Technical feasibility analysis of a particle receiver in a solar thermal power plant using vertical dense phase transport flow as the heat transfer fluid

A critical challenge in high-temperature Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) systems is the thermal efficiency limitations within receiver and the degradation of heat transfer media during cyclic operation. To address this, the study proposes a solid particle receiver using a dense phase flow of particle-air mixture as the heat transfer fluid. A discretized lumped parameter method is employed to simulate the receiver, incorporating energy conservation equations that account for both convection and interactions with solar field. The model is further enhanced by a modified heat transfer framework that explicitly considers the effect of unilateral solar irradiation. Validation against on-sun experimental data from a linear-focused solar furnace reveals a relative deviation of 7.05 % between the simulated and measured temperatures, confirming the model's accuracy. The study evaluates the feasibility of CSP by assessing the performance of a vertical dense phase flow receiver at target outlet temperatures of 500 °C and 800 °C, suitable for medium- and high-temperature process. Thermal performance is examined as a function of particle mass flow rate and irradiance flux, with sensitivity analysis indicating that irradiance flux distribution significantly impacts thermal efficiency. The validated model is further employed to quantify daily operational performance. In conclusion, this study provides essential guidance for the design, optimization, and operation of the linear solid particle receiver, demonstrating their potential for next-generation CSP systems.