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Several heliostats are arranged on the field for concentrating beam solar radiation onto a receiver. The flow-induced dust deposition and vibration of heliostats will lead to failure of the receiver and the entire system in eventuality. Therefore, fluid flow analysis behind a heliostat model in a narrow channel of limited length is presented depicting a field-type condition. In this paper, experiment and Large Eddy Simulation (LES) are performed. Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) technique is used for horizontal velocity measurement around a heliostat with 25° angle of inclination at a Reynolds number of 60,000 basing on the length of an inclined plate. The wall-resolved coarse, intermediate and fine grids are utilized for LES with dynamic- Smagorinsky–Lilly and subgrid-scale kinetic energy transport equation based models. Comparison between local instantaneous and statistical quantities, like horizontal velocity and its root-mean-square values are presented. The flow development in the wake region of heliostat model is described using the time-dependent and the statistical horizontal velocity. Based on the adopted LES approach the coherent structures are identified with the λ ci -criterion. The analysis of power spectral density and swirling strength isosurface reveal the responsible coherent structures in the inertial subrange for transport of energy to smaller structures. Interestingly, the presence of hairpin-type vortices is observed extending from the two sides of model heliostat using the λ ci -criterion. Further, instantaneous span-wise vorticity contour reveals their alignment with flow represented by streamlines. The provided insight to these flow features and their organization is expected to frame strategies for mitigating the unsteady flow-induced vibrations and dust depositions on heliostats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, the desert regions of Rajasthan and Gujarat are preferred for installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar thermal (CST) systems because of a high level of both DNI and GHI components of solar radiation. However, such regions pose substantial challenges in terms of dust, a high ambient temperature and scarcity of water. This paper is an attempt to address issues related to the deposition of dust (a) on a mirror with stand depicting PV panel or heliostat in the wake of a similar geometry and (b) in the porous absorber of an open volumetric air receiver (OVAR). A detailed insight to the wake-region behind an inclined flat-plate or heliostat is provided based on analysis and experiment. These indicate possible measures such as modification of the geometry of collectors to mitigate the problem of dust deposition. Also, the use of a cyclone separator with defined parameters based on a decision variable has been suggested for reliable operation of an OVAR. These problems being generic in nature, similar strategies are expected to be applicable in other desert regions subject to their specific conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]