Economic Chances and Technical Risks of the Internal Direct Absorption Receiver

2013 ◽  
Vol 136 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Csaba Singer ◽  
Reiner Buck ◽  
Robert Pitz-Paal ◽  
Hans Müller-Steinhagen

Increased receiver temperatures of solar tower power plants are proposed to decrease the plants levelized electricity costs (LEC) due to the utilization of supercritical steam power plants and thus higher overall plant efficiency. Related to elevated receiver temperatures preliminary concept studies show a distinct LEC reduction potential of the internal direct absorption receiver (IDAR), if it is compared to liquid in tube (LIT) or beam-down (BD) receiver types. The IDAR is characterized by a downward oriented aperture of a cylindrical cavity, whose internal lateral area is illuminated from the concentrator field and cooled by a liquid molten salt film. The objective is the further efficiency enhancement, as well as the identification and assessment of the technical critical aspects. For this a detailed fluid mechanic and thermodynamic receiver model of the novel receiver concept is developed to be able to analyze the IDAR's operating performance at full size receiver geometries. The model is used to analyze the open parameters concerning the feasibility, functionality and performance of the concept. Hence, different system management strategies are examined and assessed, which lead to the proposal of a cost optimized lead-concept. This concept involves a rotating receiver system with inclined absorber walls. The spatial arrangements of the absorber walls minimize thermal losses of the receiver and enhance film stability. The centrifugal forces acting on the liquid salt film are essential to realize the required system criteria, which are related to the maximal molten salt temperature, film stability and droplet ejection. Compared to the state of the art at a 200 MWel power level the IDAR concept can lead to a LEC reduction of up to 8%. The cost assumptions made for the assessment are quantified with sensitivity analysis.

Author(s):  
Cs. Singer ◽  
R. Buck ◽  
R. Pitz-Paal ◽  
H. Müller-Steinhagen

Increased receiver temperatures of solar tower power plants are proposed to decrease the plants levelized electricity costs (LEC) due to the utilization of supercritical steam power plants and thus higher overall plant efficiency. Related to elevated receiver temperatures preliminary concept studies show a distinct LEC reduction potential of the internal direct absorption receiver (IDAR), if it is compared to liquid in tube (LIT) or beam down (BD) receiver types. The IDAR is characterized by a downwards oriented aperture of a cylindrical cavity, whose internal lateral area is illuminated from the concentrator field and cooled by a liquid molten salt film. The objective is the further efficiency enhancement, as well as the identification and assessment of the technical critical aspects. For this a detailed fluid mechanic and thermodynamic receiver model of the novel receiver concept is developed to be able to analyze the IDAR’s operating performance at full size receiver geometries. The model is used to analyze the open parameters concerning the feasibility, functionality and performance of the concept. Hence, different system management strategies are examined and assessed, which lead to the proposal of a cost optimized lead-concept. This concept involves a rotating receiver system with inclined absorber walls. The spatial arrangements of the absorber walls minimize thermal losses of the receiver and enhance film stability. The centrifugal forces acting on the liquid salt film are essential to realize the required system criteria, which are related to the maximal molten salt temperature, film stability and droplet ejection. Compared to the state of the art at a 200 MWel power level the IDAR concept can lead to a LEC reduction of up to 8%. The cost assumptions made for the assessment are quantified with sensitivity analysis.


1988 ◽  
Vol 110 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. S. Bohn ◽  
K. Y. Wang

This paper presents results of experiments on the Direct Absorption Receiver (DAR) concept using molten salt as the working fluid. The DAR concept may result in a solar central receiver that costs 50 percent less than the current tube receiver and has significantly lower operational and maintenance costs. These experiments were aimed at determining whether the DAR concept is technically feasible and were carried out at the Advanced Components Test Facility, Atlanta, GA. Results are based on several days of operating with solar flux ranging up to 50 W/cm2 and also on a numerical model that is capable of predicting the thermal performance of the DAR salt film. Issues relating to thermal efficiency, absorber-to-salt heat transfer, and salt film stability are addressed.


Author(s):  
David E. Kautzmann ◽  
Robert A. Ransom

Having a better understanding of the level of moisture separator performance is an important component in evaluating the cost benefit of a turbine or MSR improvement or retrofit. The documented methods of determining Moisture Separator Effectiveness (MS η) on a reheat nuclear cycle require extensive station instrumentation, which may not be available in many power plants, or the introduction of radioactive (or other) tracers into the plant system. Because of these difficulties and associated costs, moisture separator performance is typically not adequately evaluated or monitored. This situation can lead to significant misconceptions about the actual operating moisture separator effectiveness. Using data from field tests of multiple GE-designed horizontal moisture separators, important relationships between MS performance and certain operating parameters were established that form the basis of this proposed Moisture Separator test method. This test method is specifically designed to remove many of the known difficulties associated with the current testing methods while maintaining reasonable accuracy levels. By removing many of the roadblocks in testing moisture separators, MS η can now be calculated on a regular basis and will allow for periodic performance monitoring and performance degradation detection.


