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An air-based corrugated cavity-receiver for solar parabolic trough concentrators

Author

Listed:
  • Bader, Roman
  • Pedretti, Andrea
  • Barbato, Maurizio
  • Steinfeld, Aldo

Abstract

A tubular cavity-receiver that uses air as the heat transfer fluid is evaluated numerically using a validated heat transfer model. The receiver is designed for use on a large-span (9m net concentrator aperture width) solar parabolic trough concentrator. Through the combination of a parabolic primary concentrator with a nonimaging secondary concentrator, the collector reaches a solar concentration ratio of 97.5. Four different receiver configurations are considered, with smooth or V-corrugated absorber tube and single- or double-glazed aperture window. The collector’s performance is characterized by its optical efficiency and heat loss. The optical efficiency is determined with the Monte Carlo ray-tracing method. Radiative heat exchange inside the receiver is calculated with the net radiation method. The 2D steady-state energy equation, which couples conductive, convective, and radiative heat transfer, is solved for the solid domains of the receiver cross-section, using finite-volume techniques. Simulations for Sevilla/Spain at the summer solstice at solar noon (direct normal solar irradiance: 847Wm−2, solar incidence angle: 13.9°) yield collector efficiencies between 60% and 65% at a heat transfer fluid temperature of 125°C and between 37% and 42% at 500°C, depending on the receiver configuration. The optical losses amount to more than 30% of the incident solar radiation and constitute the largest source of energy loss. For a 200m long collector module operated between 300 and 500°C, the isentropic pumping power required to pump the HTF through the receiver is between 11 and 17kW.

Suggested Citation

  • Bader, Roman & Pedretti, Andrea & Barbato, Maurizio & Steinfeld, Aldo, 2015. "An air-based corrugated cavity-receiver for solar parabolic trough concentrators," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 337-345.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:138:y:2015:i:c:p:337-345
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.10.050
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    Cited by:

    1. Ahmed, K. Arshad & Natarajan, E., 2020. "Numerical investigation on the effect of toroidal rings in a parabolic trough receiver with the operation of gases: An energy and exergy analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    2. Lin, Meng & Reinhold, Jan & Monnerie, Nathalie & Haussener, Sophia, 2018. "Modeling and design guidelines for direct steam generation solar receivers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 761-776.
    3. Alireza Rafiei & Reyhaneh Loni & Gholamhassan Najafi & Talal Yusaf, 2020. "Study of PTC System with Rectangular Cavity Receiver with Different Receiver Tube Shapes Using Oil, Water and Air," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-24, April.
    4. Manikandan, G.K. & Iniyan, S. & Goic, Ranko, 2019. "Enhancing the optical and thermal efficiency of a parabolic trough collector – A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 1524-1540.
    5. Mohamad, Khaled & Ferrer, P., 2019. "Parabolic trough efficiency gain through use of a cavity absorber with a hot mirror," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 1250-1257.
    6. Michael, Jee Joe & Iqbal, S. Mohamed & Iniyan, S. & Goic, Ranko, 2018. "Enhanced electrical performance in a solar photovoltaic module using V-trough concentrators," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 605-613.
    7. Daabo, Ahmed M. & Mahmoud, Saad & Al-Dadah, Raya K., 2016. "The optical efficiency of three different geometries of a small scale cavity receiver for concentrated solar applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 1081-1096.
    8. Ogunmodimu, Olumide & Okoroigwe, Edmund C., 2018. "Concentrating solar power technologies for solar thermal grid electricity in Nigeria: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 104-119.
    9. Fouad, Aya & Galal, Abdelrahman & Dessoki, Khaled & Eldakamawy, Mohamed H. & Hassan, Muhammed A. & Araji, Mohamad T., 2024. "Influence of geometric design variables on the performance of a novel V-shaped cavity receiver," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    10. Yılmaz, İbrahim Halil & Mwesigye, Aggrey, 2018. "Modeling, simulation and performance analysis of parabolic trough solar collectors: A comprehensive review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 135-174.
    11. Liang, Hongbo & Zhu, Chunguang & Fan, Man & You, Shijun & Zhang, Huan & Xia, Junbao, 2018. "Study on the thermal performance of a novel cavity receiver for parabolic trough solar collectors," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C), pages 790-798.
    12. Shakeel, Mohammad Raghib & Mokheimer, Esmail M.A., 2022. "A techno-economic evaluation of utility scale solar power generation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(PA).
    13. Liang, Hongbo & Fan, Man & You, Shijun & Xia, Junbao & Zhang, Huan & Wang, Yaran, 2018. "An analysis of the heat loss and overheating protection of a cavity receiver with a novel movable cover for parabolic trough solar collectors," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 719-729.
    14. Jing-hu, Gong & Yong, Li & Jun, Wang & Lund, Peter, 2023. "Performance optimization of larger-aperture parabolic trough concentrator solar power station using multi-stage heating technology," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    15. Liang, Qi & He, Ya-Ling & Ren, Qinlong & Zhou, Yi-Peng & Xie, Tao, 2018. "A detailed study on phonon transport in thin silicon membranes with phononic crystal nanostructures," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C), pages 731-741.

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