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U.S. Department of Energy
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Small Particle Heat Exchange Receiver - solar test results

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5407847

The Small Particle Heat Exchange Receiver operates by injecting a very small mass of absorbing particles into the working gas. The gas-particle mixture passes into the solar receiver that consists of a hollow chamber with a window. Concentrated sunlight enters through the window and passes into the gas-particle suspension. The particles absorb the sunlight, rapidly transferring the heat to the surrounding gas. The particles may react with the gas to form a clear exhaust. The receiver tested utilized carbon particles in air. The carbon oxidizes after heat exchange. The receiver was tested at the Advanced Component Test Facility (ACTF) where it was mounted on a tower to receiver solar flux up to 200 W/cm/sup 2/ Receiver operation was monitored with thermocouples, pressure transducers, and laser probes that measured the absorption of light by the particle suspension. Major test objectives that were met include oxidation of the particles, proof that concentrated sunlight can be absorbed directly within a working gas by small particle, and proof that a window can be used successfully in a high-temperature environment and that carbon build-up on the window was not a problem. (LEW)

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00098
OSTI ID:
5407847
Report Number(s):
LBL-16748; CONF-830990-4; ON: DE84003043
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English