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Gilles Flamant - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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thermal analysis of fluidized particle flows in a finned tube Solar Receiver
Solar Energy, 2019Co-Authors: Le A Gal, B Grange, Michael Tessonneaud, A Perez, Christophe Escape, Jl Sans, Gilles FlamantAbstract:Abstract This paper addresses experimental results on fluidized particle-in-tube Solar Receiver using a finned tube in order to increase wall-to-particle heat transfer. On-sun tests of a single finned tube Solar Receiver were performed at the focus of the 1 MW Solar furnace of Odeillo. Several Solar flux densities and distributions (mean values 236–485 kW/m2) and particle mass flux densities (G = 20–110 kg/m2·s) were tested. A detailed analysis of tube wall and particle temperature distributions and temperature measurement accuracy is proposed. The power extracted by the particle suspension ranges between 17.8 kW and 32 kW and the typical thermal efficiency of this lab-scale Solar Receiver is about 75%. The mean global wall-to-fluidized particle heat transfer coefficient is calculated as 1200 ± 400 W/m2·K for G in the range 30–110 kg/m2·s. The main uncertainty on the heat transfer coefficient is due to uncertainty on wall temperature measurement during on-sun experiments. The range of this uncertainty is estimated by comparing infra-red camera measurements and wall-welded thermocouple data.
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design and optimization of baffled fluid distributor for realizing target flow distribution in a tubular Solar Receiver
Energy, 2017Co-Authors: Gilles FlamantAbstract:This paper presents an original study on the design and optimization of baffled fluid distributor for the realization of optimal fluid flow distribution in a tubular Solar Receiver. The basic idea is to install a perforated baffle in the inlet fluid distributor and to optimize the configuration of orifices on the baffle so as to approach the target flow distribution among downstream parallel tubes. A pressurized-air Solar Receiver comprising of 45 parallel tubes is used for study, with copper or Inconel 600 used as the filling material.
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design and optimization of baffled fluid distributor for realizing target flow distribution in a tubular Solar Receiver
Energy, 2017Co-Authors: Min Wei, Yilin Fan, Lingai Luo, Gilles FlamantAbstract:Abstract This paper presents an original study on the design and optimization of baffled fluid distributor for the realization of optimal fluid flow distribution in a tubular Solar Receiver. The basic idea is to install a perforated baffle in the inlet fluid distributor and to optimize the configuration of orifices on the baffle so as to approach the target flow distribution among downstream parallel tubes. A pressurized-air Solar Receiver comprising of 45 parallel tubes is used for study, with copper or Inconel 600 used as the filling material. Results show that the final fluid flow distributions realized by the geometrically optimized baffles are in good agreement with the target curves. The peak temperature of the Receiver wall can be minimized accordingly with moderate increase in total pressure drop of the Receiver system. It is shown that the insertion of a geometrically optimized baffle is generally a practical solution with various features: capable of realizing non-uniform target distribution; small pressure drop increase; compact geometry; flexible and adaptive; easy fabrication with a reasonable cost, etc.
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On-sun operation of a 150 kWth pilot Solar Receiver using dense particle suspension as heat transfer fluid
Solar Energy, 2016Co-Authors: Inmaculada Pérez López, Hadrien Benoit, Daniel Gauthier, Gilles FlamantAbstract:Previous studies proved the Dense Particle Suspension (DPS) - also called Upward Bubbling Fluidized Bed (UBFB) - could be used as Heat Transfer Fluid (HTF) in a single-tube Solar Receiver. This article describes the experiments conducted on a 16-tube, 150 kWth Solar Receiver using a dense gas-particle suspension (around 30% solid volume fraction) flowing upward as HTF. The Receiver was part of a whole pilot setup that allowed the continuous closed-loop circulation of the SiC particles used as HTF. One hundred hours of on-sun tests were performed at the CNRS 1 MW Solar furnace in Odeillo. The pilot was tested under various ranges of operating parameters: solid mass flow rate (660–1760 kg/h), input Solar power (60–142 kW), and particle temperature before entering the Solar Receiver (40–180 °C). Steady states were reached during the experiments, with continuous circulation and constant particle temperatures. For the hottest case, the mean particle temperature reached 430 °C in the collector fluidized bed, at the Receiver outlet, and it went up to 700 °C at the outlet of the hottest tube, during steady operation. A temperature difference between tubes is observed that is mainly due to the incident Solar flux distribution heterogeneity. The thermal efficiency of the Receiver, defined as the ratio of power transmitted to the DPS in the form of heat over Solar power entering the Receiver cavity, was calculated in the range 50–90% for all the experimental cases. The system transient responses to variations of the Solar irradiation and of the solid mass flow rate are also reported.
