scholarly journals Design and Modeling of Light-Trapping Tubular Receiver Panels

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua M. Christian ◽  
Jesus D. Ortega ◽  
Clifford K. Ho ◽  
Julius Yellowhair
Keyword(s):  
Ray Tracing ◽  
Light Trapping ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Flat Panel ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Solar Absorptance ◽  
Analysis And Design ◽  
Cfd Models ◽  
Multiple Receiver ◽  
Heat Shielding

Multiple receiver designs have been evaluated for improved optics and efficiency gains including flat panel, vertical-finned flat panel, horizontal-finned flat panel, and radially finned. Ray tracing using SolTrace was performed to understand the light-trapping effects of the finned receivers. Re-reflections of the fins to other fins on the receiver were captured to give an overall effective solar absorptance. The ray tracing, finite element analysis, and previous computational fluid dynamics showed that the horizontal-finned flat panel produced the most efficient receiver with increased light-trapping and lower overall heat loss. The effective solar absorptance was shown to increase from an intrinsic absorptance of 0.86 to 0.96 with ray trace models. The predicted thermal efficiency was shown in CFD models to be over 95%. The horizontal panels produce a re-circulating hot zone between the panel fins reducing convective loss resulting in a more efficient receiver. The analysis and design of these panels are described with additional engineering details on testing a flat panel receiver and the horizontal-finned receiver at the National Solar Thermal Test Facility. Design considerations include the structure for receiver testing, tube sizing, surrounding heat shielding, and machinery for cooling the receiver tubes.

On-Sun Testing of a High Temperature Bladed Solar Receiver and Transient Efficiency Evaluation Using Air

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesus D. Ortega ◽  
Sagar D. Khivsara ◽  
Joshua M. Christian ◽  
Pradip Dutta ◽  
Clifford K. Ho
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Light Trapping ◽  
Heat Fluxes ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Flow Loop ◽  
Solar Absorptance ◽  
Cfd Models ◽  
Efficiency Increase ◽  
Solar Receiver

Prior research at Sandia National Laboratories showed the potential advantages of using light-trapping features which are not currently used in direct tubular receivers. A horizontal bladed receiver arrangement showed the best potential for increasing the effective solar absorptance by increasing the ratio of effective surface area to the aperture footprint. Previous test results and models of the bladed receiver showed a receiver efficiency increase over a flat receiver panel of ∼ 5–7% over a range of average irradiances, while showing that the receiver tubes can withstand temperatures > 800 °C with no issues. The bladed receiver is being tested at various peak heat fluxes ranging 75–150 kW/m2 under transient conditions using Air as a heat transfer fluid at inlet pressure ∼250 kPa (∼36 psi) using a regulating flow loop. The flow loop was designed and tested to maintain a steady mass flow rate for ∼15 minutes using pressurized bottles as gas supply. Due to the limited flow-time available, a novel transient methodology to evaluate the thermal efficiencies is presented in this work. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models are used to predict the temperature distribution and the resulting transient receiver efficiencies. The CFD simulations results using air as heat transfer fluid have been validated experimentally at the National Solar Thermal Test Facility in Sandia National Labs.

scholarly journals Design and Testing of a Novel Bladed Receiver

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesus D. Ortega ◽  
Joshua M. Christian ◽  
Clifford K. Ho
Keyword(s):  
Surface Area ◽  
Light Trapping ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Cfd Modeling ◽  
Discrete Ordinates ◽  
Receiver Design ◽  
Solar Absorptance ◽  
Efficiency Increase ◽  
Back Panel ◽  
Section Viii

Previous research at Sandia National Laboratories showed the potential advantages of using light-trapping features which are not currently used in direct tubular receivers. A horizontal bladed receiver arrangement showed the best potential for increasing the effective solar absorptance by increasing the ratio of effective surface area to the aperture footprint. Ray-tracing analyses using SolTrace were performed to understand the light-trapping effects of the bladed receivers, which enable re-reflections between the fins that enhance the effective solar absorptance. A parametric optimization study was performed to determine the best possible configuration with a fixed intrinsic absorptivity of 0.9 and exposed surface area of 1 m2. The resulting design consisted of three vertical panels 0.584 m long and 0.508 m wide and 3 blades 0.508 m long and 0.229 m wide with a downward tilt of 50 degrees from the horizontal. Each blade consisted of two panels which were placed in front of the three vertical panels. The receiver was tested at the National Solar Thermal Test Facility using pressurized air. However, the receiver was designed to operate using supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) at 650 °C and 15 MPa for 100,000 hours following the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section VIII Division 1. The air flowed through the leading panel of the blade first, and then recirculated toward the back panel of the blade before flowing through one of the vertical back panels. The test results of the bladed receiver design showed a receiver efficiency increase over a flat receiver panel of ∼5 – 7% (from ∼80% to ∼86%) over a range of average irradiances, while showing that the receiver tubes can withstand temperatures > 800 °C with no issues. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling using the Discrete Ordinates (DO) radiation model was used to predict the temperature distribution and the resulting receiver efficiencies. The predicted thermal efficiency and surface temperature values correspond to the measured efficiencies and surface temperatures within one standard deviation. In the near future, an sCO2 flow system will be built to expose the receiver to higher pressure and fluid temperatures which could yield higher efficiencies.

