Retrofitting Gas Turbine Units Parabolic Trough Concentrated Solar Power for Sustainable Electricity Generation

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wael Alnahdi ◽  
Sara Al Shamsi ◽  
Wafaa Alantali ◽  
Shaikha Al Shehhi ◽  
Mohamed I. Hassan Ali
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Concentrated Solar Power ◽  
Turbine Capacity ◽  
Sustainable Electricity ◽  
Steam Superheating

Shamsl is hybrid solar/natural-gas concentrated solar power (CSP) plants. The plant is also integrated with a booster gas-fired-heaters for steam superheating. In addition to direct fire-heaters to the heat transfer fluid (HTF) for supplying thermal energy during the night or whenever the solar irradiance level is dimmed. However, there is a more sustainable way to avoid power-generation-outages caused by transient weather conditions without a significant plant reconstruction, i.e. integration with gas turbines. In this study, a thermodynamic model of Shamsl integration with gas turbines is developed to investigate the gas turbine capacity and the exergitic efficiency of the supplied gas with and without the gas turbine involvement. The HTF heaters will receive the needed thermal energy from the gas turbines exhaust gases instead of the direct fire-heater (case1). Another potential is replacing the booster fire heaters with the gas turbine system as well. (case2). A parametric study is conducted to determine the size and the requirements of a gas turbine system for the specified power target demand in addition to a feasibility study for the proposed system. The results showed that using two gas turbines for the HTF heater significantly improved the overall efficiency and reduces the CO2 emission. Replacing the booster heater with two gas turbines improves the efficiency up to excess air factor of 2.5.

Thermodynamic Analysis of Non-Stoichiometric Perovskites as a Heat Transfer Fluid for Thermochemical Energy Storage in Concentrated Solar Power

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin J. Albrecht ◽  
Robert J. Braun
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Oxygen Partial Pressure ◽  
Partial Pressure ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Specific Energy ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Solid Particles ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Concentrated Solar Power ◽  
Component Size

The implementation of efficient and cost effective thermal energy storage in concentrated solar power (CSP) applications is crucial to the wide spread adoption of the technology. The current push to high-temperature receivers enabling the use of advanced power cycles has identified solid particle receivers as a desired technology. A potential way of increasing the specific energy storage of solid particles while simultaneously reducing plant component size is to implement thermochemical energy storage (TCES) through the use of non-stoichiometric perovskite oxides. Materials such as strontium-doped lanthanum cobalt ferrites (LSCF) have been shown to have significant reducibility when cycling temperature and oxygen partial pressure of the environment [1]. The combined reducibility and heat of the oxidation and reduction reactions with the sensible change in temperature of the material leads to specific energy storage values approaching 700 kJ kg−1. A potential thermochemical energy storage system configuration and modeling strategy is reported on, leading to a parametric study of critical operating parameters on the TCES subsystem performance. For the LSCF material operating between 500 and 900°C with oxygen partial pressure swings from ambient to 0.0001 bar, system efficiencies of 68.6% based on the net thermal energy delivered to the power cycle relative to the incident solar flux on the receiver and auxiliary power requirements, with specific energy storage of 686 kJ kg−1 are predicted. Alternatively, only cycling the temperature between 500 and 900°C without oxygen partial pressure swings results in TCES subsystem efficiencies up to 76.3% with specific energy storage of 533 kJ kg−1.

scholarly journals Validation of SAM Modeling of Concentrated Solar Power Plants

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1949 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Boretti ◽  
Jamal Nayfeh ◽  
Wael Al-Kouz
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
The United States ◽  
Concentrated Solar Power ◽  
Parabolic Trough

The paper proposes the validation of the latest System Advisor Model (SAM) vs. the experimental data for concentrated solar power energy facilities. Both parabolic trough, and solar tower, are considered, with and without thermal energy storage. The 250 MW parabolic trough facilities of Genesis, Mojave, and Solana, and the 110 MW solar tower facility of Crescent Dunes, all in the United States South-West, are modeled. The computed monthly average capacity factors for the average weather year are compared with the experimental data measured since the start of the operation of the facilities. While much higher sampling frequencies are needed for proper validation, as monthly averaging dramatically filters out differences between experiments and simulations, computational results are relatively close to measured values for the parabolic trough, and very far from for solar tower systems. The thermal energy storage is also introducing additional inaccuracies. It is concluded that the code needs further development, especially for the solar field and receiver of the solar tower modules, and the thermal energy storage. Validation of models and sub-models vs. high-frequency data collected on existing facilities, for both energy production, power plant parameters, and weather conditions, is a necessary step before using the code for designing novel facilities.

scholarly journals Environment impact of a concentrated solar power plant

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mladen Bošnjaković ◽  
Vlado Tadijanović
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Air Cooling ◽  
Solar Thermal Energy ◽  
Concentrated Solar Power ◽  
Environment Impact ◽  
The Impact

More recently, there has been an increasing interest in the use of concentrated solar thermal energy for the production of electricity, but also for the use in cogeneration and trigeneration. In this sense, the increasing use of solar thermal energy in urban areas is expected, and its impact on the environment is inducing an increasing interest. The paper analyses the impact of concentrated solar power technology (linear Fresnel, parabolic trough, parabolic dish, and central tower) on the environment in terms of water consumption, land use, wasted heat, emissions of gases, emissions of pollutants that include the leakage of heat transfer fluid through pipelines and tanks, impact on flora and fauna, impact of noise and visual impact. The impact on the environment is different for different concentrated solar power technologies and depends on whether thermal energy storage is included in the plant. Water is mainly used for cooling the system, but also for cleaning the surface of the mirror. To reduce water consumption, other cooling technologies (e.g. air cooling) are being developed. The available data from the literature show large variances depending on the size of the plant, geographic location and applied technology.

