Development of an extremely concentrated solar energy delivery system using silica optical fiber bundle for deployment of solar energy: Daylighting to photocatalytic wastewater treatment

Author(s)

Roy, Joy Sankar ^{[1, 2]} ; Morency, Steeve ^[2] ; Dugas, Gabriel ^[2] ; Messaddeq, Younes ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Inst Chem, BR-14800060 Araraquara, SP - Brazil

^[2] Laval Univ, Ctr Opt Photon & Lasers COPL, Quebec City, PQ G1V 0A6 - Canada

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Solar Energy; v. 214, p. 93-100, JAN 15 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The effective utilization of solar energy is a big challenge as global energy demand is increasing sharply. In this paper, we present the details of design of an extremely concentrated solar energy delivery system (ECoSEnDS) and its possible utilization in daylighting and sustainable wastewater treatment. The EcoSEnDS is made with double mirror based solar concentrator coupled with pure silica optical fiber bundle. This device is capable to deliver 96 suns concentrated sunlight in first stage of testing where efficiency of the primary mirror is 50%. This device can distribute light equivalent to 813 incandescent bulbs of 60 W or 149 LED bulbs of 15 W. Therefore, this device can be used as daylighting system in the building and underground car parking area. Using appropriate semiconductor nanophotocatalysts, this device can be used for sustainable rapid wastewater purification process. We have used BiVO4 nanoparticles for photocatalytic methylene blue degradation and the complete (100%) purification of methylene blue stained wastewater was achieved within one hour using only 7 suns concentrated sunlight. Therefore, the ECoSEnDS will open new technological aspects for sustainable fastest wastewater treatment process using solar energy. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/12212-9 - Fabrication of an optical fiber monolithic reactor for photocatalytic wastewater treatment
• Grantee: Joy Sankar Roy
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• FAPESP's process: 17/16826-6 - Multi material exploitation in manufacturing photocatalytic semiconductor glass fibers for pollution suppression
• Grantee: Joy Sankar Roy
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 15/22828-6 - Pushing the boundaries of optical fibers: from photonics to optogenetics and environmental monitoring
• Grantee: Younes Messaddeq
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - SPEC Program