Associate Professor Joe Coventry
Research interests
My expertise is in the field of concentrating solar thermal (CST) and thermal energy storage (TES). Present research aims are to advance knowledge and develop technologies with high impact on the competitiveness of CST and TES, to drive uptake and rapid decarbonisation in both power and heavy industrial sectors. Current research projects span the following topics:
- Development of low-cost heliostat technologies
- Sodium receiver technologies
- Optical absorber coatings for CST
- High temperature thermal energy storage
- Hydrogen supply for industry
Biography
Dr Coventry is a researcher and engineer experienced in development and commercialisation of concentrating solar technologies. He is an Associate Professor at ANU, and holds an ANU Translational Fellowship. Prior, he was the Principal Engineer at Wizard Power, and led the engineering team and development of the Big Dish CSP technology. Dr Coventry holds a BE/BSc from the University of Melbourne (1997), and a PhD from the Australian National University (2004).
Researcher's projects
ARENA Transformative Research Accelerating Commercialisation – Ultra low cost solar, “Low-cost integration of on-site PV for large-scale industrial heat supply”. Lead Chief Investigator. Aiming to achieve major savings in PV balance of system costs by re-thinking the way on-site PV is integrated for process heat supply, greatly simplified power electronics, direct electrical heating, thermal storage, and industrial integration.
Heavy Industry Low-Carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre (HILT CRC). The HILT CRC will enable our heavy industry sector to compete in the low-carbon global economy for carbon-neutral materials such as ‘green’ iron, alumina, cement and other processed minerals. Project leadership of the following: "Advancing the viability of high-temperature thermal energy storage for industrial applications", and "Green Hydrogen Supply for Industry". Researcher in the following "Green Heat for Industry", "Hydrogen Ironmaking: fluidised bed H2DRI with Australian focus", "Impact of Hydrogen DRI on Melting in an Electric Furnace", "Lost Production and Variability", "Hydrogen Supply within HILT Regional Hubs", and "Green pyromet/hydromet beneficiation".
Australian Solar Thermal Research Institute (ASTRI) ANU Chief Investigator, Program leader, Project leader. The ASTRI program is the foremost CSP research program in Australia, with 6 university partners plus the CSIRO. ASTRI’s mandate is to develop and demonstrate components, and integrated systems, to rapidly enable economically feasible concentrating solar power generation based on next-generation high temperature technologies. The research portfolio includes collectors, receivers, thermal storage and heat transfer, advanced materials, power systems, process heat (fuels/chemicals), integrated system modelling and technology demonstration.
ANU Translational Fellowship Exploring the potential for Thermal Batteries, both from a market and technology perspective.
ANU Grand Challenge ‘Zero-Carbon Energy for the Asia-Pacific’. Member of the ECI team, and investigator in the Hydrogen Fuels program.
ARC Linkage “Multiscale engineering of durable absorber coatings for solar thermal power”, with industry partners Nano Frontier Technology and Vast Solar. Lead Chief Investigator. The goal is to advance the long-term stability and efficiency of high-temperature absorber coatings for Concentrated Solar Power plants.
US Gen3 “Liquid-Phase Pathway to Sunshot”, led by NREL with many other partners. Representing ASTRI on the leadership team. This is one of three large projects that is part of a USD $62M program to develop next-generation CSP technology.
US Gen3 “Particle Pilot Plant" (G3P3): Integrated High-Temperature Particle System for CSP”, led by Sandia National Laboratories with many other partners.
ARC Linkage "Thermal transport in multi-phase flows for concentrating solar applications", with industry partner Vast Solar This project seeks to advance the field of heat transfer in high-temperature systems involving liquid metals, with emphasis on energy storage and solar power technologies. The concept couples a tubular sodium boiler with a sodium chloride phase-change storage system for continuous energy supply.
Publications
- Li, L, Rahbari, A, Taheri, M et al. 2023, 'Experimental evaluation of an indirectly-irradiated packed-bed solar thermochemical reactor for calcination�carbonation chemical looping', Chemical Engineering Journal, vol. 468, pp. 1-14.
