Session: 05-08 Particles for Thermal Storage in CSP 1

Paper Number: 106693

106693 - Coupled Acoustic Emission and Radiofrequency Sensing for Dynamic Characterization of Particulate Flow 

The electric power sector accounts for 32% of total energy-related carbon dioxide emissions in the US. As the cornerstone of sustainability, solar energy has been extensively leveraged in power generation. Concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP) technologies use mirrors or lenses to concentrate sunlight onto a receiver and convert light into heat. Compared to photovoltaics (PV) that convert sunlight to electricity, CSP has several advantages including higher efficiency, lower costs, and higher compatibility with the infrastructures of existing fossil fuel power plants. The recent advances in Gen 3 particle CSP promise significantly higher energy efficiency than existing CSP technologies, whereas several important research problems still need to be addressed, including the characterization of particle heat exchangers. In this work, we have developed and demonstrated a non-intrusive sensing platform for thermofluidic characterization of particle heat exchangers, integrating radiofrequency coupling, acoustic emissions, and multi-sensor fusion to characterize particle distribution, flow path, and temperature evolution. Experiments are performed using a moving bed system to examine transient performance during start-up, shutdown, and changing loads, and particle stagnation and void formation using tube bundles with different morphologies, aspect ratios, and arrangements. The outcomes of this work will enable non-intrusive diagnostic and characterization tools for particle heat exchangers to improve thermal performance during long-term operations.

Presenting Author: Jackson Marsh University of Arkansas

Presenting Author Biography: Jackson Marsh is a Junior Honors Mechanical Engineering Student. He is a member of the ASME; Space Technology, Astronautics, Astronomy and Rocketry clubs; AIAA; and Pi Tau Sigma Mechanical Engineering Honors Society on campus. His former research focused on the concentration of light for solar focused 3D printing. Currently, his research focuses on acoustic sensing. The main focus of this is with acoustic emissions of bubble in relation to boiling. After finishing his undergraduate studies, Jackson will pursue a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering