Solar energy converters based on open-cell absorbers

Summary
Highly porous open cell materials with low reflecting area can be used as volumetric solar energy absorbing materials if their structural elements are covered with special black coatings.

Description
Open cell metal foam (nickel or copper) is manufactured by electrochemical replication of open-cell foam polymer template followed by sintering. Such materials have a unique labyrinth structure with very low reflecting surface area. At the second stage, light absorbing black coatings, e.g. Ni-P or CuS, are formed on the surface of the foam struts by chemical methods. Porous structure with the deposited black coatings is an efficient absorber of solar energy.[br][/br][br][/br]Metal foams with black coatings are used as a porous volumetric absorber in the setup, where the air flow is passed through the porous volumetric absorber which is installed under the lens and heated by concentrated solar light. Hot air flow is controlled by a fan and thermosensors.[br][/br]

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Technology Type
 Process
 Material


Technology Differentiation and Uniqueness
The process elaborated at Powder Metallurgy Institution (PMI) ensures controlling the open cell materials composition. The cell size and its density can be varied as well. Various black layers are deposited on the surface of material via chemical method.

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Development Stage
 Prototype (demonstration available for testing)
Other: The process parameters have been defined at lab scale. The material samples with reasonable dimensions were received. Funding is looked for to up-scale the process.

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Intellectual Property Rights
 Secret Know-How

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Range of Applications
Such equipment can be used as the heater in different technological operations, where is the need of hot air. It is possible to design mobile or stationary equipment.

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Classifier Used at the Enterprise Europe Network
 Materials
 Nano- and Microtechnologies

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Classifier Used at the EU Innovation Relay Centres
 Industrial Manufacturing, Material and Transport Technologies

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Classifier Used at the Technology Transfer Network of yet2.com Inc.
 Manufacturing
 Materials

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Preferable Regions
 North America
 South America
 Europe
 Asia
 Africa
 Australia

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Type of Collaboration Sought
 R&D Contract

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Available Technical Assistance
 Personnel

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