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fluid flow distribution optimization for minimizing the peak temperature of a tubular Solar Receiver
Energy, 2015Co-Authors: Gilles FlamantAbstract:High temperature Solar Receiver is a core component of Solar thermal power plants. However, non-uniform Solar irradiation on the Receiver walls and flow maldistribution of heat transfer fluid inside the tubes may cause the excessive peak temperature, consequently leading to the reduced lifetime. This paper presents an original CFD (computational fluid dynamics)-based evolutionary algorithm to determine the optimal fluid distribution in a tubular Solar Receiver for the minimization of its peak temperature. A pressurized-air Solar Receiver comprising of 45 parallel tubes subjected to a Gaussian-shape net heat flux absorbed by the Receiver is used for study. Two optimality criteria are used for the algorithm: identical outlet fluid temperatures and identical temperatures on the centerline of the heated surface. The influences of different filling materials and thermal contact resistances on the optimal fluid distribution and on the peak temperature reduction are also evaluated and discussed.
Shen Du - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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experimental and numerical study on the reflectance losses of the porous volumetric Solar Receiver
Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 2020Co-Authors: Shen Du, Mingjia Li, Yan He, Zengyao LiAbstract:Abstract The reflectance losses are the predominate energy losses in Solar radiation transfer process for the porous volumetric Solar Receiver. However, few studies pay attention to the influence of geometrical parameters of porous media on the reflectance losses, and the data of reflectance losses of porous volumetric Solar Receiver in Solar spectrum is not complete. In this paper, both experimental and numerical simulation methods are applied to comprehensively investigate the reflectance losses of the porous volumetric Solar Receiver. A series of silicon carbide reticulated porous ceramics (SiC RPCs) is fabricated by replica method and recoating technique. The reflectance losses are measured based on UV-VIS-NIR spectrophotometer. Meanwhile, porous models with different geometrical parameters are artificially reconstructed. Monte Carlo Ray Tracing method is used to calculate the total reflectance. The results present that the SiC RPCs exhibit small reflectance losses in the Solar spectrum with a peak at about 420 nm. The geometrical parameters, such as porosity and pore diameter do not change the spectral behavior but only influence the magnitude of the reflectance. Larger porosity and larger pore diameter are beneficial for reducing the reflectance losses. The correlation of the reflectance losses as functions of pore density and porosity has been developed. Furthermore, the influence of the incident angle of radiation on reflectance losses is studied. Relatively large increase is observed as the incident angle is larger than 30°. This phenomenon becomes more obvious for the porous media with larger porosity or larger pore diameter.
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tomography based determination of nusselt number correlation for the porous volumetric Solar Receiver with different geometrical parameters
Renewable Energy, 2019Co-Authors: Shen Du, Zixiang Tong, Honghu Zhang, Yaling HeAbstract:Pore-scale numerical models of the porous volumetric Solar Receiver are established in this paper. By using the X-ray computed tomography and the imaging processing techniques, models of porous media with different geometrical parameters are reconstructed. The conjugate heat transfer process in the porous volumetric Solar Receiver is solved based on the direct pore-scale numerical simulation. The turbulent effect of fluid flow inside porous geometry is considered by the Shear-Stress Transport k-ω model and the absorbed Solar energy is simulated by following the Beer's law. The results present that the inlet velocity and the geometrical parameters influence the thermal performance of the porous volumetric Solar Receiver. Larger inlet velocity tends to enhance the convective heat transfer between fluid and solid phases meanwhile decreases noticeably the overall temperature. Receiver with larger porosity is preferred because it limits the reflection losses. The Nusselt number increases as the porosity becomes larger. As a result, the general correlation of Nusselt number for the porous volumetric Solar Receiver is derived as a function of porosity and Reynolds number. This correlation is applicable with the porosity ranging from 0.74 to 0.89 and the pore Reynolds number ranging from 3 to 233.
