Phase 1 of the First Small Power System Experiment (engineering Experiment No. 1). Volume 3: Experimental System Descriptions

The design and development of a modular solar thermal power system for application in the 1 to 10 MWe range is described. The system consists of five subsystems: the collector, power conversion, energy transport, energy storage, and the plant control subsystem. The collector subsystem consists of concentrator, receiver, and tower assemblies. The energy transport subsystem uses a mixture of salts with a low melting temperature to transport thermal energy. A steam generator drives a steam Rankine cycle turbine which drives an electrical generator to produce electricity. Thermal and stress analysis tests are performed on each subsystem in order to determine the operational reliability, the minimum risk of failure, and the maintenance and repair characteristics

Solar thermal collectors for use in hybrid solar-biomass power plants in India

This thesis examined solar thermal collectors for use in alternative hybrid solar-biomass power plant applications in Gujarat, India. Following a preliminary review, the cost-effective selection and design of the solar thermal field were identified as critical factors underlying the success of hybrid plants. Consequently, the existing solar thermal technologies were reviewed and ranked for use in India by means of a multi-criteria decision-making method, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Informed by the outcome of the AHP, the thesis went on to pursue the Linear Fresnel Reflector (LFR), the design of which was optimised with the help of ray-tracing. To further enhance collector performance, LFR concepts incorporating novel mirror spacing and drive mechanisms were evaluated. Subsequently, a new variant, termed the Elevation Linear Fresnel Reflector (ELFR) was designed, constructed and tested at Aston University, UK, therefore allowing theoretical models for the performance of a solar thermal field to be verified. Based on the resulting characteristics of the LFR, and data gathered for the other hybrid system components, models of hybrid LFR- and ELFR-biomass power plants were developed and analysed in TRNSYS®. The techno-economic and environmental consequences of varying the size of the solar field in relation to the total plant capacity were modelled for a series of case studies to evaluate different applications: tri-generation (electricity, ice and heat), electricity-only generation, and process heat. The case studies also encompassed varying site locations, capacities, operational conditions and financial situations. In the case of a hybrid tri-generation plant in Gujarat, it was recommended to use an LFR solar thermal field of 14,000 m2 aperture with a 3 tonne biomass boiler, generating 815 MWh per annum of electricity for nearby villages and 12,450 tonnes of ice per annum for local fisheries and food industries. However, at the expense of a 0.3 ¢/kWh increase in levelised energy costs, the ELFR increased saving of biomass (100 t/a) and land (9 ha/a). For solar thermal applications in areas with high land cost, the ELFR reduced levelised energy costs. It was determined that off-grid hybrid plants for tri-generation were the most feasible application in India. Whereas biomass-only plants were found to be more economically viable, it was concluded that hybrid systems will soon become cost competitive and can considerably improve current energy security and biomass supply chain issues in India

Performance Evaluation of Wireless Communication in a Modular Heliostat Field.

