Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “CSP”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 379 records · Page 21
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Cost of Using Laser Powder Bed Fusion to Fabricate a Molten Salt-to-Supercritial Carbon Dioxide Heat Exchanger for Concentrating Solar Power

Advances in manufacturing technologies and materials are crucial to the commercial deployment of energy technologies. We present the case of concentrating solar power (CSP) with molten salt (MS) thermal storage, where low-cost, high-efficiency heat exchangers (HXs) are needed to achieve cost competitiveness. Here, the materials required to tolerate the extreme operating conditions in CSP systems make it difficult or infeasible to produce them using conventional manufacturing processes. Although it is technically possible to produce HXs with adequate performance using additive manufacturing, specifically laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), here we assess whether doing so is cost-effective. We describe a process-based cost model (PBCM) to estimate the cost of fabricating a MS-to-supercritical carbon dioxide HX using LPBF. The PBCM is designed to identify modifications to designs, process choices, and manufacturing innovations that have the greatest effect on manufacturing cost. Our PBCM identified HX design and LPBF process modifications that reduced projected HX cost from $\$750$ per kilo-Watt thermal (kW-th) ($\$8$ /cm 3 ) to $\$350$ /kW-th ($\$6/$ cm 3 ) using currently available LPBF technology, and down to $\$220$ /kW-th ($\$4$ /cm 3 ) with improvements in LPBF technology that are likely to be achieved in the near term. The PBCM also informed a redesign of the HX design that reduced projected costs to $\$140$ –160/kW-th ($\$3$ /cm 3 ).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

In situ characterization of ceramic cold sintering by small-angle scattering

The first in situ characterization of the pore morphology evolution during the cold sintering process (CSP) is presented using small-angle X-ray scattering methods. For practical reasons, measurements have been made on a model system, KH 2 PO 4 (KDP). The scattering signal revealed a striking behavior that could be modeled with nanoscale structural features associated with the dissolution and reprecipitation of KDP close to the grain/pore interface during CSP. The prospects for future more quantitative experiments under a range of temperature and pressure conditions, as well as for studies of more technologically important materials such as ZnO are considered.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Analysis of a Fluidized-Bed Particle/Supercritical-CO2 Heat Exchanger in a Concentrating Solar Power System

Concentrating solar power (CSP) development has focused on increasing the energy conversion efficiency and lowering the capital cost. To improve performance, CSP research is moving to high-temperature and high-efficiency designs. One technology approach is to use inexpensive, high-temperature heat transfer fluids and storage, integrated with a high-efficiency power cycle such as the supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO 2 ) Brayton power cycle. The sCO 2 Brayton power cycle has strong potential to achieve performance targets of 50% thermal-to-electric efficiency and dry cooling at an ambient temperature of up to 40 °C and to reduce the cost of power generation. Solid particles have been proposed as a possible high-temperature heat transfer or storage medium that is inexpensive and stable at high temperatures above 1000 °C. The particle/sCO 2 heat exchanger (HX) provides a connection between the particles and sCO 2 fluid in emerging sCO 2 power cycles. This article presents heat transfer modeling to analyze the particle/sCO 2 HX design and assess design tradeoffs including the HX cost. The heat transfer process was modeled based on a particle/sCO 2 counterflow configuration, and empirical heat transfer correlations for the fluidized bed and sCO 2 were used to calculate heat transfer area and estimate the HX cost. A computational fluid dynamics simulation was applied to characterize particle distribution and fluidization. This article shows a path to achieve the cost and performance objectives for a particle/sCO 2 HX design by using fluidized-bed technology.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

On-Sun Testing of a High-Temperature Solar Receiver's Flux Distribution

Concentrated solar power (CSP) is a promising technology in transitioning to renewable energy because of its abundance in nature and thermal energy storage (TES) capability. Among the four types of available CSP technology, including parabolic trough, linear Fresnel, power tower, and parabolic dishes, a power tower using a central receiver has more potential to generate high-temperature heat in a scale supporting power cycles efficiency and achieve low levelized cost of energy (LCOE). Other than the conventional type of receiver design, the high-absorptive receiver concept developed and presented in this paper is novel in its design approach. The novel receiver design originated from National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) consists of an array of solar flux absorb tubes. The solar absorb tubes require uniform flux distribution and in-depth flux penetration through the three different reflective sections of tubes in a hexagonal shape. To evaluate this unique receiver design and thermal performance, the flux distribution, flux uniformity, and intensity were numerically simulated using ansys fluent and SolTrace modeling program. On-sun testing has been done at NREL high flux solar testing facility, based on the computational analysis.