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optimization method for the porous volumetric Solar Receiver coupling genetic algorithm and heat transfer analysis
International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 2018Co-Authors: Shen Du, Yaling He, Weiwei YangAbstract:Abstract The porous volumetric Solar Receiver shows advantages such as the volumetric absorption of Solar radiation and the enhanced convective heat transfer. However, few studies were focused on the selection of the appropriate parameters of the Receiver to improve its performance. In this contribution, an optimization method which couples the genetic algorithm and the heat transfer analysis of the porous volumetric Solar Receiver is proposed. The fluid flow and heat transfer in the Receiver are evaluated by the volume-averaging simulation method based on the local thermal non-equilibrium model. By combining with the genetic algorithm, the Solar Receiver with high thermal efficiency and low flow resistance could be identified. The single-objective optimization results present that larger porosity and higher inlet velocity are preferable to improve the thermal efficiency of the porous volumetric Solar Receiver. The optimized pore size increases with the increase of the thickness of the Receiver and the decrease of the inlet velocity. Meanwhile, the porosity and the pore size are optimized simultaneously through the multi-objective optimization. The Pareto front which indicates the Receiver with relatively lower flow resistance and relatively higher thermal efficiency is derived.
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optical and radiative properties analysis and optimization study of the gradually varied volumetric Solar Receiver
Applied Energy, 2017Co-Authors: Shen Du, Yaling HeAbstract:Abstract The volumetric Solar Receiver is an important component of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) system. In recent years, some studies concerned with the novel structures of the volumetric Solar Receiver have been conducted. In this paper, a gradually-varied volumetric Solar Receiver is proposed. The major feature of this structure is its porosity which decreases gradually from the front surface to the rear surface. Based on the modified random spherical bubbles method, a 3D computational model of this porosity-changed Solar Receiver is reconstructed. In addition, by combining with the Monte Carlo Ray Tracing (MCRT) method, the optical and radiative properties of this Receiver are investigated. The results show that the reflection loss could be reduced owing to the lower reflectivity of this structure. It also outperforms in Solar energy absorption compared with the uniform structures that are examined in this paper and exhibits a uniform Solar radiative flux distribution inside the Receiver. Finally, with the use of genetic algorithm, the porosity distribution of the gradually-varied volumetric Solar Receiver is further optimized, which leads to a much larger penetration depth of Solar radiation. These results suggest that the gradually-varied porous structure provides a novel design method to enhance the Solar radiation absorption and the volumetric absorption of a volumetric Solar Receiver.
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pore scale numerical simulation of fully coupled heat transfer process in porous volumetric Solar Receiver
Energy, 2017Co-Authors: Shen Du, Mingjia Li, Qi Liang, Yaling HeAbstract:A fully coupled heat transfer model at pore-scale of volumetric Solar Receiver is established in this paper. The X-ray computed tomography technique is applied to reconstruct the porous structure. By generating the voxel mesh and coupling with the Monte Carlo Ray Tracing method, the energy source due to the Solar radiation could be determined and then added to the unstructured CFD mesh. The governing equations are solved by the commercial CFD software FLUENT. The results show that the details of the fluid flow and heat transfer in volumetric Solar Receiver are successfully captured. The pressure drop correlation corresponds satisfactorily to the previous study. The local convective heat transfer coefficient varies in a small range along the inlet fluid flow direction inside volumetric Solar Receiver and the average Nusselt number could be correlated to a power function of the Reynolds number. The radiation transfer inside the porous media is visualized and thermal radiation loss is evident at the entrance of the Solar Receiver. The proportion taken by radiation in the total heat transfer is determined as a function of the average temperature of porous skeleton.
Yaling He - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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tomography based determination of nusselt number correlation for the porous volumetric Solar Receiver with different geometrical parameters
Renewable Energy, 2019Co-Authors: Shen Du, Zixiang Tong, Honghu Zhang, Yaling HeAbstract:Pore-scale numerical models of the porous volumetric Solar Receiver are established in this paper. By using the X-ray computed tomography and the imaging processing techniques, models of porous media with different geometrical parameters are reconstructed. The conjugate heat transfer process in the porous volumetric Solar Receiver is solved based on the direct pore-scale numerical simulation. The turbulent effect of fluid flow inside porous geometry is considered by the Shear-Stress Transport k-ω model and the absorbed Solar energy is simulated by following the Beer's law. The results present that the inlet velocity and the geometrical parameters influence the thermal performance of the porous volumetric Solar Receiver. Larger inlet velocity tends to enhance the convective heat transfer between fluid and solid phases meanwhile decreases noticeably the overall temperature. Receiver with larger porosity is preferred because it limits the reflection losses. The Nusselt number increases as the porosity becomes larger. As a result, the general correlation of Nusselt number for the porous volumetric Solar Receiver is derived as a function of porosity and Reynolds number. This correlation is applicable with the porosity ranging from 0.74 to 0.89 and the pore Reynolds number ranging from 3 to 233.
