Thermal Analysis of a Solar Advanced Water/Steam Receiver

Abstract

The Department of Energy and Sandia Laboratories have sponsored the development of a conceptual design for a 100-MWe solar advanced water/steam receiver that is cost-effective and will perform within a practical and reliable power generation system. The design requirements and the basic features of receiver are described. This paper presents the methods used to estimate the receiver’s thermal efficiency and predict its thermal hydraulic performance. The receiver under consideration is external with screen tubes using a forced recirculation system. Thermal efficiency of the receiver at the design point is estimated at 89.2 percent. Effects due to changing ambient conditions, such as ambient temperature and windspeed, and changes of solar incident power are also presented.