Thermal analysis of receivers for solar concentrators and optimization procedure for power production

The particular linear concentrator used is the 540 sq ft prototype faceted fixed mirror concentrator at Georgia Tech, which utilizes the fixed mirror moving receiver. The thermal analysis of the collector utilizing an evacuated receiver is described which predicts the thermal efficiency of the receiver and exit temperature of the collector fluid. Therminol 66 is the heat transfer fluid. A linear equation is obtained for the thermal efficiency of the receiver for arbitrary values of solar intensity, inlet temperature and ambient temperature. A solar/fossil power plant of 100MW was designed to illustrate the procedure for optimizing the system for the least cost unit power produced. A Rankin cycle using toluene as the working fluid is coupled to the collector circuit. Pertinent component models and heat balance equations are included. A procedure is outlined to optimize the entire system.