• Energy Research

The use of liquid metals in solar power systems is not new. The receiver tests with liquid sodium in the 1980s at the Plataforma Solar de Almer a (PSA) already proved the feasibility of liquid metals as heat transfer fluid. Despite the high efficiency achieved with that receiver, further investigation of liquid metals in solar power systems was stopped due to a sodium spray fire. Recently, the topic has become interesting again and the gained experience during the last 30 years of liquid metals handling is applied to the concentrated solar power community. In this paper, recent activities of the Helmholtz Alliance LIMTECH concerning liquid metals for solar power systems are presented. In addition to the components and system simulations also the experimental setup and results are included.

PurposeAims to present recent activities in numerical modeling of cold crucible melting process.Design/methodology/approach3D numerical analysis was used for electromagnetic problem and 3D large eddy simulation (LES) method was applied for fluid flow modeling.FindingsThe comparative modeling shows, that higher H/D ratio of the melt is more efficient when total power consumption is considered, but this advantage is held back by higher heat losses through the crucible walls. Also, calculations reveal that lower frequencies, which are energetically less effective, provide better mixing of the melt.Originality/value3D electromagnetic model, which allows to take into account non‐symmetrical distribution of Joule heat sources, together with transient LES fluid flow simulation gives the opportunity of accurate prediction of temperature distribution in the melt.