Solar reactors can convert intermittent solar radiation into storable chemical energy in the form of fuels that are transportable. In order to use solar energy as a source of high temperature process heat in a solar reactor, incident radiation needs to be concentrated over a small surface area, the inlet of which is called the aperture. The image of the incoming solar radiation over the aperture can be approximated by a Gaussian distribution where the solar radiation inside the reactor varies by the peak value and aperture size. Due to the transient nature of solar energy, there is a critical need for proper control to maximize system efficiency under field conditions. This paper provides numerically proven advantages of having a camera-like variable aperture, one which is sensitive to natural variations in solar flux, and having the ability to shrink or enlarge accordingly in order to maintain quasi-constant radiation inside the reactor. Our numerical results from optical, thermodynamic, and flow dynamic simulations led us to develop a computational two dimensional heat transfer distribution model inside the reactor in order to validate our optical results. The simulation results show that a changing aperture diameter with respect to a changing incoming solar flux density facilitates keeping quasi-constant and homogenous temperature distributions inside the reactor. Since the temperature has a major impact on reactant to product conversion efficiency, by keeping the temperature constant, process efficiency is kept high. By maintaining the internal temperature despite variable operating conditions the system can maintain peak performance through a wider insolation range than fixed aperture systems.
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ASME 2010 4th International Conference on Energy Sustainability
May 17–22, 2010
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Advanced Energy Systems Division and Solar Energy Division
ISBN:
978-0-7918-4395-6
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Effect of Camera-Like Aperture in Quest for Maintaining Quasi-Constant Radiation Inside a Solar Reactor Available to Purchase
Nesrin Ozalp,
Nesrin Ozalp
Texas A&M University at Qatar, Doha, Qatar
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Anthony Toyama,
Anthony Toyama
Texas A&M University at Qatar, Doha, Qatar
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D. Jaya Krishna,
D. Jaya Krishna
Texas A&M University at Qatar, Doha, Qatar
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Reza Rowshan,
Reza Rowshan
Texas A&M University at Qatar, Doha, Qatar
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Yasser Al-Hamidi
Yasser Al-Hamidi
Texas A&M University at Qatar, Doha, Qatar
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Nesrin Ozalp
Texas A&M University at Qatar, Doha, Qatar
Anthony Toyama
Texas A&M University at Qatar, Doha, Qatar
D. Jaya Krishna
Texas A&M University at Qatar, Doha, Qatar
Reza Rowshan
Texas A&M University at Qatar, Doha, Qatar
Yasser Al-Hamidi
Texas A&M University at Qatar, Doha, Qatar
Paper No:
ES2010-90327, pp. 587-597; 11 pages
Published Online:
December 22, 2010
Citation
Ozalp, N, Toyama, A, Krishna, DJ, Rowshan, R, & Al-Hamidi, Y. "Effect of Camera-Like Aperture in Quest for Maintaining Quasi-Constant Radiation Inside a Solar Reactor." Proceedings of the ASME 2010 4th International Conference on Energy Sustainability. ASME 2010 4th International Conference on Energy Sustainability, Volume 2. Phoenix, Arizona, USA. May 17–22, 2010. pp. 587-597. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/ES2010-90327
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