| Abstract: | A suction-recirculation device for stabilizing the flow of a curtain of
blackened heat absorption particles falling inside of a solar receiver
with an open aperture. The curtain of particles absorbs the concentrated
heat from a solar mirror array reflected up to the receiver on a solar
power tower. External winds entering the receiver at an oblique angle can
destabilize the particle curtain and eject particles. A fan and ductwork
is located behind the back wall of the receiver and sucks air out through
an array of small holes in the back wall. Any entrained particles are
separated out by a conventional cyclone device. Then, the air is
recirculated back to the top of the receiver by injecting the recycled
air through an array of small holes in the receiver's ceiling and upper
aperture front wall. Since internal air is recirculated, heat losses are
minimized and high receiver efficiency is maintained.
Suction-recirculation velocities in the range of 1-5 m/s are sufficient
to stabilize the particle curtain against external wind speeds in excess
of 10 m/s. |