Low-cost solar selective absorbers from Indian galena

Journal Article · Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Optical Engineering; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1117/12.148123· OSTI ID:5309689

Chatterjee, S ^[1]; Pal, U ^[2]

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1. Metallurgical and Engineering Consultants, Ranchi (India). Research and Development Div.
2. Indian Inst. of Tech., Kharagpur (India)

The main thrust of the research is to prepare a low-cost solar-selective absorber from an indigenous semiconducting mineral, galena (galena aggregate and galena concentrate), for a solar thermoelectric generator. The authors report the results of preparation and characterization of solar-selective coatings made from galena aggregate and galena concentrate collected from the Zawar mines in Rajasthan, India. The coatings of galena are prepared by a thermal evaporation technique and exhibit high absorptivity ([alpha] [approximately] 0.95 and 0.97) in the solar spectral range and low emissivity ([epsilon]375[approximately]0.21 and 0.27) in the thermal range. Finally, these coatings were compared with synthesized PbS coating prepared in the laboratory and found to be quite comparable. The structure and composition of the coatings were studied by x-ray diffraction and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis. Reflectance and absorption studies were made in the 0.3- to 3.1-[mu]m spectral range.

• OSTI ID: 5309689
• Journal Information: Optical Engineering; (United States), Vol. 32:11; ISSN 0091-3286
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
14 SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION
THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS
SOLAR ABSORBERS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FABRICATION
PERFORMANCE
CONVERSION
DATA
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ENERGY CONVERSION
EQUIPMENT
INFORMATION
NUMERICAL DATA
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
300301* - Thermoelectric Generators- Design & Development
140502 - Solar Energy Conversion- Thermonic & Thermoelectric conversion