Experimental study and analysis on end heat loss of a new high temperature vacuum solar receiver

Two experimental methods were established to evaluate receiver's end heat loss. Research has shown the heat loss of end covered test is obviously lower than that of end exposure test, which is more close to 1-D evaluation. When absorber temperature is around 300°C, exposed end heat loss is approximately 200W, causing a 24.77% extra heat loss, while the covered end cause only 7.24%. Moreover, exposed end heat loss is more sensitive to wind. In sum, receiver's thermal test should be conducted with end covered to acquire an accurate heat loss curve; and in the real operation the receiver's end should be completely covered by heat insulator to avoid extra heat loss.