Sand has been utilized as a sensible thermal energy storage medium, heat transfer material, and solar absorber material for different solar thermal technologies. In this study, we examine Arabian desert sands (Nafud, Dahna, and southwestern AlRub’AlKhali deserts) to identify optimal thermal energy storage and solar radiation absorption properties. Samples were grouped into three classes: quartzose feldspar-bearing (AlRub’AlKhali desert), quartzose carbonate-bearing (eastern Dahna corridor), and pure quartzose sands (occupying most of Nafud and Dahna deserts). Feldspar in quartzose sand causes a decrease in specific heat capacity, decrease in vitrifying temperature, and decrease in spectral absorbance relative to pure quartzose sand. Calcite in quartzose sand causes a significant reduction of specific heat capacity, change in grain-size distribution, and decrease in spectral absorbance relative to pure quartzose sand. The purest quartzose sands (≥99% quartz) have the best thermo-physical and thermo-optical properties. These pure quartzose sands have the highest specific heat capacity, do not agglomerate up to 1200 °C, and have the highest spectral absorbance after heating to 1200 °C. The purest quartzose sands occupy the southwestern part of the Nafud desert. Sand of this area is proposed to be the best candidate of all Arabian sands to be used as a sensible thermal energy storage medium and solar absorber material.

沙子已被用作不同太阳能热技术的显热储能介质、传热材料和太阳能吸收材料。在这项研究中，我们检查了阿拉伯沙漠（Nafud、Dahna 和西南 AlRub'AlKhali 沙漠），以确定最佳的热能储存和太阳辐射吸收特性。样品分为三类：含石英长石（AlRub'AlKhali 沙漠）、含石英碳酸盐（达赫纳走廊东部）和纯石英砂（占纳夫德和达纳沙漠的大部分）。与纯石英砂相比，石英砂中的长石会导致比热容降低、玻璃化温度降低和光谱吸光度降低。石英砂中的方解石会导致比热容显着降低，粒度分布的变化，以及相对于纯石英砂的光谱吸光度降低。最纯的石英砂（≥99% 的石英）具有最好的热物理和热光特性。这些纯石英砂具有最高的比热容，高达 1200°C 时不会结块，加热至 1200°C 后具有最高的光谱吸光度。最纯净的石英砂位于纳福德沙漠的西南部。该地区的沙子被认为是所有阿拉伯沙子中用作显热储能介质和太阳能吸收材料的最佳候选者。1200℃以下不结块，加热至1200℃后光谱吸光度最高。最纯净的石英砂位于纳福德沙漠的西南部。该地区的沙子被认为是所有阿拉伯沙子中用作显热储能介质和太阳能吸收材料的最佳候选者。1200℃以下不结块，加热至1200℃后光谱吸光度最高。最纯净的石英砂位于纳福德沙漠的西南部。该地区的沙子被认为是所有阿拉伯沙子中用作显热储能介质和太阳能吸收材料的最佳候选者。