Scalable optical fiber reactor for photocatalytic H2 production: Addressing scattering issues

Scattering is one of the main challenges in scaling up photocatalytic water splitting using the most prevalent powder catalysts. This can be overcome by decoupling the reaction medium from light transmission, as in the case of optical fibers. Here we explore utilizing optical fibers coated with 5 wt% CuO supported on TiO₂ for photocatlytic H₂ production from water-methanol mixtures. CuO/TiO₂ is a well studied photo catalyst in which photoreduced Cu species are known to act as sensitizers for inducing visible light activity. Lower activity of sequentially coated systems indicates that appropriate interfaces of active Cu and TiO₂ with water are desirable. The scalability of such optical fiber-based systems along with potential in non-potable turbid water media are demonstrated. Maximum activity of 22 μmoles of H₂ in 8 h was obtained with 50 mg of catalyst coated on optical fibers, which increases linearly with increase in fiber numbers, whereas, drastic reduction in activity is observed in powder catalyst upon increasing the catalyst quantity. A one-to-one comparison of 700 mg of catalyst in powder form and coated on optical fibers indicates more than one order enhancement in activity in the optical fiber based system. In addition, ∼70% retention in activity in highly turbid non-potable water was observed as compared to powdered system which shows complete reduction in the activity by 99.99%.     

Fiber-optic solar energy transmission and concentration

Fiber-optic solar energy transmission and concentration provide a flexible way of handling concentrated solar energy. The high flux solar energy transmission by a flexible fiber-optic bundle and the research on the associated compound parabolic concentrator will largely expand the existing field of applications of solar energy concentrators. We report on a flexible light guide which consists of 19 optical fibers and is capable of transmitting up to 60 W of optical power, with 60% efficiency. A flexible fiber-optic solar energy transmission and concentration scheme by using one single fiber, 2 and 7 fiber bundles is also reported.     

光纤传感器不同布设方式对应变传递的影响分析

为对比不同光纤传感器布设方式对光纤应变传递率的影响,分别建立表贴式和埋入式两种光纤与被测结构的应变传递模型,推导相应的传递系数,通过有限元模型分析验证传递系数的准确性,并基于埋设长度进行敏感性对比分析。结果表明,当埋设长度为1m时,两种方式下光纤中段80%以上区域应变传递率接近1,基体应变均可有效传递至纤芯,两种布设方式均适用于类似结构。光纤两端区域传递率存在不同程度的降低,与埋入式相比,表贴式光纤的两端传递效率低的区域范围更大。敏感性分析表明,随着长度增加,光纤与基体之间的平均应变传递率增高,埋入式始终高于表贴式。因此,对于小型被测基体,布设埋入式光纤更合理;考虑施工及检修,表贴式适合应用于已建大型结构。     

Light leakage in optical fibers: experimental results, modeling and the consequences for solar concentrators

Optical fibers used to transport sunlight exhibit considerable light leakage within their nominal numerical aperture. Of particular interest in the design and diagnosis of solar fiber-optic concentrators is the dependence of this leakage on: (a) incidence angle, (b) the optical properties of the core and the cladding, and (c) fiber length. We present measurements of fiber angular transmission, along with a theoretical model. The implications for solar fiber-optic concentrators are also assessed.     

A new design of luminescent solar concentrator and its trial run

Normal luminescent solar concentrators (LSC) have a great limitation in their light transportation because the light produced by the recently reported LSCs is not a point light source. In order to enable LSCs to use optical fibers as the effective remote light transport media, a new design of LSC, which uses three color luminescent fibers for solar absorption and uses clear optical fiber bundles to transport the absorbed sunlight into a remote place, is fabricated and tested. Radiation flux ratios with a mean value of 5.7%, the luminous flux up to 114.1 lumens, and the light efficiency of 0.56% have been achieved during the trial run. The luminous efficacy as 0.643 lm W⁻¹ is higher than that of combusting candles (0.3 lm W⁻¹) but lower than that of the incandescent light bulbs (16–40 lm W⁻¹). Further, since the sun light is free, different from electrical light sources, the luminous efficacy of the new LSC does not result in any electricity consumption when it is under operation. A color analysis and spectrum test proves that the light produced by the new LSC performs a great match to the direct sun light in color. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Signal analysis and processing method of transmission optical fiber hydrogen sensors with multi-layer Pd–Y alloy films

