Contact Professor Chris Sansom
- Email: c.l.sansom@cranfield.ac.uk
- ORCID
Areas of expertise
- Renewable Energy
Background
Professor Christopher Sansom gained his BSc from Liverpool University, and his PhD from Sussex University for research into the optical properties of infrared detectors. During a research career in industry and academia that has spanned over twenty-five years he has also gained two postgraduate diplomas, one in "Manufacturing Management and Technology" and a second in "Higher Education Teaching and Learning", and is a Black-Belt Six Sigma practitioner. He is currently Professor of Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) and Head of the Centre for Renewable Energy Systems (CRES) at Cranfield.Research opportunities
We are always interested in research proposals on topics related to renewable energy technologies and applications. In particular we welcome proposals related to concentrating solar power and its applications for power generation, heating, cooling, industrial process heat, and thermal desalination. Thermal energy storage, including PCM and thermochemical materials, is also a core area for our research.
Current activities
Dr Sansom's current research activities are in CSP (Concentrating Solar Power), solar thermal materials and applications, thermal energy storage, and thermal energy harvesting. Spearheading UK research on CSP, his current projects include concentrating solar power for electrical power generation, solar collector characterisation and ageing evaluation, polymer films for solar power plant heliostats and line-focus solar collectors, linear Fresnel community scale CSP, heliostat design and manufacture, solar thermal heating and cooling, solar driven desalination and water purification, thermal storage, and nanostructured thermo-electric devices for energy harvesting. Current collaborations include work with Egypt, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Libya, Jordan, Algeria, Tunisia, and Pakistan. He currently supervises three PhD students, eight taught MSc student projects, an MSc by Research student, all on CSP or solar thermal related research topics. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA); a Member of the International Solar Energy Society (ISES), and the sole UK representative on the EERA (European Energy Research Alliance) Joint Programme on CSP (Concentrating Solar Power). Dr Sansom also lectures on Solar Radiation - Fundamentals and Models, Solar Power: Thermal Collector Types, Applications of Solar Thermal, Solar Energy - CSP/PV Materials and Applications, Energy Harvesting, and Statistical Techniques in an industrial environment.
Current projects include:
- H2020: LCE-11-2017 Grant no. 792103 “SOLWARIS” – “Solving Water issues for CSP plants”
- IUK: Energy Catalyst 7: “A CSP and TFG hybrid energy system”
- IUK: SIF1 No. 78689 “Low carbon heating and cooling with PCM storage and gender-based temperature-based regulation for public and commercial buildings”.
- IUK: SIF1 No. 79783 “HH-Gen: High performance green hydrogen generation from solar energy” – short focus parabolic cline optics CSP
- H2020: LC-SC3-RES-20 Grant no. 101022686 “DESOLINATION” – Demonstration of concentrated solar power coupled with advanced an desalination system in the Gulf region
Past projects include:
- FP7-ENERGY-2010-2, Project Number 268219, MATS - "Multipurpose applications by Thermodynamic Solar".
- FP7-ENERGY-2012-1, Project Number 308792, FRESH NRG - "Fresnel for Solar Heat with New Receiver and Geometry"
- FP7-ENERGY-2013-IRP, Proposal Number 609837, STAGE STE - "Scientific and Technical Alliance for Guaranteeing the European Excellence in Concentrating Solar Thermal Energy"
EU project 654479 – WASCOP “Water Saving in CSP plants”
British Council funded project “Off-grid integrated water and energy systems for water treatment potable and non-potable) in Israel, Palestine and Jordan”.
EU Project 731287 INSHIP “Integrating National Research Agendas on Solar Heat for Industrial Processes
”EPSRC Grant Ref: EP/P03103X/1; “Solar Oil”
EPSRC Grant Ref: EP/P031072/1 “Solar Steam: A novel application of Fresnel lenses as a solar thermal collector to benefit industry”.
Clients
Current clients include:
- Solar Water plc
- EGB Engineering
- Phycofeed
- EnSo Impact
FOXX AM Pty Ltd
Rothon Research Limited
Recoup Energy Solutions Ltd
TFG Global Power
Focal Sun
Eider Investors
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Ochella S, Shafiee M & Sansom C (2022) An RUL-informed approach for life extension of high-value assets, Computers and Industrial Engineering, 171 (September) Article No. 108332.
