Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SOLARSCO2OL (SOLAR based sCO2 Operating Low-cost plants)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2020-10-01 al 2022-03-31
According to the JRC CSP platform, with an increased efficiency of component and price reduction, it could be feasible that 11 % of EU electricity will be produced by solar thermal electricity by 2050. In the EC energy strategy, CSP is mentioned as a potential dispatchable RES with increasing potential market/need when coupled with flexible, high performant and low CAPEX power conversion units. In this respect, sCO2 has been studied for several years as a future technology to overcome steam-based cycle in efficiency and power density - and thus as enabling technology to promote CSP widespread all over the world. SOLARSCO2OL presents sCO2 cycles as a key enabling technology to facilitate a larger deployment of CSP in the EU panorama, which is today composed (also considering available surfaces and DNI) by medium temperature application (most of them Parabolic trough – Tmax = 550°C) and small to medium size plants (all of them of 50 MW or less - as described in §2.1) enhancing their performance (efficiency, flexibility, annual yield) and reducing their LCOE. Considering that compared to organic and superheated steambased Rankine cycles, sCO2 cycles achieve high efficiencies over a wide temperature range (thus giving the opportunity to couple sCO2 power blocks with molten salt CSP plants, existing and newly built), with lower CAPEX, lower OPEX, no use of water as operating fluid (a plus for CSP plants in arid locations), smaller system footprint, and higher operational flexibility, SOLARSCO2OL aims to demonstrate the first MW Scale EU sCO2 power block operating in a real CSP plant. SOLARSCO2OL will strengthen EU Leadership in CSP industry also capitalizing previous EU expertise (SCARABEUS, sCO2-flex, MUSTEC), bridging the gap with US1 , China2 , Japan R&D on these topics and studying different power plant layouts also to enhance CSP plants flexibility to enable providing grid flexibility services. SOLARSCO2OL is indeed not a just a H2020 demonstration project but the first sCO2 MW scale demo installed and tested in a real CSP plant environment worldwide (TRL8).
In the first period of the project the preliminary work to prepare the realization and implementation of the system in the following reporting periods was carried out.
In particular, the novel SOLARSCO2OL layout, including shcematis, operating modes, limitations, scope, BoP were defined in T1.1 and T1.2. The pre-design layout has been identified, as well as the thermodynamic cycle with the preliminary P&ID including the interconnection among the different components. The KPIs, the bottom-up costs model and market related inputs for techno-economic optimization models were identified in T1.3 and started to be applied in T1.4 with the first results already analysed and discussed by KTH. The conceptual and preliminary design for both compressor and turbine have been completed, respectively by BH and FTM. For the compressor the detailed design is in progress, with a preliminary definition of the auxiliary systems already performed. For the turbine a detailed study on how the fluid can influence the rotordynamic stability has been performed by FTM, in parallel with the assessment of the most suitable materials to realize the turbine, considering the project operating conditions and possible future up-scales. The preliminary design and CFD modelling was also almost completed for the Heat Exchangers and Electric Heater, respectively by LOINTEK and SEICO.
The main control variables have been identified and the system modelled in Matlab/Symulink environment. The variables have been tested through off-design and dynamic analysis, with different load conditions to determine the performance map of the whole cycle under different control logics. The preliminary control strategy has been studied, developed on the basis of the off-design analysis. A clear Visual identity has also been developed for the project, with the preparation of Dissemination material such as Logo, Leaflet, Poster and Roll-up, the launch of the project website and social media channels and the preparation of the preliminary plan for Exploitation, Dissemination and Communication. A project video has also been published on SOLARSCO2OL youtube channel.
In particular, the novel SOLARSCO2OL layout, including shcematis, operating modes, limitations, scope, BoP were defined in T1.1 and T1.2. The pre-design layout has been identified, as well as the thermodynamic cycle with the preliminary P&ID including the interconnection among the different components. The KPIs, the bottom-up costs model and market related inputs for techno-economic optimization models were identified in T1.3 and started to be applied in T1.4 with the first results already analysed and discussed by KTH. The conceptual and preliminary design for both compressor and turbine have been completed, respectively by BH and FTM. For the compressor the detailed design is in progress, with a preliminary definition of the auxiliary systems already performed. For the turbine a detailed study on how the fluid can influence the rotordynamic stability has been performed by FTM, in parallel with the assessment of the most suitable materials to realize the turbine, considering the project operating conditions and possible future up-scales. The preliminary design and CFD modelling was also almost completed for the Heat Exchangers and Electric Heater, respectively by LOINTEK and SEICO.
The main control variables have been identified and the system modelled in Matlab/Symulink environment. The variables have been tested through off-design and dynamic analysis, with different load conditions to determine the performance map of the whole cycle under different control logics. The preliminary control strategy has been studied, developed on the basis of the off-design analysis. A clear Visual identity has also been developed for the project, with the preparation of Dissemination material such as Logo, Leaflet, Poster and Roll-up, the launch of the project website and social media channels and the preparation of the preliminary plan for Exploitation, Dissemination and Communication. A project video has also been published on SOLARSCO2OL youtube channel.
SOLARSCO2OL will reduce CSP plants LCOE operating with MS based on an innovative sCO2 power block that could be applied to any CSP plant independently from the type and size. In particular the project aims to reach the following KPIs: -10% of CAPEX reduction, reduction of LCOE up to 10c€/kWh, +10% of plant efficiency thanks to the improvement in the single turbomachinery efficiency, -90% CO2eq considering the HC/CO emission reduction related to avoided use of auxiliary boilers that would not be needed anymore thanks to sCO2 power block lower operating temperature and MS electric heater integration. In SOLARSCO2OL high efficient turbomachinery components will be developed, making them compatible to work with sCO2 and able to deal with intermittent/variable solar input. The integration of the different components will be ensured by a grid oriented advanced control system, based on dynamic modelling of the different components. The control logics will allow a predictive control of the system, enhancing the flexibility and operability of the plant.
The environmental and social acceptability of SOLARSCO2OL plant will be studied via LCC/LCA/s-LCA methods, ensuring the social viability of sCO2 and CSP plants and promoting for the first time sCO2 as the best operating fluid in turbomachinery for the future EU RES Based scenario, thanks to sCO2 higher efficiency, lower capex, lower operating temperature, which make sCO2 perfect to be coupled with a large variety of systems. The replication of SOLARSCO2OL layout will be then studied both in EU and extra EU countries, ensuring the developing of suitable business models to promote the replication of the concept in current and future CSP plants.
Finally a strong Dissemination and communication strategy will ensure the soundness of SOLARSCO2OL results, proposing the project with relevant stakeholders and presenting it in multiple events.
The environmental and social acceptability of SOLARSCO2OL plant will be studied via LCC/LCA/s-LCA methods, ensuring the social viability of sCO2 and CSP plants and promoting for the first time sCO2 as the best operating fluid in turbomachinery for the future EU RES Based scenario, thanks to sCO2 higher efficiency, lower capex, lower operating temperature, which make sCO2 perfect to be coupled with a large variety of systems. The replication of SOLARSCO2OL layout will be then studied both in EU and extra EU countries, ensuring the developing of suitable business models to promote the replication of the concept in current and future CSP plants.
Finally a strong Dissemination and communication strategy will ensure the soundness of SOLARSCO2OL results, proposing the project with relevant stakeholders and presenting it in multiple events.