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2021.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Concentrating Solar Thermal (CST) is differentiated from other renewable energy technologies by the ability to store large amounts of thermal energy cost-effectively. CST, and especially Central Receiver Systems (CRS), still require further develop- ment to drive down the Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE) to remain economi- cally competitive in the renewable energy market. Heliostats are used in CRS to reflect sunlight onto a central receiver. Data trans- mission is required between a central server and Local Control Units (LCUs) to enable high precision tracking, over-the-air calibration updates, and swift emer- gency reaction. Wireless communication technologies have shown both capital cost and construction time saving potential for CST plants, but practical performance knowledge of operation in heliostat fields is limited. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of wireless communica- tion within a CST field b y m eans o f p ractical t ests a imed t o d etermine t he influ- ence of interference, dense networks, and transmission range on the network per- formance. The project forms part of the H2020 PREMA project, which aims to advance novel energy systems in the drying and pre-heating of furnace manganese ore. A communication network consisting of 50 LCUs, capable of controlling 300 heliostats, was designed and implemented to simulate data transmission in a CST network. Performance experiments were conducted at the Helio100 site to de- termine the effect of various performance limiting factors. Experimental results showed a high performing, robust wireless communication system with a worst- case polling rate of 0.79 s, which satisfies a m ajor r equirement o f t he communi- cation network. The thesis concludes that wireless communication is feasible in a CST field, which could lead to the reduction of capital costs and construction time, reducing the LCOE of CST plants.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gekonsentreerde Sonkrag (GSK) word onderskei van ander hernubare energie tegnologieë deur die vermoë om groot hoeveelhede termiese energie koste effektief te stoor. Gekonsentreerde sonkrag, en veral sentrale ontvangersisteme, benodig nog verdere ontwikkeling om die gelykte koste van elektrisiteit te verlaag om ekonomies kompeterend te bly in die hernubare energie mark. Heliostate word in sentrale ontvangersisteme gebruik om sonlig op ’n sentrale ontvanger te weerkaats. Data-oordrag is nodig tussen ’n sentrale bediener en plaas- like beheer eenhede om hoë akkuraatheid volgingsbeweging, oor die lug kalibrasie- opdaterings en vinnige noodreaksie moontlik te maak. Draadlose kommunikasie- tegnologie het die potensiaal vir kapitaal kostebesparings en konstruksie tydbespa- rings vir GSK-aanlegte getoon, maar praktiese kennis oor die netwerk gedrag in heliostaat velde is beperk. Die doel van hierdie studie is om die uitvoerbaarheid van draadlose kommunika- sie binne ’n sentrale ontvangersisteem te evalueer aan die hand van praktiese toetse om die invloed van interferensie, digte netwerke en die transmissie afstand, op die netwerk werking te bepaal. Die projek vorm deel van die H2020 PREMA-projek, wat streef om nuwe energie stelsels te bevorder vir die droog en voorverhitting pro- ses van mangaanerts. ’n Kommunikasienetwerk bestaande uit 50 plaaslike beheer eenhede, wat 300 heliostate kan beheer, is ontwerp en geïmplementeer om data-oordrag in ’n gekon- sentreerde sonkrag netwerk te simuleer. ’n Eksperimentele ondersoek is op die Helio100-terrein gedoen om die effek van verskillende netwerk beperkende faktore te bepaal. Eksperimentele resultate toon ’n hoë prestasie, robuuste draadlose kommuni- kasiestelsel wat, in die slegste geval, die hele netwerk binne 0.79 s kan bedien en so ’n hoofvereiste van die kommunikasie netwerk bevredig. Die tesis het tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat draadlose kommunikasie binne ’n GSK heliostaat veld uitvoerbaar is en dat dit moontlik tot ’n verlaging in kapitaal koste en konstruksie tyd in sentrale ontvangersisteme kan lei en die gelykte koste van elektrisiteit van gekonsentreerde sonkrag aanlegte kan verminder.Master