- Lipinski, W, Abbasi Shavazi, E, Chen, J et al. 2021, 'Progress in heat transfer research for high-temperature solar thermal applications', Applied Thermal Engineering, vol. 184.
- Chen, J, Wheeler, V, Liu, B et al. 2021, 'Optical characterisation of alumina-mullite materials for solar particle receiver applications', Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, vol. 230, pp. 1-13.
- Chen, J, Wheeler, V, Liu, B et al. 2021, 'Corrigendum to “Optical characterisation of alumina–mullite materials for solar particle receiver applications�', Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, vol. 231.
- Chen, J, Riaz, A, Taheri, M et al. 2021, 'Optical and radiative characterisation of alumina-silica based ceramic materials for high-temperature solar thermal applications', Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy & Radiative Transfer, vol. 272, pp. 1-11.
- Emes, M, Jafari, A, Pfahl, A et al. 2021, 'A review of static and dynamic heliostat wind loads', Solar Energy, vol. 225, pp. 60-82.
- Emes, M, Jafari, A, Coventry, J et al. 2020, 'The influence of atmospheric boundary layer turbulence on the design wind loads and cost of heliostats', Solar Energy, vol. 207, no. -, pp. 796-812.
- Zheng, M, Zapata Fuentealba, J, Asselineau, C et al. 2020, 'Analysis of tubular receivers for concentrating solar tower systems with a range of working fluids, in exergy-optimised flow-path configurations', Solar Energy, vol. 211, pp. 999-1016.
- Mohan, G, Brahmadesham Venkataraman, M & Coventry, J 2019, 'Sensible energy storage options for concentrating solar power plants operating above 600 degrees C', Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 107, no. -, pp. 319-337.
- Wang, Y, Coventry, J & Pye, J 2019, 'Optical and radiation considerations in bladed receiver designs for central tower systems', 24th SolarPACES International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, SolarPACES 2018, ed. C Richter, American Institute of Physics, TBC, pp. 1-10.
- Rumsey-Hill, N, Pottas, J & Coventry, J 2019, 'Design of efficient stamped mirror facets using topography optimisation', 24th SolarPACES International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, SolarPACES 2018, ed. C Richter, American Institute of Physics, TBC, pp. 1-9.
- Pye, J, Arjomandi, M, Coventry, J et al. 2019, 'Towards testing of a second-generation bladed receiver', 24th SolarPACES International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, SolarPACES 2018, ed. C Richter, American Institute of Physics, TBC, pp. 1-10.
- Asselineau, C, Logie, W, Pye, J et al. 2018, 'Limits of the cylindrical absorber design for a sodium receiver', 23rd International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, SolarPACES 2017, ed. R Mancilla & C Richter, American Institute of Physics (AIP), TBC, pp. 9pp.
- Mohan, G, Brahmadesham Venkataraman, M, Gomez-Vidal, J et al. 2018, 'Thermo-economic analysis of high-temperature sensible thermal storage with different ternary eutectic alkali and alkaline earth metal chlorides', Solar Energy, vol. 176, pp. 350-357.
- Asselineau, C, Coventry, J & Pye, J 2018, 'Exergy analysis of the focal-plane flux distribution of solar-thermal concentrators', Applied Energy, vol. 222, pp. 1023-1032.
- Logie, W, Pye, J & Coventry, J 2018, 'Thermoelastic stress in concentrating solar receiver tubes: A retrospect on stress analysis methodology, and comparison of salt and sodium', Solar Energy, vol. 160, pp. 368-379pp.
- Mohan, G, Brahmadesham Venkataraman, M, Gomez-Vidal, J et al. 2018, 'Assessment of a novel ternary eutectic chloride salt for next generation high-temperature sensible heat storage', Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 167, pp. 156-164pp.
- Niedermeier, K, Marocco, L, Flesch, J et al. 2018, 'Performance of molten sodium vs. molten salts in a packed bed thermal energy storage', Applied Thermal Engineering, vol. 141, pp. 368-377.
