Experimental testing of a 300 kWth open volumetric air receiver (OVAR) coupled with a small-scale Brayton cycle. Operating experience and lessons learnt.

This paper summarizes the objectives and experimental activity of the H2020 research project CAPTure, which officially lasted from May 2015 to July 2020. The main objective of the CAPTure project was the development and testing of several key components that allow the implementation of a solar powered combined cycle plant (topping Brayton cycle and bottoming Rankine steam cycle). The main innovation was related to the coupling of the open volumetric air receiver (OVAR) with the pressurized air stream of the Brayton cycle, i.e. the external heating of the Brayton cycle with hot air at atmospheric pressure. One key component was therefore a gas-gas heat exchanger, which was implemented as regenerator (atmospheric heating – pressurized cooling). A 300 kWth prototype, consisting of the solar receiver, the regenerative system and a small-scale Brayton cycle, was designed and implemented at CIEMAT-PSA. The paper describes the CAPTure prototype and the experimental activity performed until September 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]