Reliability simulation of solar concentrator receiver

The reliability of solar concentrator is investigated using finite element (FE) modelling. An FE model of the receiver absorber is built and simulated using latin hypercube sampling. A transient thermal structural simulation is conducted, and the maximum thermal stress affecting the absorber is determined. Based on the failure criterion, the most effective parameters are determined and assigned as random variables. A stochastic simulation is performed resulting in a probability density function (PDF) of the thermal stress-life. The PDF is used to estimate the reliability of the absorber. Different designs and materials of the absorber tubes are investigated. Consequently, methods to improve the reliability of the absorber are identified.