Applications in energy carrier production
Solar furnaces

For these two applications, a simplified exergy analysis (ideal concentrator, black body) shows that there is an optimum operating temperature range corresponding to a given concentration factor. Indeed, if we consider that radiation is the sole source of energy losses in the solar absorber (receiver or reactor), losses increase in T ⁴ and absorption efficiency varies in the opposite direction. Conversely, the transformation efficiency of energy, absorbed by a thermodynamic machine or by a chemical reaction,...