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Title: Solar energy receiver

Patent ·
OSTI ID:863212

An improved long-life design for solar energy receivers provides for greatly reduced thermally induced stress and permits the utilization of less expensive heat exchanger materials while maintaining receiver efficiencies in excess of 85% without undue expenditure of energy to circulate the working fluid. In one embodiment, the flow index for the receiver is first set as close as practical to a value such that the Graetz number yields the optimal heat transfer coefficient per unit of pumping energy, in this case, 6. The convective index for the receiver is then set as closely as practical to two times the flow index so as to obtain optimal efficiency per unit mass of material.

Research Organization:
Sanders Associates, Inc
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-C-02-2823
Assignee:
Sanders Associates, Inc. (Nashua, NH)
Patent Number(s):
US 4121564
OSTI ID:
863212
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English