Inclined Ceramic Solar Absorber Module for Gap Loss Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Solar tower power plants face inefficiencies due to concentrated sunlight not being fully utilized on the active absorber surface, leading to heat losses and reduced energy conversion efficiency, as the support structure warps under thermocycling stress, causing gaps between absorber modules to alter and allowing sunlight to fall into air discharge gaps or onto the module housing.
Innovation Solution
The solar absorber module is designed with an inclined ceramic absorber element within a housing section, optimizing radiation absorption by aligning absorber modules vertically and minimizing losses. The housing features a tapered section with a flat, disk-shaped absorber element and hexagonal channels, and an insulating lining to reduce heat transfer and prevent overheating, along with spacer projections for uniform mounting, ensuring efficient energy conversion and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the solar absorber arrangement is inclined downward by approx. 25° to optimize radiation absorption, then the absorption of solar radiation is improved, but the support structure warps under thermocycling stress, causing the gap width between absorber modules to alter and sunlight to fall into air discharge gaps or onto the module housing
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple individual support elements, each supporting separate absorber modules. This segmentation allows each element to independently accommodate thermal expansion and warping without affecting the entire structure, maintaining consistent gap widths between modules despite thermocycling stress.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure incorporates materials or design features that allow for controlled thermal expansion and contraction. By changing the physical parameters of the support material (such as using materials with matched thermal expansion coefficients or designing with expansion joints), the structure can withstand thermocycling stress without warping that would alter gap widths.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the support structure is made rigid to maintain gap width between absorber modules, then structural stability is improved, but the support structure cannot accommodate thermocycling stress and warps, causing sunlight to be lost
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure transitions from a completely rigid design to a dynamic system that can adapt to thermal stresses. Flexible connections, expansion joints, or resilient mounting mechanisms allow the structure to move slightly with temperature changes while maintaining functional gap widths, preventing sunlight from falling into gaps or onto housing.
3Illumination intensity
If concentrated sunlight is beamed onto the solar absorber arrangement by heliostats, then the radiation intensity is increased, but too much sunlight cannot be utilized since it falls not on the active absorber surface but into intermediate spaces or onto the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The absorber modules are designed with asymmetric configurations where the active absorber surface is positioned and angled to match the asymmetric pattern of concentrated sunlight from heliostats. The housing and support structures are asymmetrically arranged to ensure that sunlight naturally directs onto absorber surfaces rather than falling into gaps or onto housing surfaces.
4Productivity
If the absorber modules are arranged vertically to optimize alignment with heliostat radiation, then energy conversion efficiency is improved, but the support structure under thermocycling stress warps, altering gap widths and reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is pre-designed with compensation features before installation, such as pre-bent support elements, pre-positioned expansion joints, or pre-applied thermal insulation layers. These preliminary actions prepare the structure to withstand thermocycling stress without warping, maintaining the vertical alignment and gap widths necessary for optimal energy conversion efficiency.
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
This configuration enhances energy conversion efficiency by 4-5% by ensuring optimal alignment of absorber modules with heliostat radiation, reducing heat losses, and maintaining structural stability, while the insulating lining minimizes heat transfer and prevents overheating, leading to improved solar radiation absorption and reduced energy losses.
Implementation Method 1
The solar absorber has a large number of substantially straight channels connecting the first surface to the second surface... ambient air is sucked through the individual absorber elements of the solar absorber arrangement into the interior of the solar absorber module and heated
Implementation Method 2
The housing features a tapered section with a flat, disk-shaped absorber element and hexagonal channels, and an insulating lining to reduce heat transfer and prevent overheating
Data Source
AI summary
A solar absorber module is described. The module has a housing with a longitudinal axis with a first tapered housing section with a first, free end, and a second end with a reduced cross-sectional area compared to the first end, and with a second housing section adjoining the second end of the first housing section with a substantially constant cross-section over its length. The module also has a ceramic solar absorber element accommodated in the first end of the first housing section with a first surface that can be oriented toward the solar radiation with an axis of symmetry, and a second surface lying across from the first surface, wherein the solar absorber element has a large number of substantially straight channels connecting the first surface to the second surface. The solar absorber module is accommodated in the first end of the first housing section such that the axis of symmetry of the first surface is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing.