scholarly journals Evaluating the Potential Benefit of Using Nowcasting Systems to Improve the Yield of Parabolic Trough Power Plants with Single-Phase HTF

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 773
Author(s):  
Kareem Noureldin ◽  
Tobias Hirsch ◽  
Bijan Nouri ◽  
Zeyad Yasser ◽  
Robert Pitz-Paal
Keyword(s):  
Potential Benefit ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Single Phase ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Test Case ◽  
Computationally Efficient ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Simulation Tools ◽  
Operation Conditions ◽  
Solar Field

Solar field developers include innovative solutions to optimize the energy production of their plants. Simulation tools play a significant role in the design and testing phases as they provide estimations of this yield in different conditions. Transient processes, like passing clouds and solar field start-up, are specifically challenging to optimize and estimate using such simulation tools. Solar fields are subject to high degree of both temporal and spatial variability in the energy input and a detailed estimation can be achieved by simulating subsystems within acceptable time and computational power. Hence, such simulation tools cannot be utilized for tests under realistic operation conditions. The Virtual Solar Field is a computationally efficient simulation tool that allows a detailed transient simulation of parabolic trough solar fields based on single-phase fluids. Using this tool, developers could reproduce a transient test case with exactly the same disturbances to provide fair comparisons between different configurations. In this paper, an evaluation process based on numerical simulations using the Virtual Solar Field is presented. The economic benefit of novel innovative control concepts can be assessed according to the presented scheme. This is demonstrated by evaluating the potential benefit of availability of spatial DNI nowcasts on the control of parabolic trough solar fields. Results show that nowcasting can increase the economic revenue of commercial power plants by up to 2.5% per day. This proves the feasibility of installing such systems.

Annual Yield Analysis of Solar Tower Power Plants With GREENIUS

2011 ◽  
Vol 133 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jürgen Dersch ◽  
Peter Schwarzbözl ◽  
Timo Richert
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Software Tool ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Concentrating Solar Power ◽  
Solar Field ◽  
Performance Calculation ◽  
Design Power ◽  
Energy Plants ◽  
Renewable Energy Plants

An existing software tool for annual performance calculation of concentrating solar power and other renewable energy plants has been extended to enable the simulation of solar tower power plants. The methodology used is shown and a demonstrative example of a 50 MWe tower plant in southern Spain is given. The influence of design power and latitude on solar field layout is discussed. Furthermore, a comparison of the tower plant with a 50 MWe parabolic trough and a Linear Fresnel plant at the same site is given.

scholarly journals Characterization and Corrections for Clamp-On Fluid Temperature Measurements in Turbulent Flows

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bijan Nouri ◽  
Marc Röger ◽  
Nicole Janotte ◽  
Christoph Hilgert
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Flow ◽  
Turbulent Flows ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Measurement Data ◽  
Temperature Measurements ◽  
Correction Function ◽  
Acceptance Testing ◽  
Fluid Temperature ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Operation Conditions

A clamp-on measurement system for flexible and accurate fluid temperature measurements for turbulent flows with Reynolds numbers higher than 30,000 is presented in this paper. This noninvasive system can be deployed without interference with the fluid flow while delivering the high accuracies necessary for performance and acceptance testing for power plants in terms of measurement accuracy and position. The system is experimentally validated in the fluid flow of a solar thermal parabolic trough collector test bench, equipped with built-in sensors as reference. Its applicability under industrial conditions is demonstrated at the 50 MWel AndaSol-3 parabolic trough solar power plant in Spain. A function based on large experimental data correcting the temperature gradient between the measured clamp-on sensor and actual fluid temperature is developed, achieving an uncertainty below ±0.7 K (2σ) for fluid temperatures up to 400 °C. In addition, the experimental results are used to validate a numerical model. Based on the results of this model, a general dimensionless correction function for a wider range of application scenarios is derived. The clamp-on system, together with the dimensionless correction function, supports numerous combinations of fluids, pipe materials, insulations, geometries, and operation conditions and should be useful in a variety of industrial applications of the power and chemical industry where temporal noninvasive fluid temperature measurement is needed with good accuracy. The comparison of the general dimensionless correction function with measurement data indicates a measurement uncertainty below 1 K (2σ).

Comparison of Two-Tank Indirect Thermal Storage Designs for Solar Parabolic Trough Power Plants

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Kopp ◽  
R. F. Boehm
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Molten Salt ◽  
Heat Exchangers ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Thermal Storage ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Solar Field

The performance of a solar thermal parabolic trough plant with thermal storage is dependent upon the arrangement of the heat exchangers that ultimately transfer energy from the sun into steam. An indirect two-tank molten salt storage system that only transfers heat with the solar field heat transfer fluid is the most commercially acceptable thermal storage design. Annual electricity generation from two differing indirect two-tank molten salt storage designs and a base case with no thermal storage were modeled. Four components were characterized in a quasi-steady state analysis dependent upon key ambient and operational parameters: solar field, storage, heat exchangers, and power block. The parameters for the collector field remained constant for all models and were based on the SEGS VI plant. The results of net power generation favor storage though the design that maximizes annual output depends on whether maximum power generation or power generation during the evening peak demand hours is desired. Additionally, the economic trade offs are discussed for the three arrangements.

