Characterization results of a new volumetric receiver for high-. temperature industrial process heat in a solar furnace
I. Canadas 1, D. Martinez1*, F. Tellez1, J. Rodriguez1, G. Mallol2
1 Plataforma Solar de Almeria-CIEMAT. P. O. Box 22; 04200-Tabemas; SPAIN 2
Instituto de Tecnologia Ceramica, Castellon (SPAIN)
* Corresponding Author: diego. martinez@psa. es
Abstract
The Spanish-fUnded ‘Solar PRO’ project is assessing the suitability of the ceramics manufacturing industrial process-heat applications.
An experimental setup has been erected and characterized in the Plataforma Solar de Almeria’s Solar Furnace. This setup is based on an open volumetric receiver, heating an air current up to 1100°C in a sample processing chamber.
In a first stage, this system has been optimized and characterized and further its suitability for ceramics manufacturing processes has been studied. Nevertheless, it’s a multi-process device able to work at any high-temperature industrial process within its temperature limits.
Keywords: solar; process heat, high temperature, solar furnace, volumetric receiver, ceramics manufacturing
Solar thermal energy is the renewable energy which, because of its characteristics, must take on a relevant role in industry, as it provides, either directly or through transfer to a fluid or absorber material, the thermal energy necessary for many industrial processes, and can supply solar process heat at different temperatures.
The industrial processes that usually require the largest energy share are those that take place at high temperatures. For the future implantation of the solar thermal concentrating technology in high-temperature industrial processes, a strong boost for research is required and for each particular process, its technological feasibility must be demonstrated, adapting the design and production parameters.
The SolarPRO project, funded by Spanish Ministry for Education and Science, opens a new line of research, by demonstrating the technological feasibility of using solar thermal energy to supply high-temperature industrial processes other than electricity generation. The combined experience and knowledge from the many projects in central receiver technology and materials treatment in the Solar Furnace are made use of for that purpose.
The relatively small and very versatile Solar Furnace3,4,5 (figure 1) is used as a test bench, as it allows a broad range of experiments in which cost and conditions, control and monitoring can all be optimized.
The processes studied in this project are classified in two basic groups:
• Industrial production processes
• Waste treatment processes
