Thermal, mechanical and hydrodynamic analysis to optimize the design of molten salt central receivers of solar tower power plants

One of the main problems of the molten - salt solar power tower plants is the reliability and lifetime esti mation of central - receivers. The receiver must withstand high working temperatures , molten salt corrosion and important solar - flux transient thermal process es that lead to thermal stress es and fatigue. A thermal , mechanical and hydrodynamic analysis of the receiver has been carried out assum ing constant temperature at each cell used in the simulations, but assuming axial and circumferential variation temperature in the whole perimeter of the receiver. The optimal design of this kind of recei vers has been fo und varying the number of panels and the external diameter of the tubes . It has been obtained that the maximum film temperature and thermal stress follows a different evolution than the pressure drop, therefore it is necessary to make a compr om ise between them . T h e optimal receiver design must reduce the wall and film temperatures and the thermal stresses , assur e the correct operation and prolong the lifetime of the receivers . In addition , the chosen design must ha ve the highest thermal efficiency , reducing the number of heliostat and therefore the initial capital investment cost of the solar plant will be low

Thermal, mechanical and hydrodynamic analysis to optimize the design of molten salt central receivers of solar tower power plants Articles