clean energy↗
DOE OSTI2022

A Combined Computer Vision and Deep Learning Approach for Rapid Drone-Based Optical Characterization of Parabolic Troughs

Optical accuracy is a primary driver of parabolic trough concentrating solar power (CSP) plant performance, but can be damaged by wind loads, gravity, error during installation, and regular plant operation. Collecting and analyzing optical measurements over an entire operating parabolic trough plant is difficult, given the large scale of typical installations. Distant Observer, a software tool developed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, uses images of the absorber tube reflected in the collector mirror to measure both surface slope in the parabolic mirror and offset of the absorber tube from the ideal focal point. This technology has been adapted for fast data collection using low-cost commercial drones, but until recently still required substantial human labor to process large amounts of data. A new method leveraging advanced deep learning and computer vision tools can drastically reduce the time required to process images. This new method addresses the primary analysis bottleneck, identifying featureless, reflective mirror corner points to a high degree of accuracy. Recent work has shown promising results using computer vision methods. The combined deep learning and computer vision approach presented here proved highly effective and has the potential to further automate data collection and analysis, making the tool more robust. The method presented in this paper automatically identified 74.3% of mirror corners within 2 pixels of their manually marked counterparts and 91.9% within 3 pixels. This level of accuracy is sufficient for practical Distant Observer analysis within a target uncertainty. A commercial drone collected video of over 100 parabolic trough modules at an operating CSP plant to demonstrate the deep learning and computer vision method's usefulness in processing large amounts of data. These troughs were successfully analyzed using Distant Observer, paired with the new deep learning and computer vision algorithm, and can provide plant operators and trough designers with valuable insight about plant performance, operating strategies, and plant-wide optical error trends.

computer vision↗
DOE OSTI2023

Optimization of Dimensions of Smooth and Twisted-Tape-Inserted Tubes for Heat Transfer with NaCl/KCl/MgCl 2 Molten Salts by Principle of Entropy Generation Minimization

The entropy generation minimization principle is used as the criterion to optimize the flow and heat transfer of solar collectors and heat exchangers that use molten salts NaCl–KCl–MgCl 2 and KCl–MgCl 2 . The Gnielinski correlation for the Nusselt number versus Reynolds number, as well as the Moody friction factor given by Petukhov, was used for the calculation of the convective heat transfer coefficient and pressure loss due to friction in smooth tubes. For twisted-tap-inserted tube, equations of Nu and friction factor provided by Manglik and Bergles were used. The objective function, the entropy generation rate of the heat transfer system, was expressed as the function of Reynolds number, Prandtl number, heating flux, tube diameter, etc. As a result of the analysis, the optimum Reynolds number was determined and thereby to determine the optimum Nusselt number, convective heat transfer coefficient, friction factor, and tube diameter, which also allows the calculation of optimum flow velocity. The analysis was conducted in the fluid temperature range of 500–700 °C, which covers the operation temperature for supercritical CO 2 power cycles in concentrated solar power (CSP) system. Here, optimized results from the smooth tube and twisted-tap-inserted tube are compared, which is important to the design of solar receivers for CSP systems.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Review and Gap Analysis of Heliostat Components and Controls

This investigation provides a comprehensive literature review pertaining to heliostat components and controls as part of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Heliostat Consortium (Heliocon) program. Here, this work presents a detailed assessment of subcomponents, controls and wireless communications elements that comprise various designs of helisotats within concentrating solar power (CSP) installations. Additionally, this work also provides the results of an industry survey, intended to compliment the literature discussion, to provide a gap analysis of the primary technology and cost areas that need to be addressed to help improved to spur concentrating solar power (CSP) bankability. Although the results of the study determined several key areas for development, three strategic areas identified were: (1) the use of advanced composite materials to replace a need for expensive steel within the structure and mirror substrate, (2) employment of closed-loop controls for automated calibration, reduction of commissioning time and O&M hours, reduction of drive requirements, as well as overall cost reduction, and (3) the need for more Heliostat-centric codes and standards to facilitate engineering confidence in the development of new features, cost reductions, or other design iterations to be seamlessly introduced without optical performance problems.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

A Nonintrusive Optical Approach to Characterize Heliostats in Utility-Scale Power Tower Plants: Camera Position Sensitivity Analysis

