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Analysis and improvement of solar flux distribution inside a cavity receiver based on multi-focal points of heliostat field

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  • Yu, Qiang
  • Wang, Zhifeng
  • Xu, Ershu

Abstract

The strong flux variations distributed on the surfaces of receiver during its service life can intensify material aging and thus deteriorate the thermal performance of material. Generally, the single focal point heliostat field, i.e., focusing at the centre of the aperture of a cavity receiver, could possibly result in an irregular flux distribution, which would have a very high peak value of flux density on the inner sides of the cavity receiver at a certain time of sun tracking. In order to give a maximum protection to the central receiver, in this paper, by taking the 1MWe “DAHAN” solar tower power plant as the investigating subject, a multi-focal point model for finding the optimum configuration of focal points using an arbitrary heliostat has been developed. Based on the model, the pattern of solar flux distribution for different zones of the heliostat field is investigated to study how the pattern changes with date and time. From the simulation results, a new grouping method for the layout of the focal points of a heliostat field inside the cavity receiver is proposed. Then a popular optimization algorithm based on the TABU meta-heuristic method is developed to find the optimal flux distribution on the receiver surface. The objective is to flatten the flux distribution as much as possible by changing the aiming points of different groups. Simulation results show that the new multi-focal points system can provide a more secure way to safeguard the operation of the receiver system comparing to the traditional single focal point system.

Suggested Citation

  • Yu, Qiang & Wang, Zhifeng & Xu, Ershu, 2014. "Analysis and improvement of solar flux distribution inside a cavity receiver based on multi-focal points of heliostat field," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 417-430.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:136:y:2014:i:c:p:417-430
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.09.008
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    5. Sánchez-González, Alberto & Rodríguez-Sánchez, María Reyes & Santana, Domingo, 2018. "Aiming factor to flatten the flux distribution on cylindrical receivers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 113-125.
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    9. Georgios E. Arnaoutakis & Dimitris Al. Katsaprakakis, 2021. "Concentrating Solar Power Advances in Geometric Optics, Materials and System Integration," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-25, September.
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    12. Dongchang You & Qiang Yu & Zhifeng Wang & Feihu Sun, 2019. "Study on Optimized Dispatch and Operation Strategies for Heliostat Fields in a Concentrated Solar Power Tower Plant," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-24, November.
    13. Hu, Peng & Huang, Weidong, 2018. "Performance analysis and optimization of an integrated azimuth tracking solar tower," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 247-257.
    14. Jin, Yabin & Fang, Jiabin & Wei, Jinjia & Wang, Xinhe, 2018. "A comprehensive model of a cavity receiver to achieve uniform heat flux using air-carbon particles mixture," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 616-628.
    15. Zeng, Zhichen & Ni, Dong & Xiao, Gang, 2022. "Real-time heliostat field aiming strategy optimization based on reinforcement learning," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    16. Huang, Weidong & Sun, Lulening, 2016. "Solar flux density calculation for a heliostat with an elliptical Gaussian distribution source," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 434-441.
    17. Zhang, Li & Fang, Jiabin & Wei, Jinjia & Yang, Guidong, 2017. "Numerical investigation on the thermal performance of molten salt cavity receivers with different structures," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 966-978.
    18. Wang, Kun & He, Ya-Ling & Qiu, Yu & Zhang, Yuwen, 2016. "A novel integrated simulation approach couples MCRT and Gebhart methods to simulate solar radiation transfer in a solar power tower system with a cavity receiver," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 93-107.
    19. Conroy, Tim & Collins, Maurice N. & Grimes, Ronan, 2020. "A review of steady-state thermal and mechanical modelling on tubular solar receivers," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    20. Zhang, Maolong & Xu, Chao & Du, Xiaoze & Amjad, Muhammad & Wen, Dongsheng, 2017. "Off-design performance of concentrated solar heat and coal double-source boiler power generation with thermocline energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 697-710.
    21. 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.
    22. Norouzi, Amir Mohammad & Siavashi, Majid & Ahmadi, Rouhollah & Tahmasbi, Milad, 2021. "Experimental study of a parabolic trough solar collector with rotating absorber tube," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 734-749.
    23. Huang, Weidong & Yu, Liang & Hu, Peng, 2019. "An analytical solution for the solar flux density produced by a round focusing heliostat," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 306-320.
    24. Haoyu Huang & Ershu Xu & Lengge Si & Qiang Zhang & Qiang Huang, 2023. "Dynamic Thermal Transport Characteristics of a Real-Time Simulation Model for a 50 MW Solar Power Tower Plant," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-16, February.

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