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ISSN Online: 2377-424X

ISBN Print: 978-1-56700-421-2

International Heat Transfer Conference 15
August, 10-15, 2014, Kyoto, Japan

Heat Transfer Challenges in Novel Power Cycles for Concentrating Solar Power

Get access (open in a dialog) DOI: 10.1615/IHTC15.kn.000017
pages 336-349

Abstract

The demand for distributed and scalable solar thermal power plants necessitates the use of novel power cycles which are efficient and cost effective at low to medium scales. For regions pertaining to high insolation intensities, the supercritical CO2 based Brayton cycle is now recognized to be a suitable candidate, having potential to yield high efficiencies at moderate operating temperatures of about 700°C. However, development of components for such power cycles, such as solar receivers, recuperators and storage systems involve significant heat transfer challenges which are highlighted in the present paper. For moderate insolation intensity areas, the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) is found to be suitable for multi-scale operation. However, high efficiency ORCs require high temperature organic working fluids which are generally flammable, thus requiring the development of novel power cycles with stable organic fluid mixtures. There are challenging heat transfer issues with the design of heat exchangers with these organic fluid mixtures, which are also discussed and highlighted in the present paper.