Two-phase flow distribution in manifold of solar tower receiver

Aiming at the problem of overheating of the two-phase flow in the operation of the 10MW solar tower receiver, the gas and liquid two-phase flow distribution are experimentally investigated for a horizontal manifold with two turrets injections and twenty-two vertical parallel channels. The inlet flow pattern belongs to wavy and stratified. Flute manifold is proposed to compare two-phase parallel channel flow distribution with original manifold. The mass flow rates along the parallel channels are measured. The two-phase flow distribution of parallel channels in the original manifold is strongly uneven under different inlet conditions. The results show that there is seriously uneven flow distribution in two-phase flow manifolds. Inversely, flute manifold can significantly change two-phase flow distribution under stratified and wavy inlet conditions at low quality and ensure the solar tower receiver safe. Flute manifold is less sensitive to gas velocity when inlet gas velocity increases. It means that flute manifold can keep a stable gas and liquid two-phase flow distribution during load following of solar receiver. No matter what operating condition, flute manifold can guarantee the safe operation of solar receiver.