Optics plays a major role in the effectiveness of concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies. The nonintrusive optical (NIO) approach developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory uses uncrewed aircraft system (UAS)-based imaging to survey heliostats in a commercial-scale power tower CSP plant and characterize their optical errors. The image processing algorithm uses photogrammetry to calculate the camera position for each image frame, and the accuracy of the estimated optical errors is highly sensitive to the calculated camera position accuracy. In this study, we simulate a series of case studies in python to examine the impact of different parameters of the sensitivity of the camera calculation, including the number of facet corners used as control points for the photogrammetric calculation, precision error in the detected pixel locations of the facet corners in the image, and precision error of the canting and mounting positions of the facets of the heliostat. The case studies consider heliostat geometry based on three commercial designs to serve as representative examples of different possible sizes of heliostats that the NIO method could be applied to. The results show that increasing the number of control points can improve accuracy for heliostats with many facets, pixel precision has a significantly larger impact on camera calculation accuracy than facet canting and mounting errors, and the camera distance and focal length must be chosen to ensure adequate pixel accuracy on the heliostat surface depending on the size of heliostat. In conclusion, based on the results, recommendations for the allowable values of each parameter are provided to achieve the required NIO optical error estimation accuracy depending on the size of heliostat.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Path Generation for Image Collection to Assist Heliostat Field Optical Characterization

This paper focuses on applications of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for measuring optical error of heliostats in concentrating solar power (CSP) plants. In CSP, there is a need to measure solar-field optical errors, which is critical for future production improvement as well as for operations and maintenance of a heliostat field. This latter need is particularly challenging because of the large number of heliostats (over 10,000 for a utility-scale power plant) that individually track the sun in the field. To address this issue, a camera-equipped UAV, with an optimized drone flight path developed and uploaded to it, collects images of a precise reflection of the tower on each heliostat to evaluate optical error sources without interrupting plant operation. Generation of the drone path for capturing the reflected images is affected by a number technical and realistic constraints, which include the camera angle used to capture the image, the blocking of the camera view due to surrounding heliostats, the location of the camera in reference to the target heliostat, and the target heliostat position with reference to the tower. The effect of these constraints on calculating the camera position will be discussed in detail in this article. An effective drone-path algorithm is generated to fulfil the need of image collection under various constraints.

concentrated solar power↗
DOE OSTI2023

Numerical Study of Solar Receiver Tube With Modified Surface Roughness for Enhanced and Selective Absorptivity in Concentrated Solar Power Tower

Abstract Concentrated solar power (CSP) is a reliable renewable energy source that is progressively lowering its cost of energy. However, the heat loss due to reflected and emitted radiation hinders the maximum achievable thermal efficiency for solar receiver tubes on the solar tower. Current solar selective coatings cannot withstand the high temperatures that come with state-of-the-art CSP towers often needing to be recoated soon after initial operation. We intend to use Inconel 718 with different additive manufacturing (AM) practices to construct surfaces that allow for more light-trapping to occur. By adjusting printing parameters, we can tailor a surface to allow for more absorption while diminishing emitted radiation heat loss. By using COMSOL Multiphysics, we can generate these theoretical surfaces to emulate a printed surface, and using the coupled Multiphysics we can simulate how the surface dictates radiation properties. Our results show that by having a rougher surface we can enhance the absorptivity of Inconel 718 (IN718) by 38.8%. We expect this work to transform how solar absorber tubes are manufactured without using selective coatings and supplement the US Department of Energy (DOE) 2030 SunShot Initiative.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

System and Component Development of Particle-Based Pumped Thermal Energy Storage

Reliable power supply from variable renewable resources requires energy storage at various scales to overcome resource intermittency. Long-duration energy storage (LDES, 10-100 hours) can improve dispatchability and grid reliability with increasing levels of renewable power supply. Thermal energy storage (TES) has siting flexibility and the ability to store a large capacity of energy, and thus has the potential to meet the LDES need and provide charging and discharging durations beyond the economic capacity of conventional batteries. TES technology has evolved from concentrating solar thermal power (CSP) generation and is recognized as an economic large-scale energy storage method. A standalone electric-thermal energy storage system supporting renewable integration of wind and solar power without CSP solar field can firm renewable generation and boost overall grid resilience and security.

