Publications Details
Evaluating Microchannel Heat Exchanger Lifetime for Concentrating Solar Power Applications Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR-1)
Microchannel heat exchanger technology is being pursued for next generation CSP concepts for primary power cycle heat addition and power cycle heat recuperation due to the high heat transfer coefficients and pressure containment advantages of small sCO2 channels. The economics of future CSP plants as dictated by the SETO 2020 or 2030 targets depend on a heat exchanger with a 30-year lifetime (resisting creep, fatigue, corrosion, erosion) and operational characteristics such as fast ramping and the ability to withstand thermal shock. However, the lifetime and operational limits of microchannel heat exchangers operating at high temperatures, particularly those constructed from high-nickel alloys, are not well known. This uncertainty has resulted in heat exchanger vendors not being able to accurately forecast heat exchanger lifetime as required by customers, specify operational limits as required by process engineers to prevent premature heat exchanger failure, or overdesign heat exchanger which leads to higher cost than necessary.