Design and optimization of baffled fluid distributor for realizing target flow distribution in a tubular solar receiver

Min Wei (1) , Yilin Fan (2) , Lingai Luo (2) , Gilles Flamant (3)

1 Andrus Gerontology Center and Department of Biological Sciences
2 LTeN - Laboratoire de Thermique et d’Energie de Nantes
3 PROMES - Procédés, Matériaux et Energie Solaire

This paper presents an original study on the design and optimization of baffled fluid distributor for the realization of optimal fluid flow distribution in a tubular solar receiver. The basic idea is to install a perforated baffle in the inlet fluid distributor and to optimize the configuration of orifices on the baffle so as to approach the target flow distribution among downstream parallel tubes. A pressurized-air solar receiver comprising of 45 parallel tubes is used for study, with copper or Inconel 600 used as the filling material.

Keywords: Flow distribution; Tubular solar receiver; Perforated baffle; Optimization method; Pressure drop

Domains: Engineering Sciences [physics]; Chemical and Process Engineering

Min Wei, Yilin Fan, Lingai Luo, Gilles Flamant. Design and optimization of baffled fluid distributor for realizing target flow distribution in a tubular solar receiver. Energy, 2017, 136, pp.126 - 134. ⟨10.1016/j.energy.2016.04.016⟩. ⟨hal-01892674⟩