Homogeneous and Inhomogeneous Model for Flow and Heat Transfer in Porous Materials as High Temperature Solar Air Receivers

O. Smirnova, T. Fend, P. Schwaryboezl, and D. Schoellgen
German Aerospace Center, Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, Koeln, Germany
Published in 2010

Results of simulations on flow and heat transfer in a porous Silicon Carbide honeycomb structure applied as a solar air receiver are presented. In this application porous materials are put in concentrated solar radiation. Flux densities of up to 1000 MW/m² are reached. Simultanously, ambient air flows through the material to be heated up to temperatures of app. 800°C. This hot air is then used to feed the steam generator of a steam turbine to generate solar electricity (solar tower technology).

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