A Novel Design of Liquid Volumetric Plated Cavity Receiver for Central Tower Systems

2020 ◽  
Vol 143 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Om Singh ◽  
Kaustubh Bhatwadekar ◽  
N. G. Kartheek ◽  
Shireesh B. Kedare ◽  
Suneet Singh
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Molten Salt ◽  
High Heat ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Solar Salt ◽  
Suitable Candidate ◽  
Storage Devices ◽  
Parallel Arrangement ◽  
High Heat Capacity ◽  
Novel Design

Abstract Previously reported studies have shown that the volumetric receivers have lower radiative and convective losses, leading to higher efficiency. However, the conventional volumetric receivers are difficult to use along with the thermal storage systems, owing to the use of air as the heat transfer fluid. Molten salt, having high heat capacity, emerges as a suitable candidate to be employed as the heat transfer fluid and for storing thermal energy in the storage devices. It is challenging to use the molten salt in the conventional volumetric receiver configuration; therefore, a novel design called Liquid Volumetric Plated Cavity Receiver is proposed, where the solar salt is used as heat transfer fluid. It consists of a parallel arrangement of hollow plates in an open cavity. Solar radiation concentrated by the heliostat field is absorbed on the outer surface of the hollow plates. The heat is then taken away by the molten salt flowing inside the hollow plates. The plates are arranged such that the molten salt gets heated up within the volume of the enclosure, effectively mimicking the heating performance of the volumetric receivers. Using an analytical model for heat losses, it is observed that the losses are very sensitive to the aspect ratio of the aperture and depth of the receiver. The effects of receiver inclination, plate orientations, radiation incident at the aperture, and surface emissivity have been investigated as well. The results show that a Liquid Volumetric Plated Cavity Receiver increases the efficiency (by ∼3%) as compared with that of the simple cubic receiver.

Evaluation of a Molten Salt Heat Transfer Fluid in a Parabolic Trough Solar Field

Solar Energy ◽  
2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Kearney ◽  
U. Herrmann ◽  
P. Nava ◽  
B. Kelly ◽  
R. Mahoney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Molten Salt ◽  
Eutectic Mixture ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Diphenyl Oxide ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Solar Salt ◽  
Electricity Cost ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Solar Field

An evaluation was carried out to investigate the feasibility of utilizing a molten salt as the heat transfer fluid (HTF) and for thermal storage in a parabolic trough solar field to improve system performance and to reduce the levelized electricity cost. The operating SEGS plants currently use a high temperature synthetic oil consisting of a eutectic mixture of biphenyl/diphenyl oxide. The scope of this investigation included examination of known critical issues, postulating solutions or possible approaches where potential problems existed, and the quantification of performance and electricity cost using preliminary, but reasonable, cost inputs. The two leading candidates were the so-called solar salt (a binary salt consisting of 60% NaNO3 and 40% KNO3) and a salt sold commercially as HitecXL (a ternary salt consisting of 48% Ca(NO3)2, 7% NaNO3, and 45% KNO3).

scholarly journals Feasibility Study of Freeze Recovery Options in Parabolic Trough Collector Plants Working with Molten Salt as Heat Transfer Fluid

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 2340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Prieto ◽  
Alfonso Rodríguez-Sánchez ◽  
F. Ruiz-Cabañas ◽  
Luisa Cabeza
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Molten Salt ◽  
Molten Salts ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Operational Experience ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Solar Salt ◽  
Parabolic Trough Collector ◽  
Overall Performance ◽  
Solar Field

Parabolic trough collector (PTC) technology is currently the most mature solar technology, which has led to the accumulation of relevant operational experience. The overall performance and efficiency of these plants depends on several components, and the heat transfer fluid (HTF) is one of the most important ones. Using molten salts as HTFs has the advantage of being able to work at higher temperatures, but it also has the disadvantage of the potential freezing of the HTF in pipes and components. This paper models and evaluates two methods of freeze recovery, which is needed for this HTF system design: Heat tracing in pipes and components, and impedance melting in the solar field. The model is used to compare the parasitic consumption in three molten salts mixtures, namely Solar Salt, HiTec, and HiTec XL, and the feasibility of this system in a freezing event. After the investigation of each of these subsystems, it was concluded that freeze recovery for a molten salt plant is possible.

scholarly journals Performance of Graphite-Dispersed Li2CO3-K2CO3 Molten Salt Nanofluid for a Direct Absorption Solar Collector System

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 375 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Karim ◽  
Majedul Islam ◽  
Owen Arthur ◽  
Prasad KDV Yarlagadda
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Molten Salt ◽  
Solar Collector ◽  
Volume Fraction ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Total Efficiency ◽  
Nanoparticle Volume Fraction ◽  
Direct Absorption ◽  
Solar Salt ◽  
Direct Absorption Solar Collector

