Heat transfer analyses of porous media receiver with multi-dish collector by coupling MCRT and FVM method

Abstract

In this paper, Monte Carlo Ray Tracing (MCRT) and Finite Volume Method (FVM) coupling method is adopted to solve the radiation, conduction and convection coupled heat transfer problems of porous media receiver with multi-dish collector. The MCRT method is used to obtain the concentrated heat flux distribution on the fluid inlet surface of porous media receiver. The local thermal non-equilibrium (LTNE) model with concentrated solar irradiation on the fluid inlet surface is used for energy equations. FVM software FLUENT with User Defined Functions (UDFs) is used to solve the fluid phase and solid phase heat transfer problems. The effects of solar irradiance, air inlet velocity, average particle diameter, receiver radius and air properties on the temperature distribution are investigated.