Optimization of volumetric solar receiver geometry and porous media specifications

Abstract

Concentrated Solar power plants are one of the promising methods for converting solar energy into usable energy. Volumetric Solar receivers are one of the key components of these power plants that have received a lot of attention from researchers in recent years. In the present study, to optimize the important parameters in the performance of the solar receiver, average cell diameter (Φ [mm] ), the porosity of absorber (εp), absorber diameter Dabs and the distance of glass window from the absorber surface Lcavitywere selected. The parametric and optimization study presented in this research has been done by the response surface and experimental design method. The objective function in optimization is a minimization of the pressure drop in the receiver and at the same time maximization of the output temperature of the receiver. In this study, it has been emphasized on the simultaneous effect of parameters on problem answers because, in practical conditions, the effect of the parameters on the receiver performance is simultaneous. In optimization studies, first, the most effective parameters on the problem solutions are identified, then the optimal values of each of them are introduced and discussed.