Session: 05-04: Concentrating Solar Power I -- Receiver Simulations/Analysis

Paper Number: 141944

141944 - High-Fidelity Simulations of Commercial Scale Particle Receivers Using High-Performance Computing 

Abstract: 

Particle-based concentrating solar power (CSP) has seen significant research and development recently, and many fully integrated pilot plant systems are expected to be completed in the coming years. With these recent accomplishments, research has turned to focus on scaling particle-based technology to utility-scale facilities that can achieve a levelized cost of electricity of 0.05 $/kWh. Particles are being pursued for a number of reasons, but they primarily facilitate reaching the requisite high temperatures exceeding 700°C needed to couple with high-efficiency power cycles (e.g. supercritical-CO2). The particle receiver presents many scaling challenges to overcome due to its very unique application space and operation. As the size of a particle receiver increases, the cost of experimentally evaluating a particular design increases substantially which necessitates robust modeling and simulation capabilities to accurately assess the thermal performance of the designs or integrated features. Several modeling and simulation studies have been performed to assess commercial scale receiver designs in the past decade, but these studies have relied heavily on many modeling assumptions to reduce the overall computational expense of such large systems. Using the latest high-performance computing resources at Sandia National Laboratories, this study leverages some of the latest computational models for particle receivers to evaluate a candidate falling particle receiver (FPR) design developed for integration into a utility-scale system.

This numerical study simulates a multi-receiver FPR concept with a target thermal input of 75 MW_th located in Albuquerque, NM. The design borrows many performance improvement features integrated into the Generation 3 Particle Pilot Plant (G3P3) FPR including: an optimized cavity shape (scaled up from the G3P3 design), a “SNOUT” (converging tunnel leading to the cavity to minimize wind impacts), and a multistage cavity with multiple impediments to slow the particle descent. This transient model uses continuum-based methods to model fluid flow, energy transport, and radiation transport within the domain and Lagrangian particle tracking to simulate the falling particles within the cavity. The use of high-performance computing provides the ability to adequately resolve complex fluid interactions with the receiver and more appropriately resolve particle curtains with mass flow rates approaching 40 kg/s/m. Two simulations are performed quantifying the thermal performance of the receiver in quiescent conditions and subject to a high-speed impinging wind. The results of the simulations provide strong evidence of the ability of particle receiver technology to efficiency scale while highlighting the impact of the less desirable wind conditions with current receiver technology. The models also serve to accurately quantify residence time within the cavity which are important operational considerations for utility-scale systems.

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. Currently, Dr. Mills’ research has focused on development of coupled, multi-physics models for solar energy applications with a focus in particle-based technologies. He also leads the particle receiver development for the Generation 3 Particle Pilot Plot.

Authors:

Brantley Mills Sandia National Laboratories
Nathan Schroeder Sandia National Laboratories