Corral, N., Anrique, N., Fernandes, D., Parrado, C., & Caceres, G. (2012). Power, placement and LEC evaluation to install CSP plants in northern Chile. Renew. Sust. Energ. Rev., 16(9), 6678–6685.
Abstract: Chile is expecting a 5.4% growth in energy consumption per year until 2030, requiring new and better solutions for the upward trend of its electricity demand. This state leads to select and study one of the potential alternatives for electricity generation: concentrated solar power (CSP) plants. Such renewable technology found in Chile a very favorable condition. Recent researches indicate Atacama Desert as one of the best regions for solar energy worldwide, having an average radiation higher than in places where CSP plants are currently implemented, e.g. Spain and USA. The aim of this study is to present an analysis of levelized energy cost (LEC) for different power capacities of CSP plants placed in distinct locations in northern Chile. The results showed that CSP plants can be implemented in Atacama Desert with LECs around 19 (sic)US$/kWh when a gas-fired backup and thermal energy storage (TES) systems are fitted. This value increases to approximately 28 (sic)US$/kWh if there is no backup system. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Hernandez, N., Fuentes, A., Reszka, P., & Fernandez-Pello, A. C. (2019). Piloted ignition delay times on optically thin PMMA cylinders. Proc. Combust. Inst., 37(3), 3993–4000.
Abstract: The theory to predict ignition of solid fuels exposed to incident radiant heat fluxes has permitted to obtain simple correlations of the ignition delay time with the incident heat flux which are useful in practical engineering applications. However, the theory was developed under the assumption that radiation does not penetrate into the solid phase. In the case of semi-transparent solids, where the penetration of radiation plays an important role in the heating and subsequent ignition of the fuel, the predictions of the classical ignition theory are not applicable. A new theory for the piloted ignition of optically thin cylindrical fuels has been developed. The theory uses an integral method and an approximation of the radiative transfer equation within the solid to predict the heating of an inert solid. An exact and an approximate analytical solution are obtained. The predictions are compared with piloted ignition experiments of clear PMMA cylinders. The results indicate that for opticallythin media, the heating and ignition are not sensible to the thermal conductivity of the solid, they are highly dependent on the in-depth absorption coefficient. Using the approximate solution, the correlation 1/t(ig) proportional to (q)over dot(inc)'' was established. This correlation is adequate for engineering applications, and allows the estimation of effective properties of the solid fuel. The form of the correlation that was obtained is due to the integral method used in the solution of the heat equation, and does not imply that the semi-transparent solid behaves like a thermally thin material. The approximate solution presented in this article constitutes a useful tool for pencil-and-paper calculations and is an advancement in the understanding of solid-phase ignition processes. (C) 2018 The Combustion Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Mahajan, S. M., & Asenjo, F. A. (2023). Parametric amplification of electromagnetic plasma waves in resonance with a dispersive background gravitational wave. Phys. Rev. E, 107(3), 035205.
Abstract: It is shown that a subluminal electromagnetic plasma wave, propagating in phase with a background subluminal gravitational wave in a dispersive medium, can undergo parametric amplification. For these phenomena to occur, the dispersive characteristics of the two waves must properly match. The response frequencies of the two waves (medium dependent) must lie within a definite and restrictive range. The combined dynamics is represented by a Whitaker-Hill equation, the quintessential model for parametric instabilities. The exponential growth of the electromagnetic wave is displayed at the resonance; the plasma wave grows at the expense of the background gravitational wave. Different physical scenarios, where the phenomenon can be possible, are discussed.
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Mahajan, S. M., Asenjo, F. A., & Hazeltine, R. D. (2015). Comparison of the electron-spin force and radiation reaction force. Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc., 446(4), 4112–4115.
Abstract: It is shown that the forces that originate from the electron-spin interacting with the electromagnetic field can play, along with the Lorentz force, a fundamentally important role in determining the electron motion in a high energy density plasma embedded in strong high-frequency radiation, a situation that pertains to both laser-produced and astrophysical systems. These forces, for instance, dominate the standard radiation reaction force as long as there is a 'sufficiently' strong ambient magnetic field for affecting spin alignment. The inclusion of spin forces in any advanced modelling of electron dynamics pertaining to high energy density systems (for instance in particle-in-cell codes), therefore, is a must.
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Navarro, H., Marco, L. M., Araneda, A. A., & Bennun, L. (2019). Spatial distribution of Si in Pinus Insigne (Pinus radiata) Wood using micro XRF by Synchrotron Radiation. J. Wood Chem. Technol., 39(3), 187–198.
Abstract: Silicon, while not an essential element, is known to have positive roles in certain vegetable species. For instance, it has been recognized to protect them from biotic and abiotic stress. Due to the fact that certain species accumulate the aforementioned element in their tissues, the determination of its concentration is of importance in different disciplines, such as dendrology, plant physiology, forest management, agroecology, and also in the wood industry. Usually, its quantification is preceded by a series of digestion steps that, aside from been time-consuming, and contamination-prone, prevents from conducting a spatial distribution of the element on the sample. In this research, samples of Pinus radiata wood were studied using a synchrotron radiation source that allowed direct scanning of its surface without any treatment, and the determination of silicon as a function of the position and the tree rings, using micro X-ray fluorescence (mu XRF). A quantification method based in the fundamental parameters approach was evaluated. It was found that silicon concentration increases near the latewood ring zones, showing a periodical behavior, related to seasonal environmental events.
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Parot, R., Rivera, J. I., Reszka, P., Torero, J. L., & Fuentes, A. (2022). A simplified analytical model for radiation dominated ignition of solid fuels exposed to multiple non-steady heat fluxes. Combust. Flame, 237, 111866.
Abstract: Heat fluxes from fires are strongly time-dependent. Historically, the thermal ignition theory in its classical form has neglected this time dependency until recent years, where theories have been developed to include time-varying incident heat fluxes. This article proposes a simplified general model formulation for the heating of solid fuels exposed to four different heat flux behaviors, considering the penetration of radiation into the medium. The incident heat flux cases developed where: Constant, Linear, Exponential and Polynomial, which represent different situations related to structural and wildland fires. The analytical models consider a spatially averaged medium temperature and exact and approximate solutions are presented, based on the critical ignition temperature criterion, which are valid for solids of any optical thickness. The results were validated by comparison with various models presented in the literature, where the model granted in this work was capable to adjust to all of them, especially when high heat fluxes are involved. Therefore, the proposed model acquires a significant engineering utility since it provides a single model to be used as a general and versatile tool to predict the ignition delay time in a manageable way for solid fuels exposed to different fire conditions.
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Vera, R., Araya, R., Garin, C., Ossandon, S., & Rojas, P. (2019). Study on the effect of atmospheric corrosion on mechanical properties with impact test: Carbon steel and Galvanized steel. Mater. Corros., 70(7), 1151–1161.
Abstract: The present work presents the behavior of carbon steel and galvanized steel against atmospheric corrosion after 3 years of exposure at seven locations around the region of Valparaiso, Chile. Results show a relation between corrosion rates and environmental and meteorological conditions, categorized as CX for the Quintero zone, and C3 and C2 in the remaining six zones. Corrosion rate behaviors and material toughness losses were modeled using power functions and neural networks, found to be a function of environmental exposure time. Losses were greater for carbon steel in coastal and industrial environments, reaching 70 to 80%. This effect was reduced in galvanized steel, not exceeding 15% over the same period of exposure. The relationship between corrosion rate and loss of toughness of both materials was modeled using neural networks.
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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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