In this paper, a performance assessment of integrated solar combined cycle systems (ISCCS) is reported on. The main aim of the study was to evaluate the solar conversion efficiency of ISCCS plants based on parabolic troughs using CO2 as heat transfer fluid. The use of CO2 instead of the more conventional thermal oil as heat transfer fluid can allow an increase in the trough outlet temperature and thus in solar energy conversion efficiency. In particular, the ISCCS plant considered here was developed on the basis of a triple-pressure, reheated combined cycle power plant rated at 252 MW. Two different solutions for the solar steam generator are considered and compared. Moreover, the performance of the ISCCS system was evaluated with reference to different values of CO2 maximum temperature, solar radiation and solar share of the power output. The results of the performance assessment show that the solar energy conversion efficiency ranges from 23% to 25% for a CO2 maximum temperature of 550°C. The use of a CO2 temperature of 450°C reduces the solar efficiency by about 1.5–2.0 percentage points. The use of a solar steam generator including only the evaporation section instead of the preheating, evaporation and superheating sections allows the achievement of slightly better conversion efficiencies. However, the adoption of this solution leads to a maximum value of the solar share around 10% on the ISCCS power output. The solar conversion efficiencies of the ISCCS systems considered here are better than those of the more conventional Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) systems based on steam cycles (14–18%) and are very similar to the predicted conversion efficiencies of the more advanced direct steam generation plants (22–27%).
Performance assessment of an integrated solar combined cycle in the southern of Algeria
