DLRRI-015
Solar Tower Jülich and Multifocus Tower
Central receiver · 2008 (Solar Tower Jülich); 2020 (Multifocus Tower)
Up to 10,900 kWNominal power on target
Up to 2,000 kW/m²Peak flux on target
About this facility
More than 2,000 heliostats across ten hectares direct sunlight toward two solar towers at the DLR research facility in Jülich. The 60 m solar power tower uses a ceramic receiver to heat air to 700 °C, generating steam for a 1.5 MW turbine; it is used for research. Its research platform supports volumetric-receiver and solar-hydrogen experiments. The adjacent Multifocus Tower supports experiments on ceramic heat-transfer beads, solar water splitting, and molten salts on three levels. DLR HeliOS software controls individual heliostats and directs radiation to multiple experiments.
Technical specifications
18 parameters| Facility type | Central receiver |
|---|---|
| Year of construction | 2008 (Solar Tower Jülich); 2020 (Multifocus Tower) |
| Tower height | 60 m |
| Number of testing platforms in tower | 4 |
| Installed receiver tests | Open volumetric absorber test bed (~750 kW, 54 absorbers); ceramic particle centrifugal receiver and transport loop (~1 MW); molten salt receiver and loop (~1 MW) |
| Number of heliostats and field arrangement | 2,000 heliostats, north field |
| Maximum distance between heliostats and tower | Approximately 320 m |
| Heliostat area | 8.2 m² |
| Heliostat design | 4 flat mirror facets per heliostat with individual canting |
| Nominal power on target | Up to 10,900 kW |
| Total reflective area | 17,000 m² |
| Clean reflectivity | 0.95 (value from PDF column labelled [%]; unit requires confirmation) |
| Peak flux on target | Up to 2,000 kW/m² |
| Maximum sun concentration | Greater than 2,000 |
| Heliostat qualification systems | Deflectometry, tracking measurement, heliostat flux measurement and photogrammetry |
| Receiver flux measurement | Indirect optical measurement on receiver surface |
| Lambertian target system | Moving-bar measurement on research platform |
| Special features | Operable experimental power plant with storage and steam turbine; non-pressurized air primary HTF; direct access to heliostat-field control and data acquisition |
Available services
- Solar Radiation Measurement and Weather Station
- DNI Measurement and Analysis
- Optical Properties of Mirrors. Reflectance measurement. Facets characterization
- Heliostat control algorithms
- Photogrammetry Measurement of Concentrator’s shape
- Deflectometry Measurement of Concentrator’s shape
- Heliostat(s) Performance Qualification
- Thermal and Thermodynamic characterization of prototype Receivers for Central Receiver on Tower Technologies under Real Operating Conditions
- Lab-scale test bed used for the evaluation of open volumetric receivers
- Qualification HTF based on particles
- Testing in molten salt loop of auxiliary components (valves, heat tracing, instrumentation)
- Qualification of Heat Storage using Packed beds under Real Operating Conditions
- Calibration of Concentrated solar irradiance sensors
- High flux sensors qualification
- Qualification of high radiative flux processes
- Non-Contact Temperature Measurement at Solar Furnaces
- High temperature optical properties measurement
- High Temperature Thermochemical Research Units
- Thermal and Thermodynamic characterization of prototype Reactors for Central Receiver on Tower Technologies under real operating conditions
- Solar Fuels and Thermochemistry
- Solar Thermochemical Hydrogen/Syngas
- Water splitting thermochemical cycles
Contact & links
Felix Göhring felix.goehring@dlr.de