Project description
Molten salt solution for parabolic trough power plants
A parabolic trough is a concentrated solar power (CSP) system. However, current parabolic trough power plants require improvements in annual electrical output and solar field costs. The EU-funded MSA-Trough project aims to develop a fix-focus parabolic trough with an independent concentrator and fixed absorber tube, using molten salt as a heat transfer fluid and storage medium for dispatchable power generation. The new solar field design will eliminate collector piping and flexible connections, significantly reducing investment costs, pressure drop, and heat losses. Horizontal ‘storm-position’ design will reduce wind loads by 75 %, allowing for lighter and cheaper steel structures. Biodegradable mirrors will increase optical efficiency, and automatic mirror washing devices will recycle 90 % of washing water.
Objective
Within the MSA-Trough project a fix-focus parabolic trough is developed by an international consortium of 7 partners. The novelty of the new collector is the complete independence (detachment) between the concentrator and the fixed absorber tube, so that the absorber tube string is not moved by the concentrator and can be designed in a continuous line up to a length of more than 0,8km. Due to the new design not only the collector connection piping becomes obsolete but also all flexible connections in the solar field are omitted, leading to a significant reduction in investment costs as well as in pressure drop and heat losses. Because of its horizontal storm-position wind loads are reduced by 75%, thus steel structure, pylons and foundations can be designed very light and cost-saving. In addition, biodegradable and very stable thin-glass sandwich mirrors will be developed, which increase the optical efficiency by 2% due to better reflectivity. A further important project highlight is the development of an automatic mirror washing device, which will recycle about 90% of washing water and increase the solar field performance by 4% because of daily washing. The new MSA-Trough design will be especially suitable for dispatchable power generation at very high temperature (555C) using directly molten salt as heat transfer fluid and storage medium, thus reaching a very high cycle efficiency and an excellent volumetric storage capacity. A 350m-collector (aperture 6,7m) will be erected and tested with molten salt at the EMSP. Optical, mechanical and thermal tests will be carried out in order to verify the collector quality and efficiency. In order to eliminate heat losses during nights the overnight drainage strategy will be tested and optimized. Compared to current parabolic trough power plants the use of MSA-Trough collectors will increase the annual electrical output by 24,5% and reduce the solar field costs by 30%.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.5 - Climate, Energy and Mobility
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.5.2 - Energy Supply
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-IA - HORIZON Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL5-2022-D3-03
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
7000 803 EVORA
Portugal
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.