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Performance and Exergy Analysis of a Dual Receiver of a Solar Power Tower.

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Title: Performance and Exergy Analysis of a Dual Receiver of a Solar Power Tower.
Authors: Zhang, Cheng1 (AUTHOR), Li, Miaoli2 (AUTHOR), Feng, Yaoxun1,2 (AUTHOR) fengyx@gdou.edu.cn
Source: Energies (19961073). Jun2026, Vol. 19 Issue 11, p2669. 26p.
Subject Terms: *Exergy, *Solar receivers, *Heat transfer, *Solar concentrators, *Mathematical optimization, *Solar thermal energy, *Cost benefit analysis, *Heat storage
Abstract: Conventional solar power tower (SPT) systems often suffer from significant heat transfer exergy destruction due to large temperature differences between the heat source and the working fluid during the heat exchange process. To overcome this limitation, a high–low dual-tower configuration based on segmented thermal utilization is proposed. In this arrangement, the high-temperature tower is mainly responsible for the evaporation, superheating, and reheating processes, whereas the low-temperature tower primarily handles feedwater preheating. Such a configuration improves the temperature matching characteristics during the heat exchange process. A comprehensive model integrating the heliostat field, receiver, thermal energy storage system, and power block was developed and validated against Solar Two experimental data, showing good agreement. Comparative analyses were conducted under identical solar resource and operating conditions. The results indicate that the proposed system achieves a comparable power output while reducing total heat transfer exergy destruction by approximately 24%, with a significant reduction of over 80% in the preheating section. Sensitivity analysis further reveals that optimizing the high tower outlet temperature can effectively reduce irreversibility and slightly enhance power output, although constrained by the pinch temperature difference. Dynamic simulations based on typical meteorological year data demonstrate that the system maintains stable operation and improves cycle efficiency. From an economic perspective, the proposed system reduces the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) by about 6.6% and shortens the dynamic payback period, indicating enhanced long-term competitiveness. Overall, the high and low dual-tower system effectively improves thermodynamic and economic performance, providing a promising approach for high-efficiency concentrating solar power (CSP) development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Energy & Power Source
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Header DbId: enr
DbLabel: Energy & Power Source
An: 194588057
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PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
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Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Performance and Exergy Analysis of a Dual Receiver of a Solar Power Tower.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhang%2C+Cheng%22">Zhang, Cheng</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Li%2C+Miaoli%22">Li, Miaoli</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Feng%2C+Yaoxun%22">Feng, Yaoxun</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> fengyx@gdou.edu.cn</i>
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  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Energies+%2819961073%29%22">Energies (19961073)</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 19 Issue 11, p2669. 26p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Exergy%22">Exergy</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Solar+receivers%22">Solar receivers</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Heat+transfer%22">Heat transfer</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Solar+concentrators%22">Solar concentrators</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mathematical+optimization%22">Mathematical optimization</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Solar+thermal+energy%22">Solar thermal energy</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cost+benefit+analysis%22">Cost benefit analysis</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Heat+storage%22">Heat storage</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Conventional solar power tower (SPT) systems often suffer from significant heat transfer exergy destruction due to large temperature differences between the heat source and the working fluid during the heat exchange process. To overcome this limitation, a high–low dual-tower configuration based on segmented thermal utilization is proposed. In this arrangement, the high-temperature tower is mainly responsible for the evaporation, superheating, and reheating processes, whereas the low-temperature tower primarily handles feedwater preheating. Such a configuration improves the temperature matching characteristics during the heat exchange process. A comprehensive model integrating the heliostat field, receiver, thermal energy storage system, and power block was developed and validated against Solar Two experimental data, showing good agreement. Comparative analyses were conducted under identical solar resource and operating conditions. The results indicate that the proposed system achieves a comparable power output while reducing total heat transfer exergy destruction by approximately 24%, with a significant reduction of over 80% in the preheating section. Sensitivity analysis further reveals that optimizing the high tower outlet temperature can effectively reduce irreversibility and slightly enhance power output, although constrained by the pinch temperature difference. Dynamic simulations based on typical meteorological year data demonstrate that the system maintains stable operation and improves cycle efficiency. From an economic perspective, the proposed system reduces the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) by about 6.6% and shortens the dynamic payback period, indicating enhanced long-term competitiveness. Overall, the high and low dual-tower system effectively improves thermodynamic and economic performance, providing a promising approach for high-efficiency concentrating solar power (CSP) development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=enr&AN=194588057
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.3390/en19112669
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 26
        StartPage: 2669
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Exergy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Solar receivers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Heat transfer
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Solar concentrators
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mathematical optimization
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Solar thermal energy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cost benefit analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Heat storage
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Performance and Exergy Analysis of a Dual Receiver of a Solar Power Tower.
        Type: main
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      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Zhang, Cheng
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Li, Miaoli
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Feng, Yaoxun
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      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 19961073
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            – Type: volume
              Value: 19
            – Type: issue
              Value: 11
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Energies (19961073)
              Type: main
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