Pilot-Scale System With Particle-Based Heat Transfer Fluids for Concentrated Solar Power Applications

Concentrated solar power (CSP) is a promising large-scale, renewable power generation and energy storage technology, yet limited by the material properties of the heat transfer fluid. Current CSP plants use molten salts, which degrade above 600°C and freeze below 220°C. A dry, particle-based heat transfer fluid (pHTF) can operate up to and above 1,000°C, enabling high-efficiency power cycles, which may enhance CSP’s commercial competitiveness. Demonstration of the flow and heat-transfer performance of the pHTF in a scalable process is thereby critical to assess the feasibility for this technology. In this study, we report on a first-of-a-kind pilot system to evaluate heat transfer to/from a densely flowing pHTF. This process unit circulates the pHTF at flowrates up to 1 tonne/h. Thermal energy is transferred to the pHTF as it flows through an electrically heated pipe. A fluidization gas in the heated zone enhances the wall-to-pHTF heat transfer rate. We found that the introduction of gas mixtures with thermal conductivities 4.6 times greater than that of air led to a 65% increase in the heat transfer coefficient compared to fluidization by air alone. In addition to the fluidization gas, the particle size also plays a critical role in heat transfer performance. Particles with an average diameter of 270 μm contributed to heat transfer coefficients that were up to 25% greater than the performance of other particles of the same composition in size range of 65 to 350 μm. The considerations for the design of an on-sun system are also discussed. Moreover, the collective work demonstrates the promise of this unique design in solar applications.