Abstract: The selection of heat storage material for dishstyle and tower type solar thermal power generation systems using the air as heat carrier was expounded. The purpose is to determine the kind and structure of the heat storage material initially and to accomplish the preliminary screening of the heat storage material by calculation and analysis. The heat exchanging characteristics and the resistance characteristics of two heat storage materials, the ceramic ball and the honeycomb ceramic material, were calculated, compared and analyzed in detail; and it was proved theoretically that to use the honeycomb ceramic material as the heat storage material is proper.

Key words: new energy utilization, solar photo-thermal power generation, heat reservoir, selection of heat storage material, honeycomb ceramic material