An experimental examination of a helically coiled conical cavity receiver with Scheffler dish concentrator in terms of energy and exergy performance

•Helically coiled conical cavity receiver is developed for Solar Scheffler dish concentrator.•The performance evaluation of helically coiled conical cavity receiver carried out at different radiation condition.•The average thermal energy efficiency and exergy efficiency were determined to be 70.20% and 8.69%, respectively.•The receiver has the probable to be employed in temperature applications up to 100 °C.•Evaluate the various factors that influence the thermal efficiency most. In this paper, the thermal performance of a helically coiled conical cavity receiver is investigated under actuation radiation conditions with a 16 m2 parabolic Scheffler dish concentrator. Under three different radiation scenarios, the receiver thermal energy efficiency, exergy efficiency, and overall heat transfer coefficient are investigated. Water is employed as a heat transfer fluid, and the receiver is tested at a flow rate of 2.5 L per minute in a temperature range of 30–100 °C. During the stagnation test, the receiver's maximum stagnation temperature was recorded as 395 °C for an incoming beam radiation of 654 W/m2, which demonstrates the receiver's ability to generate pressurised steam. The overall heat loss coefficient calculated from the stagnation test is 116 W/m2-K. The heat transfer fluid input and output temperature differences, as well as incoming beam radiation, are found to have a significant impact on the receiver's energy and energy efficiency. Under maximum beam radiation conditions during the second experiment (672 W/m2), the average thermal energy efficiency and exergy efficiency were determined to be 70.20% and 8.69%, respectively. Based on the findings, this receiver has the potential to be employed in temperature applications up to 100 °C and above for steam generation under pressurised conditions.