An experimental investigation of chevron-shaped discrete structure configuration on the particle flow behavior of particle heating receivers

Rageh Saeed; Abdulelah Alswaiyd; Nader S. Saleh; Shaker Alaqel; Eldwin Djajadiwinata; Hany Al-Ansary; Syed Noman Danish; Abdelrahman El-Leathy; Zeyad Al-Suhaibani; Zeyad Almutairi; Sheldon Jeter

Results in Engineering (Mar 2024)

An experimental investigation of chevron-shaped discrete structure configuration on the particle flow behavior of particle heating receivers

Rageh Saeed,
Abdulelah Alswaiyd,
Nader S. Saleh,
Shaker Alaqel,
Eldwin Djajadiwinata,
Hany Al-Ansary,
Syed Noman Danish,
Abdelrahman El-Leathy,
Zeyad Al-Suhaibani,
Zeyad Almutairi,
Sheldon Jeter

Affiliations

Rageh Saeed: Mechanical Engineering Department, King Saud University, P.O.Box 800, Riyadh, 11421, Saudi Arabia; K.A.CARE Energy Research and Innovation Center at Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Corresponding author. Mechanical Engineering Department, King Saud University, P.O.Box 800, Riyadh, 11421, Saudi Arabia.
Abdulelah Alswaiyd: Mechanical Engineering Department, King Saud University, P.O.Box 800, Riyadh, 11421, Saudi Arabia
Nader S. Saleh: Mechanical Engineering Department, King Saud University, P.O.Box 800, Riyadh, 11421, Saudi Arabia; K.A.CARE Energy Research and Innovation Center at Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Shaker Alaqel: Mechanical Engineering Department, King Saud University, P.O.Box 800, Riyadh, 11421, Saudi Arabia; K.A.CARE Energy Research and Innovation Center at Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Eldwin Djajadiwinata: Mechanical Engineering Department, King Saud University, P.O.Box 800, Riyadh, 11421, Saudi Arabia; K.A.CARE Energy Research and Innovation Center at Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Hany Al-Ansary: Mechanical Engineering Department, King Saud University, P.O.Box 800, Riyadh, 11421, Saudi Arabia; K.A.CARE Energy Research and Innovation Center at Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Corresponding author. Mechanical Engineering Department, King Saud University, P.O.Box 800, Riyadh, 11421, Saudi Arabia.
Syed Noman Danish: K.A.CARE Energy Research and Innovation Center at Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Sustainable Energy Technologies Center, King Saud University, P.O. Box 800, Riyadh, 11421, Saudi Arabia
Abdelrahman El-Leathy: Mechanical Engineering Department, King Saud University, P.O.Box 800, Riyadh, 11421, Saudi Arabia; K.A.CARE Energy Research and Innovation Center at Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Zeyad Al-Suhaibani: Mechanical Engineering Department, King Saud University, P.O.Box 800, Riyadh, 11421, Saudi Arabia; K.A.CARE Energy Research and Innovation Center at Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Zeyad Almutairi: Mechanical Engineering Department, King Saud University, P.O.Box 800, Riyadh, 11421, Saudi Arabia; K.A.CARE Energy Research and Innovation Center at Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Sustainable Energy Technologies Center, King Saud University, P.O. Box 800, Riyadh, 11421, Saudi Arabia
Sheldon Jeter: Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Mechanical Engineering, 771 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 21
p. 101786

Abstract

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One of the main components of particle-based power tower (PBPT) systems is the particle heating receiver (PHR), through which solid particles are heated by concentrated sunlight. An obstructed-flow PHR (OF-PHR) developed by King Saud University is a type of PHR that has inverted V-shaped obstructions made of Inconel meshes, called chevrons, allowing for a longer time of sunlight exposure on the particles; hence, overcoming one of the limitations of free-fall PHRs. Two problems have been observed with this OF-PHR: (1) a considerable amount of the falling particles bounces forward and leaves the chevrons region; (2) it has a high packing density of chevrons that results in a very low falling particle velocity, which can lead to chevrons overheating. The present research attempts to resolve these issues and improve the PHR performance by understanding deeply the falling-particles behavior of OF-PHRs. The effects of (i) vertical spacing of chevrons and (ii) porosity of chevron meshes, (iii) PHR tilt angle, (iv) particle mass flow rate, and (v) type of particulate material were studied, at room temperature, concerning the following metrics: (1) particle velocity, (2) particle retention, and (3) particle curtain opacity. It was found that the particle velocity profile was nearly identical throughout the OF-PHR, which means that the obstructions successfully limited the particle falling speed. As for the PHR tilt angles, values below 10° were not sufficient to effectively retain the particles flowing through the chevron meshes since many particles bounced and left the PHR (low particle retention). Chevron's vertical spacing showed the most significant effect on particle opacity, with 30 mm spacing resulting in opacity values greater than 94 %. Two types of particulate material were tested, olivine sand and CARBOBEAD; the particle curtain opacity values using these materials were found to be comparable. By having high particle retention, sufficiently low particle falling speed, and high particle curtain opacity, the number of falling particles “controlled” by the obstructions (chevrons) is high; hence, a high number of particles has increased residence time, which will lead to higher PHR outlet temperatures. Moreover, high particle opacity ensures that most of the sunlight strikes the particles instead of the back side of the PHR and the obstructions (chevrons), ensuring optimal absorption of the solar energy and protecting the PHR construction from overheating/damage.

Published in Results in Engineering

ISSN: 2590-1230 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Technology
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/results-in-engineering

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