Session: 05-09 Particles for Thermal Storage in CSP 2

Paper Number: 116548

116548 - Simulating Particle Fines in Falling Particle Receivers Subject to Wind Using High-Performance Computing 

Next generation, utility-scale concentrating solar power (CSP) facilities utilizing particle technology will require robust modeling and simulation capabilities to accurately assess the thermal performance of particle receiver designs. As the scale of a particle receiver increases, the cost of experimentally evaluating a particular design increases substantially. To minimize the cost of testing, numerical modeling of preliminary designs can help identify promising candidates more economically. Over the past decade, models of particle receivers have been leveraged heavily to develop prototype designs at small scales and explore the viability of utility-scale receivers. However, despite continued advances in computational resources, the complex physics involved in particle receivers and the low TRL level of the technology has typically required the use of many key simplifications to limit the computational expense. One key simplification typically used includes ignoring particle fines which have been generally thought to have a smaller impact on the overall thermal performance.

Particle fines may be relevant for particle receiver operation in the following ways. First, particle fines escaping the receiver can block incoming concentrated solar radiation to a receiver cavity. Second, particle fines could account for a significant quantity of particle loss from the receiver. Finally, particle fines may also pose a health hazard to personnel, and accurately modeling the dispersion can help alleviate any risks. This numerical study simulates the effect of particle fines between 1 and 10 microns on a candidate falling particle receiver (FPR) being constructed for the Generation 3 Particle Pilot Plant (G3P3). The G3P3 receiver is simulated under expected operating conditions including wind up to 15 m/s using high-performance computing resources available at Sandia National Laboratories to minimize the number of simplifications in the analysis. The effect of particle fines on the incoming radiation and the dispersion of particles escaping the receiver aperture are determined using transient, Lagrangian/Eulerian CFD simulations. The results are used to more accurately estimate the anticipated G3P3 FPR thermal performance and to quantify the importance of including particle fines in the design of future, utility-scale particle receivers.

Presenting Author: Brantley Mills Sandia National Laboratories

Presenting Author Biography: Dr. Mills is a principal member of the technical staff at Sandia National Laboratories specializing in the computational thermal/fluid sciences. Among other topics, Dr. Mills’ recent research has focused on the development of coupled, multi-physics models for particle-based concentrating solar power. Dr. Mills received his Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2014 and his B.S. in mechanical engineering from Clemson University in 2009.