Solar thermal collectors for use in hybrid solar-biomass power plants in India

This thesis examined solar thermal collectors for use in alternative hybrid solar-biomass power plant applications in Gujarat, India. Following a preliminary review, the cost-effective selection and design of the solar thermal field were identified as critical factors underlying the success of hybrid plants. Consequently, the existing solar thermal technologies were reviewed and ranked for use in India by means of a multi-criteria decision-making method, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Informed by the outcome of the AHP, the thesis went on to pursue the Linear Fresnel Reflector (LFR), the design of which was optimised with the help of ray-tracing. To further enhance collector performance, LFR concepts incorporating novel mirror spacing and drive mechanisms were evaluated. Subsequently, a new variant, termed the Elevation Linear Fresnel Reflector (ELFR) was designed, constructed and tested at Aston University, UK, therefore allowing theoretical models for the performance of a solar thermal field to be verified. Based on the resulting characteristics of the LFR, and data gathered for the other hybrid system components, models of hybrid LFR- and ELFR-biomass power plants were developed and analysed in TRNSYS®. The techno-economic and environmental consequences of varying the size of the solar field in relation to the total plant capacity were modelled for a series of case studies to evaluate different applications: tri-generation (electricity, ice and heat), electricity-only generation, and process heat. The case studies also encompassed varying site locations, capacities, operational conditions and financial situations. In the case of a hybrid tri-generation plant in Gujarat, it was recommended to use an LFR solar thermal field of 14,000 m2 aperture with a 3 tonne biomass boiler, generating 815 MWh per annum of electricity for nearby villages and 12,450 tonnes of ice per annum for local fisheries and food industries. However, at the expense of a 0.3 ¢/kWh increase in levelised energy costs, the ELFR increased saving of biomass (100 t/a) and land (9 ha/a). For solar thermal applications in areas with high land cost, the ELFR reduced levelised energy costs. It was determined that off-grid hybrid plants for tri-generation were the most feasible application in India. Whereas biomass-only plants were found to be more economically viable, it was concluded that hybrid systems will soon become cost competitive and can considerably improve current energy security and biomass supply chain issues in India.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Effects of solar hybridization on the performance of a gas turbine

