Integration of solar thermal energy in a conventionaf power plant: The Colon solar project

This paper reports on the first phase of the Colón Solar Project, originally conceived as the hybrid repowering of an existing thermal power plant, with the addition of a gas turbine in a topping configuration integrating thermal energy (steam) produced by a solar system. However, the project developed in a changing economic environment, in which a new legal structure, still incomplete, as of January, 1998 has liberalized the electricity generation market. This forced the original configuration to be modified, resulting in an all-new combined cycle with solar energy integrated into a Heat Recovery Boiler. Basic plant engineering placed special emphasis on the most important solar components (heliostat and receiver), and an economic analysis showed that the plant is profitable under the assumptions of the analysis. Nevertheless, the relatively low IRR, as well as the uncertainty of realization of some of those assumptions, made the utility postpone its decision to build the plant

Direct radiation estimates from horizontal global irradiance values

One of the main factors determining the economic feasibility of a solar thermal power plant is the availability of direct radiation at the plant site. During last years, two Central Receiver Power Plants (Solgas and Colon Solar) have been proposed in the South West of Spain (Huelva). For this area only global solar radiation data are available in a historical representative database. Based on an 11 years radiation database gathered at a nearby location, distance less than 100 km, 12 correlations, (one per month), between Mt and Md have been obtained. Solar global radiation data from the power plant site and generated correlations have allowed the "construction" of a Direct Radiation Design year that has been used both to design the solar plant heliostat field and receiver and to estimate annual energy produced by the solar plant

Reliability analysis of Solar-Gas Hybrid Receivers for central tower plants

A novel Solar-Gas Hybrid Receiver (SGHR) that combines the function of a solar receiver and a gas boiler in a single device is presented. This concept requires less equipment and maintenance compared to the Solar Gas Hybrid (SGH) concept, in which the boiler and the solar receiver (SR) are independent devices. The economic benefit is attributed to the increased sharing of infrastructures. Additionally, it has less thermal stress, cycles and shocks, which reduce the failure risk. However, the additional benefit in the reliability of these receivers has not been analyzed so far. In this work, a mathematical model of SGHR is presented. It determines the stress in steady state which is used to estimate the allowable transient stress in order to achieve the required 30 years life design. The results show that the SGHR is exposed to lower thermal stress due to much better temperature distribution. Moreover the higher absorber heat flux of SGHR is translated in a higher mechanical stress with could jeopardizes the durability. However the reduced number of cycles and the lower thermal stress of a SGHR allows higher transient stresses than the conventional tube type solar receiver, which lead to more reliable and efficient designs

The variable geometry central receiver system concept. First results and comparison with conventional central receiver systems

In line with the global trend for improving efficiency of existing solar power plants, the CTAER has developed and built a variable geometry central receiver facility, in which the solar field rotates around the tower axis following the sun's position during the day. The goal of this new approach is to increase the optical efficiency of the field by significantly reducing the angle of incidence of the Sun on the heliostats. This paper presents the advantages of this new variable geometry design and describes the main features of the experimental facility based on this approach as built by CTAER in Almeria. It also compares a conventional solar central receiver plant (i.e., with stationary heliostats and receiver) and an equivalent variable geometry power plant. For this study we employed published data from a real solar central receiver plant with known production (Abengoa’s PS10). The results of the study show an increase in annual energy collection and distribution by the variable geometry plant, leading to a potential reduction in the number of heliostats required compared to a conventional central receiver plant for the same annual energy collection

Módulo fotovoltaico refrigerador pasivo y autoportante

Módulo fotovoltaico refrigerador pasivo y autoportante.La presente invención tiene por objeto un módulo fotovoltaico constituido por un encapsulante que se sitúa en la parte posterior de las células que es refrigerador pasivo y autoportante. El material

Laboratorios del grupo de investigación de Termodinámica y Energías Renovables

El Grupo de Termodinámica y Energías Renovables (GTER) es un grupo universitario del Plan Andaluz de Investigación. Desde su constitución como grupo univer­sitario, el GTER ha venido actuando, siempre en el ámbi­to de l+D en energía solar, bajo diversas circunstancias administrativas

Análisis comparativo de la influencia de las condiciones climáticas en Europa en la eficiencia de una instalación fotovoltaica de conexión a red

