Heliostat Field and a Solid Particle Receiver Curtain Under Dynamic Conditions for CSP Plants

Solid particles are being pursued as the next generation collecting and storage media for central receiver concentrated solar power (CSP) systems. This paper studies the interactions between the CSP heliostat field and its free-falling particle receiver. A thermodynamic model to predict the receiver temperature is presented. Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) and ambient temperature data for clear sky and partially cloudy sky days in each season are considered for Tucson, AZ. The heliostat and receiver parameters are representative of those of the Gen 3 Particle Pilot Plant (G3P3) developed by DOE and Sandia. The temperature distribution follows the trend of the irradiation profile for the selected day as anticipated, and increments in mass flow rate result in a lower outlet temperature of the curtain.