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Addison, B. C., Wright, D. J., Nicholson, B. A., Cale, B., Mocnik, T., Huber, D., et al. (2021). TOI-257b (HD 19916b): a warm sub-saturn orbiting an evolved F-type star. Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc., 502(3), 3704–3722.
Abstract: We report the discovery of a warm sub-Saturn, TOI-257b (HD 19916b), based on data from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). The transit signal was detected by TESS and confirmed to be of planetary origin based on radial velocity observations. An analysis of the TESS photometry, the MINERVA-Australis, FEROS, and HARPS radial velocities, and the asteroseismic data of the stellar oscillations reveals that TOI-257b has a mass of M-P = 0.138 +/- 0.023M(J) (43.9 +/- 7.3 M-circle plus), a radius of R-P = 0.639 +/- 0.013 R-J (7.16 +/- 0.15 R-circle plus), bulk density of 0.65(-0.11)(+0.12) (cgs), and period 18.38818(-0.00084)(+0.00085) days. TOI-257b orbits a bright (V = 7.612 mag) somewhat evolved late F-type star with M-* = 1.390 +/- 0.046(Msun), R-* = 1.888 +/- 0.033 R-sun, T-eff = 6075 +/- 90 K, and vsin i = 11.3 +/- 0.5 kms(-1). Additionally, we find hints for a second non-transiting sub-Saturn mass planet on a similar to 71 day orbit using the radial velocity data. This system joins the ranks of a small number of exoplanet host stars (similar to 100) that have been characterized with asteroseismology. Warm sub-Saturns are rare in the known sample of exoplanets, and thus the discovery of TOI-257b is important in the context of future work studying the formation and migration history of similar planetary systems.
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Brahm, R., Nielsen, L. D., Wittenmyer, R. A., Wang, S. H., Rodriguez, J. E., Espinoza, N., et al. (2020). TOI-481 b and TOI-892 b: Two Long-period Hot Jupiters from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite. Astron. J., 160(5), 14 pp.
Abstract: We present the discovery of two new 10 day period giant planets from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite mission, whose masses were precisely determined using a wide diversity of ground-based facilities. TOI-481.b and TOI-892.b have similar radii (0.99.+/-.0.01 R-J and 1.07.+/-.0.02 R-J, respectively), and orbital periods (10.3311 days and 10.6266 days, respectively), but significantly different masses (1.53.+/-.0.03 MJ versus 0.95.+/-.0.07 MJ, respectively). Both planets orbit metal-rich stars ([Fe H] = + 0.26. 0.05 dex and [Fe H] = +0.24. 0.05 for TOI-481 and TOI-892, respectively) but at different evolutionary stages. TOI-481 is a M*=.1.14.+/-.0.02 M., R*=.1.66.+/-.0.02 R. G-type star (T-eff = 5735 +/- 72 K), that with an age of 6.7 Gyr, is in the turn-off point of the main sequence. TOI-892 on the other hand, is a F-type dwarf star (T-eff = 6261 +/- 80 K), which has a mass of M*=.1.28.+/-.0.03 M-circle dot and a radius of R*=.1.39.+/-.0.02 R-circle dot. TOI-481.b and TOI-892.b join the scarcely populated region of transiting gas giants with orbital periods longer than 10 days, which is important to constrain theories of the formation and structure of hot Jupiters.
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Caceres, G., Anrique, N., Girard, A., Degreve, J., Baeyens, J., & Zhang, H. L. (2013). Performance of molten salt solar power towers in Chile. J. Renew. Sustain. Energy, 5(5), 15 pp.
Abstract: Chile is facing important challenges to develop its energy sector. Estimations demonstrate that in its electricity consumption Chile will grow at an annual rate of 4.6% until 2030, despite ongoing efficiency improvements. To satisfy this demand in a sustainable way, the national energy policy promotes the integration of novel and clean power generation into the national power mix, with special emphasis on concentrated solar power (CSP). The present paper assesses the development of solar-based electricity generation in Chile by CSP, achieved by a Solar Power Tower plant (SPT) using molten salt as heat carrier and store. Such SPTs can be installed at different locations in Chile, and connected to the main national grid. Results show that each SPT plant can generate around 76 GWh(el) of net electricity, when considering solar irradiation as the sole energy source and at a 16% overall efficiency of the SPT process. For operation in a continuous mode, a hybrid configuration with integrated gas backup system increases the generating potential of each SPT to 135 GWh(el). A preliminary Levelized Energy Cost (LEC) calculation provides LEC values between 0.15 and 0.18 $/kWh, as function of the overall process efficiency and estimated investment cost. Chile's solar irradiation favors the implementation of SPT plants. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.
