Numerical study on the stress and thermal performance of a supercritical CO2 solar conical cavity receiver

Abstract

Solar thermal power systems rely on high-temperature cavity receivers. Guaranteeing the effective and secure operation of a receiver involves researching the impacts of various geometric parameters and operating conditions on its thermal performance and mechanical qualities. To examine the impacts of diameter, curvature, and various operating conditions on the thermal and mechanical performance of a receiver, a coupled thermal–mechanical model was created and assessed. The findings showed that the spiral coiled tube's thermal stress distribution is very nonuniform. Thermal efficiency declines and maximum stress rises from 74.9 MPa to 171.87 MPa as the diameter increases from 10 mm to 30 mm. The thermal efficiency rises when the curvature goes from 1/190 to 1/130, but the stress rises as well. The outlet temperature drops by 73.46 K after 5 min of cloud cover; cloud cover and startup conditions will result in rapid variations in stress and temperature on the coiled tube wall, endangering the receiver's safe function and shortening its lifespan.