Thermal Modeling of a Multi-Cavity Array Receiver Performance for Concentrating Solar Power Generation

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Austin Fleming ◽  
Zhiwen Ma ◽  
Tim Wendelin ◽  
Heng Ban ◽  
Charlie Folsom
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
High Temperature ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Freezing Point ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Thermal Modeling ◽  
Solid Particles ◽  
Concentrating Solar Power ◽  
Receiver Performance

Concentrating solar power (CSP) plants can provide dispatchable power with the thermal energy storage (TES) capability for greater renewable-energy grid penetration. To increase the market competitiveness, CSP technology needs to increase the solar-to-electric efficiency and reduce costs in the areas of solar collection from the heliostat field to the receiver, energy conversion systems, and TES. The current state-of-the-art molten-salt systems have limitations regarding both the potential for cost reduction and improvements in performance. Even with significant improvements in operating performance, these systems face major challenges to satisfy the performance targets, which include high-temperature stability (>650°C), low freezing point (<0°C), and material compatibility with high-temperature metals (>650°C) at a reduced cost. The fluidized-bed CSP (FB-CSP) plant being developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has the potential to overcome the above issues with substantially lower cost. The particle receiver is a critical component to enable the FB-CSP system. This paper introduces the development of an innovative receiver design using the blackbody design mechanism by collecting solar heat with absorber tubes that transfer the radiant heat to flowing particles. The particle and receiver materials can withstand temperatures of >1000°C because the receiver can use low-cost materials, such as ceramics and stainless steel, and the solid particles can be any low-cost, stable materials such as sand or ash for particle containment and TES. The heated particles can be stored in containers for TES or supply heat for power generation. This study investigated the performance of convection, reflection, and infrared (IR) re-radiation losses on the absorber solar receiving side. We developed a flux model to predict the reflection losses from the absorber tubes based on the NREL SolTrace program, and conducted thermal modeling by using the Fluent Software. This paper presents the thermal modeling and results on the receiver performance. The receiver configuration may have broad applications for different heattransfer fluids (HTFs), including gas, liquid, or the solid particle-based system in our receiver development.

scholarly journals Hybrid Forecasting Methodology for Wind Power-Photovoltaic-Concentrating Solar Power Generation Clustered Renewable Energy Systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 6681
Author(s):  
Simian Pang ◽  
Zixuan Zheng ◽  
Fan Luo ◽  
Xianyong Xiao ◽  
Lanlan Xu
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Wind Power ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Prediction Method ◽  
Random Fluctuation ◽  
Concentrating Solar Power ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Hybrid Forecasting ◽  
Energy Cluster

Forecasting of large-scale renewable energy clusters composed of wind power generation, photovoltaic and concentrating solar power (CSP) generation encounters complex uncertainties due to spatial scale dispersion and time scale random fluctuation. In response to this, a short-term forecasting method is proposed to improve the hybrid forecasting accuracy of multiple generation types in the same region. It is formed through training the long short-term memory (LSTM) network using spatial panel data. Historical power data and meteorological data for CSP plant, wind farm and photovoltaic (PV) plant are included in the dataset. Based on the data set, the correlation between these three types of power generation is proved by Pearson coefficient, and the feasibility of improving the forecasting ability through the hybrid renewable energy clusters is analyzed. Moreover, cases study indicates that the uncertainty of renewable energy cluster power tends to weaken due to partial controllability of CSP generation. Compared with the traditional prediction method, the hybrid prediction method has better prediction accuracy in the real case of renewable energy cluster in Northwest China.

scholarly journals Improved High Temperature Solar Absorbers for Use in Concentrating Solar Power Central Receiver Applications

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Ambrosini ◽  
Timothy N. Lambert ◽  
Marlene Bencomo ◽  
Aaron Hall ◽  
Kent vanEvery ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Concentrating Solar Power ◽  
Solar Absorptance ◽  
Thermal Emittance ◽  
Solar Absorbers ◽  
Operating Temperatures ◽  
Stability Issues ◽  
The Cost

Concentrating solar power (CSP) systems use solar absorbers to convert the heat from sunlight to electric power. Increased operating temperatures are necessary to lower the cost of solar-generated electricity by improving efficiencies and reducing thermal energy storage costs. Durable new materials are needed to cope with operating temperatures < 600°C. The current coating technology (Pyromark High Temperature paint) has a solar absorptance in excess of 0.95 but a thermal emittance greater than 0.8, which results in large thermal losses at high temperatures. In addition, because solar receivers operate in air, these coatings have long term stability issues that add to the operating costs of CSP facilities. Ideal absorbers must have high solar absorptance (>0.95) and low thermal emittance (<0.3 at receiver surface operating temperatures), be stable in air, and be low-cost and readily manufacturable. Recent efforts at Sandia National Laboratories have begun to address the issue of more efficient solar selective coatings for tower applications. This paper will present an overview of these efforts which address the development of new coatings on several fronts.

scholarly journals Day-Ahead Scheduling for Renewable Energy Generation Systems considering Concentrating Solar Power Plants

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Xiaojuan Lu ◽  
Leilei Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Energy Resource ◽  
Energy Generation ◽  
Concentrating Solar Power ◽  
Solar Power Plants ◽  
Renewable Energy Generation

