scholarly journals Analysis of a Fluidized-Bed Particle/Supercritical-CO2 Heat Exchanger in a Concentrating Solar Power System

2020 ◽  
Vol 143 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiwen Ma ◽  
Janna Martinek

Abstract Concentrating solar power (CSP) development has focused on increasing the energy conversion efficiency and lowering the capital cost. To improve performance, CSP research is moving to high-temperature and high-efficiency designs. One technology approach is to use inexpensive, high-temperature heat transfer fluids and storage, integrated with a high-efficiency power cycle such as the supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) Brayton power cycle. The sCO2 Brayton power cycle has strong potential to achieve performance targets of 50% thermal-to-electric efficiency and dry cooling at an ambient temperature of up to 40 °C and to reduce the cost of power generation. Solid particles have been proposed as a possible high-temperature heat transfer or storage medium that is inexpensive and stable at high temperatures above 1000 °C. The particle/sCO2 heat exchanger (HX) provides a connection between the particles and sCO2 fluid in emerging sCO2 power cycles. This article presents heat transfer modeling to analyze the particle/sCO2 HX design and assess design tradeoffs including the HX cost. The heat transfer process was modeled based on a particle/sCO2 counterflow configuration, and empirical heat transfer correlations for the fluidized bed and sCO2 were used to calculate heat transfer area and estimate the HX cost. A computational fluid dynamics simulation was applied to characterize particle distribution and fluidization. This article shows a path to achieve the cost and performance objectives for a particle/sCO2 HX design by using fluidized-bed technology.

Author(s):  
Zhiwen Ma ◽  
Janna Martinek

Concentrating solar power (CSP) technology is moving toward high-temperature and high-performance design. One technology approach is to explore high-temperature heat-transfer fluids and storage, integrated with a high-efficiency power cycle such as the supercritical carbon dioxide (s-CO2) Brayton power cycle. The s-CO2 Brayton power system has great potential to enable the future CSP system to achieve high solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency and to reduce the cost of power generation. Solid particles have been proposed as a possible high-temperature heat-transfer medium that is inexpensive and stable at high temperatures above 1,000°C. The particle/heat exchanger provides a connection between the particles and s-CO2 fluid in the emerging s-CO2 power cycles in order to meet CSP power-cycle performance targets of 50% thermal-to-electric efficiency, and dry cooling at an ambient temperature of 40°C. The development goals for a particle/s-CO2 heat exchanger are to heat s-CO2 to ≥720°C and to use direct thermal storage with low-cost, stable solid particles. This paper presents heat-transfer modeling to inform the particle/s-CO2 heat-exchanger design and assess design tradeoffs. The heat-transfer process was modeled based on a particle/s-CO2 counterflow configuration. Empirical heat-transfer correlations for the fluidized bed and s-CO2 were used in calculating the heat-transfer area and optimizing the tube layout. A 2-D computational fluid-dynamics simulation was applied for particle distribution and fluidization characterization. The operating conditions were studied from the heat-transfer analysis, and cost was estimated from the sizing of the heat exchanger. The paper shows the path in achieving the cost and performance objectives for a heat-exchanger design.


2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Clifford K. Ho ◽  
Matthew Carlson ◽  
Kevin J. Albrecht ◽  
Zhiwen Ma ◽  
Sheldon Jeter ◽  
...  

This paper presents an evaluation of alternative particle heat-exchanger designs, including moving packed-bed and fluidized-bed designs, for high-temperature heating of a solar-driven supercritical CO2 (sCO2) Brayton power cycle. The design requirements for high pressure (≥20 MPa) and high temperature (≥700 °C) operation associated with sCO2 posed several challenges requiring high-strength materials for piping and/or diffusion bonding for plates. Designs from several vendors for a 100 kW-thermal particle-to-sCO2 heat exchanger were evaluated as part of this project. Cost, heat-transfer coefficient, structural reliability, manufacturability, parasitics and heat losses, scalability, compatibility, erosion and corrosion, transient operation, and inspection ease were considered in the evaluation. An analytic hierarchy process was used to weight and compare the criteria for the different design options. The fluidized-bed design fared the best on heat transfer coefficient, structural reliability, scalability, and inspection ease, while the moving packed-bed designs fared the best on cost, parasitics and heat losses, manufacturability, compatibility, erosion and corrosion, and transient operation. A 100 kWt shell-and-plate design was ultimately selected for construction and integration with Sandia's falling particle receiver system.


Author(s):  
Stefano Consonni ◽  
Ennio Macchi

Externally Fired Combined Cycles (EFCC) constitute one of the options allowing the use of “dirty” fuels like coal, biomass or waste in conjunction with modern, high efficiency gas turbines. This two-part paper discusses thermodynamic, technological and economic issues crucial to the successful realization of EFCCs. Part B discusses the cycle arrangement, its implications for the design and the cost of the high temperature heat exchangers, the effects of scale and the economic prospects. An “enhanced” configuration whereby the excess air sent to the combustor is limited to the minimum required for complete combustion can reach net LHV efficiencies above 50%, with relatively low high-temperature heat transfer surface requirements. Cost projections are hindered by the uncertainty on the cost of the high temperature heat exchangers. Estimates based on published and proprietary data collected by the authors indicate that EFCCs should be cost-competitive with IGCCs, especially at medium-low power outputs.