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optimization method for the porous volumetric Solar Receiver coupling genetic algorithm and heat transfer analysis
International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 2018Co-Authors: Shen Du, Yaling He, Weiwei YangAbstract:Abstract The porous volumetric Solar Receiver shows advantages such as the volumetric absorption of Solar radiation and the enhanced convective heat transfer. However, few studies were focused on the selection of the appropriate parameters of the Receiver to improve its performance. In this contribution, an optimization method which couples the genetic algorithm and the heat transfer analysis of the porous volumetric Solar Receiver is proposed. The fluid flow and heat transfer in the Receiver are evaluated by the volume-averaging simulation method based on the local thermal non-equilibrium model. By combining with the genetic algorithm, the Solar Receiver with high thermal efficiency and low flow resistance could be identified. The single-objective optimization results present that larger porosity and higher inlet velocity are preferable to improve the thermal efficiency of the porous volumetric Solar Receiver. The optimized pore size increases with the increase of the thickness of the Receiver and the decrease of the inlet velocity. Meanwhile, the porosity and the pore size are optimized simultaneously through the multi-objective optimization. The Pareto front which indicates the Receiver with relatively lower flow resistance and relatively higher thermal efficiency is derived.
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pore scale numerical simulation of fully coupled heat transfer process in porous volumetric Solar Receiver
Energy, 2017Co-Authors: Shen Du, Mingjia Li, Qi Liang, Yaling HeAbstract:A fully coupled heat transfer model at pore-scale of volumetric Solar Receiver is established in this paper. The X-ray computed tomography technique is applied to reconstruct the porous structure. By generating the voxel mesh and coupling with the Monte Carlo Ray Tracing method, the energy source due to the Solar radiation could be determined and then added to the unstructured CFD mesh. The governing equations are solved by the commercial CFD software FLUENT. The results show that the details of the fluid flow and heat transfer in volumetric Solar Receiver are successfully captured. The pressure drop correlation corresponds satisfactorily to the previous study. The local convective heat transfer coefficient varies in a small range along the inlet fluid flow direction inside volumetric Solar Receiver and the average Nusselt number could be correlated to a power function of the Reynolds number. The radiation transfer inside the porous media is visualized and thermal radiation loss is evident at the entrance of the Solar Receiver. The proportion taken by radiation in the total heat transfer is determined as a function of the average temperature of porous skeleton.
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optical and radiative properties analysis and optimization study of the gradually varied volumetric Solar Receiver
Applied Energy, 2017Co-Authors: Shen Du, Yaling HeAbstract:Abstract The volumetric Solar Receiver is an important component of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) system. In recent years, some studies concerned with the novel structures of the volumetric Solar Receiver have been conducted. In this paper, a gradually-varied volumetric Solar Receiver is proposed. The major feature of this structure is its porosity which decreases gradually from the front surface to the rear surface. Based on the modified random spherical bubbles method, a 3D computational model of this porosity-changed Solar Receiver is reconstructed. In addition, by combining with the Monte Carlo Ray Tracing (MCRT) method, the optical and radiative properties of this Receiver are investigated. The results show that the reflection loss could be reduced owing to the lower reflectivity of this structure. It also outperforms in Solar energy absorption compared with the uniform structures that are examined in this paper and exhibits a uniform Solar radiative flux distribution inside the Receiver. Finally, with the use of genetic algorithm, the porosity distribution of the gradually-varied volumetric Solar Receiver is further optimized, which leads to a much larger penetration depth of Solar radiation. These results suggest that the gradually-varied porous structure provides a novel design method to enhance the Solar radiation absorption and the volumetric absorption of a volumetric Solar Receiver.
