Testing and optical modeling of novel concentrating solar receiver geometries to increase light trapping and effective solar absorptance

Julius Yellowhair; Clifford K. Ho; Jesus D. Ortega; Joshua M. Christian; Charles E. Andraka

doi:10.1117/12.2186647

5 September 2015 Testing and optical modeling of novel concentrating solar receiver geometries to increase light trapping and effective solar absorptance

Julius Yellowhair, Clifford K. Ho, Jesus D. Ortega, Joshua M. Christian, Charles E. Andraka

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9559, High and Low Concentrator Systems for Solar Energy Applications X; 95590A (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2186647
Event: SPIE Optics + Photonics for Sustainable Energy, 2015, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Concentrating solar power receivers are comprised of panels of tubes arranged in a cylindrical or cubical shape on top of a tower. The tubes contain heat-transfer fluid that absorbs energy from the concentrated sunlight incident on the tubes. To increase the solar absorptance, black paint or a solar selective coating is applied to the surface of the tubes. However, these coatings degrade over time and must be reapplied, which reduces the system performance and increases costs. This paper presents an evaluation of novel receiver shapes and geometries that create a light-trapping effect, thereby increasing the effective solar absorptance and efficiency of the solar receiver. Several prototype shapes were fabricated from Inconel 718 and tested in Sandia’s solar furnace at an irradiance of ~30 W/cm2. Photographic methods were used to capture the irradiance distribution on the receiver surfaces. The irradiance profiles were compared to results from raytracing models. The effective solar absorptance was also evaluated using the ray-tracing models. Results showed that relative to a flat plate, the new geometries could increase the effective solar absorptance from 86% to 92% for an intrinsic material absorptance of 86%, and from 60% to 73% for an intrinsic material absorptance of 60%.

Citation Download Citation

Julius Yellowhair, Clifford K. Ho, Jesus D. Ortega, Joshua M. Christian, and Charles E. Andraka "Testing and optical modeling of novel concentrating solar receiver geometries to increase light trapping and effective solar absorptance", Proc. SPIE 9559, High and Low Concentrator Systems for Solar Energy Applications X, 95590A (5 September 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2186647

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