To detect hydrogen leakage as soon as possible, researchers try their best to improve the sensitivity and response speed of the hydrogen sensor. However, the sensitivity and response speed are two contradictive parameters. It is hard to improve them simultaneously. The transmission optical fiber sensor with multi-layer films is the only structure which can increase the response speed and enhance sensibility simultaneously. However, because of its special structure, the output signal of the sensor often drifts. This paper designed an in-situ observation system to study the reason why the sensor drifts. The in-situ observation system found a periodic oscillation pattern for the transmission spectrum which depends on the wavelength of the light source. The transmission spectrum patterns of the sensor with multi-layer Palladium–Yttrium (Pd–Y) alloy films under different hydrogen concentrations were analyzed. The source of drift error induced by the wavelength shift of the light source was confirmed. By using a moving average algorithm, the error characteristics of the sensor were analyzed and simulated. The results show that the increased sweep width of the laser can effectively restrain the signal drift of sensors. Particularly, when the sweep width of the laser just is the integer multiples of the period of the transmission spectrum, the suppression of the oscillation was optimal. A sensor with a wavelength-swept laser was implemented. For the sweep width of 1.1 nm, the maximum wavelength sensitivity of the sensor is only 0.046 mv/pm. The wavelength drift error is significantly less than that without signal processing. The sensor has achieved a detection limit of 0.05% which is identical to the sensor with the frequency-stabilized laser. Finally, a design principle was proposed to optimize the light source parameters and structure parameters of the probe for the high stability of the optical fiber hydrogen sensor.     

Numerical study on the dopant concentration and refractive index profile evolution in an optical fiber manufacturing process

The index of refraction is an important property of optical fibers, since it directly affects the bandwidth and optical loss during information transmission. The refractive index is governed by the dopant concentration distribution across the fiber cross section, which is strongly influenced by the processing conditions. An understanding of the effects of process parameters on the dopant concentration profile evolution is important to design the drawing process for tailored refractive index and optical transmission characteristics. Although the heat and momentum transport in optical fiber drawing have been studied extensively, little has been reported in the open literature on dopant concentration and index of refraction profile development during processing. This paper presents a two-dimensional numerical analysis on the flow, heat and mass transfer phenomena involved in the drawing and cooling process of glass optical fibers using a finite difference approach based on primitive variables. The effects of several important parameters are investigated in terms of nondimensional groups, including: fiber draw speed, inert gas velocity, furnace dimensions, gas properties, and dopant properties on the flow, temperature and dopant concentration distribution.     

Reliable and lightning‐safe monitoring of wind turbine rotor blades using optically powered sensors

Blade condition monitoring systems with fiber‐optic sensors attract much attention because they are resistant to lightning strikes, a major issue with increasing blade lengths. However, fiber‐optic sensor systems are more complex and more expensive than their electronic counterparts. We describe a new blade condition monitoring system, which combines the lightning safety of optical fibers with the reliability and cost‐effectiveness of electronic sensors. The optical fibers transport data from the blades to the hub, and in addition, they provide the electrical power for operating the sensor units in the blades. To achieve full protection against lightning‐induced electromagnetic fields, an appropriate shielding of the sensor units is required. We present results on the reliability of a newly developed prototype based on optically powered sensors. In a field trial, the unit monitored successfully the blade vibrations of a 1.5 MW wind turbine for a period of 23 months. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optimization of a thermal manufacturing process: Drawing of optical fibers

The optimization of thermal systems and processes has received much less attention than their simulation and often lags behind optimization in other engineering areas. This paper considers the optimization of the important thermal manufacturing process involved in the drawing of optical fibers. Despite the importance of optical fibers and the need to enhance product quality and reduce costs, very little work has been done on the optimization of the process. The main aspects that arise in the optimization of such thermal processes are considered in detail in order to formulate an appropriate objective function and to determine the existence of optimal conditions. Using validated numerical models to simulate the thermal transport processes that govern the characteristics of the fiber and the production rate, the study investigates the relevant parametric space and obtains the domain in which the process is physically feasible. This is followed by an attempt to narrow the feasible region and focus on the domain that could lead to optimization. Employing standard optimization techniques, optimal conditions are determined for typical operating parameters. The study thus provides a basis for choosing optimal design conditions and for more detailed investigations on the feasibility and optimization of this complicated and important process.     

