Shaping High Efficiency, High Temperature Cavity Tubular Solar Central Receivers

Ronny Gueguen, Benjamin Grange, Françoise Bataille, Samuel Mer and Gilles Flamant
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Ronny Gueguen: Processes, Materials and Solar Energy Laboratory, PROMES-CNRS, 7, rue du Four Solaire, 66120 Font-Romeu, France
Benjamin Grange: Processes, Materials and Solar Energy Laboratory, PROMES-CNRS, 7, rue du Four Solaire, 66120 Font-Romeu, France
Françoise Bataille: PROMES-CNRS Laboratory, Engineering Science department, University of Perpignan (UPVD), Tecnosud, Rambla de la Thermodynamique, 66100 Perpignan, France
Samuel Mer: PROMES-CNRS Laboratory, Engineering Science department, University of Perpignan (UPVD), Tecnosud, Rambla de la Thermodynamique, 66100 Perpignan, France
Gilles Flamant: Processes, Materials and Solar Energy Laboratory, PROMES-CNRS, 7, rue du Four Solaire, 66120 Font-Romeu, France

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 18, 1-24

Abstract: High temperature solar receivers are developed in the context of the Gen3 solar thermal power plants, in order to power high efficiency heat-to-electricity cycles. Since particle technology collects and stores high temperature solar heat, CNRS (French National Center for Scientific Research) develops an original technology using fluidized particles as HTF (heat transfer fluid). The targeted particle temperature is around 750 °C, and the walls of the receiver tubes, reach high working temperatures, which impose the design of a cavity receiver to limit the radiative losses. Therefore, the objective of this work is to explore the cavity shape effect on the absorber performances. Geometrical parameters are defined to parametrize the design. The size and shape of the cavity, the aperture-to-absorber distance and its tilt angle. A thermal model of a 50 MW hemi-cylindrical tubular receiver, closed by refractory panels, is developed, which accounts for radiation and convection losses. Parameter ranges that reach a thermal efficiency of at least 85% are explored. This sensitivity analysis allows the definition of cavity shape and dimensions to reach the targeted efficiency. For an aperture-to-absorber distance of 9 m, the 85% efficiency is obtained for aperture areas equal or less than 20 m 2 and 25 m 2 for high, and low convection losses, respectively.

Keywords: concentrated solar power; solar power tower; cavity solar receiver; shape optimization; particle technology; high temperature; thermal efficiency; sensitivity analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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