- Ochella S, Shafiee M & Sansom C (2021) Adopting machine learning and condition monitoring P-F curves in determining and prioritizing high-value assets for life extension, Expert Systems with Applications, 176 (August) Article No. 114897.
- Hussaini Z, King P & Sansom C (2020) Design and configuration of solar thermal multi-tower field layout, AIP Conference Proceedings, 2303 (1) Article No. 030021.
- King P, Sansom C, Almond H, Karim M & Idiazabal L (2020) Simulation of the effect of dust barriers on the reduction of mirror soiling in CSP plants, AIP Conference Proceedings, 2303 (1) Article No. 210004.
- Bennett A, Sansom C, King P, Gobey K & Merkle H (2020) Cleaning concentrating solar power mirrors without water, AIP Conference Proceedings, 2303 (1) Article No. 210001.
- Karim M, Almond H, Sansom C, Balta-Ozkan N, Mirzania P & King P (2020) The effect of concentrated solar power plants on the socio-economic and livelihood assets of the local community and environment, AIP Conference Proceedings, 2303 (1) Article No. 150010.
- King P, Sansom C & Comley P (2020) Photogrammetry for concentrating solar collector form measurement, validated using a coordinate measuring machine, Sustainability, 12 (1) Article No. 196.
- Abdulkarim HT, Sansom CL, Patchigolla K & King P (2020) Statistical and economic analysis of solar radiation and climatic data for the development of solar PV system in Nigeria, Energy Reports, 6, Suppl 1 309-316.
- Hussaini ZA, King P & Sansom C (2020) Numerical simulation and design of multi-tower concentrated solar power fields, Sustainability, 12 (6) Article No. 2402.
- Shafiee M, Alghamdi A, Sansom C, Hart P & Encinas-Oropesa A (2020) A through-life cost analysis model to support investment decision-making in concentrated solar power projects, Energies, 13 (7) Article No. 1553.
- Sansom C, Tonnellier X, King P & Almond H (2019) Concentrating Fresnel lens technology for thermal desalination, AIP Conference Proceedings, 2126 (1) Article No. 230003.
- King P, Sansom C, Almond H & Abdulkarim H (2019) An experimental investigation into factors affecting the soiling of glass mirrors, AIP Conference Proceedings, 2126 (1) Article No. 160004.
- Jakubczyk EM, Mapp A, Chung CC, Sansom CL, Jones JL & Dorey RA (2019) Enhancing thermoelectric properties of NaCo2O4 ceramics through Na pre-treatment induced nano-decoration, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 788 (June) 91-101. Dataset/s: 10.15126/surreydata.7035587
- Bouaddi S, Fernandez-Garcia A, Sansom C, Sarasua JA, Wolfertstetter F, Bouzekri H, Sutter F & Azpitarte I (2019) A review of conventional and innovative-sustainable methods for cleaning reflectors in concentrating solar power plants, Sustainability, 10 (11) Article No. 3937.
- Tawfik M, Tonnellier X & Sansom C (2018) Light source selection for a solar simulator for thermal applications: A review, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 90 (July) 802-813.
- Sansom C, King P, Fernández-García A, Almond H, Kayani T & Boujjat H (2018) The design of dust barriers to reduce collector mirror soiling in CSP plants, AIP Conference Proceedings, 2033 (1) Article No. 030017.
- Pearce M, Tonnellier X, Sengar N & Sansom C (2018) Commercial development of bio-combustible fuels from hydrothermal liquefaction of waste using solar collectors, AIP Conference Proceedings, 2033 (1) Article No. 130011.
- Sansom C, Fernández-García A, King P, Sutter F & Segura AG (2017) Reflectometer comparison for assessment of back-silvered glass solar mirrors, Solar Energy, 155 496-505.
- Perini S, Tonnellier X, King P & Sansom C (2017) Theoretical and experimental analysis of an innovative dual-axis tracking linear Fresnel lenses concentrated solar thermal collector, Solar Energy, 153 (September) 679-690.
