Power efficiency for very high temperature solar thermal cavity receivers
Abstract
This invention is an improved solar energy cavity receiver for exposing materials and components to high temperatures. The receiver includes a housing having an internal reflective surface defining a cavity and having an inlet for admitting solar radiation thereto. A photothermal absorber is positioned in the cavity to receive radiation from the inlet. A reflective baffle is positioned between the absorber and the inlet to severely restrict the re-radiation of energy through the inlet. The front surface of the baffle defines a narrow annulus with the internal reflective surface of the housing. The front surface of the baffle is contoured to reflect incoming radiation onto the internal surface of the housing, from which it is reflected through the annulus and onto the front surface of the absorber. The back surface of the baffle intercepts infrared radiation from the front of the absorber. With this arrangement, a high percentage of the solar power input is retained in the cavity; thus, high internal temperatures are attained.
- Inventors:
-
- LaCanada-Flintridge, CA
- Upland, CA
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 865223
- Patent Number(s):
- 4479485
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F24 - HEATING F24S - SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- DOE Contract Number:
- NAS7100
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- power; efficiency; temperature; solar; thermal; cavity; receivers; improved; energy; receiver; exposing; materials; components; temperatures; housing; internal; reflective; surface; defining; inlet; admitting; radiation; thereto; photothermal; absorber; positioned; receive; baffle; severely; restrict; re-radiation; front; defines; narrow; annulus; contoured; reflect; incoming; reflected; intercepts; infrared; arrangement; percentage; input; retained; attained; internal surface; receive radiation; power input; solar energy; solar radiation; infrared radiation; front surface; reflective surface; internal temperature; power efficiency; solar power; surface defining; improved solar; cavity receiver; thermal cavity; solar thermal; /126/
Citation Formats
McDougal, Allan R, and Hale, Robert R. Power efficiency for very high temperature solar thermal cavity receivers. United States: N. p., 1984.
Web.
McDougal, Allan R, & Hale, Robert R. Power efficiency for very high temperature solar thermal cavity receivers. United States.
McDougal, Allan R, and Hale, Robert R. Sun .
"Power efficiency for very high temperature solar thermal cavity receivers". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/865223.
@article{osti_865223,
title = {Power efficiency for very high temperature solar thermal cavity receivers},
author = {McDougal, Allan R and Hale, Robert R},
abstractNote = {This invention is an improved solar energy cavity receiver for exposing materials and components to high temperatures. The receiver includes a housing having an internal reflective surface defining a cavity and having an inlet for admitting solar radiation thereto. A photothermal absorber is positioned in the cavity to receive radiation from the inlet. A reflective baffle is positioned between the absorber and the inlet to severely restrict the re-radiation of energy through the inlet. The front surface of the baffle defines a narrow annulus with the internal reflective surface of the housing. The front surface of the baffle is contoured to reflect incoming radiation onto the internal surface of the housing, from which it is reflected through the annulus and onto the front surface of the absorber. The back surface of the baffle intercepts infrared radiation from the front of the absorber. With this arrangement, a high percentage of the solar power input is retained in the cavity; thus, high internal temperatures are attained.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1984},
month = {1}
}