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Caceres, G., Nasirov, S., Zhang, H. L., & Araya-Letelier, G. (2015). Residential Solar PV Planning in Santiago, Chile: Incorporating the PM10 Parameter. Sustainability, 7(1), 422–440.
Abstract: This paper addresses an economic study of the installation of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels for residential power generation in Santiago, Chile, based on the different parameters of a PV system, such as efficiency. As a performance indicator, the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) was used, which indicates the benefit of the facility vs. the current cost of electrical energy. In addition, due to a high level of airborne dusts typically associated with PM10, the effect of the dust deposition on PV panels' surfaces and the effect on panel performance are examined. Two different scenarios are analyzed: on-grid PV plants and off-grid PV plants.
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Liu, C. Z., Cote, P., Peng, E. W., Roediger, J., Zhang, H. X., Ferrarese, L., et al. (2020). The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey. XXXIV. Ultracompact Dwarf Galaxies in the Virgo Cluster. Astrophys. J. Suppl. Ser., 250(1), 28 pp.
Abstract: We present a study of ultracompact dwarf (UCD) galaxies in the Virgo cluster based mainly on imaging from the Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey (NGVS). Using similar to 100 deg(2) of u*giz imaging, we have identified more than 600 candidate UCDs, from the core of Virgo out to its virial radius. Candidates have been selected through a combination of magnitudes, ellipticities, colors, surface brightnesses, half-light radii, and, when available, radial velocities. Candidates were also visually validated from deep NGVS images. Subsamples of varying completeness and purity have been defined to explore the properties of UCDs and compare to those of globular clusters and the nuclei of dwarf galaxies with the aim of delineating the nature and origins of UCDs. From a surface density map, we find the UCDs to be mostly concentrated within Virgo's main subclusters, around its brightest galaxies. We identify several subsamples of UCDs-i.e., the brightest, largest, and those with the most pronounced and/or asymmetric envelopes-that could hold clues to the origin of UCDs and possible evolutionary links with dwarf nuclei. We find some evidence for such a connection from the existence of diffuse envelopes around some UCDs and comparisons of radial distributions of UCDs and nucleated galaxies within the cluster.
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Osborn, A., Armstrong, D. J., Cale, B., Brahm, R., Wittenmyer, R. A., Dai, F., et al. (2021). TOI-431/HIP 26013: a super-Earth and a sub-Neptune transiting a bright, early K dwarf, with a third RV planet. Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc., 507(2), 2782–2803.
Abstract: We present the bright (V-mag = 9.12), multiplanet system TOI-431, characterized with photometry and radial velocities (RVs). We estimate the stellar rotation period to be 30.5 +/- 0.7 d using archival photometry and RVs. Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) objects of Interest (TOI)-431b is a super-Earth with a period of 0.49 d, a radius of 1.28 +/- 0.04 R-circle plus, a mass of 3.07 +/- 0.35 M-circle plus, and a density of 8.0 +/- 1.0 g cm(-3); TOI-431 d is a sub-Neptune with a period of 12.46 d, a radius of 3.29 +/- 0.09 R-circle plus, a mass of M-circle plus, and a density of 1.36 +/- 0.25 g cm(-3). We find a third planet, TOI-431c, in the High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher RV data, but it is not seen to transit in the TESS light curves. It has an Msin i of M-circle plus, and a period of 4.85 d. TOI-431d likely has an extended atmosphere and is one of the most well-suited TESS discoveries for atmospheric characterization, while the super-Earth TOI-431b may be a stripped core. These planets straddle the radius gap, presenting an interesting case-study for atmospheric evolution, and TOI-431b is a prime TESS discovery for the study of rocky planet phase curves.
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Parrado, C., Caceres, G., Bize, F., Bubnovich, V., Baeyens, J., Degreve, J., et al. (2015). Thermo-mechanical analysis of copper-encapsulated NaNO3-KNO3. Chem. Eng. Res. Des., 93, 224–231.
