Thermo-mechanical modelling of solar central receivers: Effect of incident solar flux resolution

摘要

The most important constraint for central receiver design is to keep the intercepting solar flux within the tube mechanical safety limits. An error in the heliostat aiming strategy or an inaccurate estimation of the tube temperature can produce overheating of the tubes, putting at risk the power plant operation. Therefore, the development of thermo-mechanical models to predict the incident solar flux, the temperature and the thermal stresses is mandatory.