Solar Absorber Pipe Getter Mounting for Hydrogen Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Absorber pipes in solar thermal power plants face inefficiencies due to hydrogen permeation through metal pipes, leading to increased pressure in evacuated spaces, reduced service life, and decreased heat transfer efficiency, as well as issues with getter material heating and glass-metal connection damage from temperature fluctuations and defocused radiation.
Innovation Solution
A retaining device is attached to the wall of the absorber pipe, thermally decoupled from the metal pipe, allowing for reduced heat transfer to the getter material and independent expansion, with a reflector in the annular space to redirect defocused radiation and protect the glass-metal connection, ensuring efficient hydrogen binding and prolonged service life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the retaining device is attached directly to the metal pipe, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the getter material is heated by heat conduction from the metal pipe, reducing its absorption capacity
Solution Approach 1:
A wall component is introduced as an intermediary between the metal pipe and the retaining device. The wall is thermally decoupled from the metal pipe through design features such as gaps, thermal insulation layers, or geometric configurations that minimize thermal contact. This intermediary structure prevents direct heat conduction from the hot metal pipe to the getter material in the retaining device, thereby preserving the getter material's absorption capacity while still providing structural support and attachment functionality.
2Strength
If the wall is thermally coupled to the metal pipe, then structural support is strong, but heat conduction to the getter material increases, reducing service life
Solution Approach 1:
The wall structure is segmented into multiple sections with different thermal and mechanical properties. Certain segments provide structural support and are thermally coupled to the metal pipe, while other segments are thermally decoupled to prevent heat transfer to the getter material. This segmentation allows the wall to simultaneously fulfill structural support requirements and thermal isolation requirements, thereby extending the service life of the absorber pipe system.
3Device complexity
If defocused radiation is not redirected, then the system is simple, but the glass-metal connection is damaged by radiation and temperature fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The reflector is positioned and configured to redirect defocused radiation away from the vulnerable glass-metal connection areas. By strategically placing the reflector, the harmful defocused radiation that would otherwise damage the connection is redirected toward the metal pipe where it can contribute to heating the heat transfer medium. This converts the harmful defocused radiation into a beneficial heat source while protecting the connection, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing device complexity.
4Productivity
If the reflector redirects all defocused radiation, then heat transfer efficiency is maximized, but the getter material is exposed to more radiation and heating
Solution Approach 1:
The reflector is designed with spatially varying properties and positioning to create local quality differences in radiation distribution. The reflector redirects defocused radiation to specific zones on the metal pipe that are optimized for heat transfer, while deliberately avoiding direct illumination of the getter material location. This localized control of radiation paths allows maximization of heat transfer efficiency to the metal pipe while minimizing thermal exposure to the getter material, resolving the contradiction between productivity and temperature control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces heat transfer to the getter material, maintains its absorption capacity, and protects the glass-metal connection from radiation-induced damage, enhancing the absorber pipe's efficiency and service life while utilizing the radiation for heating the heat transfer medium.
Implementation Method 1
a getter material disposed in the annular space for binding free hydrogen present in the annular space
Implementation Method 2
a reflector in the annular space to redirect defocused radiation
Implementation Method 3
utilizing the radiation for heating the heat transfer medium
Implementation Method 4
a cladding pipe surrounding the metal pipe for forming an annular space that can be evacuated
Data Source
AI summary
An absorber pipe for solar collectors is provided. The absorber pipe includes a metal pipe for and a cladding pipe surrounding the metal pipe to form an annular space that can be evacuated. The absorber pipe can include a wall extending between the cladding pipe and the metal pipe for sealing the annular space and a retaining device for a getter material or a container filled with getter material or inert gas. The retaining device has a receiving section for receiving the getter material or the container. The retaining device is fastened to the wall. The absorber pipe can alternately include a getter material disposed in the annular space for binding free hydrogen present in the annular space and a reflector disposed in the annular space for reflecting radiation. The reflector has a housing with a support section for fastening and protecting the getter material from the radiation.