LINEAR FOCUSING TECHNOLOGIES UNIT

Eduardo Zarza Moya – Professor

Ph.D. Industrial Engineering, University of Seville, Spain.

Technical coordinator of Plataforma Solar de Almería.

Senior researcher in concentrating solar thermal energy. With expertise in the technology of parabolic trough collectors, including development of components, investigation of new working fluids for solar receivers (direct steam generation, CO2, etc.) and solar thermal systems applications. Coordinator of the GT1 of the Spanish standardization committee AEN/CTN206 and member of Scientific Committee of ESTELA. Spanish representative at the Executive Committee of SolarPACES.

Loreto Valenzuela Gutiérrez - Senior Researcher

Ph.D, Almería University, Spain. B.Sc. Physics, Granada University, Spain. B.Sc. Electronics Engineering, Granada University, Spain.

Senior researcher in line-focus concentrating solar collectors technology (parabolic troughs and linear Fresnel reflectors). Experience in design, modelling, testing and evaluation, process control design, and applications of parabolic troughs.

Angel Morales Sabio – Senior Researcher

Ph.D. Chemical Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Spain.

Responsible of the laboratory of Advanced Optical Coatings.

Senior researcher in preparation of selective solar absorbers and anti-reflective coatings for solar thermal applications and catalysts for photo and thermo-catalytic applications. Experience in preparing coatings by sol-gel techniques, electro-less and dip-coating.

Gema San Vicente Domingo – Senior Researcher

Ph.D. Chemical Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Spain.

Senior researcher in anti-reflective coatings for solar energy applications working in the laboratory of Advanced Optical Coatings.

Experience in preparing sol-gel coatings, their characterization, and durability testing of optical coatings.

Lourdes González Martínez – Senior Researcher

B.Sc. Physics (specialty Electronics), Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain.

Senior researcher in line-focus concentrating solar collectors technology (parabolic troughs and linear Fresnel reflectors).

Experience in sizing and modeling of solar fields with parabolic troughs and in energy production analysis of facilities with line-focus solar collectors (solar thermal power plants and industrial process heat).

Javier León Alonso – Facility Engineer

Industrial Engineer, Polytechnic University of Madrid, Spain.

O&M manager of test facilities with parabolic troughs at PSA.

Strong experience (>30 years) in the development, operation and maintenance of test facilities. Experience in evaluation of prototypes, components, and new applications of line-focus solar collectors.

Aránzazu Fernández García – Researcher

Ph.D., University of Almería, Spain.
B.Sc. Industrial Engineering, University of Malaga, Spain.

Responsible of the laboratory of Solar Reflectors (OPAC).

Experience in optical characterization and durability analysis of solar reflectors and optimization of cleaning techniques for concentrating solar thermal plants.

Mario Biencinto Murga – Researcher

PhD, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), Madrid, Spain
B.Sc.Telecommunications Engineering, Polytechnic University of Madrid, Spain.

Researcher in line-focus concentrating solar collectors technology (parabolic troughs and linear Fresnel reflectors).

Experience in modeling, simulation and energy production analysis of facilities with line-focus solar collectors (power plants and facilities for industrial process heat).

Rafael López Martin – Researcher

B.Sc. Physics, University of Granada, Spain.

Researcher in line-focus concentrating solar collectors technology (parabolic troughs and linear Fresnel reflectors).

Experience in testing and evaluation of parabolic troughs and their components (reflectors and receiver tubes).

David Argüelles Arizcun – Project engineer

Industrial Engineer, Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain

Project engineer with experience in the development of experimental facilities for testing medium temperature solar thermal systems and components.

Technician in optical characterization and durability analysis of solar reflectors and optimization of cleaning systems.

Luis Manuel Domínguez López – Researcher

PhD, Chemical Sciences (spec.in Chemical Engineering), Complutense University of Madrid, Spain.

Project for the development of an experimental installation with pressurized water for the testing of line-focus solar collectors.

Previous experience in coal-fired power plants.

Nuria German Cordero – Laboratory technician

2nd level Professional Training, specializing in Chemistry.

Research Assistant in optical characterization techniques, microscopy and durability tests in the laboratory of Advaced Optical Coatings.

Experience in preparation of coatings by sol-gel techniques and dip-coating.

Lucía Martínez Arcos – Laboratory technician

2nd level Professional Training with specialties in “Chemistry” and “Analysis and Quality Control”.

Technician of the laboratory of Solar Reflectors (OPAC).

Experience in optical characterization and analysis of solar reflectors to know its durability and resistance to weather conditions both real and accelerated in climatic chambers.

Diego Pulido Iparraguirre – PhD student (University of Antofagasta, Chile)

B.Sc. Mechanical Engineer, Member of the Centro de Desarrollo Energético of the University of Antofagasta, Chile.

PhD Thesis in progress.

Design, construction and testing of a prototype of linear Fresnel reflector for industrial process heat applications.

Francisco Buendía Martínez – PhD student (CIEMAT)

B.Sc. Chemical Sciences, University of Córdoba (Spain).

PhD Thesis in progress.

Service life prediction of primary and secondary reflectors for concentrated solar energy technologies by accelerated aging testing.