Bladed Solar Thermal Receivers for Lower Radiative Heat Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solar thermal receivers for concentrating solar power systems suffer from high radiative and convective heat losses, leading to inefficient energy absorption and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A solar receiver design featuring radially arranged panels with a central hub, heat-absorbing coatings, and a shroud to capture and reflect lost radiation, reducing heat losses and enhancing energy absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional cylindrical or cubical panel configurations are used to face incoming solar irradiance, then the receiver can effectively capture solar energy, but radiative and convective heat losses to the environment are maximized
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver is divided into multiple discrete panels arranged radially around a central hub, with each panel independently oriented to face the solar irradiance. This segmentation allows optimization of each panel's orientation while reducing overall heat loss surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver transitions from conventional 2D cylindrical or cubical configurations to a 3D radial arrangement where panels are distributed spherically around a central hub, maximizing solar capture from multiple directions while minimizing exposed surface area for heat losses.
2Use of energy by moving object
If panel surfaces are increased to capture more sunlight, then solar energy absorption improves, but the surface area exposed to environmental heat losses increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radial panel configuration creates an asymmetric distribution of surface areas, with the majority of surface area oriented toward solar capture directions while minimizing surfaces exposed to environmental heat losses, breaking the symmetry of conventional cylindrical or cubical receivers.
Solution Approach 2:
The design converts the potential harm of large surface area exposure to environmental heat losses by orienting panels radially, where surfaces that would otherwise lose heat are instead positioned to capture reflected sunlight from heliostats, turning heat loss surfaces into energy gain surfaces.
3Loss of energy
If reflected sunlight is lost to the environment, then energy efficiency decreases, but adding reflective elements increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The radial panel structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it captures solar irradiance, reflects scattered sunlight back toward the receiver core using its own surfaces, and minimizes heat loss surfaces. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate reflective elements, reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver panels themselves serve as reflective surfaces, using their own surfaces to redirect scattered sunlight back toward the central hub. This self-service approach eliminates the need for additional dedicated reflective components, maintaining simplicity while reducing energy loss.
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 design achieves up to 50% reduction in total heat transfer losses and a 10% increase in thermal efficiency, resulting in cost savings and improved performance.
Implementation Method 1
a shroud disposed above a plurality of solar receiver panels. The shroud is configured to retain heat by capturing heated air and reflecting radiation lost by the plurality of solar receiver panels.
Implementation Method 2
The shroud is configured to retain heat by capturing heated air and reflecting radiation lost by the plurality of solar receiver panels.
Implementation Method 3
Conventional receivers for concentrating solar power consist of panels of tubes that are arranged in a cylindrical or cubical shape to face the incoming solar irradiance.
Data Source
AI summary
A bladed solar thermal receiver for absorbing concentrated sunlight is disclosed. The receiver includes a plurality of panels arranged in a bladed configuration for absorbing sunlight. The bladed configurations can be radial or planar. The receiver design increases the effective solar absorptance and efficiency by providing a light trap for the incident solar radiation while reducing heat losses from radiation and convection.