Thermo-Mechanical Modeling and Optimization of the Energy Center Solar Dish Receiver for Thermochemical Fuel Production

The increasing demand for sustainable fuels has accelerated research on solar thermochemical systems capable of converting concentrated solar energy into high-temperature heat for fuel production. This thesis focuses on the thermo-mechanical modelling and optimisation of the solar dish receiver of the Energy Centre, designed to provide the required thermal energy for thermochemical fuel production processes. Previous experimental campaigns have revealed critical issues concerning the mechanical integrity of the receiver, mainly due to stresses of thermal and mechanical nature generated under high-flux solar irradiation. The receiver operates under severe thermal and mechanical loads that can lead to cracking and structural degradation. To address these challenges, a coupled thermo-mechanical numerical model was developed to predict the receiver’s temperature distribution, thermal performance, and stress fields under realistic operating conditions. Based on the model results, a parametric optimisation was carried out to identify design and operational configurations that minimise mechanical stresses while enhancing durability and operational stability in solar-driven thermochemical fuel production systems.