IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v325y2025ics0360544225018122.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Optimization on thermal performance of the cavity-shaped porous solar receivers

Author

Listed:
  • Liu, Yishuo
  • Dai, Guilong
  • Yang, Yijian
  • Mu, Longkun

Abstract

This study investigates the thermal performance of cavity-shaped porous solar receivers (C-PSR) designed to reduce peak solid temperature and re-radiation losses by optimizing the matching between the heat transfer fluid mass velocity and concentrated solar flux. In this study, a C-PSR prototype was fabricated and evaluated on an indoor sun simulator platform to validate the heat transfer model. Orthogonal optimization reveals that the single-cavity PSR(SC-PSR) with a divergent cavity minimizes re-radiation losses, the optimal double-cavity PSR(DC-PSR) features the secondary opening radius (R3) equal to the first bottom radius (R2), the secondary bottom radius (R4) is half of the primary cavity's opening radius (R1) and a total cavity depth (L1+L2) is half of the total length(L). Compared to the solid porous solar receiver, the thermal efficiency of the optimal SC-PSR increases by 21.61 %, while the peak solid temperature decreases by 491.19 K at a mass flow rate of 5 g/s. Furthermore, the thermal efficiency of the optimal DC-PSR increases by 21.48 % and the peak solid temperature decreases by 704.89 K than that of S-PSR. This paper presents an innovative approach to enhance the thermal performance of solar receivers.