En este trabajo se presente un análisis comparativo de la influencia que tienen las condiciones climáticas reales en doce ciudades europeas sobre la eficiencia de una instalación fotovoltaica de conexión a red. Para ello, se han tomado los datos de irradiancia, temperatura ambiente y velocidad y dirección de viento de cada localidad y se ha calculado la temperatura de un módulo tipo comercial, en función de la irradiancia, velocidad y dirección del viento y temperatura ambiente. Con la irradiancia incidente y la temperatura del módulo, se ha simulado el comportamiento de una misma instalación en las doce ciudades. Se concluye el trabajo analizando cómo varía la eficiencia de la instalación. Se cuantifica finalmente la mejora de la eficiencia en las ciudades del norte de Europa respecto a las sur, aunque estas últimas disponen de mayor irradiancia.lt is presented in this work a comparative analysis of the influence of the real climatic conditions in twelve European cities over the efficiency of a photovoltaic installation connected to the grid. For that purpose and with the irradiation, ambient temperature and direction and speed of the wind of each city, the temperature of a commercial module has been calculated with these data. With the irradiation and the module temperature the behaviour of the same installation has been simulated in the twelve European cities. The work ends analysing the evolution of the efficiency of the installation. Finally it is quantify the better efficiency reached in the north European cities than those in the south even though these cities have higher levels of irradiation

Primeros resultados de la conexión a red de un disco parabólico con motor Stirling en la Escuela Superior de Ingenieros de Sevilla

En marzo de 2004 se finalizó la instalación de un disco parabólico con motor Stirling en la Escuela Superior de Ingenieros de Sevilla. Este sistema está integrado en un proyecto, llamado EnviroDish, en el que se prevé instalar varias unidades en distintos países con el fin de recabar datos fiables sobre el funcionamiento de estos sistemas y los costes reales de instalación y O&M. El sistema que se describe presenta la particularidad de estar conectado a la red de distribución, acogido al Régimen Especial. En el presente artículo se describe la instalación y se presenta un avance de los primeros resultados de operación.A Parabolic Dish System has been installed and is operating since March 2004 at the Seville Engineering School (Escuela Superior de Ingenieros). The system is integrated in a wider project, called EnviroDish, that includes the installation of several units in different countries with the aim to gather reliable data on system performance and installation and O&M costs. The system is connected to the grid and the electricity generated is sold to the regional utility with the benefits of the Special Regime. In the present paper we describe the installation and present an advance of the firts operating results

Resultados de ensayos de equipos solares domésticos de Acs en el Instituto Andaluz de Energías Renovables (Iaer)

En la sede de Sevilla del Instituto Andaluz de Energías Renovables se han ensayado equipos solares domésticos (compactos) para uso en el desarrollo del programa PROSOL. En este trabajo se presenta un análisis del método de medida, los resultados obtenidos con 37 equipos ensayados y las conclusiones que se extraen de ellos.This paper presents an analysis of the measurement methods, test results and conclusions of 37 compact solar water heaters tested at the facilities of the Andalusian Renewable Energy Institute at the Seville Engineering School in the frame of the PROSOL programme

Estudio sectorial, sector de energía renovables. Vigilancia tecnológica, electricidad termosolar

El Estudio de Vigilancia Tecnológica que se presenta a continuación está orientado al análisis del campo de las TECNOLOGÍAS DE ELECTRICIDAD TERMOSOLAR dentro del sector de Energías Renovables. Se ha abordado este sector al tratarse de uno de los sectores preferentes en la política de la Junta de Andalucía. El objetivo del Estudio es el de proporcionar una amplia información al sector, haciendo hincapié en la información tecnológica y científica relacionada. En el presente Estudio, tras presentar de forma resumida los principales conceptos de la Vigilancia Tecnológica, se realiza un análisis exhaustivo de aquella información que es más relevante para el tejido empresarial andaluz en este sector como:Estado de la ciencia (Análisis Cienciométrico del sector).Entidades del sector en Andalucía (Empresas, Grupos de Investigación, etc.).Proyectos I+D del sector a nivel andaluz, nacional y europeo.Ofertas y Demandas tecnológicas del sector.Patentes nacionales e internacionales del sector.Publicaciones científicas del sector.Estudio cofinanciado por la Oficina Europea de Patentes y la Oficina Española de Patentes y Marcas a través del proyecto piloto de centros PATLIB «Reorienting patent information centres»