Optimized control of the Solar Field in parabolic trough solar power plants

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lourdes A. Barcia ◽  
Fernando Nuno ◽  
Juan A. Martinez ◽  
Juan Diaz ◽  
Antonio Nevado ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Solar Power Plants ◽  
Solar Field

The Influence of Direct Normal Irradiance Variation on the Optimal Parabolic Trough Field Size: A Problem Solved With Technical and Economical Simulations

Solar Energy ◽  
2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Volker Quaschning ◽  
Rainer Kistner ◽  
Winfried Ortmanns
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Solar Irradiance ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Field Size ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Simulation Tools ◽  
Direct Normal Irradiance ◽  
Solar Field ◽  
The Given ◽  
Made In

One of the main problems when designing a solar thermal power plant is to find the optimal parabolic trough field size. Errors made in this context can easily lead into a financial disaster. Simulation tools that handle all aspects of a power plant (technical as well as economical) treat such economical problems as a whole and can be very helpful during the design process. However, even the smartest simulation tool depends significantly on the input parameters, such as the solar irradiance. As a result of the given considerations a new method for estimating the solar field size as a function of the solar irradiance is proposed. Additionally, this paper demonstrates a path to simulate the complexity of a parabolic trough power plant.

Study of Different Configurations of ISCC Parabolic Trough

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dolores Duran ◽  
Rafael Almanza ◽  
Ivan Martínez
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Pressure Level ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Steam Generation ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Direct Steam ◽  
Solar Field

This work shows the study of different configurations of integrated solar combined cycle (ISCC) parabolic-trough power plant with Direct Steam Generation (DSG). This paper is a sequel of previous works (Duran), but in this case six different configurations are analyzed: two pressure level without reheater (2P), 2P considering the solar field the high pressure economizer of the heat recovery steam generator, 2P considering the solar field the low pressure superheater, two pressure level with reheater (2PR), 2PR considering the solar field the low pressure superheater, 2PR considering the solar field the high pressure economizer. The main objective is to achieve the thermoeconomic optimization (based on Thermodynamic 1st. Law) of the HRSG including the solar field, to determine the optimal design parameters of both systems. It is applied a genetic algorithm (GA) methodology employed in previous works for the optimization of combined cycle power plants. Also, a sensitivity analysis with respect to the variation of solar radiation is done for the configurations that yield better results. As a result it would be obtained the optimal parameters of the HRSG and the optimal solar energy contribution for the configurations analyzed.

scholarly journals Modeling and Hourly Time-Scale Characterization of the Main Energy Parameters of Parabolic-Trough Solar Thermal Power Plants Using a Simplified Quasi-Dynamic Model

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 221
Author(s):  
Ignacio Arias ◽  
Eduardo Zarza ◽  
Loreto Valenzuela ◽  
Manuel Pérez-García ◽  
José Alfonso Romero Ramos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Thermal Power Plants ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Solar Thermal Power ◽  
Simulation Results ◽  
Solar Field ◽  
The Mathematical Model

A simplified mathematical model of parabolic-trough solar thermal power plants, which allow one to carry out an energetic characterization of the main thermal parameters that influence the solar field performance, was evaluated through a comparison of simulation results. Two geographical locations were selected to evaluate the mathematical model proposed in this work—one in each hemisphere—and design considerations according with the practical/operational experience were taken. Furthermore, independent simulations were performed using the System Advisor Model (SAM) software, their results were compared with those obtained by the simplified model. According with the above, the mathematical model allows one to carry out simulations with a high degree of flexibility and adaptability, in which the equations that allow the plant to be energetically characterized are composed of a series of logical conditions that help identify boundary conditions between dawn and sunset, direct normal irradiance transients, and when the thermal energy storage system must compensate the solar field energy deficits to maintain the full load operation of the plant. Due to the above, the developed model allows one to obtain satisfactory simulation results; referring to the net electric power production, this model provides results in both hemispheres with a relative percentage error in the range of [0.28–8.38%] compared with the results obtained with the SAM, with mean square values of 4.57% and 4.21% for sites 1 and 2, respectively.

scholarly journals Integration of Soiling-Rate Measurements and Cleaning Strategies in Yield Analysis of Parabolic Trough Plants

2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabian Wolfertstetter ◽  
Stefan Wilbert ◽  
Jürgen Dersch ◽  
Simon Dieckmann ◽  
Robert Pitz-Paal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Analysis Software ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Fully Integrated ◽  
Yield Analysis ◽  
Dependent Parameter ◽  
One Year ◽  
Solar Field

The issue of reflector soiling becomes more important as concentrating solar thermal power plants (CSP) are being implemented at sites subject to high dust loads. In an operational power plant, a trade-off between reducing cleaning costs and cleaning related collector availability on the one hand and keeping the solar field cleanliness (ξfield) high to minimize soiling induced losses on the other hand must be found. The common yield analysis software packages system advisor model (SAM) and greenius only allow the input of a constant mean ξfield and constant cleaning costs. This oversimplifies real conditions because soiling is a highly time-dependent parameter and operators might adjust cleaning activities depending on factors such as soiling rate and irradiance. In this study, time-dependent soiling and cleaning data are used for modeling the yield of two parabolic trough plant configurations at two sites in Spain and Morocco. We apply a one-year soiling rate dataset in daily resolution measured with the tracking cleanliness sensor (TraCS). We use this as a basis to model the daily evolution of the cleanliness of each collector of a solar field resulting from the application of various cleaning strategies (CS). The thus obtained daily average ξfield is used to modify the inputs to the yield analysis software greenius. The cleaning costs for each CS are subtracted from the project's financial output parameters to accurately predict the yield of a CSP project over its lifetime. The profits obtained with different CSs are compared in a parameter variation analysis for two sites and the economically best CS is identified. The profit can be increased by more than 2.6% by the application of the best strategy relative to a reference strategy that uses a constant cleaning frequency. The error in profit calculated with constant soiling and cleaning parameters compared to the simulation with variable soiling and cleaning can be as high as 9.4%. With the presented method, temporally variable soiling rates and CS can be fully integrated to CSP yield analysis software, significantly increasing its accuracy. It can be used to determine optimum cleaning parameters.

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