Optimization of a micro-scale conical cavity receiver: A state-of-the-art approach

Abstract

In recent years, research on enhancing the efficiency of clean and renewable energy systems has increased. This study examines how a micro-scale solar Brayton cycle application performs about the conical cavity thermal receiver shape. Additionally, it establishes the ideal receiver configuration under consideration. The new work explicitly addresses the optimization of a microscale conical model, building on earlier studies by the research team that stressed the significance of reducing total heat losses. The receiver model was created using Design Modeler and treated using CFD analysis in ANSYS 2021R2 Workbench software to limit the convective mode of heat loss. Surface optimization techniques were then used, and the results were examined. To confirm the achieved results, the direct optimization method was also utilized, and it gave the same results. The internal height and the two edges on the bottom width of the receiver were found to have the greatest influence on the value of the heat transfer coefficient. Thermally, the dimensions of the optimized conical shape were found to be 384, 198, 114, 48 and 57 mm for the internal height, total width, top width, left edge and right edge respectively. The results of this investigation showed that by reducing the heat transfer coefficient by up to 90%, the tested shape's thermal performance was significantly improved. It consequently led to an increase in overall system efficiency of around 1.3%–1.95%.