Structure of Parabolic Trough Collector Model for Local Heating and Air Conditioning

Concentrating solar power (CSP) is a type of solar energy that uses mirrors (concentrators) to concentrate sunlight from a large area to a small area where it is absorbed and converted to heat at high temperatures. CSP plants have a big advantage over photovoltaic (PV) power plants because they can use conventional fuels and store thermal energy to make up for the fact that solar energy doesn’t always work. In this paper, a parabolic trough collector (PTC) with the following parameters was designed to investigate the efficiency of a small-scale PTC to heat a synthetic heat transfer fluid that may be used for domestic heating or cooling. PTC 2 m in length, 30 cm rim radius

The Rare Earth Elements: demand, global resources, and challenges for resourcing future generations

The rare earth elements (REE) have attracted much attention in recent years, being viewed as critical metals because of China’s domination of their supply chain. This is despite the fact that REE enrichments are known to exist in a wide range of settings, and have been the subject of much recent exploration. Although the REE are often referred to as a single group, in practice each individual element has a specific set of end-uses, and so demand varies between them. Future demand growth to 2026 is likely to be mainly linked to the use of NdFeB magnets, particularly in hybrid and electric vehicles and wind turbines, and in erbium-doped glass fiber for communications. Supply of lanthanum and cerium is forecast to exceed demand. There are several different types of natural (primary) REE resources, including those formed by high-temperature geological processes (carbonatites, alkaline rocks, vein and skarn deposits) and those formed by low-temperature processes (placers, laterites, bauxites and ion-adsorption clays). In this paper, we consider the balance of the individual REE in each deposit type and how that matches demand, and look at some of the issues associated with developing these deposits. This assessment and overview indicate that while each type of REE deposit has different advantages and disadvantages, light rare earth-enriched ion adsorption types appear to have the best match to future REE needs. Production of REE as by-products from, for example, bauxite or phosphate, is potentially the most rapid way to produce additional REE. There are still significant technical and economic challenges to be overcome to create substantial REE supply chains outside China