- Sansom C, Almond H, King P, Endaya E & Bouaichaoui S (2017) Airborne sand and dust soiling of solar collecting mirrors, AIP Conference Proceedings, 1850 Article No. 130011.
- Fernández-García A, Sutter F, Martínez-Arcos L, Sansom C, Wolfertstetter F & Delord C (2017) Equipment and methods for measuring reflectance of concentrating solar reflector materials, Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 167 (August) 28-52.
- Pearce M, Shemfe M & Sansom C (2016) Techno-economic analysis of solar integrated hydrothermal liquefaction of microalgae, Applied Energy, 166 19-26.
- Sansom C, Fernández-García A, Sutter F, Almond H, King P & Martínez-Arcos L (2016) Soiling and cleaning of polymer film solar reflectors, Energies, 9 (12) Article No. 1006.
- Atkinson C, Sansom CL, Almond HJ & Shaw CP (2015) Coatings for concentrating solar systems - A review, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 45 113-122.
- Sansom C, Comley P, Bhattacharyya D & Macerol N (2014) A comparison of polymer film and glass collectors for concentrating solar power, Energy Procedia, 49 209-219.
- Sansom CL, Jones P, Dorey RA, Beck C, Stanhope-Bosumpim A & Peterson J (2013) Synthesis and characterization of Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 and Fe3O4 nanoparticle ferrofluids for thermo-electric conversion, Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, 335 159-162.
- King P, Comley P & Sansom C (2013) Parabolic trough surface form mapping using photogrammetry and its validation with a large Coordinate Measuring Machine, Energy Procedia, 49 118-125.
- Sansom C & Shore P (2011) Training ultra precision engineers for UK manufacturing industry, Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, 24 (Nov).
- Sansom CL & Shore P (2009) The Integrated Knowledge Centre: A Partnership Between UK Higher Education and Engineering Industry, Journal of the World Universities Forum, 2 (4) 85-98.
- Sansom C & Shore P (2008) Case study: Meeting the demand for skilled precision engineers, Education and Training, 50 (6) 516-529.
Conference Papers
- Ochella S, Shafiee M & Sansom C (2021) Requirements for standards and regulations in AI-enabled prognostics and health management. In: 2021 26th International Conference on Automation and Computing (ICAC), Portsmouth, 2-4 September 2021.
- Wolfertstetter F, Wilbert S, Terhag F, Hanrieder N, Fernandez-Garciá A, Sansom C, King P, Zarzalejo L & Ghennioui A (2019) Modelling the soiling rate: Dependencies on meteorological parameters. In: SolarPACES 2018: International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, Casablanca, 2-5 October 2018.
- Sansom C, Fernández-García A, Sutter F, Almond H & King P (2016) Contact cleaning of polymer film solar reflectors. In: SolarPACES 2015, Cape Town, 13-16 October 2015.
- Sansom C, Comley P, King P, Almond H, Atkinson C & Endaya E (2015) Predicting the effects of sand erosion on collector surfaces in CSP plants. In: SolarPACES 2014, Beijing, 16-19 September 2014.
- Sansom C, Comley P, King P, Almond H, Atkinson C & Endaya E (2015) Predicting the effects of sand erosion on collector surfaces in CSP plants. In: SolarPACES 2014, Beijing, 16-19 September 2014.
- Sansom C, Tonnellier X, Read R, Nicholls J & Dorey R (2014) Design and fabrication of a coating research machine to explore the nanometer scale coating of glass tubes for Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) systems. In: 14th International Conference and Exhibition of the European Society for Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology (EUSPEN 2014), Dubrovnik, 2-6 June 2014.
- Sansom C, Dorey R, Jones P, Peterson J & Jakubczyk E (2011) Extending the functionality and efficiency of energy storage tanks in solar power plants. In: Solar Paces 2011, Granada, 20 September 2011.
- Sansom C & Shore P (2009) Precision engineering for optical applications: Knowledge Transfer into UK industry. In: 11th International Topical Meeting on Education & Training in Optics and Photonics : ETOP 2009, St. Asaph, 5-7 July 2009.