Abstract: The present paper presents a numerical study to investigate and assess the heat transfer behavior of a copper and salt composite. A mixture of nitrates, KNO3-NaNO3, within a deformable spherical shell coating of copper will be used as an encapsulated phase change material, E-PCM. In the context of a thermo-mechanical analysis of this E-PCM, a simulation is proposed to determine its storage capacity and properties The melting, or solidification of the encapsulated PCM particles do not provoke cracking of the deformable shell. (C) 2014 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Rodriguez, J. E., Quinn, S. N., Vanderburg, A., Zhou, G., Eastman, J. D., Thygesen, E., et al. (2023). Another shipment of six short-period giant planets from TESS. Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc., 521(2), 2765–2785.
Abstract: We present the discovery and characterization of six short-period, transiting giant planets from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) -- TOI-1811 (TIC 376524552), TOI-2025 (TIC 394050135), TOI-2145 (TIC 88992642), TOI-2152 (TIC 395393265), TOI-2154 (TIC 428787891), and TOI-2497 (TIC 97568467). All six planets orbit bright host stars (8.9
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Rodriguez, J. E., Quinn, S. N., Zhou, G., Vanderburg, A., Nielsen, L. D., Wittenmyer, R. A., et al. (2021). TESS Delivers Five New Hot Giant Planets Orbiting Bright Stars from the Full-frame Images. Astron. J., 161(4), 194.
Abstract: We present the discovery and characterization of five hot and warm Jupiters-TOI-628 b (TIC 281408474; HD 288842), TOI-640 b (TIC 147977348), TOI-1333 b (TIC 395171208, BD+47 3521A), TOI-1478 b (TIC 409794137), and TOI-1601 b ( TIC 139375960)-based on data from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). The five planets were identified from the full-frame images and were confirmed through a series of photometric and spectroscopic follow-up observations by the TESS Follow-up Observing Program Working Group. The planets are all Jovian size (R-P = 1.01-1.77 R-J) and have masses that range from 0.85 to 6.33 M-J. The host stars of these systems have F and G spectral types (5595 <= T-eff <= 6460 K) and are all relatively bright (9.5 < V < 10.8, 8.2 < K < 9.3), making them well suited for future detailed characterization efforts. Three of the systems in our sample (TOI-640 b, TOI-1333 b, and TOI-1601 b) orbit subgiant host stars (log g < 4.1). TOI-640 b is one of only three known hot Jupiters to have a highly inflated radius (R-P > 1.7 R-J, possibly a result of its host star's evolution) and resides on an orbit with a period longer than 5 days. TOI-628 b is the most massive, hot Jupiter discovered to date by TESS with a measured mass of 6.31(-0.30)(+) (0.28) M-J and a statistically significant, nonzero orbital eccentricity of e = 0.074(-0.022)(+) (0.021). This planet would not have had enough time to circularize through tidal forces from our analysis, suggesting that it might be remnant eccentricity from its migration. The longest-period planet in this sample, TOI-1478 b (P = 10.18 days), is a warm Jupiter in a circular orbit around a near-solar analog. NASA's TESS mission is continuing to increase the sample of well-characterized hot and warm Jupiters, complementing its primary mission goals.
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Sha, L. Z., Huang, C. L. X., Shporer, A., Rodriguez, J. E., Vanderburg, A., Brahm, R., et al. (2021). TOI-954 b and K2-329 b: Short-period Saturn-mass Planets that Test whether Irradiation Leads to Inflation. Astron. J., 161(2), 82.
Abstract: We report the discovery of two short-period Saturn-mass planets, one transiting the G subgiant TOI-954 (TIC 44792534, V = 10.343, T = 9.78) observed in TESS sectors 4 and 5 and one transiting the G dwarf K2-329 (EPIC 246193072, V = 12.70, K = 10.67) observed in K2 campaigns 12 and 19. We confirm and characterize these two planets with a variety of ground-based archival and follow-up observations, including photometry, reconnaissance spectroscopy, precise radial velocity, and high-resolution imaging. Combining all available data, we find that TOI-954 b has a radius of 0.852(-0.062)(+0.053) R-J and a mass of 0.174(-0.017)(+0.018) M-J and is in a 3.68 day orbit, while K2-329 b has a radius of 0.774(-0.024)(+0.026) R-J and a mass if 0.260(-0.022)(+0.020) M-J and is in a 12.46 day orbit. As TOI-954 b is 30 times more irradiated than K2-329 b but more or less the same size, these two planets provide an opportunity to test whether irradiation leads to inflation of Saturn-mass planets and contribute to future comparative studies that explore Saturn-mass planets at contrasting points in their lifetimes.
