VoCoRec - a novel two-stage volumetric conical receiver

Kurzfassung

At solar tower systems, open volumetric air receivers are attractive for electricity generation as well as for chemical and other industrial processes. In order to overcome inherent limitations within the previous lines of development, a fundamentally new receiver concept has been developed – the VoCoRec. It is characterized by a conical cavity with hexagonal cross-section, a two-stage air heating and modularity. Several simulations have been performed. For 800 °C hot air temperature, a total receiver efficiency of 88 % has been calculated, which is regarded very promising. A prototype receiver module with approx. 175 kW thermal output has been designed for the first tests in the solar simulator Synlight. The next step will be to manufacture the prototype. The tests in Synlight are scheduled to start in December 2021.