Effects of critical geometric parameters on the optical performance of a conical cavity receiver

doi:10.1007/s11708-019-0630-2

Front. Energy

2019, Vol. 13

Issue (4) : 673-683 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11708-019-0630-2

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Effects of critical geometric parameters on the optical performance of a conical cavity receiver

Hu XIAO¹, Yanping ZHANG²(

), Cong YOU³, Chongzhe ZOU¹, Quentin FALCOZ⁴

¹. School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
². School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; China-EU Institute for Clean and Renewable Energy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
³. China-EU Institute for Clean and Renewable Energy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
⁴. China-EU Institute for Clean and Renewable Energy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; PROMES-CNRS Laboratory, 7 rue du Four Solaire, 66120 Font-Romeu-Odeillo-via, France

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Abstract

The optical performance of a receiver has a great influence on the efficiency and stability of a solar thermal power system. Most of the literature focuses on the optical performance of receivers with different geometric shapes, but less research is conducted on the effects of critical geometric parameters. In this paper, the commercial software TracePro was used to investigate the effects of some factors on a conical cavity receiver, such as the conical angle, the number of loops of the helical tube, and the distance between the focal point of the collector and the aperture. These factors affect the optical efficiency, the maximum heat flux density, and the light distribution in the conical cavity. The optical performance of the conical receiver was studied and analyzed using the Monte Carlo ray tracing method. To make a reliable simulation, the helical tube was attached to the inner wall of the cavity in the proposed model. The results showed that the amount of light rays reaching the helical tube increases with the increasing of the conical angle, while the optical efficiency decreases and the maximum heat flux density increases. The increase in the number of loops contributed to an increase in the optical efficiency and a uniform light distribution. The conical cavity receiver had an optimal optical performance when the focal point of the collector was near the aperture.

Keywords parabolic collector conical cavity receiver critical geometric parameters optical performance

Corresponding Author(s): Yanping ZHANG

Online First Date: 21 May 2019 Issue Date: 26 December 2019

Cite this article:

Hu XIAO,Yanping ZHANG,Cong YOU, et al. Effects of critical geometric parameters on the optical performance of a conical cavity receiver[J]. Front. Energy, 2019, 13(4): 673-683.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fie/EN/10.1007/s11708-019-0630-2
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fie/EN/Y2019/V13/I4/673

Fig.1 Physicial model of optical section

Fig.2 Parabolic collector and cavity receiver

Fig.3 Structure of cavity receiver

Fig.4 Surfaces of cavity

Fig.5 Relationship between the optical efficiency and the distance between the focal point and the aperture for different conical angles

Fig.6 Relationship between the optical efficiency and the distance between the focal point and the aperture for different numbers of loops

Fig.7 Light distributions at different distances between the focal point and the aperture

Fig.8 Cross-section of the receiver or different numbers of loops

Fig.9 Relationship between the maximum heat flux density and the distance between the focal point and the aperture for different conical angles

Fig.10 Relationship between the maximum heat flux density and the distance between the focal point and the aperture for different numbers of loops

Fig.11 Heat flux distribution for different distances between the focal point and the aperture

Fig.12 Heat flux density distribution for different conical angles

Fig.13 Relationship between the energy absorption proportion and the distance between the focal point and the aperture for different conical angles

Fig.14 Relationship between the energy absorption proportion and the distance between the focal point and the aperture for different numbers of loops

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