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2015.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigates the effect of the solarization of a gas turbine on its performance and details the integration of this gas turbine into a solar power plant. A Rover 1S/60 gas turbine (Rover, 1966), rated at 45 kW, was modelled in Flownex and validated against a one-dimensional thermodynamic model, at design input conditions. The model of the gas turbine was adapted to incorporate different components of a CSP plant. The solar hybrid gas turbine (SHGT) model simulates the gas turbine performance when subjected to a typical variation in solar resource. A newly designed compressor for the Rover 1S/60 was integrated, both into the original Rover gas turbine model, as well as the SHGT model. Heat addition due to solar irradiation resulted in a decreased fuel consumption rate and an increased thermal efficiency for the gas turbine. The net power output of the turbine, however, decreased as the solar irradiation increased. This is a consequence of the additional pressure drop over the solar receiver, directly affecting the power produced by the turbine. Results showed that installation of the new compressor could eliminate the adverse pressure effects of the solar components, if implemented. To aid future experimental work, an interconnection component to direct air out of the Rover gas turbine into the solar receiver, was designed. The velocity and pressure profiles at two potential outlets from the main air casing were inspected by means of CFD simulations. The flow domain in the gas turbine was extracted, by reverse engineering the casing and relevant components. The inlet boundary conditions were adapted to evaluate both the original and the newly designed compressor. Results at the combustor inlet (outlet 1), implementing the original compressor, compared relatively well to experimental test data. It was found, however, that the flow should rather be redirected to outlet 2 which is a previous modification made to the casing to implement a recuperator. The velocity and pressure flow profiles were more uniform at outlet 2, even when implementing the new compressor. Two conceptual designs reintroducing the flow into the combustor were evaluated. The chosen concept significantly simplifies the implementation process by replacing the combustion chamber with in-line firing duct burners. To determine whether SHGTs are feasible on a commercial scale, four industrial gas turbines were investigated. The aperture area required to achieve sufficient heat flux in the solar receiver, in order to replace the thermal energy from combustion, was determined and compared to commercial CSP tower plants, with similar power producing capabilities. Scalability of the gas turbines proved competitive, but the eventual success will depend on future improvements in pressurised air receivers.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie wat volg ondersoek die effek van sonkrag-aanpassings op die werkverrigting van ‘n gasturbine en beskryf die integrasie van ‘n gasturbine in ‘n sonkragstasie. ‘n 45 kW Rover 1S/60 gasturbine is in die vloeinetwerkkode, Flownex, gemodelleer en is teenoor ‘n eendimensionele termodinamiese model by ontwerp invoer toestande gevalideer. Die gasturbine model is aangepas om verskillende komponente van ‘n konsentrerende sonkrag (KSK) stasie, soos ‘n son-ontvanger en heliostaatveld, te inkorporeer. Die aangepaste sonkrag gasturbine (SHGT) model simuleer die gasturbine werkverrigtinge wanneer dit aan ‘n tipiese variasie in son hulpbronne blootgestel word. ‘n Nuut-ontwerpte kompressor vir die Rover 1S/60 is in beide die oorspronklike Rover gasturbine-model en die SHGT model geïntegreer. Warmte toevoeging weens sonbestraling het gelei tot ‘n afname in die brandstofverbruiks tempo en ‘n verhoogde termiese doeltreffendheid van die gasturbine. Die netto krag van die gasturbine het egter gedaal met die toenemende bydrae van sonkrag. Dit is as gevolg van die addisionele drukval oor die sonontvanger, wat veroorsaak dat die krag wat deur die turbine geproduseer word afneem. Resultate het getoon dat die nuwe kompressor, indien geïmplementeer, die nadelige druk effekte van die sonkrag-komponente kan kanselleer. ‘n Komponent om lug uit die Rover gasturbine na die son-ontvanger te herlei, is ondersoek om toekomstige eksperimentele werk te steun. Die snelheids- en drukprofiele op twee potensiële uitlaatplekke vanuit die hoof lugomhulsel is deur middel van CFD simulasies geïnspekteer. Die vloeiprofiel deur die gasturbine is verkry deur terugwaartse-ontwikkeling van die omhulsel en relevante komponente. Die inlaat randvoorvaardes is aangepas om beide die oorspronklike en nuut-ontwerpte kompressor te evalueer. Die resultate by die inlaat van die verbrandingsruim (uitlaat 1), gegewe die oorpronklike kompressor, vergelyk goed met die eksperimentele toets data. Daar is egter bevind dat die vloei eerder na uitlaat 2, ‘n vorige aanpassing aan die omhulsel om ‘n hitte-uitruiler te implementeer, herlei moet word. Die snelheid en druk vloei profiele is meer eenvormig by uitlaat 2, ook met die implementering van die nuwe kompressor. Twee ontwerpe, wat die vloei in die verbrandingsruim herinvoer, is konseptueel geëvalueer. Die gekose konsep vereenvoudig die implementering van die proses aansienlik, deur die verbrandingskamer met in-lyn afvoer buis-branders te vervang. Laastens is vier industriële gasturbines ondersoek om te bepaal of SHGT’s uitvoerbaar is op 'n kommersiële skaal. Die heliostaat oppervlaktes wat nodig is om voldoende hittevloed in die son-ontvangers te bereik, om sodoende die termiese energie van verbranding te vervang, is bepaal. Daarna is die oppervlaktes met dié van kommersiële KSK-toring stasies, met soortgelyke krag vervaardiging vermoëns, vergelyk. Die skaalbaarheid van die gas turbines blyk om mededingend te wees, maar die sukses daarvan is afhanklik van aansienlike verbeterings in die doeltreffendheid van saamgeperste-lug ontvangers

Energy: A continuing bibliography with indexes

This bibliography lists 1920 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA Scientific and Technical Information System from July 1, 1980 through September 30, 1980

Solar Power System Plaing & Design

Photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP) systems for the conversion of solar energy into electricity are technologically robust, scalable, and geographically dispersed, and they possess enormous potential as sustainable energy sources. Systematic planning and design considering various factors and constraints are necessary for the successful deployment of PV and CSP systems. This book on solar power system planning and design includes 14 publications from esteemed research groups worldwide. The research and review papers in this Special Issue fall within the following broad categories: resource assessments, site evaluations, system design, performance assessments, and feasibility studies

SET2023 : 20th International Conference on Sustainable Energy Technologies 15th to 17th August 2023, Nottingham, UK: Sustainable Energy Technologies 2023 Conference Proceedings. Volume 3

Papers #201 to #300 presented at SET 202