Project Description

The increasing demand for high-temperature heat in industries such as cement, metallurgy, ceramics, and chemical processing has led to significant reliance on fossil fuels, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation. Industrial processes like the calcination process, clinker production in cement manufacturing require temperatures exceeding 1000°C, which are conventionally achieved using coal or natural gas. Transitioning to sustainable alternatives for such high-temperature applications remains a critical challenge in the global decarbonization effort.

Solar thermal technologies, particularly concentrating solar thermal technologies, offer a promising solution due to their capability to achieve very high temperatures (above 1000°C) through concentrating solar radiation. A parabolic dish system focuses sunlight onto a receiver, where working fluids such as air/ceramic particles can be heated to extremely high temperatures. Unlike other solar thermal systems, parabolic dishes provide high concentration ratios, making them suitable for industrial-grade heat generation. In regions with high solar insolation, such as the Middle East, India, and parts of Africa, this technology has strong potential for integration into green cement production processes.

This Ph.D. will focus on the design, modelling, and experimental validation of parabolic dish-based systems for high-temperature generation for green cement production. The research will include the development of advanced receivers capable of withstanding extreme thermal loads, optimization of air heating mechanisms, and improvement of heat transfer efficiency. Both numerical simulations and experimental setups will be used to study the green cement production process under varying solar and operating conditions.

The project will also explore integration strategies with industrial processes, particularly the green cement production process under varying solar and operating conditions. Additionally, economic analysis such as levelized cost of heat (LCOH) and environmental impact assessment will be performed to evaluate the feasibility of large-scale deployment. Overall, this research aims to develop a sustainable, high-efficiency solar thermal solution for industrial heating applications, contributing to the reduction of fossil fuel dependency and carbon emissions while enabling cleaner production technologies.