Mechanical Engineering Department, Engineering and Architecture School, University of Zaragoza, Maria de Luna s/n, Betancourt Building, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Carlos Monné
Mechanical Engineering Department, Engineering and Architecture School, University of Zaragoza, Maria de Luna s/n, Betancourt Building, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Nuria Bernal
Mechanical Engineering Department, Engineering and Architecture School, University of Zaragoza, Maria de Luna s/n, Betancourt Building, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Mariano Muñoz
Mechanical Engineering Department, Engineering and Architecture School, University of Zaragoza, Maria de Luna s/n, Betancourt Building, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Francisco Moreno
Mechanical Engineering Department, Engineering and Architecture School, University of Zaragoza, Maria de Luna s/n, Betancourt Building, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
This paper presents a thermal model for a dish Stirling cavity based on the finite differences method. This model is a theoretical tool to optimize the cavity in terms of thermal efficiency. One of the main outcomes of this work is the evaluation of radiative exchange using the radiosity method; for that purpose, the view factors of all surfaces involved have been accurately calculated. Moreover, this model enables the variation of the cavity and receiver dimensions and the materials to determine the optimal cavity design. The tool has been used to study the cavity optimization regarding geometry parameters and material properties. Receiver absorptivity has been identified as the most influential property of the materials. The optimal aperture height depends on the minimum focal space.
