Experimental and theoretical analysis of a dynamic test method for molten salt cavity receiver

Test methods for estimating the thermal performance of the molten salt receiver are a matter of ongoing concern. To date, test methods in the literature require receiver to be operated in steady state or quasi-steady state. However, the receiver is always operating in the unsteady state with ongoing changes in power absorption and flow rate. Therefore, research into dynamic test method for the molten salt cavity receiver is required. The Transfer Function Method (TFM) is a successful dynamic test method for solar collectors. In this paper, a theoretical analysis of the TFM was applied to the molten salt cavity receiver and then verified by indoor transient experiments. The TFM predicted outlet temperature of the receiver was compared with experimental data. The results showed that the TFM accurately predicted the outlet temperature trends despite some errors between predicted and measured outlet temperature. The errors may have originated from the changing flow rate. The TFM is a good candidate as a dynamic test method for the concentrated solar receiver.

► An indoor molten salt cavity receiver testing system is introduced.
► The total heat loss coefficient of cavity receiver is analyzed.
► Transfer Function Method is firstly applied to the molten salt receiver.
► Predicted outlet temperature has the same trend with measured value.