Author(s):  
Q. Y. Chen ◽  
M. Zeng ◽  
D. H. Zhang ◽  
Q. W. Wang

In the present paper, the compact ceramic high temperature heat exchangers with parallel offset strip fins and inclined strip fins (inclined angle β = 0∼70°) are investigated with CFD method. The numerical simulations are carried out for high temperature (1500°C), without and with radiation heat transfer, and the periodic boundary is used in transverse direction. The fluid of high temperature side is the standard flue gas. The material of heat exchanger is SiC. NuS-G.R(with surface and gaseous radiation heat transfer) is averagely higher than NuNo.R (without radiation heat transfer) by 7% and fS-G.R is averagely higher than fNo.R by 5%. NuS-G.R(with surface and gaseous radiation heat transfer) is averagely higher than NuS.R (with only surface radiation heat transfer) by 0.8% and fS-G.R is averagely higher than fS.R by 3%. The thermal properties have significantly influence on the heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics, respectively. The heat transfer performance of the ceramic heat exchanger with inclined fins (β = 30°) is the best.


Author(s):  
Cs. Singer ◽  
R. Buck ◽  
R. Pitz-Paal ◽  
H. Mu¨ller-Steinhagen

In commercial power plant technology, the market introduction of ultra supercritical (USC) steam cycle power plants with steam parameters around 350bar and 720°C is the next development step. USC steam cycles are also proposed to decrease the levelized electricity costs of future solar power towers due to their highly efficient energy conversion. A 55% thermal efficiency with decreased specific investment costs is within the potential of USC steam cycles. The required process parameters can be achieved using nickel based alloys in the solar receiver, the tubing and other plant components. For solar tower applications, appropriate high temperature heat transfer media (HTM), high temperature heat exchangers and storage options are additionally required. Using the current development for molten salt power towers (Solar Tres) as a reference, several tower concepts with USC power plants were compared. The ECOSTAR methodology provided by [1] was applied for predicting the cost reduction potential and the annual performance of these power tower concepts applying tubular receivers with various HTM. The considered HTM include alkali nitrate salts, alkali chloride salts and liquid metals such as a Bi-Pb eutectic, tin or sodium. For the assessment, an analytical model of the heat transfer in a parametric 360° cylindrical, tubular central receiver was developed to examine the receiver characteristics for different geometries. The sensitivity of the specific cost assumptions for the levelized electricity costs (LEC) was evaluated for each concept variation. No detailed evaluation was done for the thermal storage, but comparable costs were assumed for all cases. The results indicate a significant cost reduction potential for the liquid metal HTM processes.


Author(s):  
Andrea Ambrosini ◽  
Timothy N. Lambert ◽  
Marlene Bencomo ◽  
Aaron Hall ◽  
Kent vanEvery ◽  
...  

Concentrating solar power (CSP) systems use solar absorbers to convert the heat from sunlight to electric power. Increased operating temperatures are necessary to lower the cost of solar-generated electricity by improving efficiencies and reducing thermal energy storage costs. Durable new materials are needed to cope with operating temperatures < 600°C. The current coating technology (Pyromark High Temperature paint) has a solar absorptance in excess of 0.95 but a thermal emittance greater than 0.8, which results in large thermal losses at high temperatures. In addition, because solar receivers operate in air, these coatings have long term stability issues that add to the operating costs of CSP facilities. Ideal absorbers must have high solar absorptance (>0.95) and low thermal emittance (<0.3 at receiver surface operating temperatures), be stable in air, and be low-cost and readily manufacturable. Recent efforts at Sandia National Laboratories have begun to address the issue of more efficient solar selective coatings for tower applications. This paper will present an overview of these efforts which address the development of new coatings on several fronts.


2006 ◽  
Vol 129 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles W. Forsberg ◽  
Per F. Peterson ◽  
Haihua Zhao

Liquid-fluoride-salt heat transfer fluids are proposed to raise the heat-to-electricity efficiencies of solar power towers to about 50%. The liquid salt would deliver heat from the solar furnace at temperatures between 700°C and 850°C to a closed multireheat Brayton power cycle using nitrogen or helium as the working fluid. During the daytime, hot salt may also be used to heat graphite, which would then be used as a heat storage medium to make night-time operations possible. Graphite is a low-cost high-heat-capacity solid that is chemically compatible with liquid fluoride salts at high temperatures. About half the cost of a solar power tower is associated with the mirrors that focus light on the receiver, and less than one-third is associated with the power cycle and heat storage. Consequently, increasing the efficiency by 20–30% has the potential for major reductions in the cost of electricity. Peak temperatures and efficiencies of current designs of power towers are restricted by (1) the use of liquid nitrate salts that decompose at high temperatures and (2) steam cycles in which corrosion limits peak temperature. The liquid-fluoride-salt technology and closed Brayton power cycles are being developed for high-temperature nuclear reactors. These developments may provide the technology and industrial basis for an advanced solar power tower.


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