Published at Solar Energy – Design of a SiC-Si moving packed-bed particle-to-sCO2 heat exchanger for high temperature concentrating solar power applications
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Summary
<p>Abstract: Particle-based concentrating solar power systems integrated with sCO2 power cycles offer high thermal efficiencies but require durable heat exchangers to transfer heat from high-temperature particles to the sCO2 working fluid. This study presents the design and optimization of a silicon carbide-silicon moving packed-bed heat exchanger for fabrication via binder jetting additive manufacturing. The heat […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.solarpaces.org/published-at-solar-energy-design-of-a-sic-si-moving-packed-bed-particle-to-sco2-heat-exchanger-for-high-temperature-concentrating-solar-power-applications/">Published at Solar Energy – Design of a SiC-Si moving packed-bed particle-to-sCO2 heat exchanger for high temperature concentrating solar power applications</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.solarpaces.org">SolarPACES</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.solarpaces.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/l.png"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-30320" height="698" src="https://www.solarpaces.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/l.png" width="750" /></a><br />
<strong>Abstract:</strong><br />
Particle-based concentrating solar power systems integrated with sCO<sub>2</sub> power cycles offer high thermal efficiencies but require durable heat exchangers to transfer heat from high-temperature particles to the sCO<sub>2</sub> working fluid. This study presents the design and optimization of a silicon carbide-silicon moving packed-bed heat exchanger for fabrication via binder jetting additive manufacturing. The heat exchanger was designed to withstand a 20 MPa sCO<sub>2</sub> pressure and operate at particle inlet temperatures up to 750 °C. The final design features 152 sCO2 channels distributed across 19 plates, with elliptical corners and a minimum wall thickness of 3 mm. Flow restrictors at the sCO2 channel inlets significantly improved flow uniformity, reducing thermal stresses and achieving a structural reliability of 99 % under representative operating conditions. The heat exchanger delivers a thermal duty of 9 kW and a volumetric power density of approximately 1 MW/m<sup>3</sup> in the channel region. Sensitivity studies confirmed the heat exchanger’s robustness under varying operating conditions, demonstrating its viability as a high-performance alternative to metallic heat exchangers for particle-based high-temperature concentrating solar power applications.</p>
<p><em><strong>Bipul Barua, Christopher P Bowen, Wenhua Yu, Wenchao Du, David M France, Kevin Albrecht, Mark C. Messner, Dileep Singh, Design of a SiC-Si moving packed-bed particle-to-sCO2 heat exchanger for high temperature concentrating solar power applications, Solar Energy, Volume 303, 2026, 114114, ISSN 0038-092X, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2025.114114" rel="noopener" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2025.114114</a></strong></em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.solarpaces.org/published-at-solar-energy-design-of-a-sic-si-moving-packed-bed-particle-to-sco2-heat-exchanger-for-high-temperature-concentrating-solar-power-applications/">Published at Solar Energy – Design of a SiC-Si moving packed-bed particle-to-sCO2 heat exchanger for high temperature concentrating solar power applications</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.solarpaces.org">SolarPACES</a>.</p>