Numerical Heat Transfer Analysis of a 50 kWth Pressurized-Air Solar Receiver

Autor:	Aldo Steinfeld, P. Poživil, Simon Ackermann
Rok vydání:	2015
Předmět:	Convection Thermal efficiency Materials science Renewable Energy Sustainability and the Environment business.industry Nanofluids in solar collectors Compressed air Airflow Energy Engineering and Power Technology Mechanical engineering Mechanics Solar energy Thermal conduction Heat transfer business
Zdroj:	Journal of Solar Energy Engineering. 137
ISSN:	1528-8986 0199-6231
DOI:	10.1115/1.4031536
Popis:	A high-temperature pressurized-air solar receiver, designed for driving a Brayton cycle, consists of a cylindrical SiC cavity and a concentric annular reticulated porous ceramic (RPC) foam enclosed by a steel pressure vessel. Concentrated solar energy is absorbed by the cavity and transferred to the pressurized air flowing across the RPC by combined conduction, convection, and radiation. The governing mass, momentum, and energy conservation equations are numerically solved by coupled Monte Carlo (MC) and finite volume (FV) techniques. Model validation was accomplished with experimental data obtained with a 50 kWth modular solar receiver prototype. The model is applied to elucidate the major heat loss mechanisms and to study the impact on the solar receiver performance caused by changes in process conditions, material properties, and geometry. For an outlet air temperature range 700–1000 °C and pressure range 4–15 bar, the thermal efficiency—defined as the ratio of the enthalpy change of the air flow divided by the solar radiative power input through the aperture—exceeds 63% and can be further improved via geometry optimization. Reradiation is the dominant heat loss.
Databáze:	OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz:	https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=doi_________::c2d06d68175daf1d28fcfcae186da228 https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4031536 Zobrazit plný text záznamu