Numerical Simulation on the Heat Transfer Characteristics of a Solar Thermal Receiver Depending on the End-Wall Angle Variation

고온 태양열 흡수기의 후벽 각도 변화에 따른 열전달 특성에 관한 수치적 모사

A numerical analysis was conducted to predict the heat transfer characteristics of a high-temperature, high heat flux solar receiver as the end-wall angle varied. The concentration ratio of the solar receiver ranges from 200 to 1000 and the concentrated heat is required to be transported to a certain distance for specific applications. This study deals with a solar receiver incorporating high-temperature sodium heat pipe as well as a typical one that employs a molten-salt circulation loop with the same outer dimensions. The isothermal characteristics in the receiver section is of major concern. The diameter of the solar thermal receiver was 120 mm and the length was 400 mm. FLUENT, a commercial software, was employed to deal with the radiative heat transfer inside the receiver cavity and the convection heat transfer along the channels and heat pipes. The numerical results were compared and analyzed from the view point of heat transfer characteristics the solar receiver system.