New solar thermal receiver utilizing a small particle heat exchanger

Conference · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:5980027

Hunt, A J

A dispersion of small absorbing particles forms an ideal system to collect radiant energy from concentrated sunlight to heat a pressurized gas that when expanded through a turbine will produce useful mechanical energy. A new type of solar thermal receiver based on this concept is being developed at LBL that is to be placed at the focus of a central tower or a parabolic dish concentrator system. An open cycle Brayton heat engine utilizing a Small Particle Heat Exchange Receiver (SPHER) operates by compressing ambient air and injecting a very small mass of fine particles into the gas stream. The air particle mixture enters a transparent heating chamber where the solar flux is concentrated. The particles absorb the radiation and because of their very large surface area, quickly release the heat to the surrounding gas. The air-particle mixture continues to heat until the particles vaporize. The optical efficiency of the receiver is 85 to 90% without a cavity and the thermodynamic efficiency of the Brayton cycle is greater than 40%. Calculations of the optical, thermal, and physical processes have been performed; candidate receiver designs and window materials have been determined; and the feasibility demonstrated in the laboratory.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Berkeley (USA). Lawrence Berkeley Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5980027
• Report Number(s): LBL-8520; CONF-790803-32
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140700* -- Solar Thermal Power Systems
BRAYTON CYCLE
BRAYTON CYCLE POWER SYSTEMS
CENTRAL RECEIVERS
CONCENTRATING COLLECTORS
DESIGN
DISTRIBUTED COLLECTOR POWER PLANTS
EFFICIENCY
EVAPORATION
FLUIDS
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT TRANSFER FLUIDS
PARABOLIC COLLECTORS
PARABOLIC DISH COLLECTORS
PARTICLES
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
POWER PLANTS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
SOLAR THERMAL POWER PLANTS
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES
TOWER FOCUS POWER PLANTS