IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v14y2021i8p2253-d537899.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Thermal Analysis of a Solar External Receiver Tube with a Novel Component of Guide Vanes

Author

Listed:
  • Zecan Tu

    (College of Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
    Steinbuch Centre for Computing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany)

  • Daniela Piccioni Koch

    (Steinbuch Centre for Computing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany)

  • Nenad Sarunac

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA)

  • Martin Frank

    (Steinbuch Centre for Computing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany)

  • Junkui Mao

    (College of Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China)

Abstract

The heat transfer performance of a solar external receiver tube with guide vanes was numerically studied under non-uniform heat flux conditions. Models of the smooth tube and the tube with guide vanes were built. The distributions of the temperature, velocity, turbulence intensity, and Nu predicted by these two models were compared to investigate the heat transfer enhancement and the mixing effect of the guide vanes. The effect of the Re and the α on the heat transfer enhancement was also studied. The results show that the guide vanes form spiraling flows, reduce the maximum tube and molten salt temperatures, and improve the heat transfer. In addition, a more uniform temperature distribution is achieved compared to the smooth tube, allowing the molten salt to work safely under higher heat flux conditions in the receiver tube with guide vanes. It was observed that a larger Re enhances the heat transfer on the tube wall and achieves a longer effective distance of enhanced heat transfer in the downstream region, while the spiraling flow, the heat transfer enhancement, and the mixing are stronger for a larger α .

Suggested Citation

  • Zecan Tu & Daniela Piccioni Koch & Nenad Sarunac & Martin Frank & Junkui Mao, 2021. "Thermal Analysis of a Solar External Receiver Tube with a Novel Component of Guide Vanes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-21, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:8:p:2253-:d:537899
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/8/2253/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/8/2253/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. García, Jesús & Barraza, Rodrigo & Soo Too, Yen Chean & Vásquez Padilla, Ricardo & Acosta, David & Estay, Danilo & Valdivia, Patricio, 2020. "Aiming clusters of heliostats over solar receivers for distributing heat flux using one variable per group," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 584-596.
    2. Borunda, Mónica & Garduno-Ramirez, Raul & Jaramillo, O.A., 2019. "Optimal operation of a parabolic solar collector with twisted-tape insert by multi-objective genetic algorithms," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 540-550.
    3. Yao, Zhihao & Wang, Zhifeng & Lu, Zhenwu & Wei, Xiudong, 2009. "Modeling and simulation of the pioneer 1MW solar thermal central receiver system in China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(11), pages 2437-2446.
    4. 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.
    5. Sánchez-González, Alberto & Santana, Domingo, 2015. "Solar flux distribution on central receivers: A projection method from analytic function," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 576-587.
    6. Yang, Xiaoping & Yang, Xiaoxi & Ding, Jing & Shao, Youyuan & Fan, Hongbo, 2012. "Numerical simulation study on the heat transfer characteristics of the tube receiver of the solar thermal power tower," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(1), pages 142-147.
    7. Qiu, Yu & He, Ya-Ling & Li, Peiwen & Du, Bao-Cun, 2017. "A comprehensive model for analysis of real-time optical performance of a solar power tower with a multi-tube cavity receiver," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P1), pages 589-603.
    8. Benoit, H. & Spreafico, L. & Gauthier, D. & Flamant, G., 2016. "Review of heat transfer fluids in tube-receivers used in concentrating solar thermal systems: Properties and heat transfer coefficients," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 298-315.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Qiangqiang & Chang, Zheshao & Fu, Mingkai & Nie, Fuliang & Ren, Ting & Li, Xin, 2023. "Performance analysis of a light uniform device for the solar receiver or reactor," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    2. Ye, Kai & Li, Qing & Zhang, Yuanting & Qiu, Yu & Liu, Bin, 2022. "An efficient receiver tube enhanced by a solar transparent aerogel for solar power tower," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(PB).

