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Liquid-based high-temperature receiver technologies for next-generation concentrating solar power: A review of challenges and potential solutions

  • Review Article
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Abstract

To reduce the levelized cost of energy for concentrating solar power (CSP), the outlet temperature of the solar receiver needs to be higher than 700 °C in the next-generation CSP. Because of extensive engineering application experience, the liquid-based receiver is an attractive receiver technology for the next-generation CSP. This review is focused on four of the most promising liquid-based receivers, including chloride salts, sodium, lead-bismuth, and tin receivers. The challenges of these receivers and corresponding solutions are comprehensively reviewed and classified. It is concluded that combining salt purification and anti-corrosion receiver materials is promising to tackle the corrosion problems of chloride salts at high temperatures. In addition, reducing energy losses of the receiver from sources and during propagation is the most effective way to improve the receiver efficiency. Moreover, resolving the sodium fire risk and material compatibility issues could promote the potential application of liquid-metal receivers. Furthermore, using multiple heat transfer fluids in one system is also a promising way for the next-generation CSP. For example, the liquid sodium is used as the heat transfer fluid while the molten chloride salt is used as the storage medium. In the end, suggestions for future studies are proposed to bridge the research gaps for > 700 °C liquid-based receivers.

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Abbreviations

Q ab :

Thermal energy absorbed by the heat transfer fluid/W

Q in :

Solar energy concentrated to receiver/W

Q conv :

Convective energy loss of the receiver/W

Q ref :

Reflected energy loss of the receiver/W

Q rad :

Radiative thermal loss of the receiver/W

R :

Universal gas constant/(8.314 J(mol·K)−1)

ηr :

Receiver efficiency

T :

Temperature/K

T in :

Inlet temperature of the receiver/K

T out :

Inlet temperature of the receiver/K

v corrosion :

Corrosion rate/(μm·a−1)

α :

Absorption

ε :

Emissivity

CSP:

Concentrating solar power

FDTD:

Finite-different time-domain

FVM:

Finite volume method

HTF:

Heat transfer fluid

LBE:

Lead-bismuth eutectic

LCOE:

Levelized cost of energy

MCRT:

Monte carlo ray tracing

MDMC:

Metal-dielectric multilayer coatings

PSA:

Plataforma solar de almeria

SPT:

Solar power tower

SSC:

Solar selective coating

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51721004 and 51888103), and the Research Plan of Shaanxi Province (Nos. 2022GXLH-01-04 and 2019JCW-09).

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  1. Key Laboratory of Thermo-Fluid Science and Engineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049, China

    Ya-Ling He, Wenqi Wang, Rui Jiang & Wenquan Tao

  2. School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China

    Mingjia Li

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He, YL., Wang, W., Jiang, R. et al. Liquid-based high-temperature receiver technologies for next-generation concentrating solar power: A review of challenges and potential solutions. Front. Energy 17, 16–42 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11708-023-0866-8

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