Selection of high temperature materials for concentrated solar power systems: Property maps and experiments. (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Morris, D.G.; López-Delgado, A.; Padilla, I.; Muñoz-Morris, M.A.
• Is Part Of: Solar energy. Volume 112(2015)
• Page Start: 246
• Page End: 258
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: Intermetallics -- Nickel based superalloys -- Ceramics -- Failure; Solar energy -- Periodicals; Solar engines -- Periodicals; 621.47
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2014.09.050
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-092X

Abstract

Highlights: Materials selection is difficult for intense solar power receivers. Solar and furnace heating studies show the importance of cyclic shock on oxidation. Performance depends on many thermal, physical, mechanical and oxidation properties. Critical parameters controlling material failure are discussed. Parameter maps are developed allowing easy comparison of different materials families. Abstract: Concentrated solar power systems are receiving increasing attention as electricity generating systems, whereby the sun's heat is focused onto a receiver heated to high temperatures. Systems operating today are generally limited to temperatures below about 600 °C, but there is considerable interest in increasing operating temperatures, with heat receivers generally constructed using refractory metallic alloys or ceramics. The present study compares the behaviour of a range of metallic or ceramic materials with advanced intermetallic alloys which have been developed for high-temperature aeronautic or power-generating systems. A few experiments are reported using intense solar heating to demonstrate the damage that may be sustained, depending on the material that is considered. Accelerated cyclic oxidation experiments further emphasize the sensitivity of the various materials to oxidation and thermal damage accumulation. The important characteristics required of the material to be used for the receiver are described and used to generate property maps where the suitability of different classes of materials (metal, intermetallic, ceramic) may be compared. Depending on the precise conditions of where the receiver will operate, and whether creep, fracture or oxidation/spalling is the most important damaging process, either refractory Ni-base alloys, Mo-silicides, or ceramics may be the best material for the application.