Suggested Citation

  • Liu, Yishuo & Dai, Guilong & Yang, Yijian & Mu, Longkun, 2025. "Optimization on thermal performance of the cavity-shaped porous solar receivers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 325(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:325:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225018122
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.136170
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544225018122
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2025.136170?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Avila-Marin, A.L. & Fernandez-Reche, J. & Martinez-Tarifa, A., 2019. "Modelling strategies for porous structures as solar receivers in central receiver systems: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 15-33.
    2. Sharma, Sonika & Talukdar, Prabal, 2024. "Thermo-mechanical performance enhancement of volumetric solar receivers using graded porous absorbers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    3. Nimvari, Majid Eshagh & Jouybari, Nima Fallah & Esmaili, Qadir, 2018. "A new approach to mitigate intense temperature gradients in ceramic foam solar receivers," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 206-215.
    4. Avila-Marin, Antonio L. & Fernandez-Reche, Jesus & Carballo, Jose Antonio & Carra, Maria Elena & Gianella, Sandro & Ferrari, Luca & Sanchez-Señoran, Daniel, 2022. "CFD analysis of the performance impact of geometrical shape on volumetric absorbers in a standard cup," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(P1), pages 256-272.
    5. Li, J.B. & Wang, P. & Liu, D.Y., 2022. "Optimization on the gradually varied pore structure distribution for the irradiated absorber," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    6. Ali, Mahmoud & Rady, Mohamed & Attia, Mohamed A.A. & Ewais, Emad M.M., 2020. "Consistent coupled optical and thermal analysis of volumetric solar receivers with honeycomb absorbers," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 1849-1861.
    7. Huang, Haodong & Lin, Meng, 2021. "Optimization of solar receivers for high-temperature solar conversion processes: Direct vs. Indirect illumination designs," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    8. Roldán, M.I. & Smirnova, O. & Fend, T. & Casas, J.L. & Zarza, E., 2014. "Thermal analysis and design of a volumetric solar absorber depending on the porosity," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 116-128.
    9. Du, Shen & Xia, Tian & He, Ya-Ling & Li, Zeng-Yao & Li, Dong & Xie, Xiang-Qian, 2020. "Experiment and optimization study on the radial graded porous volumetric solar receiver matching non-uniform solar flux distribution," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    10. Sedighi, Mohammadreza & Padilla, Ricardo Vasquez & Rose, Andrew & Taylor, Robert A., 2022. "Optical analysis of a semi-transparent packed bed of spheres for next-generation volumetric solar receivers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 252(C).
    11. Tian, Zhenyu & Lou, Jiahui & Yang, Lingzhi & Shao, Yu & Wu, Yunyun & Li, Xiao & Hao, Yong, 2024. "Tunable high-flux solar simulator with enhanced uniformity for concentrated solar energy applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 369(C).
    12. Gomez-Garcia, Fabrisio & González-Aguilar, José & Olalde, Gabriel & Romero, Manuel, 2016. "Thermal and hydrodynamic behavior of ceramic volumetric absorbers for central receiver solar power plants: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 648-658.
    13. Wu, Zhiyong & Caliot, Cyril & Bai, Fengwu & Flamant, Gilles & Wang, Zhifeng & Zhang, Jinsong & Tian, Chong, 2010. "Experimental and numerical studies of the pressure drop in ceramic foams for volumetric solar receiver applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(2), pages 504-513, February.
    14. Walczak, Magdalena & Pineda, Fabiola & Fernández, Ángel G. & Mata-Torres, Carlos & Escobar, Rodrigo A., 2018. "Materials corrosion for thermal energy storage systems in concentrated solar power plants," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 22-44.
    15. Godini, Ali & Kheradmand, Saeid, 2021. "Optimization of volumetric solar receiver geometry and porous media specifications," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 574-581.
    16. Zaversky, Fritz & Aldaz, Leticia & Sánchez, Marcelino & Ávila-Marín, Antonio L. & Roldán, M. Isabel & Fernández-Reche, Jesús & Füssel, Alexander & Beckert, Wieland & Adler, Jörg, 2018. "Numerical and experimental evaluation and optimization of ceramic foam as solar absorber – Single-layer vs multi-layer configurations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 351-375.
    17. Li, Xiao-Lei & Xia, Xin-Lin & Sun, Chuang & Chen, Zhi-Hao, 2021. "Performance analysis on a volumetric solar receiver with an annular inner window," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 487-499.
    18. Guilong Dai & Jiangfei Huangfu & Xiaoyu Wang & Shenghua Du & Tian Zhao, 2023. "A Review of Radiative Heat Transfer in Fixed-Bed Particle Solar Receivers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-37, June.
    19. Avila-Marin, Antonio L., 2022. "CFD parametric analysis of wire meshes open volumetric receivers with axial-varied porosity and comparison with small-scale solar receiver tests," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 1094-1105.
    20. Barreto, Germilly & Canhoto, Paulo & Collares-Pereira, Manuel, 2018. "Three-dimensional modelling and analysis of solar radiation absorption in porous volumetric receivers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C), pages 602-614.