Optical fibers and solar power generation

A study of the potential use of optical fibers for solar thermal power generation is presented. The main performance characteristics (numerical aperture and attenuation) and typical costs of currently available fibers are discussed. Several approaches to the application of fibers are presented, for centralized (tower, central receiver) and distributed (dish–engine) systems. The overall system design-point efficiency and overall system cost are estimated. A scaling relation between system size and the cost of the fiber component is identified, which severely limits the applicability of fibers to small systems only. The overall system cost for centralized systems is found to be higher than the currently competitive range, even under optimistic assumptions of mass production of major components. A significant reduction in fiber cost is required before the use of fibers for centralized solar power generation can become competitive. In distributed generation using dish/engine systems, however, the use of fibers does achieve competitive performance and costs, comparable to the costs for conventional dish systems.     

Effect of soiling in CPV systems

The effect of soiling in flat PV modules has been already studied, causing a reduction of the electrical output of 4% on average. For CPV’s, as far as soiling produces light scattering at the optical collector surface, the scattered rays should be definitively lost because they cannot be focused onto the receivers again. While the theoretical study becomes difficult because soiling is variable at different sites, it becomes easier to begin the monitoring of the real field performance of concentrators and then raise the following question: how much does the soiling affect to PV concentrators in comparison with flat panels?’ The answers allow to predict the PV concentrator electrical performance and to establish a pattern of cleaning frequency. Some experiments have been conducted at the IES-UPM and CSES-ANU sites, consisting in linear reflective concentration systems, a point focus refractive concentrator and a flat module. All the systems have been measured when soiled and then after cleaning, achieving different increases of I_SC. In general, results show that CPV systems are more sensitive to soiling than flat panels, accumulating losses in I_SC of about 14% on average in three different tests conducted at IES-UPM and CSES-ANU test sites in Madrid (Spain) and Canberra (Australia). Some concentrators can reach losses up to 26% when the system is soiled for 4 months of exposure.     

Semi-analytical model for boiling from enhanced structures

Understanding of the fundamental mechanism of boiling from enhanced structures is currently incomplete. The main focus of the present study was to develop a semi-analytical model to predict the bubble departure diameter, frequency, and nucleation site density for a boiling enhancement structure. Existing models in literature were used as a framework to develop this. Salient feature of the model is the improvements on sub-models for bubble departure diameter, evaporation within the channels and convective heat transfer from the external surfaces of the enhanced structure. The model was used to calculate the total heat dissipated from the structures. Comparisons to experiments revealed that the bubble departure is predicted within ±10%, frequency within ±30% for all data points except a couple, nucleation site density within ±40% and the heat flux within ±50%. Sample calculations have been included to show its use in optimizing the geometrical parameters for maximizing heat transfer.     

Experimental investigation of the transient thermal performance of a bent heat pipe with grooved surface

A bent copper–water heat pipe with grooved inner surface has been investigated experimentally. A comparison between the bent and the straight heat pipes was performed at different inclination angle. Experimental results show that there is a small temperature difference between the condenser of the straight and that of the bent at the vertical orientation. The temperature difference increases as an inclination angle increases. Furthermore, the response time increases as the inclination angle increases. The thermal response of the straight to a sudden heat load is slightly faster than that of the bent. However, as the inclination angle increases to after the horizontal, the heat flux at the condensers decreases nonlinearly and the response time increases nonlinearly. A two-phase flow map has been proposed to explain the nonlinear performance of the thermal response and the heat flux, based on force balance among gravity, capillary, friction and buoyancy force acting on the working fluids. The nonlinear performance of the thermal response and the heat flux results from the capillary blocking due to formation of liquid bridge of two-phase flow. It was also found that the bent heat pipe is more sensitive to the change of the inclination angle than the straight in terms of the thermal response time and the heat flux of the condenser. The heat flux of the bent decreases faster than that of the straight after the horizontal orientation.     

