Falling Particle Receiver Layout for Light Trapping and Low Heat Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solar power systems face challenges in efficiently capturing solar energy to heat particles for energy conversion, storage, and thermal processes, often requiring complex structures or fluidization, which increase costs and parasitic electricity consumption.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a falling particle solar receiver system with non-linear waveform inlets and multiple parallel curtains of particle flow, allowing for efficient capture and recirculation of solar energy, which enhances light trapping and reduces heat losses through the use of zig-zag patterns and recirculation schemes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If complex structures or fluidization are used to heat particles, then particle heating efficiency is improved, but device complexity and parasitic electricity consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the fluidization system from the particle heating process, using simple gravity-driven falling particle curtains instead. This removes the complex fluidization equipment while maintaining effective particle heating through direct solar radiation exposure of the falling particles.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using complex structures to actively move and heat particles, the patent inverts the approach by allowing particles to fall passively under gravity while exposing them to solar radiation. The heating occurs naturally during the falling process without requiring active mechanical systems.
2Productivity
If complex structures or fluidization are used to heat particles, then particle heating efficiency is improved, but parasitic electricity consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the particles' own gravitational potential energy to drive their motion through the heating zone. Particles fall naturally under gravity without requiring external motors or pumps, making the system self-service and eliminating parasitic electricity consumption associated with particle transport mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical particle transport systems (which consume electricity) with a gravity-based falling particle system. The mechanical complexity of fluidization equipment is substituted with simple gravitational action, eliminating the need for electrical power to move particles.
3Illumination intensity
If non-linear waveform inlets are used, then light trapping is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs non-linear waveform (curved) inlet geometries to enhance light trapping by increasing the optical path length and creating multiple internal reflections. These curved shapes improve illumination intensity and solar energy capture while remaining manufacturable using standard fabrication techniques.
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 approach increases the capture of incident solar radiation, allows for higher temperature particle flows to preheat cooler flows, and reduces convective and radiative heat losses, leading to more efficient energy conversion and storage while maintaining lower installation and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
heating the curtain of falling particles with the concentrated solar energy
Implementation Method 2
capturing energy from concentrated solar energy
Implementation Method 3
enhances light trapping and reduces heat losses through the use of zig-zag patterns
Implementation Method 4
allows for higher temperature particle flows to preheat cooler flows
Implementation Method 5
reduces convective and radiative heat losses
Implementation Method 6
reduces convective and radiative heat losses
Data Source
AI summary
Falling particle solar receivers, systems, and methods are disclosed that include one non-linear falling particle curtain or two or more falling particle curtains within a solar receiver that receives incident solar radiation. The particles heated in the solar receiver may be used to heat a secondary fluid. In an embodiment, the particles may be recirculated to improve energy capture and thermal efficiency. In other embodiments, an air curtain may be used across the aperture of the receiver, and flow-control devices may be used to evenly spread particles across the width of the receiver inlet. Finally, feed particles may be preheated using heat from the solar receiver.