- Tsuda, K, Torres, JF & Coventry, J 2018, 'Development of high absorption, high durability coatings for solar receivers in CSP plants', 23rd International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, SolarPACES 2017, ed. R Mancilla & C Richter, American Institute of Physics (AIP), TBC, pp. 8pp.
- Mohan, G, Brahmadesham Venkataraman, M & Coventry, J 2017, 'Thermo-physical properties of NaCI - Na2CO3- NaOH as a high-temperature sensible heat storage medium', ISES Solar World Conference 2017, SWC 2017 and 5th International Conference on Solar Heating and Cooling Conference for Buildings and Industry 2017, SHC 2017, ed. D Renne, S Griffiths, M Romero, K Guthrie & D Mugnier, International Solar Energy Society, TBC, pp. 821-827p.
- Pfahl, A, Coventry, J, Röger, M et al. 2017, 'Progress in heliostat development', Solar Energy, vol. 152, pp. 3-37.
- Pye, J, Coventry, J, Ho, C et al. 2017, 'Optical and thermal performance of bladed receivers', 22nd Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems Conference SolarPACES 2016, ed. A A Obaidli and N Calvet, AIP Publishing LLC, Melville, New York, United States, pp. 1-8pp.
- Pye, J, Coventry, J, Venn, C et al. 2017, 'Experimental Testing of a High-Flux Cavity Receiver', 22nd Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems Conference SolarPACES 2016, ed. A A Obaidli and N Calvet, AIP Publishing LLC, Melville, New York, United States, pp. 1-8pp.
- Hall, C, Pratt, R, Farrant, D et al. 2017, 'Cost analysis of a mini-facet heliostat', 22nd Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems Conference SolarPACES 2016, ed. A A Obaidli and N Calvet, AIP Publishing LLC, Melville, New York, United States, pp. 1-9pp.
- Asselineau, C, Corsi, C, Coventry, J et al. 2017, 'Geometrical exploration of a flux-optimised sodium receiver through multi-objective optimisation', 22nd Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems Conference SolarPACES 2016, ed. A A Obaidli and N Calvet, AIP Publishing LLC, Melville, New York, United States, pp. 1-8pp.
- Hall, C, Pratt, R, Farrant, D et al. 2017, 'Cost Analysis of a Mini-Facet Heliostat', 22nd Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems Conference SolarPACES 2016, ed. A A Obaidli and N Calvet, AIP Publishing LLC, Melville, New York, United States, pp. 1-9pp.
- Asselineau, C, Corsi, C, Coventry, J et al. 2017, 'Geometrical Exploration of a Flux-Optimised Sodium Receiver through Multi-Objective Optimisation', 22nd Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems Conference SolarPACES 2016, ed. A A Obaidli and N Calvet, AIP Publishing LLC, Melville, New York, United States, pp. 1-8pp.
- Coventry, J & Andraka, C 2017, 'Dish systems for CSP', Solar Energy, vol. 152, pp. 140-170pp.
- Coventry, J, Arjomandi, M, Asselineau, C et al. 2017, 'Development of ASTRI high-temperature solar receivers', 22nd Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems Conference SolarPACES 2016, ed. A A Obaidli and N Calvet, AIP Publishing LLC, Melville, New York, United States, pp. 1-9pp.
- Cumpston, J & Coventry, J 2017, 'Derivation of Error Sources from Experimentally Determined Heliostat Surface Shapes', SOLARPACES 2016: International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, ed. Abdulaziz Al Obaidli, Nicolas Calvet, and Christoph Richter, AIP Publishing LLC, New York, pp. 1-8pp.
- Coventry, J & Burge, P 2017, 'Optical properties of Pyromark 2500 coatings of variable thicknesses on a range of materials for concentrating solar thermal applications', SOLARPACES 2016: International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, ed. Abdulaziz Al Obaidli, Nicolas Calvet, and Christoph Richter, AIP Publishing LLC, New York, pp. 030012-1 - 030012-8.
