Preliminary Techno-Economic Optimization Of 1.3 MWe Particle Heating Receiver Based CSP Power Tower Plant for the MENA Region

Due to increasing energy demand around the globe and potential environmental impacts of fossil fuels, it has become a crucial task for researchers to find alternatives to generate electricity from low-carbon resources at lower costs. Three types of advanced CSP are under consideration: systems heating salt, gas, or particulate. Particle heating receiver (PHR) based central receiver power tower CSP is an emerging technology that promises higher operating temperatures and more cost-effective thermal energy storage (TES) than feasible with existing or alternative CSP systems. For reasons stated above and others, we propose that the particle heating receiver (PHR) based CSP in the classic central receiver power tower (CRPT) configuration will be the most suitable especially in the promising Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Specifically, Duba, Al Wajih, and Wa’ad Al-Shamaal regions in Saudi Arabia have high direct normal irradiation (DNI) and represent potential locations. PHR based CSP power tower plant consists of a central receiver power tower with TES and cavity receiver, heliost at field, a high-temperature solar gas turbine with built-in fuel backup to operate in hybrid mode (using both fuel and solar-thermal resources). This study focuses on the optimization of a solar heat supply system (SHSS), consisting of a tower, cavity receiver, and heliostat field. SolarPILOT – Solar Power tower Integrated Layout and Optimization Tool is a field layout optimization tool developed by National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). SolarPILOT is used in this study to generate the field layout of a 1.3 MWe power plant with a solar multiple (SM) of 2, 3, and 4. Cost models for the tower, receiver, and heliostats are developed using the data from research programs, contractors, manufacturing companies, and general cost engineering data and tools. System Advisor Model (SAM) is further used to simulate the annual performance of CSP tower plant including power block (high-temperature gas turbine) and TES using optical efficiency data from SolarPILOT to optimize PHR-based CSP tower plant. The results of this research are fundamental to the techno-economic analysis (TEA) of this and similar smaller-scale systems and will support the TEA of larger grid-connected and smaller off-grid systems operating independently or in conjunction with PV systems.

Proposed Design and Integration of 1.3 MWe Pre-Commercial Demonstration Particle Heating Receiver Based Concentrating Solar Power Plant

Particle heating receiver (PHR) based concentrating solar power (CSP) is widely recognized as the preferred path to reliable and cost-effective solar power. Use of solid particles rather than conventional fluids such as molten salts as collection and storage media, enables the operation of the PHR-based CSP plant at elevated temperatures (∼1000°C). This advantage leads to higher efficiency and lower levelized cost of energy (LCOE) produced by PHR-based CSP plants. However, designing and integrating the commercial solar power plant at high operating temperatures (∼1000°C), is a substantial challenge which has been overcome. Our research teams at King Saud University (KSU) and the Georgia Institute of Technology (GIT) have been working on the design and development of high temperature key sub-systems in PHR-based CSP plants. The proposed 1.3 MWe pre-commercial demonstration (PPCD) plant will incorporate the design evolved from our risk-reducing research activities performed at 300kW test facility at KSU and GIT. The DS-PHR of the PPCD will incorporate the KSU’s patented discrete-structured design in which the receiver will be enclosed in a cavity to minimize radiative and convective heat losses. Each PHR panel will have efficient particle flow control system for uniform particles outlet temperatures. Low-cost particulate materials with enhanced solar absorptance and resilience at high-temperatures have been identified to be used as heat collection and storage media. Inexpensive thermal energy storage (TES) bins will accommodate sand with temperatures ∼ 1000 °C. Multiple layered design of the TES bins will limit the heat loss to less than 1% per day (at scale). The current TES design allows easy access to the high-temperature bins for experimental observation and for future modifications. A patent pending skip hoist particle lift system design will be used for particle conveyance with expected mechanical efficiency of 75–85 %. Our lift design is simple, demonstrates autonomous operation with minimal mechanical complexity, minimized heat loss, and reduced maintenance. The heat exchanger proposed is a multi-pass shell-tubes design with high heat transfer coefficient. The design features discussed in this paper will lead to large scale commercial plants and similar small-scale designs for off-grid and remote applications at our anticipated service location which is in Saudi Arabia, and in Mideast and North Africa (MENA) region.

Individual particle heating of interacting magnetic nanoparticles at nonzero temperature

We show how tumour heating in magnetic hyperthermia can become more homogeneous through exploitation of magnetisation dynamics of interacting particles.

Preliminary Design of an All-Ceramic Discrete-Structure Particle Heating Receiver

Discrete structure particle heating receivers (DS-PHR), as used in concentrated solar power (CSP) systems, employ suitable discrete porous structures to intermittently halt the falling particles to control the speed and increase the residence time of falling particulates, thereby increasing the temperature rise of particulates exiting the DS-PHR. Previous designs of DS-PHRs have considered both porous foam structures, which have mass flux limits, and metal wire meshes, which are effective but have temperature and other functional limitations. This paper recounts recent studies at Georgia Tech and King Saud University that have investigated the use of ceramic tiles made porous by discrete slot-shaped passages in place of previous metal wire meshes. Currently, for experimental use, the slot-like passages are cut into the tiles by water jet, but operational units are expected to be formed into shape and fired by more economical conventional ceramic techniques. Benefits of ceramic and other refractory materials include higher temperature and heat flux limits at a reasonable cost. The tiles are expected to be installed in chevron configuration, which have been shown by experience to be especially effective, and these so-called ceramic chevrons have been shown to deliver adequate mass flux densities while still removing most of the kinetic energy from the particles. In addition, the thickness of the tile allows the incorporation of angled slots capable of redirecting the particle flow, adding a method to control particle mixing by purposefully directing the particulate streams. These enhanced slots are typically arranged with adequate spacing to allow for increased penetration of concentrated light into the depth of the falling bed of particles and may be angled to redirect hot particles toward the back plane of the DS-PHR. Both of these features should help minimize depthwise temperature variation. The testing reported here will focus on the degree of velocity and flow control that can be achieved by proper design of these ceramic chevrons as well as demonstrate the effectiveness of different designs on light penetration. Prior to this research, the effectiveness of ceramic obstructions might have been properly doubted because of the very high coefficient of restitution (COR) for the impact of ceramic particles on ceramic solids. In reality, it will be shown that a layer of particulates will form on a chevron, which effectively dissipates the kinetic energy of the impacting particles. Overall, this paper will report improvements in DS-PHR designs that can withstand high temperatures and fluxes, achieve additional control of particle flow, enhance particle mixing, and allow deeper penetration of light into the depth of the falling bed.