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Yee, S. W., Winn, J. N., Hartman, J. D., Rodriguez, J. E., Zhou, G., Quinn, S. N., et al. (2022). The TESS Grand Unified Hot Jupiter Survey. I. Ten TESS Planets. Astron. J., 164(2), 70.
Abstract: Hot Jupiters-short-period giant planets-were the first extrasolar planets to be discovered, but many questions about their origin remain. NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), an all-sky search for transiting planets, presents an opportunity to address these questions by constructing a uniform sample of hot Jupiters for demographic study through new detections and unifying the work of previous ground-based transit surveys. As the first results of an effort to build this large sample of planets, we report here the discovery of 10 new hot Jupiters (TOI-2193A b, TOI-2207b, TOI-2236b, TOI-2421b, TOI-2567b, TOI-2570b, TOI-3331b, TOI-3540A b, TOI-3693b, TOI-4137b). All of the planets were identified as planet candidates based on periodic flux dips observed by TESS, and were subsequently confirmed using ground-based time-series photometry, high-angular-resolution imaging, and high-resolution spectroscopy coordinated with the TESS Follow-up Observing Program. The 10 newly discovered planets orbit relatively bright F and G stars (G < 12.5, T (eff) between 4800 and 6200 K). The planets' orbital periods range from 2 to 10 days, and their masses range from 0.2 to 2.2 Jupiter masses. TOI-2421b is notable for being a Saturn-mass planet and TOI-2567b for being a “sub-Saturn,” with masses of 0.322 +/- 0.073 and 0.195 +/- 0.030 Jupiter masses, respectively. We also measured a detectably eccentric orbit (e = 0.17 +/- 0.05) for TOI-2207b, a planet on an 8 day orbit, while placing an upper limit of e < 0.052 for TOI-3693b, which has a 9 day orbital period. The 10 planets described here represent an important step toward using TESS to create a large and statistically useful sample of hot Jupiters.
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Zhang, H. L., Baeyens, J., Caceres, G., Degreve, J., & Lv, Y. Q. (2016). Thermal energy storage: Recent developments and practical aspects. Prog. Energy Combust. Sci., 53, 1–40.
Abstract: Thermal energy storage (TES) transfers heat to storage media during the charging period, and releases it at a later stage during the discharging step. It can be usefully applied in solar plants, or in industrial processes, such as metallurgical transformations. Sensible, latent and thermo-chemical media store heat in materials which change temperature, phase or chemical composition, respectively. Sensible heat storage is well-documented. Latent heat storage, using phase change materials (PCMs), mainly using liquid solid transition to store latent heat, allows a more compact, efficient and therefore economical system to operate. Thermo-chemical heat storage (TCS) is still at an early stage of laboratory and pilot research despite its attractive application for long term energy storage. The present review will assess previous research, while also adding novel treatments of the subject. TES systems are of growing importance within the energy awareness: TES can reduce the LCOE (levelized cost of electricity) of renewable energy processes, with the temperature of the storage medium being the most important parameter. Sensible heat storage is well-documented in literature and applied at large scale, hence limited in the content of the present review paper. Latent heat storage using PCMs is dealt with, specifically towards high temperature applications, where inorganic substances offer a high potential. Finally, the use of energy storage through reversible chemical reactions (thermo-chemical Storage, TCS) is assessed. Since PCM and TCS storage media need to be contained in a capsule (sphere, tube, sandwich plates) of appropriate materials, potential containment materials are examined. A heat transfer fluid (HTF) is required to convey the heat from capture, to storage and ultimate re-use. Particle suspensions offer a valid alternative to common HTF, and a preliminary assessment confirms the advantages of the upflow bubbling fluidized bed and demonstrates that particulate suspensions enable major savings in investment and operating costs. Novel treatments of the TES subject in the review involve the required encapsulation of the latent and chemical storage media, the novel development of powder circulation loops as heat transfer media, the conductivity enhancement of PCMs, the use of lithium salts, among others. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Zhang, H. L., Baeyens, J., Degreve, J., & Caceres, G. (2013). Concentrated solar power plants: Review and design methodology. Renew. Sust. Energ. Rev., 22, 466–481.