Author(s):  
Cs. Singer ◽  
R. Buck ◽  
R. Pitz-Paal ◽  
H. Mu¨ller-Steinhagen

The cost reduction potential of solar power towers (SPT) is an important issue concerning its market introduction. Raising the steam process temperature and pressure can lead to a cost reduction due to increased overall plant efficiency. Thus, for new receiver configurations a supercritical steam cycle operated at 300 bar / 600°C / 610°C live steam conditions was assumed. The considered systems include innovative direct absorption receivers, either with conventional or beam down heliostat field layouts. For the beam down option the receiver is assumed to be a cylindrical vessel with a flow-through porous absorber structure at the internal lateral area of the cylinder. The direct absorption receiver option consists of a cylindrical barrel with downwards oriented aperture, whose absorber structure at the internal lateral area is cooled by a molten salt film. For the assessment, CFD based methods were developed to be able to examine the receiver efficiency characteristics. Based on the receiver thermal efficiency characteristics and the solar field characteristics the annual performance is evaluated using hourly time series. The assessment methodology is based on the European Concentrated Solar Thermal Roadmap (ECOSTAR) study and enables the prediction of the annual performance and the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). Applying appropriate cost assumptions from literature the LCOE were estimated for each considered SPT concept and compared to tubular receiver concepts with molten salt and liquid metal cooling. The power level of the compared concepts and the reference case is 200 MWel. The sensitivity of the specific cost assumptions was analyzed. No detailed evaluation was done for the thermal storage, but comparable storage utilization and costs were assumed for all cases. At optimized plant parameters the results indicate a LCOE reduction potential of up to 0.5% for beam down and of up to 7.2% for the direct absorption receiver compared to today’s state of the art molten salt solar tower technology.


2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 283-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.O. Oyedepo ◽  
R.O. Fagbenle ◽  
S.S. Adefila ◽  
Md. Mahbub Alam

In this study, exergoeconomic analysis and performance evaluation of selected gas turbine power plants in Nigeria were carried out. The study was conducted using operating data obtained from the power plants to determine the exergy efficiency, exergy destruction, unit cost of electricity and cost of exergy destruction of the major components of a gas turbine engine in the selected power plants. The results of exergy analysis confirmed that the combustion chamber is the most exergy destructive component compared to other cycle components as expected. The total efficiency defects and overall exergetic efficiency of the selected power plants vary from 38.64 to 69.33% and 15.66 to 30.72% respectively. The exergy analysis further shows that the exergy improvement potential of the selected plants varies from 54.04 MW to 159.88 MW. The component with the highest exergy improvement potential is the combustion chamber and its value varies from 30.21 MW to 88.86 MW. The results of exergoeconomic analysis show that the combustion chamber has the greatest cost of exergy destruction compared to other components. Increasing the gas turbine inlet temperature (GTIT), both the exergy destruction and the cost of exergy destruction of this component were found to decrease. The results of this study revealed that an increase in the GTIT of about 200 K can lead to a reduction of about 29% in the cost of exergy destruction. From exergy costing analysis, the unit cost of electricity produced in the selected power plants varies from cents 1.99 /kWh (N3.16 /kWh) to cents 5.65 /kWh (N8.98 /kWh).


2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesús M. Lata ◽  
Manuel Rodríguez ◽  
Mónica Álvarez de Lara

Molten salt technology represents nowadays the most cost-effective technology for electricity generation for stand-alone solar power plants. Although this technology can be applied to both concentrating technologies, parabolic through and central receiver systems (CRSs), CRS technology can take advantages from its higher concentration, allowing to work at higher temperatures and therefore with a reduction in the size and cost of the storage system. The receiver system is the “door” for which the energy passes from the field collector to the thermal-electric cycle; it represents, therefore, the core of the CRS and its performance directly affects plant production. Starting from the published lessons from SOLAR TWO receiver technology, the validation of an improved receiver for molten salt technology was assumed as part of the SOLAR TRES solar thermal power commercial plant development. Main challenges for the new receiver were to increase its allowable peak flux up to 1MW∕m2 in order to maximize the thermal efficiency of the CRS solar power plant, and to improve its safe life without limiting the incident fluxes that the field of heliostats is able to deliver with an optimized pointing strategy. Several advanced features in geometric and thermodynamic aspects and in its material selection have been implemented on the receiver. With the results of a sensitivity analysis carried out with an own code developed by SENER (SENREC), a prototype receiver panel was designed, fabricated, and installed in a proper test bed at the PSA. Test validation on this panel was carried out in 2007. The initial test results show a very good behavior of the prototype receiver, which allows to anticipate that the objectives of its design can be fulfilled. SENER and CIEMAT have joined forces to face up the challenge of sizing and designing a new molten salt receiver of high thermal efficiency, able to operate at high fluxes without compromising its durability (at least 25years). Main challenges for the new receiver design were to optimize the receiver dimensions and receiver tube sizes and material selection to surpass the operating conditions in the new plants with respect to SOLAR TWO.