- Logie, W, Pye, J & Coventry, J 2016, 'Thermal Elastic Stress in Sodium Receiver Tubes', Asia-Pacific Solar Research Conference, ed. R Egan and R Passey, Australian PV Institute, Australia, pp. 1-12pp.
- Li, L, Coventry, J, Bader, R et al. 2016, 'Optics of solar central receiver systems: a review', Optics Express, vol. 24, no. 14, pp. A985-A1007pp.
- Nock, I, Logie, W, Coventry, J et al. 2016, 'A computational evaluation of convective losses from bladed solar thermal receivers', Asia-Pacific Solar Research Conference, ed. R Egan and R Passey, Australian PV Institute, Australia, pp. 12pp.
- Wang, Y, Asselineau, CA, Coventry, J & Pye, J 2016, 'Optical performance of bladed receivers for CSP systems', ASME 2016 10th International Conference on Energy Sustainability, ES 2016, collocated with the ASME 2016 Power Conference and the ASME 2016 14th International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology, ASME, TBC, pp. 8pp. doi:10.1115/ES2016-59693
- Coventry, J, Andraka, C, Pye, J et al. 2015, 'A review of sodium receiver technologies for central receiver solar power plants', Solar Energy, vol. 122, pp. 749-762.
- Pye, J, Hughes, G, Abbasi Shavazi, E et al. 2015, 'Development of a Higher-Efficiency Tubular Cavity Receiver for Direct Steam Generation on a Dish Concentrator', SOLARPACES 2015: International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, AIP Publishing LLC, South Africa, pp. 030029 (8pp).
- Coventry, J, Pye, J, Andraka, C et al. 2015, 'Sodium receivers for solar power towers: a review', International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, SolarPACES 2014, ed. Wang Z., Elsevier, TBC, pp. 11pp.
- Coventry, J, Arjomandi, M, Barry, J et al. 2015, 'Development of the ASTRI Heliostat', SOLARPACES 2015: International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, AIP Publishing LLC, South Africa.
- Pye, J, ZHENG, M, Asselineau, C et al. 2015, 'An exergy analysis of tubular solar-thermal receivers with different working fluids', International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, SolarPACES 2014, ed. Wang Z., Elsevier, TBC, pp. 10pp.
- Logie, W, Asselineau, C, Pye, J et al. 2015, 'Temperature and Heat Flux Distributions in Sodium Receiver Tubes', 2015 Asia-Pacific Solar Research Conference, ed. R. Egan, R. Passey, Australian Photovoltaic Institute, Canberra, pp. 10pp.
- Coventry, J & Pye, J 2014, 'Heliostat cost reduction - where to now?', Energy Procedia, vol. 49, pp. 60-70.
- Pye, J, Zapata Fuentealba, J & Coventry, J 2014, 'Improved tubular receivers for point-focus concentrators', Optics for Solar Energy, Optical Society of American (OSA), USA.
- Coventry, J & Blakers, A 2006, 'Direct measurement and simulation techniques for analysis of radiation flux on a linear PV concentrator', Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, vol. 14, pp. 341-352.
- Coventry, J 2005, 'Performance of a concentrating photovoltaic/thermal solar collector', Solar Energy, vol. 78, pp. 211-222.
- Coventry, J, Blakers, A, Franklin, E et al. 2005, 'Analysis of the radiation flux profile along a PV trough concentrator', European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference 2005, ed. W Palz, H Ossenbrink, P Helm, WIP-Renewable Energies, Munich, Germany, pp. 2027-2030.
- Smeltink, J, Blakers, A & Coventry, J 2005, 'Description of 40kW roof mounted PV termal concentrator system', European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference 2005, ed. W Palz, H Ossenbrink, P Helm, WIP-Renewable Energies, Munich, Germany, pp. 2015-2018.
- Coventry, J, Stefancich, M, Antonini, A et al. 2005, 'Analysis of the radiation flux profile of the 100 sun promoteo facetted dish concentrator', European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference 2005, ed. W Palz, H Ossenbrink, P Helm, WIP-Renewable Energies, Munich, Germany, p. 23992402.
