Analysis of heat pipe receivers for point-focus solar concentrators

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:6982299

Adkins, D R

Heat-pipe solar receivers are used to transfer concentrated solar energy from the focal point of a parabolic dish concentrator to the working fluid of a heat engine (or in some instances a chemical reactor). Concentrated solar energy that is collected on the front (absorber) surface of a heat pipe receiver is removed by the evaporation of an intermediate working fluid on the back side of the absorber surface. The vaporized fluid flows to the heater tubes of an engine where it condenses and transfers energy to the heat engine's working fluid. The condensed vapor then returns to the absorber surface where it is redistributed across the surface by a wick. Heat pipes are an attractive option for coupling solar concentrators to heat engines because of their near isothermal operating characteristics and their ability to transfer large amounts of heat from relatively small surface areas. This paper investigates design factors that must be considered in constructing a solar heat pipe receiver. Particular emphasis is placed on designing a wick structure to transport the working fluid across the solar absorber surface, but general issues concerning fluid flow in heat pipe receivers are also presented. Analytical tools for the design of heat-pipe solar receivers are also provided. 18 refs., 11 figs., 3 tabs.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6982299
• Report Number(s): SAND-88-0093C; CONF-880850-3; ON: DE88014519
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140502 -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Thermonic & Thermoelectric conversion
141000* -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
ALKALI METALS
DATA
DESIGN
ELEMENTS
ENERGY TRANSFER
ENGINES
EQUATIONS
EQUIPMENT
FLUID FLOW
FLUID MECHANICS
HEAT ENGINES
HEAT PIPES
HEAT TRANSFER
HYDRAULICS
INFORMATION
MECHANICS
METALS
NUMERICAL DATA
PARABOLIC DISH REFLECTORS
PARABOLIC REFLECTORS
SODIUM
SOLAR CONCENTRATORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR RECEIVERS
SOLAR REFLECTORS