Upscaling, Manufacturing and Test of a Centrifugal Particle Receiver

Abstract

Previous successful tests and promising results of a Centrifugal Particle Receiver (CentRec) for high temperature solar applications has been achieved in a lab scale prototype with 7.5 kWth [1, 2, 3]. In a next step this receiver technology is scaled up to higher thermal power for a future pilot plant. This paper presents the optimization methodology of the design and technical solutions. It describes the manufacturing and assembly of the prototype and first tests and results of the commissioning including cold particle tests and prototype costs. Finally the paper gives an outlook on the planned further steps regarding hot lab tests and solar tests.

Operational experience of a centrifugal particle receiver prototype

“…Therefore part of the particle mass flow is retained inside a measuring cup to be able to measure the particle temperature inside a small particle bed. A more detailed description of the receiver (design and manufacturing including measurement system and former pre-tests) and the particle loop test setup are given in [5], [6] and [8].…”

“…· Proof-of-Concept with a receiver prototype of 7.5 kWth power in a solar furnace [4]. · Upscaling of the receiver to 2.5 MW th power in a commercial setup for a future pilot plant [5]. · Lab tests of a 2.5 MWth receiver prototype with infrared heaters [5,6].…”

“…· Upscaling of the receiver to 2.5 MW th power in a commercial setup for a future pilot plant [5]. · Lab tests of a 2.5 MWth receiver prototype with infrared heaters [5,6]. · On-sun test of the prototype up to 965°C receiver outlet temperature in a test setup in the research platform of the Juelich Solar Tower (STJ) [7] in Juelich, Germany [8].…”

Solar tower system temperature range optimization for reduced LCOE

“…The receiver technology is based on the centrifugal particle receiver technology CentRec ® [5]. This receiver technology is currently under development at DLR.…”

“…The aperture area Aap and the tilt angle vary according to the selected temperature range and are determined during the solar system optimization. A simplified receiver model is considered, with the absorbed power Pr,abs defined as a function of intercepted power Pr,int and receiver exit temperature Tr,ex by (5) with effective solar absorptivity = 0.95, effective thermal emissivity = 0.9 and a convective heat loss coefficient of h = 30 W/m²K. Note that in this correlation all temperatures must be used in [K].…”