Modeling on-sun tests of a prototype solid particle receiver for concentrating solar power processes and storage.

Conference · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 2009

OSTI ID:957223

Khalsa, Siri Sahib; Siegel, Nathan Phillip; Ho, Clifford Kuofei

A model has been developed to simulate the performance of a prototype solid particle receiver that was recently tested at Sandia National Laboratories. The model includes irradiation from the concentrated solar flux, two-band re-radiation and emission with the cavity, discrete-phase particle transport and heat transfer, gas-phase convection, wall conduction, and radiative and convective heat losses. Simulated temperatures of the particles and cavity walls were compared to measured values for nine on-sun tests. Results showed that the simulated temperature distributions and receiver efficiencies matched closely with trends in experimental data as a function of input power and particle mass flow rate. The average relative error between the simulated and measured efficiencies and increases in particle temperature was less than 10%. Simulations of particle velocities and concentrations as a function of position beneath the release point were also evaluated and compared to measured values collected during unheated tests with average relative errors of 6% and 8%, respectively. The calibrated model is being used in parametric analyses to better understand the impact and interactions of multiple parameters with a goal of optimizing the performance and efficiency of the solid particle receiver.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 957223
• Report Number(s): SAND2009-2740C
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
CONVECTION
DATA
EFFICIENCY
FLOW RATE
HEAT LOSSES
HEAT TRANSFER
IRRADIATION
PERFORMANCE
SANDIA NATIONAL LABORATORIES
SIMULATION
SOLAR FLUX
STORAGE
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION
TRANSPORT