Considered to be the next generation of heat transfer fluids (HTFs), nanofluids have been receiving a growing interest over the past decade. Molten salt nanofluids have been shown to have great potential as an HTF for use in high temperature applications such as direct absorption solar collector (DAC) system. Very few studies using molten salt nanofluids as the HTF in a DAC receiver can be found in the open literature. This study aimed to develop a 3D computational fluid dynamics model of the receiver of a DAC using graphite-nanoparticle-dispersed Li2CO3-K2CO3 molten salt nanofluid to investigate the effects of design and operation parameters on receiver performance. Receiver total efficiency using Li2CO3-K2CO3 salt was compared with that using solar salt nanofluid. Spectral properties of the base fluid and nanoparticles were modeled as wavelength-dependent and the absorption of the solar radiation was modeled as a volumetric heat release in the flowing heat transfer fluid. Initial results show that the receiver efficiency increases with increasing solar concentration, decreasing nanoparticle volume fraction, and decreasing receiver length. It was also found that the Carnot efficiency increases with increasing receiver length and nanoparticle volume fraction, and decreasing solar concentration and inlet velocity. Comparative study shows that solar salt HTF could provide higher total efficiency. However, a higher operating temperature of Li2CO3-K2CO3 will allow for a greater amount of thermal energy storage for a smaller volume of liquid.

Conceptual design of porous volumetric solar receiver using molten salt as heat transfer fluid

2021 ◽  
Vol 301 ◽  
pp. 117400
Author(s):  
Shen Du ◽  
Ming-Jia Li ◽  
Ya-Ling He ◽  
Sheng Shen
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Molten Salt ◽  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Solar Receiver

Central Receiver System Solar Power Plant Using Molten Salt as Heat Transfer Fluid

2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Ignacio Ortega ◽  
J. Ignacio Burgaleta ◽  
Félix M. Téllez
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Power Generation ◽  
Molten Salt ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Solar Thermal Power ◽  
Central Receiver ◽  
Spanish Legislation ◽  
Solar Thermal Power Generation

Of all the technologies being developed for solar thermal power generation, central receiver systems (CRSs) are able to work at the highest temperatures and to achieve higher efficiencies in electricity production. The combination of this concept and the choice of molten salts as the heat transfer fluid, in both the receiver and heat storage, enables solar collection to be decoupled from electricity generation better than water∕steam systems, yielding high capacity factors with solar-only or low hybridization ratios. These advantages, along with the benefits of Spanish legislation on solar energy, moved SENER to promote the 17MWe Solar TRES plant. It will be the first commercial CRS plant with molten-salt storage and will help consolidate this technology for future higher-capacity plants. This paper describes the basic concept developed in this demonstration project, reviewing the experience accumulated in the previous Solar TWO project, and present design innovations, as a consequence of the development work performed by SENER and CIEMAT and of the technical conditions imposed by Spanish legislation on solar thermal power generation.

Effect of High Temperatures and Heating Rates on High Strength Concrete for Use as Thermal Energy Storage

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emerson E. John ◽  
W. Micah Hale ◽  
R. Panneer Selvam
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Molten Salt ◽  
High Temperatures ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Heating Rates ◽  
Storage Media ◽  
Concrete Mixtures

In recent years due to rising energy costs as well as an increased interest in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, there is great interest in developing alternative sources of energy. One of the most viable alternative energy resources is solar energy. Concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies have been identified as an option for meeting utility needs in the U.S. Southwest. Areas where CSP technologies can be improved are improved heat transfer fluid (HTF) and improved methods of thermal energy storage (TES). One viable option for TES storage media is concrete. The material costs of concrete can be very inexpensive and the costs/ kWhthermal, which is based on the operating temperature, are reported to be approximately $1. Researchers using concrete as a TES storage media have achieved maximum operating temperatures of 400°C. However, there are concerns for using concrete as the TES medium, and these concerns center on the effects and the limitations that the high temperatures may have on the concrete. As the concrete temperature increases, decomposition of the calcium hydroxide (CH) occurs at 500°C, and there is significant strength loss due to degeneration of the calcium silicate hydrates (C-S-H). Additionally concrete exposed to high temperatures has a propensity to spall explosively. This proposed paper examines the effect of heating rates on high performance concrete mixtures. Concrete mixtures with water to cementitious material ratios (w/cm) of 0.15 to 0.30 and compressive strengths of up to 180 MPa (26 ksi) were cast and subjected to heating rates of 3, 5, 7, and 9° C/min. These concrete mixtures are to be used in tests modules where molten salt is used as the heat transfer fluid. Molten salt becomes liquid at temperatures exceeding 220°C and therefore the concrete will be exposed to high initial temperatures and subsequently at controlled heating rates up to desired operating temperatures. Preliminary results consistently show that concrete mixtures without polypropylene fibres (PP) cannot resist temperatures beyond 500° C, regardless of the heating rate employed. These mixtures spall at higher temperatures when heated at a faster rate (7° C/min). Additionally, mixtures which incorporate PP fibres can withstand temperatures up to 600° C without spalling irrespective of the heating rate.

