Multi-objective Optimization of Parabolic Trough Concentrated Solar Power with Thermal Energy Storage Plant Parameters using Elitist Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Francis N. Alvar ◽  
Rodolfo A. Aguirre ◽  
John Paul P. Manzano
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Algorithm ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Multi Objective Optimization ◽  
Concentrated Solar Power ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Multi Objective ◽  
Nondominated Sorting

scholarly journals Design of a parabolic trough concentrated solar power plant in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia

2020 ◽  
Vol 160 ◽  
pp. 02005
Author(s):  
Wael Al-Kouz ◽  
Jamal Nayfeh ◽  
Alberto Boretti
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Solar Power Plant ◽  
Concentrated Solar Power ◽  
Parabolic Trough

The paper discusses the design options for a concentrated solar power plant in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia. The specific conditions, in terms of weather and sun irradiance, are considered, including sand and dust, humidity, temperature and proximity to the sea. Different real-world experiences are then considered, to understand the best design to adapt to the specific conditions. Concentrated solar power solar tower with thermal energy storage such as Crescent Dunes, or concentrated solar power solar tower without thermal energy storage but boost by natural gas combustion such as Ivanpah are disregarded for the higher costs, the performances well below the design, and the extra difficulties for the specific location such as temperatures, humidity and sand/dust that suggest the use of an enclosed trough. Concentrated solar power parabolic trough without thermal energy storage such as Genesis or Mojave, of drastically reduced cost and much better performances, do not provide however the added value of thermal energy storage and dispatchability that can make interesting Concentrated solar power vs. alternatives such as wind and solar photovoltaic. Thus, the concentrated solar power parabolic trough with thermal energy storage of Solana, of intermediate costs and best performances, albeit slightly lower than the design values, is selected. This design will have to be modified to enclosed trough and adopt a Seawater, Once-trough condenser. Being the development peculiar, a small scale pilot plant is suggested before a full-scale development.

scholarly journals Cost of dispatchable electricity from concentrated solar power, solar tower plants, with 10 hours’ molten salt thermal energy storage

2020 ◽  
Vol 173 ◽  
pp. 02003
Author(s):  
Alberto Boretti
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
No Production ◽  
Recent Experience ◽  
Total Production ◽  
Concentrated Solar Power ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Specific Technology

While there is a consensus that concentrated solar power solar tower plants with thermal energy storage 10 hours may permit the production of dispatchable electricity at 6 c/kWh, without a single plant utility size produced and operated featuring this technology at this cost, the recent experience of Crescent Dunes has clearly shown that this is not the case. Crescent Dunes started operation in October 2015 demonstrating since the very beginning the lack of maturity of this specific technology, with lack of production or no production at all, every single month since then. As the 110 MW plant of cost about 1 billion $ US has been shut down after less than 4 years of operation, and a total production of only 418, 849 MWh, that is less than the 500, 000 MWh expected every year for 25 years, this translate in a total cost, excluding repairs and maintenance costs incurred in the 4 years, of 2.38 $ per kWh of unpredictable electricity. This experience suggests that every estimation of costs and performances should be based on data of plants built and operated, and to avoid the use of models not yet validated to predict performances of novel plants. There is a mature solar thermal technology, and this is the parabolic trough.

scholarly journals Validation of SAM Modeling of Concentrated Solar Power Plants

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1949 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Boretti ◽  
Jamal Nayfeh ◽  
Wael Al-Kouz
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
The United States ◽  
Concentrated Solar Power ◽  
Parabolic Trough

The paper proposes the validation of the latest System Advisor Model (SAM) vs. the experimental data for concentrated solar power energy facilities. Both parabolic trough, and solar tower, are considered, with and without thermal energy storage. The 250 MW parabolic trough facilities of Genesis, Mojave, and Solana, and the 110 MW solar tower facility of Crescent Dunes, all in the United States South-West, are modeled. The computed monthly average capacity factors for the average weather year are compared with the experimental data measured since the start of the operation of the facilities. While much higher sampling frequencies are needed for proper validation, as monthly averaging dramatically filters out differences between experiments and simulations, computational results are relatively close to measured values for the parabolic trough, and very far from for solar tower systems. The thermal energy storage is also introducing additional inaccuracies. It is concluded that the code needs further development, especially for the solar field and receiver of the solar tower modules, and the thermal energy storage. Validation of models and sub-models vs. high-frequency data collected on existing facilities, for both energy production, power plant parameters, and weather conditions, is a necessary step before using the code for designing novel facilities.

Techno-economic assessment of technological improvements in thermal energy storage of concentrated solar power

Solar Energy ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 157 ◽  
pp. 552-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riezqa Andika ◽  
Young Kim ◽  
Seok Ho Yoon ◽  
Dong Ho Kim ◽  
Jun Seok Choi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Economic Assessment ◽  
Concentrated Solar Power ◽  
Technological Improvements

Waste From Metallurgic Industry: A Sustainable High-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage Material for Concentrated Solar Power

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Calvet ◽  
Guilhem Dejean ◽  
Lucía Unamunzaga ◽  
Xavier Py
Keyword(s):  
Heat Capacity ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Concentrated Solar Power ◽  
Storage Material ◽  
Energy Storage Material ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage Material

The ambitious DOE SunShot cost target ($0.06/kWh) for concentrated solar power (CSP) requires innovative concepts in the collector, receiver, and power cycle subsystems, as well as in thermal energy storage (TES). For the TES, one innovative approach is to recycle waste from metallurgic industry, called slags, as low-cost high-temperature thermal energy storage material. The slags are all the non-metallic parts of cast iron which naturally rises up by lower density at the surface of the fusion in the furnace. Once cooled down some ceramic can be obtained mainly composed of oxides of calcium, silicon, iron, and aluminum. These ceramics are widely available in USA, about 120 sites in 32 States and are sold at a very low average price of $5.37/ton. The US production of iron and steel slag was estimated at 19.7 million tons in 2003 which guarantees a huge availability of material. In this paper, electric arc furnace (EAF) slags from steelmaking industry, also called “black slags”, were characterized in the range of temperatures of concentrated solar power. The raw material is thermo-chemically stable up to 1100 °C and presents a low cost per unit thermal energy stored ($0.21/kWht for ΔT = 100 °C) and a suitable heat capacity per unit volume of material (63 kWht/m3for ΔT = 100°C). These properties should enable the development of new TES systems that could achieve the TES targets of the SunShot (temperature above 600 °C, installed cost below $15/kWht, and heat capacity ≥25 kWht/m3). The detailed experimental results are presented in the paper. After its characterization, the material has been shaped in form of plates and thermally cycled in a TES system using hot-air as heat transfer fluid. Several cycles of charge and discharged were performed successfully and the concept was validated at laboratory scale. Apart from availability, low-cost, and promising thermal properties, the use of slag promotes the conservation of natural resources and is a noble solution to decrease the cost and to develop sustainable TES systems.

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