A Numerical Model for Off-Design Performance Prediction of Parabolic Trough Based Solar Power Plants

2011 ◽  
Vol 134 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giampaolo Manzolini ◽  
Andrea Giostri ◽  
Claudio Saccilotto ◽  
Paolo Silva ◽  
Ennio Macchi
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Model ◽  
Performance Prediction ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Design Calculation ◽  
Fluid Temperature ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Design Algorithm

This paper deals with the development and testing of an innovative code for the performance prediction of solar trough based concentrated solar power (CSP) plants in off-design conditions. Off-design calculation starts from data obtained through the on-design algorithm and considers steady-state situations. The model is implemented in flexible software, named patto (parabolic trough thermodynamic optimization): the optical-thermal collector model can simulate different types of parabolic trough systems in commerce, including a combination of various mirrors, receivers and supports. The code is also flexible in terms of working fluid, temperature and pressure range, and can also simulate direct steam generation (DSG) plants. Solar plant heat and mass balances and performance at off-design conditions are estimated by accounting for the constraints imposed by the available heat transfer areas in heat exchangers, as well as by the characteristic curve of the steam turbine. The numerical model can be used either for single calculation in a specific off-design condition or for complete year simulation, by generating energy balances with an hourly resolution. The model is tested with a view to real applications and reference values found in literature: results show an overall yearly efficiency of 14.8% versus the 15% encountered in the Nevada Solar One. Moreover, the capacity factor is 25%, i.e., equal to the value predicted by sam®. Code potential in the design process reveals two different aspects: it can be used not only to optimize plant components and layout in feasibility studies but also to select the best control strategy during individual operating conditions.

A Numerical Model for Off-Design Performance Calculation of Parabolic Trough Based Solar Power Plants

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Giostri ◽  
Claudio Saccilotto ◽  
Paolo Silva ◽  
Ennio Macchi ◽  
Giampaolo Manzolini
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Numerical Model ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Design Calculation ◽  
Fluid Temperature ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Design Algorithm ◽  
Energy Balances ◽  
Steam Cycle

The paper deals with the development and testing of an innovative code for the performance prediction of solar trough based CSP plants in off-design conditions. The code is developed in MS Visual Basic 6.0 with Excel as user interface. The proposed code originates from a previously presented algorithm for on-design sizing and cost estimation of the solar field lay-out, as well as of the main components of the plant, including connecting piping and the steam cycle. Off-design calculation starts from data obtained through the on-design algorithm and considers steady-state situations. Both models are implemented in the same software, named PATTO (PArabolic Trough Thermodynamic Optimization), which is very flexible: the optical-thermal model of collectors can simulate different kinds of parabolic trough systems in commerce, including a combination of various mirrors, receivers and supports. The code is also flexible in terms of working fluid, temperature and pressure range, and can also simulate direct steam generation plants (DSG). Regarding the power block, a conventional steam cycle with super-heater, eventually a re-heater section, and up to seven regenerative bleedings is adopted. The off-design model calculates thermal performance of collectors taking into account proper correlations for convective heat transfer coefficients, considering also boiling regime in DSG configurations. Solar plant heat and mass balances and performances at off-design conditions are estimated by accounting for the constraints imposed by the available heat transfer areas in heat exchangers and condenser, as well as the characteristic curve of the steam turbine. The numerical model can be used for a single calculation in a specific off-design condition, as well as for a whole year estimation of energy balances with an hourly resolution. The model is tested towards real applications and reference values found in literature; in particular, focusing on SEGS VI plant in the USA and SAM® code. Annual energy balances with ambient condition taken from TMY3 database are obtained, showing good accuracy of predicted performances. The code potentiality in the design process reveals twofold: it can be used for plant optimization in feasibility studies; moreover it is useful to find the best control strategy of a plant, especially the mass flow of heat transfer fluid in each operating condition.

Integration Between Gas Turbines and Concentrated Parabolic Trough Solar Power Plants

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Cipollone ◽  
Andrea Cinocca
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Energy Generation ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Fluid Temperature ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Solar Power Plants

Parabolic Trough Concentrating Solar Power plants (PT-CSP) technology has the capability to give, in the mean future, a strong contribution to the electrical energy generation. In the long term, inside a new framework of relationships concerning energy production, many aspects would justify a significant contribution to the phase out of fossil sources use. The paper concerns about a theoretical modeling aimed at improving the performances of CSP which approaches the energy generation from a system point of view. Thanks to it, the attention is focused on the use of gases as heat transfer fluid inside the solar receivers and on the possibility to use it as working fluid inside unconventional gas turbines for a direct electricity generation. The success of this concept is related to the possibility to increase the fluid temperature above the actual maximum values: this requires that the receiver efficiency has to be recalculated as a function of the fluid temperature. An innovative integration between the solar field and the gas turbine power plant, modified in order to maximize thermal energy conversion, is discussed.

scholarly journals The efficiency of steam production by the Parabolic Trough Collector PTC with the use of nanofluids in the region of Ouargla