Rotor-Dynamics of Different Shaft Configurations for a 6 kW Micro Gas Turbine for Concentrated Solar Power

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Arroyo ◽  
M. McLorn ◽  
M. Fabian ◽  
M. White ◽  
A. I. Sayma
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbines ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Dynamic Models ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Critical Issue ◽  
Rotor Dynamics ◽  
Mode Shapes ◽  
Concentrated Solar Power ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Rotor Dynamic

Rotor-dynamics of Micro Gas Turbines (MGTs) under 30 kW have been a critical issue for the successful development of reliable engines during the last decades. Especially, no consensus has been reached on a reliable MGT arrangement under 10 kW with rotational speeds above 100,000 rpm, making the understanding of the rotor-dynamics of these high speed systems an important research area. This paper presents a linear rotor-dynamic analysis and comparison of three mechanical arrangements of a 6 kW MGT intended for utilising Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) using a parabolic dish concentrator. This application differs from the usual fuel burning MGT in that it is required to operate at a wider operating speed range. The objective is to find an arrangement that allows reliable mechanical operation through better understanding of the rotor dynamics for a number of alternative shaft-bearings arrangements. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was used to produce Campbell diagrams and to determine the critical speeds and mode shapes. Experimental hammer tests using a new approach based on optical sensing technology were used to validate the rotor-dynamic models. The FEA simulation results for the natural frequencies of a shaft arrangement were within 5% of the measurements, while the deviation for the shaft-bearings arrangement increased up to 16%.

scholarly journals Comparative Modeling of a Parabolic Trough Collectors Solar Power Plant with MARS Models

Energies ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Rogada ◽  
Lourdes Barcia ◽  
Juan Martinez ◽  
Mario Menendez ◽  
Francisco de Cos Juez
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Water Vapor ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Rankine Cycle ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Solar Field

Power plants producing energy through solar fields use a heat transfer fluid that lends itself to be influenced and changed by different variables. In solar power plants, a heat transfer fluid (HTF) is used to transfer the thermal energy of solar radiation through parabolic collectors to a water vapor Rankine cycle. In this way, a turbine is driven that produces electricity when coupled to an electric generator. These plants have a heat transfer system that converts the solar radiation into heat through a HTF, and transfers that thermal energy to the water vapor heat exchangers. The best possible performance in the Rankine cycle, and therefore in the thermal plant, is obtained when the HTF reaches its maximum temperature when leaving the solar field (SF). In addition, it is necessary that the HTF does not exceed its own maximum operating temperature, above which it degrades. The optimum temperature of the HTF is difficult to obtain, since the working conditions of the plant can change abruptly from moment to moment. Guaranteeing that this HTF operates at its optimal temperature to produce electricity through a Rankine cycle is a priority. The oil flowing through the solar field has the disadvantage of having a thermal limit. Therefore, this research focuses on trying to make sure that this fluid comes out of the solar field with the highest possible temperature. Modeling using data mining is revealed as an important tool for forecasting the performance of this kind of power plant. The purpose of this document is to provide a model that can be used to optimize the temperature control of the fluid without interfering with the normal operation of the plant. The results obtained with this model should be necessarily contrasted with those obtained in a real plant. Initially, we compare the PID (proportional–integral–derivative) models used in previous studies for the optimization of this type of plant with modeling using the multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) model.

Techno-economic assessment of technological improvements in thermal energy storage of concentrated solar power

Solar Energy ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 157 ◽  
pp. 552-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riezqa Andika ◽  
Young Kim ◽  
Seok Ho Yoon ◽  
Dong Ho Kim ◽  
Jun Seok Choi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Economic Assessment ◽  
Concentrated Solar Power ◽  
Technological Improvements

Waste From Metallurgic Industry: A Sustainable High-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage Material for Concentrated Solar Power

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Calvet ◽  
Guilhem Dejean ◽  
Lucía Unamunzaga ◽  
Xavier Py
Keyword(s):  
Heat Capacity ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Concentrated Solar Power ◽  
Storage Material ◽  
Energy Storage Material ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage Material

The ambitious DOE SunShot cost target ($0.06/kWh) for concentrated solar power (CSP) requires innovative concepts in the collector, receiver, and power cycle subsystems, as well as in thermal energy storage (TES). For the TES, one innovative approach is to recycle waste from metallurgic industry, called slags, as low-cost high-temperature thermal energy storage material. The slags are all the non-metallic parts of cast iron which naturally rises up by lower density at the surface of the fusion in the furnace. Once cooled down some ceramic can be obtained mainly composed of oxides of calcium, silicon, iron, and aluminum. These ceramics are widely available in USA, about 120 sites in 32 States and are sold at a very low average price of $5.37/ton. The US production of iron and steel slag was estimated at 19.7 million tons in 2003 which guarantees a huge availability of material. In this paper, electric arc furnace (EAF) slags from steelmaking industry, also called “black slags”, were characterized in the range of temperatures of concentrated solar power. The raw material is thermo-chemically stable up to 1100 °C and presents a low cost per unit thermal energy stored ($0.21/kWht for ΔT = 100 °C) and a suitable heat capacity per unit volume of material (63 kWht/m3for ΔT = 100°C). These properties should enable the development of new TES systems that could achieve the TES targets of the SunShot (temperature above 600 °C, installed cost below $15/kWht, and heat capacity ≥25 kWht/m3). The detailed experimental results are presented in the paper. After its characterization, the material has been shaped in form of plates and thermally cycled in a TES system using hot-air as heat transfer fluid. Several cycles of charge and discharged were performed successfully and the concept was validated at laboratory scale. Apart from availability, low-cost, and promising thermal properties, the use of slag promotes the conservation of natural resources and is a noble solution to decrease the cost and to develop sustainable TES systems.

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