VoCoRec

Design and Performance of the Two-Stage Volumetric Conical Receiver

Abstract

Open volumetric air receivers in solar tower systems are attractive for electricity generation as well as for process heat in chemical and other industrial applications. From the experience of past development stages, a new receiver concept was created with a conical cavity, with hexagonal cross-section for the modularity and a two-stage air heating. Several simulations have been performed. A prototype receiver module with approx. 175 kW thermal output has been manufactured and will be tested in DLR’s Synlight. For different module sizes the cost estimation for industrial fabrication was calculated as well as the performance, ranging from 89% to 78% at 700°C hot air temperature.