Thermomechanical behavior of a plate ceramic solar receiver irradiated by concentrated sunlight

• Published in: Solar energy 2014-12, Vol.110, p.174-187
• Main Authors: Capeillère, J., Toutant, A., Olalde, G., Boubault, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Ceramics; Concentrated solar radiation; Energy; Equipments, installations and applications; Exact sciences and technology; High temperature; Natural energy; Pressurized solar receiver; Reliability; Silicon carbide; Simulation; Solar collectors; Solar energy; Solar radiation; Solar thermal conversion; Thermal and thermomechanical behavior
• ISSN: 0038-092X; 1471-1257
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2014.08.039

•The reliability prediction of a silicon carbide plate solar module is investigated.•The module is considered to be a large-scale exchanger with asymmetric heating.•Stationary simulations calculate the maximum stress and the failure probability of the structure.•A parametric study is carried out to provide the optimal configuration.•The best compromise is defined according to thermomechanical reliability, thermal efficiency and cutting conditions fulfillment. The thermomechanical behavior of a plate solar receiver with asymmetric heating is studied in this paper. The large-scale absorber/exchanger module is made of silicon carbide. It is irradiated by concentrated solar energy and heats pressurized air flowing inside textured channels up to high temperature. We look for the best compromise in terms of thermomechanical reliability, thermal efficiency and cutting conditions fulfillment of the exchanger. In particular, special attention has to be paid to its thermomechanical behavior in order to prevent the structure from being damaged. A parametric investigation (solar irradiance map, geometric characteristics: shell thickness, bridge between the textured and the smooth faces, number of channels) is carried out by 3D stationary thermal and thermomechanical simulations. The thermal gradient between the upper and the lower shells of the absorber is sufficiently reduced to guarantee the reliability of the structure. The numerical results show that the choice of the shape and levels of the solar irradiance map is crucial. The distribution of the most relevant incident solar flux and the geometry compromise are determined.