2013 ◽  
Vol 136 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Csaba Singer ◽  
Reiner Buck ◽  
Robert Pitz-Paal ◽  
Hans Müller-Steinhagen

The cost reduction potential of solar power towers (SPT) is an important issue concerning its market introduction. Raising the steam process temperature and pressure can lead to a cost reduction due to increased overall plant efficiency. Thus, for new receiver configurations, a supercritical steam cycle operated at 300 bar/600 °C/610 °C live steam conditions was assumed. The considered systems include innovative direct absorption receivers, either with conventional or beam down heliostat field layouts. For the beam down option, the receiver is assumed to be a cylindrical vessel with a flow-through porous absorber structure at the internal lateral area of the cylinder. The direct absorption receiver option consists of a cylindrical barrel with downwards oriented aperture, whose absorber structure at the internal lateral area is cooled by a molten salt film. For the assessment, CFD based methods are developed and able to examine the receiver efficiency characteristics. Based on the receiver thermal efficiency characteristics and the solar field characteristics, the annual performance is evaluated using hourly time series. The assessment methodology is based on the European Concentrated Solar Thermal Roadmap (ECOSTAR) study and enables the prediction of the annual performance and the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). Applying appropriate cost assumptions from literature, the LCOE are estimated for each considered SPT concept and compared to tubular receiver concepts with molten salt and liquid metal cooling. The power level of the compared concepts and the reference case is 200 MWel. The sensitivity of the specific cost assumptions is analyzed. No detailed evaluation is done for the thermal storage, but comparable storage utilization and costs are assumed for all cases. At optimized plant parameters, the results indicate a LCOE reduction potential of up to 0.5% for beam down and of up to 7.2% for the direct absorption receiver compared to today's state of the art molten salt solar tower technology.


Author(s):  
W.N. Reynolds

Following the 2007/08 drought, we experienced poor pasture production and persistence on our dairy farm in north Waikato, leading to decreased milksolids production and a greater reliance on bought-in feed. It is estimated that the cost of this to our farming operation was about $1300 per hectare per year in lost operating profit. While climate and black beetle were factors, they did not explain everything, and other factors were also involved. In the last 3 years we have changed our management strategies to better withstand dry summers, the catalyst for which was becoming the DairyNZ Pasture Improvement Focus Farm for the north Waikato. The major changes we made were to reduce stocking rate, actively manage pastures in summer to reduce over-grazing, and pay more attention to detail in our pasture renewal programme. To date the result has been a reduced need for pasture renewal, a lift in whole farm performance and increased profitability. Keywords: Focus farm, over-grazing, pasture management, pasture persistence, profitability


2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-57
Author(s):  
Rizqa Raaiqa Bintana ◽  
Putri Aisyiyah Rakhma Devi ◽  
Umi Laili Yuhana

The quality of the software can be measured by its return on investment. Factors which may affect the return on investment (ROI) is the tangible factors (such as the cost) dan intangible factors (such as the impact of software to the users or stakeholder). The factor of the software itself are assessed through reviewing, testing, process audit, and performance of software. This paper discusses the consideration of return on investment (ROI) assessment criteria derived from the software and its users. These criteria indicate that the approach may support a rational consideration of all relevant criteria when evaluating software, and shows examples of actual return on investment models. Conducted an analysis of the assessment criteria that affect the return on investment if these criteria have a disproportionate effort that resulted in a return on investment of a software decreased. Index Terms - Assessment criteria, Quality assurance, Return on Investment, Software product


1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (10-11) ◽  
pp. 289-295
Author(s):  
Saleh Al-Muzaini

The Shuaiba Industrial Area (SIA) is located about 50 km south of Kuwait City. It accommodates most of the large-scale industries in Kuwait. The total area of the SIA (both eastern and western sectors) is about 22.98 million m2. Fifteen plants are located in the eastern sector and 23 in the western sector, including two petrochemical companies, three refineries, two power plants, a melamine company, an industrial gas corporation, a paper products company and, two steam electricity generating stations, in addition to several other industries. Therefore, only 30 percent of the land in the SIA's eastern sector and 70 percent of land in the SIA's western sector is available for future expansion. Presently, industries in the SIA generate approximately 204,000 t of solid waste. With future development in the industries in the SIA, the estimated quantities will reach 240,000 t. The Shuaiba Area Authority (SAA), a governmental regulatory body responsible for planning and development in the SIA, has recognized the problem of solid waste and has developed an industrial waste minimization program. This program would help to reduce the quantity of waste generated within the SIA and thereby reduce the cost of waste management. This paper presents a description of the waste minimization program and how it is to be implemented by major petroleum companies. The protocols employed in the waste minimization program are detailed.


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