2021 ◽  
Vol 1204 (1) ◽  
pp. 012005
Author(s):  
Intissar Achouri ◽  
Mouhamed Elbar Soudani ◽  
Tlili Salah
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Efficiency ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Production Capacity ◽  
Fluid Temperature ◽  
Concentrated Solar Power ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Parabolic Trough Collector ◽  
Solar Power Plants ◽  
Concentrated Solar Power Plants

Abstract Concentrated solar power plants (CSP) contribute to global production (at present) with a capacity of 400 MW, and by 2020 they will reach approximately 20 GW, then nearly 800 GW by 2050, This will prevent the emission of 32 million tons of CO2 annually in 2020, and rise to 1.2 billion tons in 2050, according to the International Greenpeace “Solar Thermal Electricity” 2016 report. Among all the concentrated solar power (CSP) technology available to date, Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC) is the most promising, cost-effective, and efficient solution to generating electrical power, as PTC plants contribute in terms of global production capacity by 73.58% of the overall capacity of concentrated solar power plants (CSP). PTC stations in the production of electricity depend on the generation of hot and pressurized steam that rotates the turbines and to increase the effectiveness of PTC in the production of steam, we use in this study nanofluids by adding copper nanomaterials in different proportions to improve the Thermal efficiency of PTC. We also studied the effect of the width of the PTC slot on the fluid temperature. And from it on the amount of steam produced. The results of the study showed that the Thermal efficiency increases with the increase in the ratio of copper nanomaterials in the water, as the temperature of outlet water reaches 98°C, for the ratio of nanomaterials, 20%, in order to water flow 0.01 Kg/s and display the aperture 3.5 m.

Microcontroller Based Single Axis Intelligent Control Sun Tracker for Parabolic Trough Collectors

2012 ◽  
Vol 562-564 ◽  
pp. 1772-1775
Author(s):  
Shakeel Akram ◽  
Farhan Hameed Malik ◽  
Rui Jin Liao ◽  
Bin Liu ◽  
Tariq Nazir
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Embedded System ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Tracking System ◽  
Appropriate Technology ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Solar Collectors ◽  
Parabolic Trough

Due to the complex design and high costs of production, solar thermal systems have fallen behind in the world of alternative energy systems. Different mechanisms are applied to increase the efficiency of the solar collectors and to reduce the cost. Solar tracking system is the most appropriate technology to increase the efficiency of solar collectors as well as solar power plants by tracking the sun timely. In order to maximize the efficiency of collectors, one needs to keep the reflecting surface of parabolic trough collectors perpendicular to the sun rays. For this purpose microcontroller based real time sun tracker is designed which is controlled by an intelligent algorithm using shadow technique. The aim of the research project is to test the solar-to-thermal energy efficiency by tracking parabolic trough collector (PTC). The energy efficiency is determined by measuring the temperature rise of working fluid as it flows through the receiver of the collector when it is properly focused. The design tracker is also simulated to check its accuracy. The main purpose to design this embedded system is to increase the efficiency and reliability of solar plants by reducing size, complexity and cost of product.

Development of an Innovative Code for the Design of Different Parabolic Trough Solar Fields

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ennio Macchi ◽  
Giampaolo Manzolini ◽  
Paolo Silva
Keyword(s):  
Solar Energy ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Fluid Temperature ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
High Solar Radiation ◽  
Power Block ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Solar Field ◽  
Steam Cycle

The role of renewable energies and in particular solar energy could be fundamental in future scenarios of worldwide increase of energy demand: thermodynamic solar energy can play an important role in country with high solar radiation. This paper discusses the development and testing of an innovative code for the prediction of thermodynamic performances at nominal conditions and the estimation of costs of the whole plant, for different parabolic trough solar fields. The code allows a preliminary design of the solar field lay-out, the sizing of the main components of the plant and the optimization of the steam cycle. The code, named PATTO (PArabolic Trough Thermodynamic Optimization), allows to separately calculate the thermal efficiency of (i) parabolic trough systems in commerce as well as (ii) combination of components of various commercial systems, in order to exploit different technology solutions: combination of mirrors, receivers and supports. Using the selected parabolic troughs, the plant configuration is then completed by connecting pipes, heat exchangers, the steam cycle, and storage tanks. The code is also flexible in terms of working fluid, temperature and pressure range. Regarding the power block, a conventional steam cycle with super-heater and re-heater sections and up to seven regenerative bleedings is adopted. It is possible to use also simpler configuration as without re-heater or with less regenerative bleedings. Moreover, thanks to simple or sophisticated economic correlations depending on available data, the code calculates the overall investment cost for the considered solar field and the power block. The code performs steady state analysis at nominal conditions, while future developments are planned regarding part load analysis and transient simulations. The model is tested towards real applications and reference values found in literature; in particular, focusing on SEGS VI plant in the USA. Detailed results showing code potentiality, are presented in terms of solar field and power block energy balances, plant auxiliaries, piping and economic analysis.

scholarly journals Optimal start-up operating strategies for gas-boosted parabolic trough solar power plants

