SUMMARY

Particulate-based solar thermal energy storage (TES) and transport media provide a pathway for sensibly storing solar energy to produce on-demand electricity in concentrated solar power applications. The thermal radiative properties and light scattering of particles are important in understanding energy transfer processes in solar energy conversion by particulate media. Single particle scattering properties were measured by the unique taped particle method with a light scatterometer. Subsequent modeling of granular flow is necessary for delivering mass transport information in heat transfer models to optimize solar particle receivers. Measured flow properties up to 800 °C were used as inputs to model granular flow of various configurations used in concentrated solar power (CSP) systems. Along with simulation, experimental campaigns examining high temperature granular flows between parallel plates and external flows along an inclined slope subjected to external concentrated irradiation will be performed. Measured particle radiative properties and flow models will be adopted to improve the performance of heat transfer models.