A solid particle central receiver for solar energy

Journal Article · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Chem. Eng. Prog.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5861596

Hruby, J M; Steele, B R

Solar central receiver systems utilize mirrors to reflect and focus the sunlight onto a receiver that resides on top of a centrally located tower. By redirecting the sunlight in this manner, the solar flux at the receiver surface can be equivalent to hundreds of suns. A working fluid in the receiver is heated by absorbing the solar radiation. This fluid can then be used to produce electricity or incorporated into products as process heat. Currently, the working fluids in a solar central receiver are gases or liquids that flow through tubes heated by the solar radiation. An example of such a system is the water/steam central receiver system located near Barstow, California, which produces electrical energy. Other common working fluids include molten salts, molten metals, and air. A novel concept for a central receiver currently being examined employs sand-size refractory particles that freefall in a cavity receiver. A conceptual design of a solid particle receiver is shown. The solid particle central receiver is being evaluated for high-temperature (greater than 550/sup 0/C) applications of solar energy. The advantages of a solid particle receiver over traditional fluid-in-tube receivers are: 1) the particles can directly absorb solar radiation and 2) the particles maintain their integrity at high temperatures. These advantages, coupled with the possibility that the particles can serve as the storage medium, could provide a cost-effective means of high-temperature solar energy utilization. High temperatures are attractive for fuels and chemicals production, industrial process heat applications, or Brayton cycle electricity generation.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Livermore, CA
• OSTI ID: 5861596
• Journal Information: Chem. Eng. Prog.; (United States), Journal Name: Chem. Eng. Prog.; (United States) Vol. 82:2; ISSN CEPRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140702* -- Solar Thermal Power Systems-- Central Receiver
AIR
BARSTOW SOLAR PILOT PLANT
CENTRAL RECEIVERS
DESIGN
ELEMENTS
ENERGY
FLUIDS
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
GASES
HEAT
HEAT TRANSFER FLUIDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
METALS
MIRRORS
MOLTEN SALTS
OPERATION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PILOT PLANTS
POWER PLANTS
PROCESS HEAT
SALTS
SOLAR FLUX
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
SOLAR PROCESS HEAT
SOLAR RECEIVERS
SOLAR THERMAL POWER PLANTS
STEAM
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TOWER FOCUS POWER PLANTS
WATER