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numerical study on the optical and radiative properties of the gradually varied volumetric Solar Receiver
Energy Procedia, 2017Co-Authors: Shen Du, Yaling He, Peiwen LiAbstract:Abstract The volumetric Solar Receiver is one important component of the Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) system. In this paper, a gradually-varied volumetric Solar Receiver is proposed. Based on a modified random generation method, a 3D model of this type of Solar Receiver is reconstructed. With the use of Monte Carlo Ray Tracing method (MCRT), the optical and radiative properties of this novel structure are investigated. The result shows that the radiative heat loss could be reduced owing to the lower reflectivity of this novel structure. It also outperforms in the photon absorption compared with the uniform structures that was examined in this paper. Furthermore, a more ideal photon distribution inside the structure is exhibited by the gradually-varied volumetric Solar Receiver.
Aldo Steinfeld - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Numerical Heat Transfer Analysis of a 50 kW th Pressurized-Air Solar Receiver
2020Co-Authors: Simon Ackermann, Aldo SteinfeldAbstract:A high-temperature pressurized-air Solar Receiver, designed for driving a Brayton cycle, consists of a cylindrical SiC cavity and a concentric annular reticulated porous ceramic (RPC) foam enclosed by a steel pressure vessel. Concentrated Solar energy is absorbed by the cavity and transferred to the pressurized air flowing across the RPC by combined conduction, convection, and radiation. The governing mass, momentum, and energy conservation equations are numerically solved by coupled Monte Carlo (MC) and finite volume (FV) techniques. Model validation was accomplished with experimental data obtained with a 50 kW th modular Solar Receiver prototype. The model is applied to elucidate the major heat loss mechanisms and to study the impact on the Solar Receiver performance caused by changes in process conditions, material properties, and geometry. For an outlet air temperature range 700-1000 C and pressure range 4-15 bar, the thermal efficiency-defined as the ratio of the enthalpy change of the air flow divided by the Solar radiative power input through the aperture-exceeds 63% and can be further improved via geometry optimization. Reradiation is the dominant heat loss
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numerical heat transfer analysis of a 50 kwth pressurized air Solar Receiver
Journal of Solar Energy Engineering-transactions of The Asme, 2015Co-Authors: Peter Poživil, Simon Ackermann, Aldo SteinfeldAbstract:A high-temperature pressurized-air Solar Receiver, designed for driving a Brayton cycle, consists of a cylindrical SiC cavity and a concentric annular reticulated porous ceramic (RPC) foam enclosed by a steel pressure vessel. Concentrated Solar energy is absorbed by the cavity and transferred to the pressurized air flowing across the RPC by combined conduction, convection, and radiation. The governing mass, momentum, and energy conservation equations are numerically solved by coupled Monte Carlo (MC) and finite volume (FV) techniques. Model validation was accomplished with experimental data obtained with a 50 kWth modular Solar Receiver prototype. The model is applied to elucidate the major heat loss mechanisms and to study the impact on the Solar Receiver performance caused by changes in process conditions, material properties, and geometry. For an outlet air temperature range 700-1000€‰°C and pressure range 4-15 bar, the thermal efficiency - defined as the ratio of the enthalpy change of the air flow divided by the Solar radiative power input through the aperture - exceeds 63% and can be further improved via geometry optimization. Reradiation is the dominant heat loss.
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A Pressurized Air Receiver for Solar-driven Gas Turbines☆
Energy Procedia, 2014Co-Authors: Peter Poživil, V. Aga, A. Zagorskiy, Aldo SteinfeldAbstract:Abstract A pressurized air-based Solar Receiver is considered for power generation via gas turbines using concentrated Solar energy. The modular Solar Receiver is designed for heating compressed air to the entrance conditions of a gas turbine in the pressure range 4 – 30 bar and temperature range 800 – 1200 °C. The development work involved the design, fabrication, testing, and modelling of a 3 kWth and a 35 kWth Solar Receiver prototypes. System integration of an array of modular Solar Receivers with fossil-fuel hybridization was analysed.
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Analysis of Conduction Heat Loss From a Parabolic Trough Solar Receiver with Active Vacuum by Direct Simulation Monte Carlo
Numerical Heat Transfer Part A: Applications, 2012Co-Authors: Matthew Roesle, Philipp Good, Volkan Coskun, Aldo SteinfeldAbstract:Results are reported of a numerical analysis of conduction heat loss from a parabolic trough Solar Receiver with controlled pressure within the annular gap between the tubular absorber and the glass vacuum jacket. A direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC)model of rarefied gas within the annular gap is coupled to radiation heat transfer for directional- and spectral-dependent concentrated incident Solar radiation. This modeling approach is valid for high Knudsen numbers, and consistently predicts slightly higher heat loss than a continuum model using slip boundary conditions in the range of pressures of interest around 1 Pa. 3-D simulations of axial flow through the annular gap predict higher gas conductance by the DSMC method than by slip flow models, with values converging as pressure increases.