    21. Capuano, Raffaele & Fend, Thomas & Schwarzbözl, Peter & Smirnova, Olena & Stadler, Hannes & Hoffschmidt, Bernhard & Pitz-Paal, Robert, 2016. "Numerical models of advanced ceramic absorbers for volumetric solar receivers," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 656-665.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Guilong Dai & Yishuo Liu & Xue Chen & Tian Zhao, 2025. "Optimization of Heat Transfer Performances Within Porous Solar Receivers—A Comprehensive Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-31, February.
    2. Avila-Marin, Antonio L. & Fernandez-Reche, Jesus & Gianella, Sandro & Ferrari, Luca & Sanchez-Señoran, Daniel, 2022. "Experimental study of innovative periodic cellular structures as air volumetric absorbers," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 391-404.
    3. Sharma, Sonika & Talukdar, Prabal, 2024. "Thermo-mechanical performance enhancement of volumetric solar receivers using graded porous absorbers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    4. Navalho, Jorge E.P. & Pereira, José C.F., 2020. "A comprehensive and fully predictive discrete methodology for volumetric solar receivers: application to a functional parabolic dish solar collector system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    5. Guilong Dai & Jiangfei Huangfu & Xiaoyu Wang & Shenghua Du & Tian Zhao, 2023. "A Review of Radiative Heat Transfer in Fixed-Bed Particle Solar Receivers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-37, June.
    6. Avila-Marin, A.L. & Fernandez-Reche, J. & Martinez-Tarifa, A., 2019. "Modelling strategies for porous structures as solar receivers in central receiver systems: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 15-33.
    7. Barreto, Germilly & Canhoto, Paulo & Collares-Pereira, Manuel, 2019. "Three-dimensional CFD modelling and thermal performance analysis of porous volumetric receivers coupled to solar concentration systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 252(C), pages 1-1.
    8. Chen, Xue & Lyu, Jinxin & Sun, Chuang & Xia, Xinlin & Wang, Fuqiang, 2023. "Pore-scale evaluation on a volumetric solar receiver with different optical property control strategies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(PB).
    9. Avila-Marin, Antonio L. & Fernandez-Reche, Jesus & Carballo, Jose Antonio & Carra, Maria Elena & Gianella, Sandro & Ferrari, Luca & Sanchez-Señoran, Daniel, 2022. "CFD analysis of the performance impact of geometrical shape on volumetric absorbers in a standard cup," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(P1), pages 256-272.
    10. Li, J.B. & Wang, P. & Liu, D.Y., 2022. "Optimization on the gradually varied pore structure distribution for the irradiated absorber," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    11. Avila-Marin, Antonio L., 2022. "CFD parametric analysis of wire meshes open volumetric receivers with axial-varied porosity and comparison with small-scale solar receiver tests," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 1094-1105.
    12. Barreto, Germilly & Canhoto, Paulo & Collares-Pereira, Manuel, 2020. "Parametric analysis and optimisation of porous volumetric solar receivers made of open-cell SiC ceramic foam," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    13. Barreto, Germilly & Canhoto, Paulo & Collares-Pereira, Manuel, 2018. "Three-dimensional modelling and analysis of solar radiation absorption in porous volumetric receivers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C), pages 602-614.
    14. Carlos E. Arreola-Ramos & Omar Álvarez-Brito & Juan Daniel Macías & Aldo Javier Guadarrama-Mendoza & Manuel A. Ramírez-Cabrera & Armando Rojas-Morin & Patricio J. Valadés-Pelayo & Heidi Isabel Villafá, 2021. "Experimental Evaluation and Modeling of Air Heating in a Ceramic Foam Volumetric Absorber by Effective Parameters," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-15, April.
    15. Yang, Song & Li, Lifeng & Wang, Bo & Zheng, Yihan & Lund, Peter & Wang, Jun & Ding, Yulong, 2025. "Modelling of radiative and convective heat transfer in an open cavity volumetric receiver for a 50-MWth beam-down integrated receiver-storage concentrating solar thermal system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).
    16. Pitot de la Beaujardiere, Jean-Francois P. & Reuter, Hanno C.R., 2018. "A review of performance modelling studies associated with open volumetric receiver CSP plant technology," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3848-3862.
    17. Sedighi, Mohammadreza & Padilla, Ricardo Vasquez & Alamdari, Pedram & Lake, Maree & Rose, Andrew & Izadgoshasb, Iman & Taylor, Robert A., 2020. "A novel high-temperature (>700 °C), volumetric receiver with a packed bed of transparent and absorbing spheres," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    18. Kasaeian, Alibakhsh & Barghamadi, Hossein & Pourfayaz, Fathollah, 2017. "Performance comparison between the geometry models of multi-channel absorbers in solar volumetric receivers," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 1-12.
    19. Vishwa Deepak Kumar & Vikas K. Upadhyay & Gurveer Singh & Sudipto Mukhopadhyay & Laltu Chandra, 2022. "Open volumetric air receiver: An innovative application and a major challenge," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 11(1), January.
    20. Wu, Ze & Li, Xiao-Lei & Chen, Xue & Xia, Xin-Lin, 2024. "Performance evaluation of a partially-filled porous foam cylindrical tubular receiver realizing Ni foam material reduction," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:325:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225018122. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.