Energy Advantages and Thermodynamic Performance of Scheffler Receivers as Thermal Sources for Solar Thermal Power Generation

Paolo Iodice (), Amedeo Amoresano, Giuseppe Langella and Francesco Saverio Marra
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Paolo Iodice: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale, Università Degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Claudio 21, 80125 Naples, Italy
Amedeo Amoresano: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale, Università Degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Claudio 21, 80125 Naples, Italy
Giuseppe Langella: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale, Università Degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Claudio 21, 80125 Naples, Italy
Francesco Saverio Marra: Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie per l’Energia e la Mobilità Sostenibili, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Guglielmo Marconi 4, 80125 Naples, Italy

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-17

Abstract: This article examines the prospects of Scheffler solar receivers integrated into renewable energy power plants for civil applications. This kind of solar receiver can offer satisfactory energetic performance with acceptable energy conversion efficiency when compared to other technologies to harness solar energy since the high-quality focal receiver can reduce heat losses also supposing great levels of evaporation temperature. In this research, energetic optimization and a broad assessment of Scheffler-type solar receivers are thoroughly conducted for variable sun radiation and considering a broad range of working conditions. To achieve this goal, thermodynamic optimization of the chief factors was attained via a numerical model which calculated the energy efficiency of the Scheffler solar receiver at part-load working conditions by computing all energy losses negatively affecting the heat exchange phase in the cavity receiver. The results obtained in this study show that the solar collector efficiencies of Scheffler receivers appear more promising than that of usual parabolic trough collectors; moreover, Scheffler receivers persisted with less sensitivity to reductions in solar radiation intensity. For these reasons, solar power systems based on Scheffler-type systems can be used from tens to hundreds of kW to ensure the energetic supply of small urban settlements with acceptable efficiency, optimistic investments, simple construction and reduced overall sizes.

Keywords: renewable energy resources; solar thermal power generation; Scheffler solar receiver; energy performance optimization (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: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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