Particle Receiver Integrated with a Fluidized Bed

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and its partners are developing a novel receiver that uses falling particles instead of liquid for the heat-transfer fluid (HTF). The research team aims to build a receiver that operates at higher temperatures and efficiencies than the current state-of-the-art technology.

The research team is designing a receiver with near-blackbody (NBB) absorptive performance. The concept uses low-cost stable materials, a ceramic solar receiver, and storage containers with refractory liners, which can accommodate temperatures much higher than can oil or salt and ordinary metals or metal alloys, and at a fraction of the cost.