Project Details

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Design and Prototyping of Particle Release Mechanisms for Concentrated Solar Power Towers

Company: PSU College of Earth and Mineral Sciences

Major(s):
Primary: EGEE
Secondary: ME
Optional: MATSE

Non-Disclosure Agreement: NO

Intellectual Property: NO

This capstone project aims to design and prototype innovative particle release mechanisms for Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) towers, with the primary goal of achieving uniform single-particle profile flow across significant tower heights to optimize heat transfer efficiency and system performance. The technical challenge stems from current CSP systems' difficulties in maintaining consistent particle distribution during gravitational flow, which directly impacts heat absorption efficiency. The project seeks to develop a mechanism that ensures controlled particle release rate, uniform spatial distribution, minimal particle agglomeration, and stable flow patterns at various heights, all while maintaining resistance to thermal and mechanical stress. The project will progress through three main phases. The research phase involves analyzing existing particle flow mechanisms, studying analogous systems in pharmaceutical and chemical industries, and reviewing current CSP tower configurations. The design phase encompasses conceptual development, CAD modeling and simulation, material selection considering thermal and mechanical properties, and integration planning with existing CSP tower systems. The final prototyping phase includes fabrication of a scale model, implementation of control systems, testing under various operating conditions, and performance measurement. The team will deliver detailed design documentation, a working prototype, comprehensive test results and performance analysis, a technical report with recommendations, and cost analysis with scaling considerations. Required resources include CAD software, 3D printing and fabrication facilities, testing equipment for particle flow analysis, materials for prototype construction, and simulation software for flow modeling. The six-month timeline allocates two months each for research and conceptual design, detailed design and simulation, and prototype fabrication and testing. Success criteria include achieving uniform particle distribution across specified height, maintaining consistent flow rate, demonstrating reliability under extended operation, meeting safety and maintenance requirements, and staying within budget constraints. The project presents opportunities for innovation in flow control mechanisms, sensor integration, material applications, system automation, and thermal management strategies. The ideal team consists of 4-5 engineering students with diverse backgrounds in mechanical engineering, control systems, materials science, and thermal engineering. This multidisciplinary approach ensures comprehensive coverage of all technical aspects while fostering creative problem-solving in particle flow management for CSP applications. This project will provide students with hands-on experience in developing cutting-edge renewable energy technology while addressing real-world engineering challenges. The successful completion of this project will contribute to the advancement of CSP technology and potentially lead to improved efficiency in solar power generation systems.