Publications

Performance Evaluation of a Prototype Moving Packed-Bed Particle/sCO₂ Heat Exchanger

Albrecht, Kevin J.; Laubscher, Hendrik F.; Bowen, Christopher P.; Ho, Clifford K.

Particle heat exchangers are a critical enabling technology for next generation concentrating solar power (CSP) plants that use supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO₂) as a working fluid. This report covers the design, manufacturing and testing of a prototype particle-to-sCO₂ heat exchanger targeting thermal performance levels required to meet commercial scale cost targets. In addition, the the design and assembly of integrated particle and sCO₂ flow loops for heat exchanger performance testing are detailed. The prototype heat exchanger was tested to particle inlet temperatures of 500 °C at 17 MPa which resulted in overall heat transfer coefficients of approximately 300 W/m²-K at the design point and cases using high approach temperature with peak values as high as 400 W/m²-K