With the advent of the new types of electrical systems that attach more importance to the renewability of the energy resource, issues arising out of the randomness and volatility of the renewable energy resource, such as the safety, reliability, and economic operation of the underlying power generation system, are expected to be challenging. Generally speaking, the power generation company can do a reasonable dispatch of each unit according to weather forecast and load demand information. Focusing on concentrating solar power (CSP) plants (wind power, photovoltaic, battery energy storage, and thermal power plants), this paper proposes a day-ahead scheduling model for renewable energy generation systems. The model also considers demand response and related generator set constraints. The problem is described as a mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) problem, which can be solved by the CPLEX solver to obtain an optimal solution. At the same time, the paper compares and analyzes the impact of concentrating solar power plants on other renewable energy generation and thermal power operation systems. The results show that the renewable energy generation system can lower power generation costs, reduce load fluctuation, and enhance the energy storage rate.

Development of High Temperature, Corrosion Resistant Sensors for Concentrating Solar Power Systems

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael W. Usrey ◽  
Yiping Liu ◽  
Mark Anderson ◽  
Jon Lubbers ◽  
Brady Knowles ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Molten Salt ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Thermal Flux ◽  
Temperature Cycling ◽  
Chloride Salt ◽  
Concentrating Solar Power ◽  
Salt Corrosion ◽  
Chloride Salts ◽  
Functional Ceramics

Solar power is a sustainable resource which can reduce the power generated by fossil fuels, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and increasing energy independence. The U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative has set goals to increase the efficiency of concentrating solar power (CSP) systems. One SunShot effort to help CSP systems exceed 50% efficiency is to make use of high-temperature heat transfer fluids (HTFs) and thermal energy storage (TES) fluids that can increase the temperature of the power cycle up to 1300°C. Sporian has successfully developed high-temperature operable pressure, temperature, thermal flux, strain, and flow sensors for gas path measurements in high-temperature turbine engines. These sensors are based on a combination of polymer derived ceramic (PDC) sensors, advanced high-temperature packaging, and integrated electronics. The overall objective is the beneficial application of these sensors to CSP systems. Through collaboration with CSP industry stakeholders, Sporian has established a full picture of operational, interface, and usage requirements for trough, tower, and dish CSP architectures. In general, sensors should have accurate measurement, good reliability, reasonable cost, and ease of replacement or repair. Sensors in contact with hot salt HTF and TES fluids will experience temperature cycling on a daily basis, and parts of the system may be drained routinely. Some of the major challenges to high-temperature CSP implementation include molten salt corrosion and flow erosion of the sensors. Potential high-temperature sensor types that have been identified as of interest for CSP HTF/TES applications include temperature, pressure, flow, and level sensors. Candidate solar salts include nitrate, carbonate, and chloride, with different application temperatures ranging from 550°C-900°C. Functional ceramics were soaked for 500 hours in molten nitrate, carbonate, and chloride salts, showing excellent corrosion resistance in chloride salts and good resistance in nitrate salts. The demonstration of functional ceramics in relevant HTFs laid the foundation for full prototype sensor and packaging demonstration. Sporian has developed a packaging approach for ceramic-based sensors in various harsh gaseous environments at temperatures up to 1400°C, but several aspects of that packaging are not compatible with corrosive and electrically conductive HTFs. In addition to consulting published literature, a 300 hour soak test in molten chloride salt allowed the authors to identify suitable structural metals and ceramics. Based on discussions with stakeholders, molten salt corrosion testing and room-temperature water flow testing, suitable for CSP sensor/packaging concepts were identified for future development, and initial prototypes have been built and tested.

scholarly journals Improved high temperature solar absorbers for use in Concentrating Solar Power central receiver applications.

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen Beth Stechel ◽  
Andrea Ambrosini ◽  
Aaron Christopher Hall ◽  
Timothy L. Lambert ◽  
Chad Lynn Staiger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Concentrating Solar Power ◽  
Solar Absorbers ◽  
Central Receiver ◽  
Power Central

scholarly journals Photovoltaic power generation system

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Huang Huanhai
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Environmentally Friendly ◽  
Energy Status ◽  
The World ◽  
New Energy

The potential crisis of energy and the deterioration of ecological environment make the world's cumbersomedevelopment of renewable energy including new energy, including solar energy. Traditional energy in the coal, oil andnatural gas are evolved from ancient fossils, it is collectively referred to as fossil fuels. As the world's energy needscontinue to increase, fossil fuels will also be depleted, it is necessary to fi nd a new energy to replace the traditionalenergy. Solar energy is a clean renewable energy with mineral energy incomparable superiority. Modern society shouldbe a conservation-oriented society, and social life should also be a life-saving energy. At the same time, Premier WenJiabao also proposed on June 30, 2005 and stressed the need to speed up the construction of a conservation-orientedsociety. And solar energy as an inexhaustible new environmentally friendly energy has become the world's energyresearch work in the world an important issue. Is the world in the economic situation to take a simpler, economical,environmentally friendly and reliable building heating and heating energy-saving measures. This paper summarizes thecurrent global energy status, indicating the importance of solar power and prospects. Details of the various solar powergeneration methods and their advantages, and made a comparison of this power generation parameters. At the sametime pointed out that the diffi culties faced by solar power and solutions, as well as China's solar power of the favorableconditions and diffi culties. The future of China's solar energy made a prospect.

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