Effect of non-uniform concentrated solar flux on direct steam generation in vertical pipes of solar tower receivers

The purpose of this work is to analyze the effect of non-uniform concentrated solar radiation on direct steam generation in a vertical tube of solar tower receiver. The modified RPI model was used for the conditions of critical heat flux coupled to a Eulerian two fluid model. The mathematical model was solved with CFD software. The results were validated with experimental data reported in the literature and a parametric study was carried out to determinate the effect of non-uniform concentrated solar radiation, on the steam quality, the volumetric fraction, enthalpies and temperatures of liquid and steam. Non-uniform concentrated solar fluxes favor generation of steam but produce conditions that may influence the structural durability of DSG receivers, like high axial temperature gradients and zones with temperatures above the melting temperature of stainless steel.