Thermal performance and design of a solid particle cavity receiver

A model for energy transport in a solid particle cavity receiver is developed and applied to the design and analysis of a receiver for the Central Receiver Test Facility (CRTF), Albuquerque, New Mexico. The model gives thermal performance results including; particle temperatures, cavity efficiencies, and wall temperatures, which directly affect the economic and technical feasibility of a solid particle receiver. In addition, design criteria relevant to the configuration of a solid particle cavity receiver are developed. Results for CRTF indicate that at design conditions particle temperatures will exceed 1200 K with cavity efficiencies on the order of 75%.