Performance analysis of fresnel lens driven hot water/ steam generator for domestic and industrial use: A CFD research

Abstract

This study presents the design, manufacture, and thermal performance analysis of a Fresnel lens-driven hot water/steam generator. The designed system is suitable for domestic and industrial hot water/steam usage and can be easily scaled up to meet different capacity needs. In the first step of the research, the thermal behavior of the cast plate heat exchanger driven by a Fresnel lens with a concentration ratio of 100 is investigated at different working fluid velocities (0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 m/s) and at different absorber surface temperatures. The outlet temperature of working fluid from the cast plate heat exchanger is determined through a 3D CFD model for each case. The capacity of the steam generator for different operating times (h = 1, 2 and 3 hours) is also evaluated. The highest working fluid temperature at the outlet of the heat exchanger is 914.8 °C for Tcp = 1000 °C and Vwf = 0.6 m/s. On the other hand, the lowest temperature is observed as 424.7 °C for Tcp = 700 °C and Vwf = 2.0 m/s. The steam capacity of the system for h = 3 hours is determined as 1696.5 and 508.9 kg in the best ( Vwf = 2.0 m/s) and worst cases ( Vwf = 0.6 m/s), respectively.