太阳能光导采光的传光过程

太阳能光导采光可利用太阳能作为能源，利用光学玻璃纤维作为传光线路，把太阳光引入阴暗处进行照明，既节约大量的常规能源，又可以起到阳光浴的作用，具有显著的经济效益。对太阳光在光学纤维中传输的物理过程进行了分析。     

An experimental and numerical study of thermal stratification in a horizontal cylindrical solar storage tank

The thermal behaviour of a horizontal cylindrical storage tank has been investigated both experimentally and numerically. Four sets of experiments have been carried out where cold water is injected into the bottom of the tank with three different initial thermal fields. The first one is the tank with initial thermal stratification with bottom temperature the same as the inflow temperature. The second set is the tank with the initial thermal stratification, the bottom being at a relatively higher temperature than the inflow temperature. The third set is an initially heated isothermal tank and the fourth is the same as the first set of experiments except that the straight tube inlet nozzle is replaced by a 30° downward bent divergent conical tube. The above experiments show that better thermal stratification can be obtained using the divergent conical tube as the inlet nozzle due to the diffusion effect of the nozzle. Also a slight improvement in the tank performance has been achieved in the second set of experiments when the initial bottom temperature of the tank is higher than the injected cold water temperature. To check the accuracy of the experimental results two different types of one-dimensional numerical models, namely Turbulent Mixing Model and Displacement Mixing Model have been developed and the results are compared with the experiments. This comparison indicates that the numerical results are in good agreement with the experiments especially at the top of the tank.     

Passive solar heating of buildings using a transwall structure

Passive solar heating systems can utilize a number of design approaches, but the most prominent ones are those employing “direct gain” or a “Trombe thermal storage wall”. In this work we propose a new passive system employing a “transwall”, which is a partially transparent thermal storage wall placed adjacent to a window admitting solar energy. Part of the solar energy is absorbed within the transwall, and the remaining part is transmitted to the interior of the room. The transwall is architecturally more attractive than the completely absorbing Trombe wall, since it admits light to the room and allows the occupants to see out through the window without glare and overheating problems of direct gain systems.Calculations using thermal network models and based on reasonable assumptions for relative comparisons have been used to compare thermal performance of transwall, Trombe wall, and direct gain systems. The analysis shows that the transwall system can be expected to have thermal performance very close to or exceeding the other systems, depending on how effectively convective heat transfer is quenched in the thermal storage medium.The important question of visual clarity for the transwall system has been evaluated for a prototype by photographing a scene with and without optical transmission through the structure. Optical distortion is minimal in the transwall transmission photograph.     

Hydrogen production by Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in a two-stage process with and without illumination at alkaline pH

This work presents the results of a two-stage (carbon fixation and hydrogen production) experimental study for hydrogen production from microalgae using optical fiber as an internal light source. Effect of absence and presence of light on Chlamydomonas reinhardtii culture’s pH shift is also evaluated. The culture pH value is a function of light intensity; the pH in the alkaline range changes from 7.5 to 9.5 in the presence and absence of optical fiber respectively. The maximum rate of hydrogen production in the presence of exogenic glucose and optical fiber is 6 mL/L_cult/hour, which is higher than other reported values. This study has also revealed that the presence of light reduces the lag time for hydrogen production from 12 to 5 h.     

塑料光纤在渗透稳定性监测中的应用方法研究

针对土石坝、堤防和堰塞坝等结构无法通过预埋设备实现渗透稳定性监测的问题,提出一种使用塑料光纤监测渗流泥沙含量的方法,即考虑不同的光波透射距离及不同泥沙含量对光能损耗的影响,间接实现结构渗透稳定性的监测。使用透射距离为2.3 mm的两种实验装置测量0~800 NTU的泥沙悬浊液,研究光能损耗与悬浊液浊度、透射距离的关系。结果表明,光能损耗幅度与泥沙悬浊液浊度呈线性变化,损耗幅度随浊度的增大而增大;光能损耗速度随透射距离的增加而增加.2、3 mm透射距离装置的光能损耗速度分别为2.38、2.75μW/100 NTU。试验验证了光能在泥沙悬浊液中的损耗规律基本符合郎伯-比尔定律,并且透射距离影响装置的监测性能,证明运用塑料光纤监测渗流泥沙含量,从而实现结构渗透稳定性监测是可行的。     

Adoption of optical fibres or of optical light films in architecture

The paper aims to discuss the speedy spread of the use of optical fibres or optical light films lighting systems, as an alternative to classical lighting systems in buildings.A series of architectural projects has been selected to provide more evidence about advantages of these new lighting equipement, in terms of thermal and lighting comfort together with low cost energy. As a matter of fact their efficiency has even lead some professionals to use them in some buildings after suppression of the initial lighting system.The fact that the optional fibres or optical light films are used in various spaces has enabled to hope for a development of their applications in interiors and especially public places, in hot contries where heat output from traditional lighting bulbs is more likely to provide discomfort and hence where requirement for air conditionning is unavoidably maximised.