Mechanical Engineering ETDs
Publication Date
Spring 4-27-2022
Abstract
Falling particle receivers (FPRs) such as the one at Sandia National Labs, represent the state-of-the-art Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) technology for energy harvesting. The FPR operates by creating a gravity-driven particle curtain in a receiver that is irradiated by concentrated sunlight from a field of concentrators. The particles are used directly as the heat transfer and storage media for the concentrated energy absorbed. However, during operation, particles can egress through the open aperture of the receiver cavity, resulting in particle-inventory and heat losses from the system. The particle plumes egressing from the cavity present a unique challenge to metrology due to their transient and stochastic nature, and the extremely high temperatures and concentrated sunlight near the receiver. This work describes the development of a novel non-intrusive methodology to achieve an indirect particle-temperature measurement and particle-egress rate estimation. Both laboratory-scale and field-scale tests were performed to validate the method and algorithms.
Keywords
Concentrating Solar Power, Falling Particle Receiver, Imaging Methodology, Particle Egress
Degree Name
Mechanical Engineering
Level of Degree
Doctoral
Department Name
Mechanical Engineering
First Committee Member (Chair)
Dr. Peter Vorobieff
Second Committee Member
Dr. Gowtham Mohan
Third Committee Member
Dr. Clifford Ho
Fourth Committee Member
Dr. Jane Lehr
Document Type
Dissertation
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Ortega, Jesus Daniel. "A Novel Imaging Methodology to Estimate Advective Losses from a Concentrating Solar Power Particle Receiver." (2022). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/me_etds/195