    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. Hachicha, Ahmed Amine & Yousef, Bashria A.A. & Said, Zafar & Rodríguez, Ivette, 2019. "A review study on the modeling of high-temperature solar thermal collector systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 280-298.
    2. Mostafavi Tehrani, S. Saeed & Taylor, Robert A., 2016. "Off-design simulation and performance of molten salt cavity receivers in solar tower plants under realistic operational modes and control strategies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 698-715.
    3. 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.
    4. Wang, Wen-Qi & Li, Ming-Jia & Cheng, Ze-Dong & Li, Dong & Liu, Zhan-Bin, 2021. "Coupled optical-thermal-stress characteristics of a multi-tube external molten salt receiver for the next generation concentrating solar power," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    5. Wang, Wen-Qi & Qiu, Yu & Li, Ming-Jia & He, Ya-Ling & Cheng, Ze-Dong, 2020. "Coupled optical and thermal performance of a fin-like molten salt receiver for the next-generation solar power tower," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).
    6. 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.
    7. Wang, Wen-Qi & Li, Ming-Jia & Jiang, Rui & Cheng, Ze-Dong & He, Ya-Ling, 2022. "A comparison between lumped parameter method and computational fluid dynamics method for steady and transient optical-thermal characteristics of the molten salt receiver in solar power tower," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    8. Qiu, Yu & He, Ya-Ling & Li, Peiwen & Du, Bao-Cun, 2017. "A comprehensive model for analysis of real-time optical performance of a solar power tower with a multi-tube cavity receiver," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P1), pages 589-603.
    9. Yamani, Noureddine & Khellaf, Abdallah & Mohammedi, Kamal & Behar, Omar, 2017. "Assessment of solar thermal tower technology under Algerian climate," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 444-460.
    10. Arrif, Toufik & Hassani, Samir & Guermoui, Mawloud & Sánchez-González, A. & A.Taylor, Robert & Belaid, Abdelfetah, 2022. "GA-GOA hybrid algorithm and comparative study of different metaheuristic population-based algorithms for solar tower heliostat field design," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 745-758.
    11. Hu, Peng & Huang, Weidong, 2018. "Performance analysis and optimization of an integrated azimuth tracking solar tower," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 247-257.
    12. 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).
    13. Li, Qing & Bai, Fengwu & Yang, Bei & Wang, Zhifeng & El Hefni, Baligh & Liu, Sijie & Kubo, Syuichi & Kiriki, Hiroaki & Han, Mingxu, 2016. "Dynamic simulation and experimental validation of an open air receiver and a thermal energy storage system for solar thermal power plant," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 281-293.
    14. Messaoud Hazmoune & Benaoumeur Aour & Xavier Chesneau & Mohammed Debbache & Dana-Alexandra Ciupageanu & Gheorghe Lazaroiu & Mohamed Mondji Hadjiat & Abderrahmane Hamidat, 2020. "Numerical Analysis of a Solar Tower Receiver Novel Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-12, August.
    15. Li Wang & Long Yang & Junjie Liu & Pei Wang, 2021. "Study on Spectral Radiative Heat Transfer Characteristics of a Windowed Receiver with Particle Curtain," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-16, May.
    16. Cruz, N.C. & Redondo, J.L. & Berenguel, M. & Álvarez, J.D. & Ortigosa, P.M., 2017. "Review of software for optical analyzing and optimizing heliostat fields," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 1001-1018.
    17. Ballestrín, J. & Casanova, M. & Monterreal, R. & Fernández-Reche, J. & Setien, E. & Rodríguez, J. & Galindo, J. & Barbero, F.J. & Batlles, F.J., 2019. "Simplifying the measurement of high solar irradiance on receivers. Application to solar tower plants," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 551-561.
    18. Widyolar, Bennett & Jiang, Lun & Ferry, Jonathan & Winston, Roland, 2018. "Experimental performance of a two-stage (50X) parabolic trough collector tested to 650 °C using a suspended particulate (alumina) HTF," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C), pages 228-243.
    19. Wang, Kun & He, Ya-Ling & Xue, Xiao-Dai & Du, Bao-Cun, 2017. "Multi-objective optimization of the aiming strategy for the solar power tower with a cavity receiver by using the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 399-416.
    20. Benoit, H. & Spreafico, L. & Gauthier, D. & Flamant, G., 2016. "Review of heat transfer fluids in tube-receivers used in concentrating solar thermal systems: Properties and heat transfer coefficients," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 298-315.

    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:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:8:p:2253-:d:537899. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.