Development and testing of advanced central receivers

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/IECEC.1989.74745· OSTI ID:6123145

Chavez, J. M.

Advanced central receiver concepts are currently being investigated as part of the US Department of Energy solar thermal research program. In the last 12 years many studies and test programs have been carried out to develop and demonstrate the viability of central receiver power plants using the tube-receivers with molten-nitrate-salt and steam. However, studies of advanced receiver concepts, such as the molten nitrate salt direct absorption receivers and volumetric air receivers, have shown their potential to be simpler and cheaper than conventional tube-receivers. In a direct absorption receiver, the heat-absorbing fluid (a blackened molten nitrate salt) flows in a thin, wavy film down a flat, vertical panel (rather than through tubes) and absorbs the concentrated solar flux directly. The volumetric air receiver design uses a porous absorber, on which the solar energy is concentrated. Air flows through the absorber, convectively transferring energy from the absorber to the air. In this paper, the concepts, advantages, status, and test results of both the direct absorption receiver and the volumetric receiver are discussed. 16 refs., 7 figs.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6123145
• Report Number(s): SAND-89-1474C; CONF-890815-11; ON: DE89013498
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140702* -- Solar Thermal Power Systems-- Central Receiver
CENTRAL RECEIVERS
DESIGN
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY TRANSFER
EQUIPMENT
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT TRANSFER
HELIOSTATS
MOLTEN SALTS
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SALTS
SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR RECEIVERS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TESTING