High-Temperature Particle Flow Testing in Parallel Plates for Particle-to-Supercritical CO2 Heat Exchanger Applications

Realizing cost-effective, dispatchable, renewable energy production using concentrated solar power (CSP) relies on reaching high process temperatures to increase the thermal-to-electrical efficiency. Ceramic based particles used as both the energy storage medium and heat transfer fluid is a promising approach to increasing the operating temperature of next generation CSP plants. The particle-to-supercritical CO2 (sCO2) heat exchanger is a critical component in the development of this technology for transferring thermal energy from the heated ceramic particles to the sCO2 working fluid of the power cycle. The leading design for the particle-to-sCO2 heat exchanger is a shell-and-plate configuration. Currently, design work is focused on optimizing the performance of the heat exchanger through reducing the plate spacing. However, the particle channel geometry is limited by uniformity and reliability of particle flow in narrow vertical channels. Results of high temperature experimental particle flow testing are presented in this paper.