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indirectly irradiated Solar Receiver reactors for high temperature thermochemical processes
Journal of Solar Energy Engineering-transactions of The Asme, 2002Co-Authors: Christian Wieckert, Anton Meier, Aldo SteinfeldAbstract:A Solar Receiver-reactor concept for high-temperature thermochemical applications involving gas and condensed phases is presented. It features two cavities in series. The inner cavity is an enclosure, e.g. made of graphite, with a small aperture to let in concentrated Solar power. It serves as the Solar Receiver, radiant absorber, and radiant emitter. The outer cavity is a well-insulated enclosure containing the inner cavity. It serves as the reaction chamber and is subjected to thermal radiation from the inner cavity. The advantages of such a two-cavity reactor concept are outlined. A radiation heat transfer analysis based on the radiosity enclosure theory is formulated and results are presented in the form of generic curves that indicate the design constraints. High energy absorption efficiency can be achieved by minimizing the aperture area, by maximizing the size of the inner cavity, and by constructing it from a material of high emissivity.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Pradip Dutta - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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coupled modeling of a directly heated tubular Solar Receiver for supercritical carbon dioxide brayton cycle structural and creep fatigue evaluation
Applied Thermal Engineering, 2016Co-Authors: Jesus D Ortega, Joshua M Christian, Sagar D Khivsara, Pradip DuttaAbstract:A supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO(2)) Brayton cycle is an emerging high energy-density cycle undergoing extensive research due to the appealing thermo-physical properties of sCO(2) and single phase operation. Development of a Solar Receiver capable of delivering sCO(2) at 20 MPa and 700 degrees C is required for implementation of the high efficiency (similar to 50%) Solar powered sCO(2) Brayton cycle. In this work, extensive candidate materials are review along with tube size optimization using the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. Temperature and pressure distribution obtained from the thermal-fluid modeling (presented in a complementary publication) are used to evaluate the thermal and mechanical stresses along with detailed creep-fatigue analysis of the tubes. The resulting body stresses were used to approximate the lifetime performance of the Receiver tubes. A cyclic loading analysis is performed by coupling the Strain-Life approach and the Larson-Miller creep model. The structural integrity of the Receiver was examined and it was found that the stresses can be withstood by specific tubes, determined by a parametric geometric analysis. The creep-fatigue analysis displayed the damage accumulation due to cycling and the permanent deformation on the tubes showed that the tubes can operate for the full lifetime of the Receiver. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
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coupled modeling of a directly heated tubular Solar Receiver for supercritical carbon dioxide brayton cycle optical and thermal fluid evaluation
Applied Thermal Engineering, 2016Co-Authors: Jesus D Ortega, Julius Yellowhair, Joshua M Christian, Sagar D Khivsara, Pradip DuttaAbstract:Single phase performance and appealing thermo-physical properties make supercritical carbon dioxide (s-CO2) a good heat transfer fluid candidate for concentrating Solar power (CSP) technologies. The development of a Solar Receiver capable of delivering s-CO2 at outlet temperatures similar to 973 K is required in order to merge CSP and s-CO2 Brayton cycle technologies. A coupled optical and thermal-fluid modeling effort for a tubular Receiver is undertaken to evaluate the direct tubular s-CO2 Receiver's thermal performance when exposed to a concentrated Solar power input of similar to 0.3-0.5 MW. Ray tracing, using SolTrace, is performed to determine the heat flux profiles on the Receiver and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) determines the thermal performance of the Receiver under the specified heating conditions. An in-house MATLAB code is developed to couple SolTrace and ANSYS Fluent. CFD modeling is performed using ANSYS Fluent to predict the thermal performance of the Receiver by evaluating radiation and convection heat loss mechanisms. Understanding the effects of variation in heliostat aiming strategy and flow configurations on the thermal performance of the Receiver was achieved through parametric analyses. A Receiver thermal efficiency similar to 85% was predicted and the surface temperatures were observed to be within the allowable limit for the materials under consideration. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
