Objective Solar energy metals treatment applications. Research results included: - The successful demonstration of solar beam modification of hard coatings. - The development of several surface-hardening methods for metals using the solar furnace. - The open-air hardening of different types of steel and cast iron specimens. - Steel tempering in water using the solar furnace. Solar photocatalytic water detoxification. - It was found that solar detoxification can destroy hazardous contaminants dissolved in water, and must now be considered as a clean and ecological alternative to conventional wastewater technologies. - The feasibility of the process has been fully demonstrated and the commercial applications seem to be not to far off. A new field of solar technology has opened and in Europe the PSA is prepared for its development for commercial application. Adaptive control development. Some notable achievements were: - The adaptive control system developed during this work for solar collector field experiments is unique in Europe. - A finite element model of the Acurex field was developed, tested and validated. This model can reliably predict the dynamics of a parabolic-trough solar collector field. - Simplified transfer function models, portraying the resonant characteristics of the solar collector field were developed. These models can be employed in the design of future collectors. - A proposed adaptive control scheme incorporating resonance compensation demonstrated capacity for fast response outlet temperature control. Ceramic materials testing. Significant achievements included: - The alignment of the Solar Furnace concentrator using the 'on-axis' and 'laser ray-tracing' methods for focus characterisation. - Test for subjecting Zirconia Y-PSZ specimens to the non-contaminant thermal shock of the Solar Furnace with several different flux densities. - The surfaces of mono and polycrystal Zirconia Y-PSZ specimens were partially melted after thermal shock in the Solar Furnace. This non-contaminant step is essential for further studies of the condensed material at very high temperatures.This project enabled 12 research organisations from 7 EU Member States to use the Plataforma Solar de Almeria (PSA) facility. Project teams used the facility for a total 9,237 hours (230 weeks) - representing 29% of the site's total capacity - between 1990 and mid-1993. Users from the project constituted some 20% of the total institutions working on the site during the project. Project teams reported that the results of their research have been an important catalyst in the advancement of European environmental policy. The results appeared in 121 publications and were presented at 44 scientific conferences. Project participants used the Almeria facility to undertake four research projects: solar energy applications for metals treatment; solar photocatalytic water detoxification; adaptive control development; and ceramic materials testing. Fields of science engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energysolar energyengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwater treatment processeswastewater treatment processesengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringcontrol systemsnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesmeteorologysolar radiationengineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and films Programme(s) FP2-SCIFAC C - Plan (EEC) to support and facilitate access to large-scale scientific facilities of European interest, 1989-1992 Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator CENTRO DE INVESTIGACIONES ENERGETICAS, MEDIAMBIENTALES Y TECNOLOGICAS EU contribution No data Address 22,Avenida Complutense 22 28040 MADRID Spain See on map Total cost No data
