Journal
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Volume 74, Issue -, Pages 95-105Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2014.07.047
Keywords
Parabolic dish; Cavity receiver; Natural convection; Plate fin; Rayleigh number
Funding
- Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Pretoria
- National Research Foundation
Ask authors/readers for more resources
This study details the numerical modelling and optimization of natural convection heat suppression in a solar cavity receiver with plate fins. The use of plate fins attached to the inner aperture surface is presented as a possible low cost means of suppressing natural convection heat loss in a cavity receiver. In the first part of the study a three-dimensional numerical model that captures the heat transfer and flow processes in the cavity receiver is analyzed, and the possibilities of optimization were then established. The model is laminar in the range of Rayleigh number, inclination angle, plate height and thickness considered. In the second part of the study, the geometric parameters considered were optimized using optimization programme with search algorithm. The results indicate that significant reduction on the natural convection heat loss can be achieved from cavity receivers by using plate fins, and an optimal plate fins configuration exit for minimal natural convection heat loss for a given range of Rayleigh number. Reduction of up to a maximum of 20% at 0 degrees receiver inclination was observed. The results obtained provide a novel approach for improving design of cavity receiver for optimal performance. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available