Latitude- and temperature-based optimization of beam-down solar central receiver systems.

Area of Science:

• Renewable Energy Systems
• Solar Thermal Energy Engineering

Background:

• Beam-down solar central receiver (SCR) systems offer a promising approach for concentrated solar power.
• Understanding optical and energetic characteristics is crucial for optimizing SCR system performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To optimize the geometrical configuration of beam-down SCR systems for maximum solar-to-thermal conversion efficiency.
• To analyze the impact of latitude and receiver temperature on SCR system performance.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a numerical model combining Monte-Carlo ray tracing and a simplified receiver heat transfer model.
• Applied a differential evolution (DE) algorithm for automated optimization.
• Employed OpenMP for parallel computing to reduce computational time.

Main Results:

• Optimized optical configurations were determined for various latitudes and receiver temperatures.
• Acquired radiative power ranged from 35-45 MW, with hyperboloidal tower reflector eccentricity between 1.6-1.7.
• Solar-to-thermal conversion efficiency decreased from 0.43 to 0.36 between 0° and 50° latitude at 1,800 K.
• Efficiency also decreased with higher receiver temperatures due to increased radiative emission losses.

Conclusions:

• Latitude and receiver temperature significantly impact beam-down SCR system efficiency and performance.
• Higher latitudes lead to reduced efficiency and larger heliostat fields, negatively affecting techno-economic viability.
• Optimized system designs are essential for maximizing energy conversion and economic feasibility.