scholarly journals The numerical simulation of enhanced heat transfer on a Linear Fresnel molten salt-type receiver tube filled with porous media

2019 ◽  
Vol 118 ◽  
pp. 01041
Author(s):  
Chenggang Yang ◽  
Yuning Zhang ◽  
Fenghe Yan ◽  
Wenguang Zhang ◽  
Wei Li
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Porous Media ◽  
Molten Salt ◽  
Temperature Difference ◽  
Wall Temperature ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Filling Rate

In this paper, three-dimensional numerical simulation was taken on a Linear Fresnel solar receiver tube using molten salt as heat transfer fluid (HTF), in which the porous media was filled to enhance the heat transfer efficiency. The simulation was to analyze the influence of the different conditions (filling rate, porosity and thermal conductivity) on heat transfer effect and wall temperature difference. The results revealed that the Nu (Nusselt number) increased firstly and then decreased with the increasing filling rate in both center filling and annular filling types. The optimal thermal performance were obtained when filling rate were 0.8 and 0.2 in center filling and annular filling, respectively. The Nu were about 1.7 and 1.5 times as the clear receiver. The circumferential temperature difference decreased firstly and then increased with filling rate increasing in both center filling and annular filling types. The lowest circumferential temperature differences were achieved at the filling rate 0.8 and 0.4 in center filling and annular filling types, and temperature difference decreased 15.88°C and 22°C compared with clear receiver, respectively. The Nu and PEC both decreased with porosity increasing. However, the thermal conductivity of porous media had little influence to the Nu and circumferential wall temperature.

Assessment of a Molten Salt Heat Transfer Fluid in a Parabolic Trough Solar Field

2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Kearney ◽  
U. Herrmann ◽  
P. Nava ◽  
B. Kelly ◽  
R. Mahoney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Molten Salt ◽  
Mojave Desert ◽  
Storage System ◽  
Eutectic Mixture ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Diphenyl Oxide ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Electricity Cost ◽  
Solar Field

An evaluation was carried out to investigate the feasibility of utilizing a molten salt as the heat transfer fluid (HTF) and for thermal storage in a parabolic trough solar field to improve system performance and to reduce the levelized electricity cost. The operating SEGS (Solar Electric Generating Systems located in Mojave Desert, California) plants currently use a high temperature synthetic oil consisting of a eutectic mixture of biphenyl/diphenyl oxide. The scope of this investigation included examination of known critical issues, postulating solutions or possible approaches where potential problems exist, and the quantification of performance and electricity cost using preliminary cost inputs. The two leading candidates were the so-called solar salt (a binary salt consisting of 60% NaNO3 and 40% KNO3) and a salt sold commercially as HitecXL (a ternary salt consisting of 48% CaNO32, 7% NaNO3, and 45% KNO3). Assuming a two-tank storage system and a maximum operation temperature of 450°C, the evaluation showed that the levelized electricity cost can be reduced by 14.2% compared to a state-of-the-art parabolic trough plant such as the SEGS plants. If higher temperatures are possible, the improvement may be as high as 17.6%. Thermocline salt storage systems offer even greater benefits.

Heat Pipe Solar Receivers for Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Plants

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiding Cao
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Heat Pipe ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
High Heat ◽  
Solar Flux ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Efficient Operation ◽  
High Heat Transfer ◽  
Solar Receiver

This paper introduces separate-type heat pipe (STHP) based solar receiver systems that enable more efficient operation of concentrated solar power plants without relying on a heat transfer fluid. The solar receiver system may consist of a number of STHP modules that receive concentrated solar flux from a solar collector system, spread the high concentrated solar flux to a low heat flux level, and effectively transfer the received heat to the working fluid of a heat engine to enable a higher working temperature and higher plant efficiency. In general, the introduced STHP solar receiver has characteristics of high heat transfer capacity, high heat transfer coefficient in the evaporator to handle a high concentrated solar flux, non-condensable gas release mechanism, and lower costs. The STHP receiver in a solar plant may also integrate the hot/cold tank based thermal energy storage system without using a heat transfer fluid.

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