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A comparison between transient CFD and FEM simulations of solar central receiver tubes using molten salt and liquid metals

Fritsch, Andreas and Uhlig, Ralf and Marocco, Luca and Frantz, Cathy and Flesch, Robert and Hoffschmidt, Bernhard (2017) A comparison between transient CFD and FEM simulations of solar central receiver tubes using molten salt and liquid metals. Solar Energy (155), pp. 259-266. Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.solener.2017.06.022. ISSN 0038-092X.

Full text not available from this repository.

Official URL: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/solar-energy

Abstract

The design of central receivers in solar thermal power plants is crucial for efficiency and operating behavior of the plant. The local heat flux distribution on the absorber tubes varies, depending on time, weather conditions and aim point strategy. A proper receiver design needs accurate thermodynamic models to detect local temperature distribution, especially hot spots on the absorber tubes. Moreover, due to highly transient boundary conditions, the dynamic behavior of the model is important. Starting with a detailed CFD model of a single receiver tube several simplified FEM models were investigated. The influence of an inhomogeneous heat flux distribution on the absorber and the dynamic behavior after a sudden change of heat flux (e.g. due to passage of clouds) were analyzed. In order to consider radiation exchange between surfaces, simulations with a whole receiver panel were also conducted. The FEM model with onedimensional fluid elements and constant heat transfer coefficients shows a very good agreement with the detailed CFD model. Further simplifications like the presented model, where the tubes are discretized as projected surfaces are computationally very efficient and can be used for relative comparison between receiver configurations. However, this simplification has deviations in the prediction of tube temperatures and radiation losses. Finally, the receiver simulation of the Solar Two power plant validates the FEM model with the measured data for solar salt. The investigation of liquid metals considers a single tube with an inhomogeneous heat flux on its surface. The detailed analysis shows, that the Nusselt number correlation plays an important role for the tube wall temperature. If the Nusselt number is overestimated in the region of the peak heat flux, the simplified model results in a lower tube wall temperature.

Item URL in elib:https://elib.dlr.de/113162/
Document Type:Article
Title:A comparison between transient CFD and FEM simulations of solar central receiver tubes using molten salt and liquid metals
Authors:
AuthorsInstitution or Email of AuthorsAuthor's ORCID iD
Fritsch, AndreasUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Uhlig, RalfUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Marocco, LucaKIT und POLIMIUNSPECIFIED
Frantz, CathyUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Flesch, RobertUNSPECIFIEDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2725-8039
Hoffschmidt, BernhardUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Date:2017
Journal or Publication Title:Solar Energy
Refereed publication:Yes
Open Access:No
Gold Open Access:No
In SCOPUS:Yes
In ISI Web of Science:Yes
DOI:10.1016/j.solener.2017.06.022
Page Range:pp. 259-266
Publisher:Elsevier
Series Name:Elsevier Ldt
ISSN:0038-092X
Status:Published
Keywords:Concentrated solar power, Central receiver system, FEM, CFD, Receiver modeling, Molten salt, Liquid metals
HGF - Research field:Energy
HGF - Program:Renewable Energies
HGF - Program Themes:Concentrating Solar Thermal Technology
DLR - Research area:Energy
DLR - Program:E SW - Solar and Wind Energy
DLR - Research theme (Project):E - Advanced Heat Transfer Media (old)
Location: Stuttgart
Institutes and Institutions:Institute of Solar Research > Punktfokussierende Systeme
Deposited By: Uhlig, Tamara
Deposited On:09 Aug 2017 10:32
Last Modified:28 Mar 2023 23:48

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