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Title: Preliminary evaluation of the volumetric air-heating receiver

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5352855

The results are reported of a preliminary evaluation of the Volumetric Air Heating Receiver (VAHR). The VAHR is an innovative air heating receiver design for application with point focus central receiver power generation systems or industrial process heat systems. The VAHR concept consists of an array of fin-shaped pins arranged in concentric cylindrical rows around an inlet manifold. Solar radiation from a surrounding heliostat field is focused on the VAHR and is absorbd by the pins. Air is drawn through the array by means of an induced draft fan and is heated by contact with the pins. The outer two rows consist of wedge-shaped pins which reflect radiation into the receiver and reduce reradiation and reflection losses from the interior of the receiver. The interior rows consist of absorbing pins which absorb the solar radiation and transfer the energy to the air being drawn past the pins. Performance calculations indicate that reflection and reradiation losses can be dramatically reduced, when compared to other receiver designs. Convective losses were more difficult to predict, but it appears that convective losses can also be reduced. Combined reflection and reradiation losses were below 2.4% for all receiver designs, including a design suitable for producing process hot air at 1093/sup 0/C.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC06-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
5352855
Report Number(s):
PNL-SA-9295; CONF-811101-24; ON: DE82005881
Resource Relation:
Conference: Winter annual meeting of the ASME Technology and Society Division, Washington, DC, USA, 15 Nov 1981
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English