A new design of multi-tube receiver for Fresnel technology to increase the thermal performance, M. J. Montes, R. Abbas, R. Barbero, A. Rovira, Applied Thermal Engineering, 204, 117970, 2022, Online version,  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2021.117970

Abstract

Solar heat for industrial processes is a promising way to meet the high thermal demand required by the industry, while this application becomes an important niche market for solar technology. In this research line, it is proposed a novelty concept based on a rotary Fresnel solar collector to supply heat above 150 °C. This work is focused on the multi-tube receiver for this Fresnel collector, proposing a thermal design based on three criteria that can be generalized for any multi-tube receiver: the fluid flow layout is arranged to meet the symmetry of the solar flux map; the fluid circulates from the lower to the higher flux density zone; and the fluid velocity is modified by modifying the tube diameter, to optimize the heat transfer. Following these criteria, the final configuration of the receiver is chosen based on an exergy optimization, in which both heat loss and pressure drop must be quantified. It has been also accomplished a generalization of the optimization methodology for Fresnel collectors providing heat at different temperatures, showing that, in these cases, the configuration that maximizes the exergy efficiency does not correspond to the one with the highest energy efficiency. This thermal design method can be applied to multi-tube receivers working at higher temperatures in longer Fresnel loops, in which case the optimization will result in more marked differences between the optimal values and the standard ones.