Author:
Aswini Devi Talupuri,Baswaraju Swathi,Sobti Rajeev,Shrivastava Anurag,Kumar Ashwani,Raed Rawya,Mrudula T.
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the design and thermal performance of various configurations of central tower solar receivers, with an emphasis on spiral tube receivers. Specifically, it addresses the challenges of cost-effectiveness and efficiency within Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) systems. Multiple designs are assessed using a combination of analytical models and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools to assess thermal efficiency, heat transfer, and convective losses. Spiral tube receivers demonstrate superior thermal characteristics across various metrics as a result of the grid independence tests. Additionally, we discuss the effects of various mass flow rates on the outlet temperatures of the heat transfer fluid (HTF), in order to improve solar energy capture and conversion by optimizing the receivers.