portal.