- Coventry, J & Lovegrove, K 2003, 'Development of an Approach to Compare the Value of Electrical and Thermal Output from a Domestic PV/Thermal System', Solar World Congress 2001, ed. W.Y. Saman, W.W.S. Charters, Australian and New Zealand Solar Energy Society (ANZSES), Adelaide, pp. 351-361.
- Coventry, J & Lovegrove, K 2003, 'Development of an approach to compare the value of electrical and thermal output from a domestic PV/thermal system', Solar Energy, vol. 75, no. 1, pp. 63-72.
- Coventry, J 2003, 'Performance of the CHAPS Collectors', Australia and New Zealand Solar Energy Society Conference (Solar 2003), ed. Lu Aye, W W S Charters, Australian and New Zealand Solar Energy Society (ANZSES), Melbourne, pp. 144-153.
- Coventry, J 2003, 'An investigation of non-uniformities in the longitudinal radiation flux profile of a single-axis tracking parabolic trough concentrator', Australia and New Zealand Solar Energy Society Conference (Solar 2003), ed. Lu Aye, W W S Charters, Australian and New Zealand Solar Energy Society (ANZSES), Melbourne, pp. 56-68.
- Coventry, J 2003, 'Performance of a concentrating photovoltaic/thermal solar collector', Solar World Congress 2003, ed. Jan-Olof Dalenb?ck, Solar Engergy Association of Sweden, G�teborg, pp. 1-8.
Projects and Grants
Grants information is drawn from ARIES. To add or update Projects or Grants information please contact your College Research Office.
- Sunrise CSP SOW 5 - Dish Optics (Secondary Investigator)
- HILT.RP2.006 - Hydrogen Supply within HILT Regional Hubs H2 Cost and Synergistic Opportunities (Primary Investigator)
- HILT.RP2.008 - Lost production and variability (Secondary Investigator)
- HILT.RP2.009 Advancing the viability of high-temperature thermal energy storage for industrial applications (Primary Investigator)
- Master Collaboration Agreement_ANU-Sunrise CSP Pty Ltd (Secondary Investigator)
- Low-cost integration of on-site PV for large-scale industrial heat supply (Primary Investigator)
- NREL-Led Heliostat Consortium for Research, Development, and Validation (HelioCon) (Primary Investigator)
- HILT.RP1.005 - Hydrogen Ironmaking: fluidised bed HDRI with Australian focus (Secondary Investigator)
- HILT.RP1.004 - Impact of Hydrogen DRI on melting in an electric furnace (Secondary Investigator)
- HILT.RP2.003 - Green heat for industry Program 2: Cross-cutting Technologies (Secondary Investigator)
- HILT.RP2.001 - Green hydrogen supply modelling for industry (Primary Investigator)
- ASTRI P2.5 Thermal Energy Storage System (Primary Investigator)
- Liquid Instruments thermal modelling (Primary Investigator)
- High Temperature Receiver Design and Analysis Package (Secondary Investigator)
- ASTRI - Heliostats (Secondary Investigator)
- ASTRI - Sodium Receiver (Primary Investigator)
- Multi-scale engineering of durable absorber coatings for solar thermal power (Primary Investigator)
- ASTRI - Particle Technologies (Primary Investigator)
- Heliostat Technologies (Primary Investigator)
- ASTRI - Storage Technology options (Primary Investigator)
- Solanova SMILE Solar Receiver (Secondary Investigator)
- A Robotic Vision System for rapid Inspection and Evaluation of Solar Plant Infrastructure (Secondary Investigator)
- ANU & Vast Solar: Collaborative Research Agreement (Primary Investigator)
- Bladed Receivers with Active Airflow Control (Secondary Investigator)
- High-temperature solar thermal energy storage via manganese-oxide based redox cycling (Secondary Investigator)
- ASTRI Collaborative Research Agreement. ASI USASEC Centres - Australian Solar Thermal Research Initiative. (ext. led by CSIRO) (Secondary Investigator)
