Engineers at Sandia National Laboratories, along with partner
institutions Georgia Tech, Bucknell University, King Saud University and the
German Aerospace Center (DLR), are using a falling particle receiver to more
efficiently convert the sun’s energy to electricity in large-scale,
concentrating solar power plants.
Falling particle receiver technology is attractive because
it can cost-effectively capture and store heat at higher temperatures without
breaking down, which is an issue for conventional molten salts. The falling
particle receiver developed at Sandia drops sand-like ceramic particles through
a beam of concentrated sunlight, and captures and stores the heated particles
in an insulated container below. The technique enables operating temperatures
of nearly 1,000 degrees Celsius. Such high temperatures translate into greater
availability of energy and cheaper storage costs because at higher
temperatures, less heat-transfer material is needed.