concentrating solar thermal power↗
DOE OSTI2024

Static metrology of the meter-scale deformable heliostat

This paper describes a heliostat metrology system which is developed based on deflectometry, utilizing a static perforated panel instead of conventional dynamic monitor displays to provide incident rays. The developed method is named static screen deflectometry (SSD). This robust and scalable method is especially valuable for outdoor tests of large reflectors used in concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP) systems. The developed method has been successfully demonstrated on a 2.4 𝑚 × 3.3 𝑚 float glass deformable reflector bent to focus sunlight at 113 𝑚 distance throughout a day. From images obtained from a camera at 50𝑚 distance, the reflector surface was measured to an accuracy of less than 1 𝑚𝑟𝑎𝑑 rms slope error in the full test scope.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Chapter 3: Solar Optics and Principles

Solar irradiation originating from a finite-sized sun disc, as well as its various interactions with the atmosphere and reflective elements, results in the distribution of concentrated light at the receiver. The study of these interactions and the computation of the resulting flux distribution constitute the field of CSP optics. CSP optics is subdivided into two categories, namely, path-independent optics and geometric optics. This chapter deals primarily with the technology agnostic path-independent optics and attempts to convey some fundamental principles and to guide researchers. The path-independent optics introduced here includes sun shapes, the impact of surface microscopic and macroscopic structure, and atmospheric attenuation.

concentrating solar power↗
DOE OSTI2023

Characterizing inhibitors of human AP endonuclease 1

AP endonuclease 1 (APE1) processes DNA lesions including apurinic/apyrimidinic sites and 3´-blocking groups, mediating base excision repair and single strand break repair. Much effort has focused on developing specific inhibitors of APE1, which could have important applications in basic research and potentially lead to clinical anticancer agents. We used structural, biophysical, and biochemical methods to characterize several reported inhibitors, including 7-nitroindole-2-carboxylic acid (CRT0044876), given its small size, reported potency, and widespread use for studying APE1. Intriguingly, NMR chemical shift perturbation (CSP) experiments show that CRT0044876 and three similar indole-2-carboxylic acids bind a pocket distal from the APE1 active site. A crystal structure confirms these findings and defines the pose for 5-nitroindole-2-carboxylic acid. However, dynamic light scattering experiments show the indole compounds form colloidal aggregates that could bind (sequester) APE1, causing nonspecific inhibition. Endonuclease assays show the compounds lack significant APE1 inhibition under conditions (detergent) that disrupt aggregation. Thus, binding of the indole-2-carboxylic acids at the remote pocket does not inhibit APE1 repair activity. Myricetin also forms aggregates and lacks APE1 inhibition under aggregate-disrupting conditions. Two other reported compounds (MLS000552981, MLS000419194) inhibit APE1 in vitro with low micromolar IC50 and do not appear to aggregate in this concentration range. However, NMR CSP experiments indicate the compounds do not bind specifically to apo- or Mg 2+ -bound APE1, pointing to a non-specific mode of inhibition, possibly DNA binding. Our results highlight methods for rigorous interrogation of putative APE1 inhibitors and should facilitate future efforts to discover compounds that specifically inhibit this important repair enzyme.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Characterization and Understanding of Thermal Transport in Stationary and Moving Particle Beds for Concentrating Solar Power

Concentrating solar power (CSP) coupled with thermal energy storage (TES) is being considered as an appealing solution to deliver stable, dispatchable, and inexpensive electricity generation from renewable solar energy. The heat from the HTF is stored in a TES system that is significantly less expensive and more scalable than electrochemical storage, enabling electricity generation when the sunlight is unavailable. The general concentrating solar thermal technologies are being pushed to higher temperature for higher efficiency and lower cost in a diverse range application in electricity generation (in CSP), industrial heating, and thermochemical fuel productions. Inert and abundant solid particles are becoming increasingly more important for these emerging applications. Heat transfer in both stationary and moving particle beds have been studied for many decades, revealing a great deal of insights on the mechanisms. Yet, there are still several unresolved problems from both fundamental understanding and technological applications points of view. In this Chapter, we will attempt to provide an up-to-date picture of thermal transport in stationary and moving particle beds. In both cases, we will review historical and contemporary developments in the theoretical, computational, and experimental aspects of heat transfer and related behaviors in particle beds. Here, we will discuss both the advancements and limitations of the existing studies and point to future developments towards deeper fundamental understandings and better engineering applications.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Thermomechanical Modeling and Analysis of a High-Temperature Light Trapping Planar Cavity Receiver

