Design of Commercial Solar Tower Systems: Utilization of Solar Induced Convective Flows for Power Generation

Solar Energy ◽  
2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jo¨rg Schlaich ◽  
Rudolf Bergermann ◽  
Wolfgang Schiel ◽  
Gerhard Weinrebe
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Economic Data ◽  
Solar Chimney ◽  
Convective Flows ◽  
Solar Thermal Power ◽  
Solar Air Collector ◽  
Technical Issues ◽  
The One

An updraft Solar Tower power plant — sometimes also called ‘solar chimney’ — is a solar thermal power plant utilizing a combination of solar air collector and central updraft tube to generate a solar induced convective flow which drives pressure staged turbines to generate electricity. In the paper we first describe the functional principle of the Solar Tower and give some results from designing, building and operating a small scale prototype in Spain. Then future commercial Solar Tower systems like the one being planned for Australia are described. We present technical issues and basic economic data.

Design of Commercial Solar Updraft Tower Systems—Utilization of Solar Induced Convective Flows for Power Generation

2005 ◽  
Vol 127 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jo¨rg Schlaich ◽  
Rudolf Bergermann ◽  
Wolfgang Schiel ◽  
Gerhard Weinrebe
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Practical Experience ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Economic Data ◽  
Convective Flows ◽  
Solar Air Collector ◽  
Technical Issues ◽  
The One ◽  
Solar Updraft Tower

A solar updraft tower power plant—sometimes also called “solar chimney” or just “solar tower”—is a solar thermal power plant utilizing a combination of solar air collector and central updraft tube to generate a solar induced convective flow which drives pressure staged turbines to generate electricity. The paper presents theory, practical experience, and economy of solar updraft towers: First a simplified theory of the solar tower is described. Then results from designing, building and operating a small scale prototype in Spain are presented. Eventually technical issues and basic economic data for future commercial solar tower systems like the one being planned for Australia are discussed.

A Solar Thermal Power System with Gas-Liquid Injector and Hydroturbine

2011 ◽  
Vol 347-353 ◽  
pp. 112-115
Author(s):  
Hui Lan Huang ◽  
Xiang Chen ◽  
Gang Li
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Solar Chimney ◽  
Plant System ◽  
Solar Thermal Power ◽  
Thermal Power System ◽  
Liquid Injector ◽  
Solar Chimney Power Plant ◽  
New System

The characteristic of solar chimney power plant system is analyzed. For the key issue of low efficiency in solar chimney power plant system, a solar thermal power system with gas-liquid injector and hydroturbine is presented. This new system obtain the energy transferred process by gas-liquid injector. It is solar energy transformed into thermodynamic energy into potential energy and then into electricity. The density difference of work fluid is increased by gas-liquid phase transition in running process.The efficiency of solar thermal power generation is increased. In the case of the same cost, the theory power efficiency of new system increases one order of magnitude compared with the solar chimney power plant system. It proposes a new solution for large-scale application of solar thermal power technology.

Design of a 200 kWe Solar Thermal Power Plant for Ontario

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas A. Cooper ◽  
James S. Wallace
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Thermal Power Plant ◽  
Solar Collector ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Computer Simulation Model ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Solar Thermal Power

A preliminary design and feasibility study has been conducted for a 200 kWe solar thermal power plant for operation in Ontario. The objective of this study is to assess the feasibility of small-scale commercial solar thermal power production in areas of relatively low insolation. The design has been developed for a convention centre site in Toronto, Ontario. The plant utilizes a portion of the large flat roof area of the convention centre to accommodate the collector array. Each power plant module provides a constant electrical output of 200 kWe throughout the year. The system is capable of maintaining the constant output during periods of low insolation, including night-time hours and cloudy periods, through a combination of thermal storage and a supplemental natural gas heat source. The powerplant utilized the organic Ranking cycle (ORC) to allow for relatively low source temperatures from the solar collector array. A computer simulation model was developed to determine the performance of the system year-round using the utilizability-solar fraction method. The ORC powerplant uses R245fa as the working fluid and operates at an overall efficiency of 11.1%. The collector is a non-concentrating evacuated tube type and operates at a temperature of 90°C with an average annual efficiency of 23.9%. The system is capable of achieving annual solar fractions of 0.686 to 0.874 with collector array areas ranging from 30 000 to 40 000 m2 and storage tank sizes ranging from 3.8 to 10 × 106L respectively. The lowest possible cost of producing electricity from the system is $0.393 CAD/kWh. The results of the study suggest that small-scale solar thermal plants are physically viable for year round operation in Ontario. The proposed system may be economically feasible given Ontario’s fixed purchase price of $0.42 CAD/kWh, but the cost of producing electricity from the system is highly dependent on the price of the solar collector.

scholarly journals Numerical Model and Performance Validation of a Small-Scale Concentrating Solar Thermal Power Plant in Louisiana

2018 ◽  
Vol 06 (09) ◽  
pp. 112-140
Author(s):  
Jonathan R. Raush ◽  
Kenneth Ritter ◽  
Matthew Prilliman ◽  
Myles Hebert ◽  
Zhao Pan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Numerical Model ◽  
Thermal Power Plant ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Solar Thermal Power ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Performance Validation

Thermoeconomic Approach and Optimization of a Solar Thermal Power Plant

2012 ◽  
Vol 232 ◽  
pp. 609-613
Author(s):  
Ali Baghernejad ◽  
Mahmood Yaghoubi
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Thermal Power Plant ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Optimum Operating ◽  
Production Plant ◽  
Optimum Operating Condition ◽  
Solar Thermal Power

In the present study, a specific and simple second law based exergoeconomic model with instant access to the production costs is introduced. The model is generalized for a case study of Shiraz solar thermal power plant with parabolic collectors for nominal power supply of 500 kW. Its applications include the evaluation of utility costs such as products or supplies of production plant, the energy costs between process operations of an energy converter such as production of an industry. Also attempt is made to minimize objective function including investment cost of the equipments and cost of exergy destruction for finding optimum operating condition for such plant.

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