ACTIVELY-COOLED GRAPHITE TITES SOLAR THERMAL ENERGY COLLECTOR

A conceptual design of an alternative thermal solar energy collector is discussed. This envisages a collector design with actively-cooled form-locked graphite blocks (or tiles). In this paper as an example of a mathematical analysis has been carried out for the use of such collectors in solar power plants. The concept has been thermally analyzed with a finite element model exposed to a high intensity of radiant surface heat flux. Water is seen as the coolant. Results are presented. Preliminary feasibility analysis demonstrates that the actively-cooled form-locked graphite tiles collector could be an attractive alternative to other commercially-available solar thermal collectors. It offers the opportunity to perform as a thermal energy generator in solar power plants. It is also equally suitable to serve as a solar thermal energy absorber to warm up any fluid, e.g. water for domestic and/or industrial applications