A Simplified Design Model for Modular Steel Buildings Subject to Vapor Cloud Explosions (VCEs)

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Osama Bedair
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Response ◽  
Minimum Cost ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Front Wall ◽  
Steel Buildings ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Analysis And Design ◽  
Vapor Cloud ◽  
Building Components ◽  
Analytical Expressions

Background: Modular steel buildings (MSB) are extensively used in petrochemical plants and refineries. Limited guidelines are available in the industry for analysis and design of (MSB) subject to accidental vapor cloud explosions (VCEs). Objectives: The paper presents simplified engineering model for modular steel buildings (MSB) subject to accidental vapor cloud explosions (VCEs) that are extensively used in petrochemical plants and refineries. Method: A Single degree of freedom (SDOF) dynamic model is utilized to simulate the dynamic response of primary building components. Analytical expressions are then provided to compute the dynamic load factors (DLF) for critical building elements. Recommended foundation systems are also proposed to install the modular building with minimum cost. Results: Numerical results are presented to illustrate the dynamic response of (MSB) subject to blast loading. It is shown that (DLF)=1.6 is attained at (td/t)=0.4 for front wall (W1) with (td/T)=1.25. For side walls (DLF)=1.41 and is attained at (td/t)=0.6. Conclusions: The paper presented simplified tools for analysis and design of (MSB) subject accidental vapor cloud blast explosions (VCEs). The analytical expressions can be utilized by practitioners to compute the (MSB) response and identify the design parameters. They are simple to use compared to Finite Element Analysis.

scholarly journals Simplified and Accurate Stiffness of a Prismatic Anisotropic Thin-Walled Box

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giacomo Canale ◽  
Felice Rubino ◽  
Paul M. Weaver ◽  
Roberto Citarella ◽  
Angelo Maligno
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sections ◽  
Torsional Stiffness ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Analysis And Design ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Vertical Walls ◽  
Thin Walled ◽  
High Level ◽  
Realistic Geometries

Background:Beam models have been proven effective in the preliminary analysis and design of aerospace structures. Accurate cross sectional stiffness constants are however needed, especially when dealing with bending, torsion and bend-twist coupling deformations. Several models have been proposed in the literature, even recently, but a lack of precision may be found when dealing with a high level of anisotropy and different lay-ups.Objective:A simplified analytical model is proposed to evaluate bending and torsional stiffness of a prismatic, anisotropic, thin-walled box. The proposed model is an extension of the model proposed by Lemanski and Weaver for the evaluation of the bend-twist coupling constant.Methods:Bending and torsional stiffness are derived analytically by using physical reasoning and by applying bending and torsional stiffness mathematic definition. Unitary deformations have been applied when evaluation forces and moments arising on the cross section.Results:Good accuracy has been obtained for structures with different geometries and lay-ups. The model has been validated with respect to finite element analysis. Numerical results are commented upon and compared with other models presented in literature.Conclusion:For cross sections with a high level of anisotropy, the accuracy of the proposed formulation is within 2% for bending stiffness and 6% for torsional stiffness. The percentage of error is further reduced for more realistic geometries and lay-ups.The proposed formulation gives accurate results for different dimensions and length rations of horizontal and vertical walls.

Analysis and Design of Offshore Pile Foundation

2014 ◽  
Vol 891-892 ◽  
pp. 17-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sudip Basack
Keyword(s):  
Pile Foundation ◽  
Complex Loading ◽  
Offshore Structures ◽  
Laboratory Model ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Analysis And Design ◽  
Theoretical Investigations ◽  
Experimental Laboratory ◽  
Combined Action ◽  
Ocean Environment

The ocean environment necessitates the pile foundation supporting the offshore structures to be designed against cyclic load, moments and torques initiated by a combined action of waves, wind, tides, currents, etc. Such a complex loading condition induces progressive degradation in the pile-soil interactive performance introducing significant reduction in bearing capacity with increased settlement and displacements. The Author has carried out extensive experimental (laboratory model tests) and theoretical investigations (boundary element analysis) to study the salient features of this degradation and developed a design methodology for offshore pile foundation. The works conducted and the major conclusions drawn are highlighted in this paper.

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