A team of experts from ETH Zurich in Switzerland has successfully developed a heat trap that is able to absorb concentrated sunlight and generate very high levels of heat for industrial purposes. Industries such as cement, metals, and chemical production require temperatures exceeding 1,000 degrees Celsius, which are currently achieved through the burning of fossil fuels. However, this method results in the emission of large amounts of greenhouse gases. Renewable electricity is not a viable alternative due to inefficiencies at such high heat levels.
Led by scientist Emiliano Casati and professor Aldo Steinfeld, the research team at ETH Zurich has successfully tested their heat trap in the laboratory, with promising results published in the journal Device. The device consists of a quartz cylinder connected to a ceramic absorber that can efficiently convert sunlight into heat for industrial processes. Through laboratory experiments, the team was able to reach temperatures of up to 1,050 degrees Celsius using artificial light that was 135 times more intense than sunlight.
Traditional industrial-scale solar energy concentration systems typically operate at temperatures up to 600 degrees Celsius due to radiant heat loss. The heat trap developed by the ETH Zurich team minimizes radiant heat loss, improving solar energy absorption efficiency. This technology has the potential to accelerate the deployment of high-temperature solar plants and decarbonize energy-intensive industries on a large scale, contributing to the fight against climate change.
Casati and his team continue to work on optimizing the heat trap process, with the goal of utilizing solar energy for both electricity production and industrial decarbonization. Detailed economic and technological analyses are still needed to further advance this technology and its potential impact on various industries. To combat climate change, the decarbonization of energy is vital