Abstract: Concentrated solar power plants (CSPs) are gaining increasing interest, mostly as parabolic trough collectors (PTC) or solar tower collectors (STC). Notwithstanding CSP benefits, the daily and monthly variation of the solar irradiation flux is a main drawback. Despite the approximate match between hours of the day where solar radiation and energy demand peak, CSPs experience short term variations on cloudy days and cannot provide energy during night hours unless incorporating thermal energy storage (TES) and/or backup systems (BS) to operate continuously. To determine the optimum design and operation of the CSP throughout the year, whilst defining the required TES and/or BS, an accurate estimation of the daily solar irradiation is needed. Local solar irradiation data are mostly only available as monthly averages, and a predictive conversion into hourly data and direct irradiation is needed to provide a more accurate input into the CSP design. The paper (i) briefly reviews CSP technologies and STC advantages; (ii) presents a methodology to predict hourly beam (direct) irradiation from available monthly averages, based upon combined previous literature findings and available meteorological data; (iii) illustrates predictions for different selected STC locations; and finally (iv) describes the use of the predictions in simulating the required plant configuration of an optimum STC. The methodology and results demonstrate the potential of CSPs in general, whilst also defining the design background of STC plants. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Zhang, H. L., Baeyens, J., Degreve, J., Caceres, G., Segal, R., & Pitie, F. (2014). Latent heat storage with tubular-encapsulated phase change materials (PCMs). Energy, 76, 66–72.
Abstract: Heat capture and storage is important in both solar energy projects and in the recovery of waste heat from industrial processes. Whereas heat capture will mostly rely on the use of a heat carrier, the high efficiency heat storage needs to combine sensible and latent heat storage with phase change materials (PCMs) to provide a high energy density storage. The present paper briefly reviews energy developments and storage techniques, with special emphasis on thermal energy storage and the use of PCM. It thereafter illustrates first results obtained when encapsulating NaNO3/KNO3-PCM in an AISI 321 tube, as example of a storage application using a multi-tubular exchanger filled with PCM. To increase the effective thermal conductivity of the PCM, 2 inserts i.e. metallic foam and metallic sponge are also tested. Experimental discharging (cooling) rates are interpreted by both solving the unsteady-state conduction equation, and by using Comsol Multiphysics. Predictions and experimental temperature evolutions are in fair agreement, and the effect of the inserts is clearly reflected by the increased effective thermal conductivity of the insert-PCM composite. Application of Comsol to predict the mechanical behavior of the system, when melting and associated expansion increase the internal pressure, demonstrates that the pressure build-up is far below the Young's modulus of the AISI 321 encapsulation and that this shell will not crack (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Zhou, C. C., Zhang, H. L., Valdebenito, M. A., & Zhao, H. D. (2022). A general hierarchical ensemble-learning framework for structural reliability analysis. Reliab. Eng. Syst. Saf., 225, 108605.
Abstract: Existing ensemble-learning methods for reliability analysis are usually developed by combining ensemble learning with a learning function. A commonly used strategy is to construct the initial training set and the test set in advance. The training set is used to train the initial ensemble model, while the test set is adopted to allocate weight factors and check the convergence criterion. Reliability analysis focuses more on the local prediction accuracy near the limit state surface than the global prediction accuracy in the entire space. However, samples in the initial training set and the test set are generally randomly generated, which will result in the learning function failing to find the real ???best??? update samples and the allocation of weight factors may be suboptimal or even unreasonable. These two points have a detrimental impact on the overall performance of the ensemble model. Thus, we propose a general hierarchical ensemble-learning framework (ELF) for reliability analysis, which consists of two-layer models and three different phases. A novel method called CESM-ELF is proposed by embedding the classical ensemble of surrogate models (CESM) in the proposed ELF. Four examples are investigated to show that CESM-ELF outperforms CESM in prediction accuracy and is more efficient in some cases.
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