Improved tubular receivers for point-focus concentrators

Abstract

Optics, thermal emission, convection and internal flow are treated in a unified model for a tubular cavity receiver on a paraboloidal dish concentrator, and a new design is presented that shows a 40% reduction in receiver losses at the design point, compared the previous state-of-the-art receiver. Concepts to extend this work further through bladed configurations and through the use of active airflow control are also presented.