Thermodynamic Analysis of a Parabolic Trough Solar Collector Power Generation Plant Coupled With an Organic Rankine Cycle

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adnan Alashkar ◽  
Mohamed Gadalla
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Solar Collector ◽  
Organic Rankine Cycle ◽  
Rankine Cycle ◽  
Energy Output ◽  
Pumping Power ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Generation Plant ◽  
Power Generation Plant ◽  
Parabolic Trough Solar Collector

In this paper, the performance of Parabolic Trough Solar Collector (PTSC)-based power generation plant is studied. The effect of adding an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), and a Thermal Energy Storage (TES) system on the performance and financial metrics of the PTSC-power plant is investigated. Moreover, multiple organic working fluids for the ORC are compared in terms of the thermal and exergetic efficiencies, as well as the pumping power, and the most efficient fluid is selected. Further, the TES system is characterized by two-tank storage system with a storage period of 7 hours/24 hours. A yearly, monthly, and daily performance analyses are presented based on the Typical Meteorological Year (TMY) values for the city of Abu Dhabi, to study the improvement caused by the ORC and TES system. The simulation results show that Benzene is the most efficient organic fluid, as it showed the highest thermal and exergetic efficiency, and the lowest pumping power when compared to other organic fluids. In addition, the presence of the ORC increased the annual energy output of the power plant by 4%, while the addition of the TES increased the annual energy output by 68% and decreased the LCE by 29%. In the case where both the ORC and TES are added, the annual energy output increased by 72%, while the LCE decreases by almost 31%.

scholarly journals Experimental and Techno-Economic Analysis of Solar-Geothermal Organic Rankine Cycle Technology for Power Generation in Nepal

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suresh Baral
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Heat Source ◽  
Power Output ◽  
Solar Collector ◽  
Hot Spring ◽  
Organic Rankine Cycle ◽  
Rankine Cycle ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Working Fluids

The current research study focuses on the feasibility of stand-alone hybrid solar-geothermal organic Rankine cycle (ORC) technology for power generation from hot springs of Bhurung Tatopani, Myagdi, Nepal. For the study, the temperature of the hot spring was measured on the particular site of the heat source of the hot spring. The measured temperature could be used for operating the ORC system. Temperature of hot spring can also further be increased by adopting the solar collector for rising the temperature. This hybrid type of the system can have a high-temperature heat source which could power more energy from ORC technology. There are various types of organic working fluids available on the market, but R134a and R245fa are environmentally friendly and have low global warming potential candidates. The thermodynamic models have been developed for predicting the performance analysis of the system. The input parameter for the model is the temperature which was measured experimentally. The maximum temperature of the hot spring was found to be 69.7°C. Expander power output, thermal efficiency, heat of evaporation, solar collector area, and hybrid solar ORC system power output and efficiency are the outputs from the developed model. From the simulation, it was found that 1 kg/s of working fluid could produce 17.5 kW and 22.5 kW power output for R134a and R245fa, respectively, when the geothermal source temperature was around 70°C. Later when the hot spring was heated with a solar collector, the power output produced were 25 kW and 30 kW for R134a and R245fa, respectively, when the heat source was 99°C. The study also further determines the cost of electricity generation for the system with working fluids R134a and R245fa to be $0.17/kWh and $0.14/kWh, respectively. The levelised cost of the electricity (LCOE) was $0.38/kWh in order to be highly feasible investment. The payback period for such hybrid system was found to have 7.5 years and 10.5 years for R245fa and R134a, respectively.

Optimal Collector Type and Temperature in a Solar Organic Rankine Cycle System for Building-Scale Power Generation in Hot and Humid Climate

2012 ◽  
Vol 135 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rambod Rayegan ◽  
Yong X. Tao
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Solar Collector ◽  
Air Conditioning ◽  
Organic Rankine Cycle ◽  
Rankine Cycle ◽  
Commercial Building ◽  
Humid Climate ◽  
Air Conditioning System ◽  
System Requirements ◽  
Hot And Humid Climate

The objective of this paper is to determine the optimal solar collector type and temperature of a building-scale power generation system employing solar organic Rankine cycle (ORC) engine for a geothermal air-conditioned net zero-energy building (NZEB) in a hot and humid climate. In the authors' previous work, 11 fluids have been suggested to be employed in solar ORCs that use low-temperature or medium-temperature solar collectors. In this paper, the system requirements needed to maintain the electricity demand of a commercial building have been compared for the 11 suggested fluids. The solar collector loop, building, and geothermal air conditioning system are modeled using TRNSYS with the required input for the ORC system derived from the previous study. The commercial building is located in Pensacola of Florida and is served by grid power. The building has been equipped with two geothermal heat pump units and a vertical closed loop system. The performance of the geothermal system has been monitored for 3 weeks. Monitoring data and available electricity bills of the building have been employed to calibrate the building and geothermal air conditioning system simulation. Simulation has been repeated for Miami and Houston in order to evaluate the effect of the different solar radiations on the system requirements.

Evaluation of Thermal Energy Storage (TES) Systems on Thermo-Economic Characteristics of PTSC Solar-Based Power Generation Plants

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adnan Alashkar ◽  
Mohamed Gadalla
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Storage Period ◽  
Energy Output ◽  
Levelized Cost Of Electricity ◽  
Generation Plant ◽  
Storage Volume ◽  
Power Generation Plant

In this study, the effect of adding a Thermal Energy Storage (TES) system on the performance and financial parametric of a solar-based power generation plant is investigated. The effect of the storage period of the TES on the annual energy output, storage volume, net savings, and Levelized Cost of Electricity (LEC) of the plant is studied. The analysis is done for two different Heat Transfer Fluids (HTF) (Therminol VP-1, Hitec Solar Salt) inside the Parabolic Trough Solar Collector (PTSC), and for different storage fluids (Molten Salts, Oils) in an attempt to study its effect on the performance of the TES system and the solar-based power generation plant. In addition, a comparison between passive and active TES systems is conducted. Moreover, a complete thermo-economic analysis based on the Typical Meteorological Year (TMY) values of the city of Abu Dhabi is provided with regards to the operation of the plant with and without a TES system. Further, a study is conducted to investigate the effect of reducing the storage volume of the TES by utilizing parallel TES tanks arrangement. The simulation results suggest that direct-active TES systems are the most efficient. For instance, when Therminol VP-1 is used as an HTF and a storage fluid, the annual energy increased by 77% and reduced LEC from 6.03 c/kWh to 4.09 c/kWh. In addition, the use of parallel arrangement TES tanks increased the net saving of the system from $ 4,757,483 to $ 4,891,279.

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