High temperature volumetric solar absorbers with controlled optical properties – OPTISOL

The OPTISOL project aims to increase the competitiveness of solar thermal power plant by increasing the solar conversion efficiency at high temperature in particular through the implementation of combined cycles. The key component of such solar processes is the solar receiver that must delivers air in the temperature range between 700 ° C and 1100 ° C. We propose a breakthrough approach by implementing a porous structures with variable optical properties that have a selective behavior in relation to solar radiation and can thus limit the radiative losses of surfaces and increase heat transfer by convection. The proposed methodology integrates all aspects of the problem since the development of materials to the testing of solar receivers on a scale basis of 5kW through the modeling of volumetric radiative properties and detailed transfer coupling. The target is to increase thermal efficiency of such receptor by 10%.