Development of a Particle Flow Control Mechanism
The next generation of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) systems are utilizing solid particles as the heat transfer medium. The state-of-the-art particle flow control mechanism currently utilized is the slide-gate mechanism which functions by linearly actuating a gate across a tear-drop shaped opening. The sensitivity, which is a measure of the change in mass flow rate per unit movement of the slide-gate, is 0.354 g/s-mm[1]. The slide-gateβs main shortcomings include particle lodging and particle leakage between the plates, and difficulty actuating under the pressure from the particles. The goal of a new device is to minimize or eliminate these flaws. The new proposed device functions similar to a chuck mechanism in a drill where a rotation of an outer ring produces a change in outlet area through moving βjawsβ diagonally. This mechanism aims to solve the issues of the slide-gate by having the jaws on the outside of the particle flow volume to reduce the probability of particle lodging, and the jaw tips are designed to overlap as they actuate to reduce particle leakage. Additionally, the vertical orientation of the device as well as the inclined movement of the jaws allows for easier actuation of the device under pressure. Experiments involving 3D printed prototypes have been carried out, producing a max mass flowrate of about 50 g/s and a sensitivity curve with the equation π¦ (π/π ) = 0.0851π₯^2(π/π βππ2) +3.6993π₯(π/π βππ). These experiments validated the deviceβs capability to address the shortcomings of the slide-gate. Currently, an aluminum model of the device is being tested at room temperature, and a stainless-steel model is being developed to be tested at 700oC, which is the expected operating temperature of the CSP system. Furthermore, simulations are on-going to predict the mass flowrate of different device configurations at room and high temperatures.
- Research Organization:
- The University of Tulsa
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
- DOE Contract Number:
- EE0010251
- OSTI ID:
- 2336689
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Design and Development of a Particle Flow Control Mechanism for Particle-Based CSP System Applications
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