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Fluid flow distribution optimization for minimizing the peak temperature of a tubular solar receiver

Author

Listed:
  • Wei, Min
  • Fan, Yilin
  • Luo, Lingai
  • Flamant, Gilles

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Wei, Min & Fan, Yilin & Luo, Lingai & Flamant, Gilles, 2015. "Fluid flow distribution optimization for minimizing the peak temperature of a tubular solar receiver," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 663-677.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:91:y:2015:i:c:p:663-677
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2015.08.072
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Behar, Omar & Khellaf, Abdallah & Mohammedi, Kamal, 2013. "A review of studies on central receiver solar thermal power plants," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 23(C), pages 12-39.
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    6. Zaversky, Fritz & Sánchez, Marcelino & Astrain, David, 2014. "Object-oriented modeling for the transient response simulation of multi-pass shell-and-tube heat exchangers as applied in active indirect thermal energy storage systems for concentrated solar power," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 647-664.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Abedini Najafabadi, Hamed & Ozalp, Nesrin, 2018. "An advanced modeling and experimental study to improve temperature uniformity of a solar receiver," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(PB), pages 984-998.
    2. Maakala, Viljami & Järvinen, Mika & Vuorinen, Ville, 2018. "Optimizing the heat transfer performance of the recovery boiler superheaters using simulated annealing, surrogate modeling, and computational fluid dynamics," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 361-377.
    3. Do, Kyu Hyung & Kim, Taehoon & Han, Yong-Shik & Choi, Byung-Il & Kim, Myungbae, 2017. "Investigation on flow distribution of the fuel supply nozzle in the annular combustor of a micro gas turbine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 361-373.
    4. Daabo, Ahmed M. & Mahmoud, Saad & Al-Dadah, Raya K. & Ahmad, Abdalqader, 2017. "Numerical investigation of pitch value on thermal performance of solar receiver for solar powered Brayton cycle application," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 523-539.
    5. Li, Jieyang & Hu, Jinpeng & Lin, Meng, 2022. "A flexibly controllable high-flux solar simulator for concentrated solar energy research from extreme magnitudes to uniform distributions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    6. Rodríguez-Sánchez, M.R. & Sánchez-González, A. & Santana, D., 2019. "Field-receiver model validation against Solar Two tests," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 43-52.
    7. Wei, Min & Fan, Yilin & Luo, Lingai & Flamant, Gilles, 2017. "Design and optimization of baffled fluid distributor for realizing target flow distribution in a tubular solar receiver," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 126-134.

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