Characterisation of solar-aged porous silicon carbide for concentrated solar power receivers

 

The sample and measurements

Porous silicon carbide is a promising material for ceramic receivers in next-generation concentrated solar power receivers.

As part of the Horizon 2020 NEXTOWER project, accelerated ageing of large coupons was conducted in a solar furnance to investigate the effects of thermal cycling up to 1000oC, with gradients of up to 22 oC/mm.

Non-destructive characterisation by computed X-ray tomography by Oxford detected cracking from thermal stresses, and this permitted the perparation of valid specimens for thermophysical characterisation.

You can read the full paper in Materials.