Thermal performance characteristics of a tessellated-impinging central receiver

Abstract

Current central receiver Concentrating Solar Power plants using molten salt as a heat transfer fluid add heat at around 565 °C in a power plant. Adding heat at a higher temperature can improve the thermodynamic performance and may reduce the cost of power. One way to achieve this is by using pressurized air solar receivers. Current receivers have achieved thermal efficiencies of around 80% at an outlet temperature of 800 °C. This paper investigates a novel central receiver technology that makes use of a tessellated array of heat transfer units. The units employ impingement heat transfer within a concave surface. The receiver can be scaled for a desired thermal rating by the number of heat transfer units. The convolution-projection flux modelling approach is used to model and project an incoming flux distribution on the receiver’s surface. This flux distribution is interpreted by a Computational Fluid Dynamics model as a volumetric heat source. Radiative and convective heat losses are considered. An initial performance outlook estimates that an outlet temperature of 801 °C can be reached at a thermal efficiency of 59% and an exterior surface temperature of 1142 °C for an aperture flux of 635 kW/m2. A limitation is an insufficient exterior surface area to absorb the incoming flux which causes a high surface temperature and thermal losses. Similar thermal performance is estimated at high and low pressures, with increased pumping losses at low pressures. The efficiency may be improved by taking advantage of a larger surface area relative to the aperture area.