Performance analysis and preliminary design optimization of a Small Particle Heat Exchange Receiver for solar tower power plants

Abstract

A multidisciplinary design optimization of the 5 MW th , demonstration-scale Small Particle Heat Exchange Receiver (SPHER) developed under the U.S. DOE SunShot Initiative is presented. SPHER is a revolutionary, high-temperature central receiver designed to drive a Brayton cycle or combined-cycle CSP plant that is expected to increase the overall efficiency of solar plants. The design space considered here consists of the geometry of the window, the lateral wall angle of the receiver, and the radiative properties of the walls. As a result of the optimization, the receiver efficiency is increased by 6% with respect to the baseline design.

On-sun demonstration of a 750 °C heat transfer fluid for concentrating solar systems: Dense particle suspension in tube

“…The Small Particle Heat Exchanger Receiver (SPHER) concept was demonstrated at lab-scale by Frederickson et al (2014) with a solar simulator: the outlet of the mixed air-CO 2 gas flow reached 800°C. Performance evaluation of a 5 MW th SPHER demonstrator was presented by Fernandez and Miller (2015). Gas temperatures up to 1200°C with receiver thermal efficiency of 85% seems attainable.…”

Review of solid particle materials for heat transfer fluid and thermal energy storage in solar thermal power plants

“…At 1000°C, CARBO HSP changes considerably after only 24 hours, dropping from 93% to 91%, while emissivity decays from 85% to 84%. In contrast, at 700°C the change takes place considerably slower …”

“…In contrast, at 700 C the change takes place considerably slower. 48 At long term, the absorptance can be reduced below 85% critical point at 1000 C, while for 700 C remains above 92%. Composition analysis by X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed evidence of small chemical transformations in the bauxite crystalline F I G U R E 1 1 Two-dimensional 4 step sintering model 45 F I G U R E 1 2 Si particles partially sintered 45 phases, containing oxides of aluminum, silicon, titanium, and iron.…”

A review of high-temperature particle receivers for concentrating solar power

“…Abdelrahman et al [63] and Hunt [64] first introduced this concept in 1979, and Hunt and Brown [65] performed tests on a prototype receiver that heated the air to 1000 K. Miller and Koenigsdorff [66,67] developed theoretical analyses and thermal modelling of the small particle solar receiver. Additional modeling and design optimization of the small particle heating receiver were performed in recent years as well [68][69][70][71]. Potential advantages include the following: solar radiation is absorbed throughout the gas volume due to the large cumulative surface area of the particles; higher incident fluxes with no solid absorber that can be damaged; particles are oxidized leaving a particle free outlet stream [66].…”