Performance Assessment and Improvement of Central Receivers Used for Solar Thermal Plants

Albarbar, Alhussein; Arar, Abdullah

doi:10.3390/en12163079

Cited by 26 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 24 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The receiver thermal efficiency improves with a decrease in the diameter of the tube. This is attributed to the reduction in heat loss [19]. The objective at all times is the maximization of flux, while reducing the receiver area.…”

Section: Numericalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical Study of Heat Transfer Enhancement in A Solar Tower Power Receiver, through the Introduction of Internal Fins

Shatnawi¹,

Lim²,

Ismail³

et al. 2020

ARFMTS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In the context of solar tower power, the significance of the receiver has to do with its capacity to convert sun rays into heat. This heat is then conveyed to a heat transfer fluid. The extremely high velocity of the heat transfer fluid, motivates for the use of smart geometry to simultaneously enhance the heat transfer process and strengthen the structure of the tubes. In this study, a new molten salt receiver design was numerically investigated, following the addition of square, rectangular, circular and triangular longitudinal fins, that come at various heights (w=1,2,4 and 6 mm). Molten salt was used as the heat transfer fluid that flown through the receiver tubes with the Reynolds number ranging between 14,000 and 38,000. In comparison to a smooth tube, it was observed that while the inclusion of fins led to a dip in pressure, the overall efficiency level was improved. An increase in the number of fins, led to an improvement in the heat transfer process. The use of four square fins delivered the highest heat transfer enhancement. In the use of a singular fin, a triangular fin with a height of 1 mm delivered the best heat transfer performance. For a similar flow rate and hydraulic area, the triangular fins exhibited a better heat transfer performance than the square, circular and rectangular fins. In terms of the receiver's efficiency, the triangular fins produced the heights efficiency.

show abstract

Section: Numericalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical Study of Heat Transfer Enhancement in A Solar Tower Power Receiver, through the Introduction of Internal Fins

Shatnawi¹,

Lim²,

Ismail³

et al. 2020

ARFMTS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Hence, it is important to improve the structure and layout of the heat transfer tube to improve these problems caused by nonuniform heat flux distribution. Regarding tube structure, some have studied the influence of tube diameter [ 17 , 19 , 20 ], and some scholars have investigated the influence of tube layout, such as the tube loop number [ 15 ]. For example, Wang et al [ 21 ] employed an asymmetric outward convex corrugated tube as the metal tube of a parabolic trough receiver to enhance the tube receiver’s overall heat transfer efficacy and dependability.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Topology Optimization Method of a Cavity Receiver and Built-In Net-Based Flow Channels for a Solar Parabolic Dish Collector

Liu

Chen

et al. 2023

Entropy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The design of a thermal cavity receiver and the arrangement of the fluid flow layout within it are critical in the construction of solar parabolic dish collectors, involving the prediction of the thermal–fluid physical field of the receiver and optimization design. However, the thermal–fluid analysis coupled with a heat loss model of the receiver is a non-linear and computationally intensive solving process that incurs high computational costs in the optimization procedure. To address this, we implement a net-based thermal–fluid model that incorporates heat loss analysis to describe the receiver’s flow and heat transfer processes, reducing computational costs. The physical field results of the net-based thermal–fluid model are compared with those of the numerical simulation, enabling us to verify the accuracy of the established thermal–fluid model. Additionally, based on the developed thermal–fluid model, a topology optimization method that employs a genetic algorithm (GA) is developed to design the cavity receiver and its built-in net-based flow channels. Using the established optimization method, single-objective and multi-objective optimization experiments are conducted under inhomogeneous heat flux conditions, with objectives including maximizing temperature uniformity and thermal efficiency, as well as minimizing the pressure drop. The results reveal varying topological characteristics for different optimization objectives. In comparison with the reference design (spiral channel) under the same conditions, the multi-objective optimization results exhibit superior comprehensive performance.

show abstract

“…Roux et al [21] used the optimized cavity receiver for the direct solar thermal Brayton cycle. Albarbar and Abdullah [22] proposed optimal design for a 20 MWe solar power plant external receiver in northeast Saudi Arabia.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonuniform Heat Transfer Model and Performance of Molten Salt Cavity Receiver

Wang

Ding

2020

Energies

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The temperature distribution and thermal efficiency of a molten salt cavity receiver are investigated by a nonuniform heat transfer model based on thermal resistance analysis. For the cavity receiver MSEE in Sandia National Laboratories, thermal efficiency in this experiment is about 87.5%, and the calculation value of 86.93–87.79% by a present nonuniform model fits very well with the experimental result. Different from the uniform heat transfer model, the receiver surface temperature in the nonuniform heat transfer model is remarkably higher than the backwall temperature. The incident radiation flux plays a primary role in thermal performance of cavity receiver, and thermal efficiency approaches to maximum under optimal incident radiation flux. In order to increase thermal efficiency, various methods are proposed and studied, including heat convection enhancement by an increase of flow velocity or the decrease of the tube diameter and number of tubes in the panel, and heat loss decline by a decrease of view factor, surface emissivity and insulation conductivity. According to calculation results by different modes of the nonuniform heat transfer model, the thermal efficiency of the cavity receiver is reduced by nonuniform heat transfer caused by variable fluid temperature or variable circumferential temperature, so thermal efficiency calculated by variable fluid temperature and variable circumferential temperature is lower than that calculated by average fluid temperature and bilateral uniform circumferential temperature for 0.86%.

show abstract

Performance Assessment and Improvement of Central Receivers Used for Solar Thermal Plants

Cited by 26 publications

References 24 publications

Numerical Study of Heat Transfer Enhancement in A Solar Tower Power Receiver, through the Introduction of Internal Fins

Numerical Study of Heat Transfer Enhancement in A Solar Tower Power Receiver, through the Introduction of Internal Fins

Topology Optimization Method of a Cavity Receiver and Built-In Net-Based Flow Channels for a Solar Parabolic Dish Collector

Nonuniform Heat Transfer Model and Performance of Molten Salt Cavity Receiver

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About