Field Test of Water-Steam Separators for Direct Steam Generation in Parabolic Troughs

2007 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Eck ◽  
Holger Schmidt ◽  
Martin Eickhoff ◽  
Tobias Hirsch
Keyword(s):  
Separation Efficiency ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Operation Mode ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Steam Generation ◽  
Water Steam ◽  
State Tests ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Direct Steam ◽  
Solar Thermal Power Generation

Direct steam generation (DSG) represents a promising option to improve today’s parabolic trough technology for solar thermal power generation. The European DISS and INDITEP projects have proven the feasibility of the DSG process under real solar conditions at the DISS test facility at the Plataforma Solar de Almería (PSA) (Zarza, E., Valenzuela, L., Léon, J., Hennecke, K., Eck, M., Weyers, H.-D., Eickhoff, M., 2004, “Direct Steam Generation in Parabolic Troughs Final Results and Conslusions of the DISS Project,” Energy, 29, pp. 635–644). These projects have also shown that the recirculation mode is the preferred operation mode for DSG collector fields. This concept requires water-steam separators at the end of the evaporation section of the collector loop. Both compact water-steam separators for every single row or huge separation drums for the whole collector field are considered. Small compact water-steam separators show a lower inertia, reducing the time for start-up. Within INDITEP and the German R&D project SOLDI compact water-steam separators have been developed, manufactured, and tested by DLR and Siemens, with its subcontractor Framatome ANP. Prototypes of a cyclone and a baffle separator have been implemented into the DISS test facility. More than 200 tests have been performed to investigate the separation efficiency, the pressure loss, and the performance under transient conditions. This paper focuses on the steady-state tests.

The DISS Project: Direct Steam Generation in Parabolic Trough Systems. Operation and Maintenance Experience and Update on Project Status

2002 ◽  
Vol 124 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Zarza ◽  
Loreto Valenzuela ◽  
Javier Leo´n ◽  
H.-Dieter Weyers ◽  
Martin Eickhoff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Steam Generation ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Solar Thermal Power ◽  
Operation And Maintenance ◽  
Direct Steam ◽  
New Generation

The DISS (DIrect Solar Steam) project is a complete R+TD program aimed at developing a new generation of solar thermal power plants with direct steam generation (DSG) in the absorber tubes of parabolic trough collectors. During the first phase of the project (1996-1998), a life-size test facility was implemented at the Plataforma Solar de Almerı´a (PSA) to investigate the basic DSG processes under real solar conditions and evaluate the unanswered technical questions concerning this new technology. This paper updates DISS project status and explains O&M-related experience (e.g., main problems faced and solutions applied) with the PSA DISS test facility since January 1999.

The DISS Project: Direct Steam Generation in Parabolic Troughs — Operation and Maintenance Experience — Update on Project Status

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Zarza ◽  
Loreto Valenzuela ◽  
Javier León ◽  
H.-Dieter Weyers ◽  
Martin Eickhoff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Steam Generation ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Solar Thermal Power ◽  
Operation And Maintenance ◽  
Direct Steam ◽  
New Generation

Abstract The DISS (DIrect Solar Steam) project is a complete R+TD program aimed at developing a new generation of solar thermal power plants with direct steam generation (DSG) in the absorber tubes of parabolic trough collectors. During the first phase of the project (1996–1998), a life-size test facility was implemented at the Plataforma Solar de Almería (PSA) to investigate under real solar conditions the basic DSG processes and evaluate the open technical questions concerning this new technology. This paper updates DISS project status and explains O&M-related experience (e.g. main problems faced and solutions applied) with the PSA DISS test facility since January 1999.

Design of a Phase Separation System for a Direct Steam Generation Parabolic Trough Collector Field

2007 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Hirsch ◽  
Markus Eck
Keyword(s):  
Separation Efficiency ◽  
Large Diameter ◽  
Drainage System ◽  
Thermal Inertia ◽  
Steam Generation ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Water Steam ◽  
Parabolic Trough Collector ◽  
Direct Steam ◽  
Central Buffer

The dynamic behavior of a parabolic trough collector field with direct steam generation under varying solar conditions is analyzed using a transient simulation model. It is found that the peak water flow rates observed during transients may reach several times the steady-state design values. Taking into account these results, a method is developed for calculating the required separation efficiency of the water-steam separator between evaporating and superheating sections of the solar field. For a field with individual phase separators arranged in each collector row, the drainage system, used for transporting the separated water from the field to a central buffer tank, is dimensionally defined. It turns out that a buffer capacity of about 0.1m3 and a large-diameter drainage line have to be foreseen in order to cope with the high liquid loads under solar transients. The results are compared to a field layout with one central separation drum in terms of materials consumption and thermal inertia. It turns out that the originally intended effect of a reduced thermal inertia is not reached when transient conditions are taken care of in the design of the components.

Modeling and Design of Direct Solar Steam Generating Collector Fields

Solar Energy ◽  
2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Eck ◽  
W.-D. Steinmann
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Design Procedure ◽  
Design Tool ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Process Conditions ◽  
Steam Generation ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Critical Process

The direct steam generation (DSG) is an attractive option regarding the economic improvement of parabolic trough technology for solar thermal electricity generation in the multi megawatt range. According to [1] and [2] a 10% reduction of the LEC is expected compared to conventional SEGS like parabolic trough power plants. The European DISS project has proven the feasibility of the DSG process under real solar conditions at pressures up to 100 bar and temperatures up to 400°C in more than 4000 operation hours [3]. In a next step the detailed engineering for a pre-commercial DSG solar thermal power plant will be performed. This detailed engineering of the collector field requires the consideration of the occurring thermohydraulic phenomena and their influence on the stability of the absorber tubes. A design tool has been developed at DLR calculating all relevant process parameters including pressure drop, temperature field and stress in the absorber tubes. The models implemented in this design tool have been validated in detail at the DISS test facility under real DSG conditions for pressures between 30 and 100 bar and inner diameters between 50 and 85 mm. The models have been implemented into a MATLAB® program to allow for a first quick determination of critical process conditions. Once critical process conditions have been identified the FEM package ANSYS® is used for a detailed investigation. This article summarises the models used and shows the design procedure for a DSG collector field. The design program has proven to be a reliable tool for the detailed design of DSG collector fields.

Development of a Thermal Energy Storage System for Parabolic Trough Power Plants With Direct Steam Generation

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Doerte Laing ◽  
Thomas Bauer ◽  
Dorothea Lehmann ◽  
Carsten Bahl
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Storage System ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Sensible Heat ◽  
Steam Generation ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Solar Thermal Power ◽  
Direct Steam

For future parabolic trough plants direct steam generation in the absorber pipes is a promising option for reducing the costs of solar thermal power generation. These new solar thermal power plants require innovative storage concepts, where the two-phase heat transfer fluid poses a major challenge. A three-part storage system is proposed where a phase change material (PCM) storage will be deployed for the two-phase evaporation, while concrete storage will be used for storing sensible heat, i.e., for preheating of water and superheating of steam. A pinch analysis helps to recognize interface constraints imposed by the solar field and the power block and describes a way to dimension the latent and sensible components. Laboratory test results of a PCM test module with ∼140 kgNaNO3, applying the sandwich concept for enhancement of heat transfer, are presented, proving the expected capacity and power density. The concrete storage material for sensible heat was improved to allow the operation up to 500°C for direct steam generation. A storage system with a total storage capacity of ∼1 MWh is described, combining a PCM module and a concrete module, which will be tested in 2009 under real steam conditions around 100 bars.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document