Abstract
The Scheffler concentrator, a concentrated solar power (CSP) technology with a temperature
capacity greater than 150°C, is examined for its potential application in the beer brewing
industry to enhance sustainability. This research explores the functionality of the Scheffler
concentrator and proposes a design approach tailored to a brewery in Soweto, South Africa.
The study estimated the energy consumption of the audited brewery, revealing a requirement
of 0.328 kWh/liter of beer produced. To meet these energy demands, a 20 Scheffler
concentrators of a 16 m2 area were recommended for mashing and boiling processes, with
calculated thermal energy outputs of 157.915 kWh and 79.611 kWh, respectively and a
temperature requirement of 93°C for both mashing and boiling brewing processes. Based on
theoretical calculations, the thermal power output achievable from a single 16m2 Scheffler
concentrator is 7.76 kW proving that 21 reflectors will be required to power the two processes
in excess. These findings were also consistent with CFD analysis of the modeled Scheffler
concentrator achieving a thermal power output of 8.65 kW. The CFD analysis of the Scheffler
concentrator subjected to solar loading and radiation conditions achieved a maximum
temperature of 167.61°C on the fluid and a maximum temperature of 173.40°C on the contact
surface of the receiver. The achieved lower temperature on the fluid was attributed to the
heat losses and inefficiencies associated with the heat transfer process and receiver geometry.
A steady-state numerical study comparing different receiver materials (structural steel,
stainless steel 304, copper, and aluminum) and receiver geometries, highlighting the efficiency
of cavity-shaped receivers was conducted. The flat-plate receiver, although simpler in design,
achieved temperatures as high as 150°C for the different materials in zones of high
concentration. The cavity receiver achieved temperatures as high as 500°C for the different
materials in zones of high concentration. The SS304 cavity receiver had a thermal efficiency of
81% compared to 21% on the SS304 flat plate receiver. Finally, a cost benefit analysis of the
brewering process showed that replacing the provision of thermal energy for the mashing and
boiling processes would lead to 40% in annual energy savings for the brewer. Overall, these
findings suggest that Scheffler concentrators offer a sustainable energy solution for the beer
brewing industry.
Keywords: Scheffler concentrator, Concentrated Solar Power, Sustainability, Computational
Fluid Dynamics, Steady State Thermal