Numerical simulation and experiment of solar receiver tube for the space station

The phase change material (PCM) to efficiently store thermal energy as solar dynamic power module was proposed for the growth space station. Experimental investigation was conducted in solar simulation testing the heat receiver tubes of the solar dynamic option. Solar receiver ground-based experiments and analytical heat transfer were discussed. The results shown that the outlet temperature of the gas of the working fluid tubes met the expected demand during the sunlight and eclipse period. The maximum temperature of the PCM container and average temperature of the container wall with the numerical simulation results pertaining to cyclic melting and freezing of an encapsulated phase-change material (PCM) were reported. Specially, physical and numerical model of the single-tube phase change heat storage system was developed. Numerical results were compared with available experimental data. The trend was in close agreement.