Wavelength Selective Solar Thermal Absorber With Two Dimensional Nickel Gratings

Abstract

The direct utilization of solar radiation has been considered a promising energy source because of its abundance, sustainability, and cleanness. The conversion of solar radiation into usable heat largely depends on the absorption characteristics of a solar thermal collector. In the present study, we conducted design analysis of a wavelengthselective absorber composed of a twodimensional Nickel grating, a thin SiO2 film, and a Nickel substrate. Dimensions of the twodimensional grating were determined with the Taguchi method, which optimized the spectral absorptance for both polarizations. The spectral absorptance demonstrated a broadband plateau within the visible and the nearinfrared spectral region, but it was significantly suppressed at longer wavelengths. Moreover, the absorptance plateau was nearly insensitive to the incident orientation of solar radiation. Physical mechanisms of the absorption enhancement were elucidated with the local magnetic field distribution.