Solar Energy ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 176 ◽  
pp. 589-603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Ferruzza ◽  
Monika Topel ◽  
Björn Laumert ◽  
Fredrik Haglind
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Solar Power Plants ◽  
Operating Strategies

scholarly journals Conceptual Study of a Thermal Storage Module for Solar Power Plants with Parabolic Trough Concentrators

10.5772/54060 ◽  
2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina A. ◽  
Carmelo E. ◽  
Giuseppe M. ◽  
Rosa Di ◽  
Fabrizio Girardi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Thermal Storage ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Solar Power Plants ◽  
Conceptual Study

scholarly journals Experimental and Theoretical Analysis of a Linear Focus CPV/T System for Cogeneration Purposes

Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 2960 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo Renno
Keyword(s):  
Focal Length ◽  
Concentration Field ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Fluid Temperature ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Environment Temperature ◽  
Temperature Levels ◽  
T System

The knowledge of the actual energy performances of a concentrating photovoltaic and thermal (CPV/T) system with a linear focus optics, allows to evaluate the possibility of adopting this type of system for cogeneration purposes. Hence, the main aim of this paper is the design, realization, setting and modeling of a linear focus CPV/T system in the high concentration field. An experimental linear focus CPV/T plant was created in order to determine its electrical and thermal performance under different working conditions in terms of environment temperature, sunny and cloudy conditions, focal length, etc. Moreover, a theoretical model of the linear focus CPV/T system was also studied. This model evaluates the temperatures of the working fluid that flows in the cooling circuit of the CPV/T system under several operating conditions. The temperatures of the triple junction (TJ) cells, experimentally evaluated referring to different solar radiation and atmospheric conditions, were considered as the input data for the model. The values of the fluid temperature, theoretically and experimentally determined, were thus compared with good agreement. The electrical production of the CPV/T system depends generally on the TJ cell characteristics and the concentration factor, while the thermal production is above all linked to the system configuration and the direct normal irradiance (DNI) values. Hence, in this paper the electric power obtained by the linear-focus CPV/T system was evaluated referring to the cogeneration applications, and it was verified if the TJ cell and the cooling fluid reach adequate temperature levels in this type of system, in order to match the electrical and the thermal loads of a user.

scholarly journals Characterization and Corrections for Clamp-On Fluid Temperature Measurements in Turbulent Flows

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bijan Nouri ◽  
Marc Röger ◽  
Nicole Janotte ◽  
Christoph Hilgert
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Flow ◽  
Turbulent Flows ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Measurement Data ◽  
Temperature Measurements ◽  
Correction Function ◽  
Acceptance Testing ◽  
Fluid Temperature ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Operation Conditions

A clamp-on measurement system for flexible and accurate fluid temperature measurements for turbulent flows with Reynolds numbers higher than 30,000 is presented in this paper. This noninvasive system can be deployed without interference with the fluid flow while delivering the high accuracies necessary for performance and acceptance testing for power plants in terms of measurement accuracy and position. The system is experimentally validated in the fluid flow of a solar thermal parabolic trough collector test bench, equipped with built-in sensors as reference. Its applicability under industrial conditions is demonstrated at the 50 MWel AndaSol-3 parabolic trough solar power plant in Spain. A function based on large experimental data correcting the temperature gradient between the measured clamp-on sensor and actual fluid temperature is developed, achieving an uncertainty below ±0.7 K (2σ) for fluid temperatures up to 400 °C. In addition, the experimental results are used to validate a numerical model. Based on the results of this model, a general dimensionless correction function for a wider range of application scenarios is derived. The clamp-on system, together with the dimensionless correction function, supports numerous combinations of fluids, pipe materials, insulations, geometries, and operation conditions and should be useful in a variety of industrial applications of the power and chemical industry where temporal noninvasive fluid temperature measurement is needed with good accuracy. The comparison of the general dimensionless correction function with measurement data indicates a measurement uncertainty below 1 K (2σ).

The Role of Internal Irreversibilities in the Performance and Stability of Power Plant Models Working at Maximum ϵ-Ecological Function

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Valencia-Ortega ◽  
Sergio Levario-Medina ◽  
Marco Antonio Barranco-Jiménez
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Heat Engine ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Ecological Function ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Maximum Efficiency ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Engine Model ◽  
Improved Stability ◽  
The Stability

Abstract The proposal of models that account for the irreversibilities within the core engine has been the topic of interest to quantify the useful energy available during its conversion. In this work, we analyze the energetic optimization and stability (local and global) of three power plants, nuclear, combined-cycle, and simple-cycle ones, by means of the Curzon–Ahlborn heat engine model which considers a linear heat transfer law. The internal irreversibilities of the working fluid measured through the r-parameter are associated with the so-called “uncompensated Clausius heat.” In addition, the generalization of the ecological function is used to find operating conditions in three different zones, which allows to carry out a numerical analysis focused on the stability of power plants in each operation zone. We noted that not all power plants reveal stability in all the operation zones when irreversibilities are considered through the r-parameter on real-world power plants. However, an improved stability is shown in the zone limited by the maximum power output and maximum efficiency regimes.

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