Solar energy harnessed through concentrating solar power (CSP) systems offers a promising path to sustainable energy production, with the efficiency and longevity of these systems relying on key components like solar receivers. This study analyzes the thermomechanical behavior of an innovative enclosed light-trapping solar receiver optimized for particle heating applications. The receiver utilizes sheet metal alloys to form enclosed cavities that reflect and trap incoming solar flux, as well as enclosed channels that contain fluidized particle beds absorbing solar heat. Finite element analysis (FEA) is applied to predict the receiver's thermomechanical performance under extreme solar flux conditions. Temperature distributions from a thermal model simulating a multi-panel assembly at steady state are input into the FEA thermomechanical model for stress analysis. A key aspect of the analysis focuses on evaluating creep-fatigue damage, with a design target of achieving a 30- year service life. Various stress relief techniques are also proposed to extend the receiver's service life. The results highlight the significant impact of the particle-to-wall heat transfer coefficients (HTCs), ranging from 800 W/m2*K to 1400 W/m2*K. The 800 W/m2*K case shows a maximum von Mises stress of 164 MPa, while the 1400 W/m2*K case reduces it to 150 MPa. The creep life increases from 4,000 hrs in the 800 W/m2*K case to over 100,000 hrs in the 1400 W/m2*K case with Inconel 740H used, indicating that higher HTCs reduce stress and extend lifespan. This research advances the design of high-efficiency, low-stress solar receivers for particle-based thermal energy storage in CSP and industrial heating applications.

concentrating solar power↗
DOE OSTI2020

Design Guidance for High Temperature Concentrating Solar Power Components

This report provides guidance for the design of components for concentrating power facilities operating at high temperatures and undergoing high, secondary thermal stresses relative to the applied primary pressure stress. The design rules were developed for the design of Generation 3 CSP tubular receivers manufactured from Alloy 740H, but are generally applicable to a wide range of component types undergoing similar loads. Part 1 of the report provides procedural design rules for components to be used in conjunction with the 2019 edition of the ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code. Part 2 provides corresponding design data for Alloy 740H. Part 3 of the report is a commentary describing the rationale behind the design rules and the data underlying the design material properties. Finally, Part 4 provides an extensive set of worked sample problems detailing the application of the rules to CSP components.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2021

Robust and Spectrally Selective Aerogels for Solar Receivers

The development of next generation concentrated solar thermal (CST) plants requires solar receivers to reach high temperatures (> 600°C) while minimizing costs. Efficiently generating such high temperatures using a line-focusing collector and an air-stable receiver has the potential to change the current CSP paradigm because it would: (1) result in large improvements in system-level efficiency of line-focusing systems by enabling the use of high-efficiency supercritical CO 2 power cycles; (2) decrease the LCOE of line-focusing systems to meet SETO 2030 goals; (3) maintain performance over the lifetime of the CSP plant by avoiding issues related to breakdown of vacuum. The use of aerogels as transparent insulating materials (TIMs) in solar thermal receivers has the potential to enable such improvements. Specifically, aerogels can be placed in front of a black (or partially selective) high-temperature absorber to allow sunlight to transmit to the absorber but block heat from escaping. These materials can improve the efficiency and simplify the complexity of thermal transport systems by enabling operation at moderate or no vacuum levels. These potential benefits have been explicitly identified by SETO as ‘high impact’. The use of mesoporous silica as a TIM has already led to large improvements in solar collection efficiency. Nevertheless, these materials inherently lose structural integrity and the ability to suppress radiation losses at high temperatures. Here, we address these challenges by leveraging 1-cycle atomic layer deposition of aluminum oxide onto a silica aerogel to form a thermally stable interfacial layer that is transparent to sunlight but broadly absorbs in the mid-infrared. This interfacial absorption results in a two-fold reduction in measured heat losses from an absorber at 700°C and solar thermal efficiency of 81% at 700°C under 60 Suns, based on measurements of heat loss and solar transmittance. Extended-duration heat treatment reveals that the multicomponent aerogel is stable at high temperatures relative to a silica aerogel. Furthermore, we experimentally demonstrate the concept of using infrared plasmon resonances to selectively enhance the thermal absorption coefficient of TIMs in order to strongly suppress thermal radiative losses at high temperatures. We term this mechanism plasmon-enhanced greenhouse selectivity (PEGS). Unlike silica aerogels, where much of the IR absorption is lost at high temperatures, local surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) in doped oxide nanoparticles overlap a significant portion of the blackbody spectrum and are maintained at high temperatures. Overall, this work paves the way for next-generation solar thermal energy using thermally robust transparent insulating materials.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