Student research opportunities

Investigation of a new high-temperature, high-efficiency tubular receiver using molten sodium as the heat transfer fluid.

Project Code: CECS_1038

This project is available at the following levels:
PhD
Please note that this project is only for higher degree (postgraduate) applicants.

Keywords:

Solar thermal, CSP, receiver, molten, sodium, liquid metal, high-temperature

Supervisor:

Dr Joe Coventry

Outline:

The research proposed in this PhD project relates to development of a new high-temperature, high-efficiency tubular receiver for a power tower using molten sodium as the heat transfer fluid (HTF).

The solar thermal group (STG) at the ANU is leading a project in this area as part of the broader ASTRI program to reduce the LCOE of CSP technology to 12 c/kWh by 2020. The specific target for the sodium receiver is thermal efficiency of at least 91% at an outlet temperature of 700°C.

Possible research areas for the PhD candidate may incorporate:

• The high conductivity of sodium allows high peak flux, excellent heat transfer and hence a compact and efficient receiver is possible. However, further work is required to quantify peak flux limits with sodium as a working fluid, potentially including film temperature limits, pipe wall / material temperature limits, stresses arising from circumferential temperature variations and corrosion issues. Possible analysis tools include FE packages capable of stress and heat conduction analysis e.g. Strand7.
  
• Experimental work is expected to include testing of a small sodium receiver prototype in the ANU high-flux solar simulator. This will allow validation of the integrated receiver model, and provide insight in areas such as effective absorptivity of tubular configurations, and heat transfer performance using sodium.
  
• Other experimental work may include measurement of cavity radiative performance in the solar simulator, and lab-based convective analysis in the ANU Geophysical Fluid Dynamics laboratory.

A separate but related PhD project is currently being offered to explore thermal and optical efficiency of tubular receivers. However, research in this topic may incorporate similar elements, such as novel ideas to minimise thermal losses, including quasi-cavity designs to improve light trapping and dual-zone receiver concepts. Analysis tools presently available within STG in this area include optical ray tracing (Opticad and other bespoke software) and CFD (currently using OpenFOAM) to optimise receiver external geometry, and to explore various design concepts (including cavity shape optimisation, and flux profile shaping by tailored internal reflection).

The high-flux solar simulator and sodium work cell are new facilities at the solar thermal group, to be commissioned in late 2014. The candidate would be expected to be actively involved with establishing the experimental program using these facilities, including experimental design, equipment selection, materials handling, laboratory safety and operation. The use of liquid sodium as a HTF is new experimental research area for ANU, and PhD candidates will be expected to participate in hands-on training by personnel experienced with operation of similar facilities (most likely overseas), assist with development of operational procedures and risk management tasks, and, over time, assist with training others.

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