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Content archived on 2024-04-30

Construction and Testing of a pilot 1 MW solar thermal power station using an innovative heat exchanger concept

Objective



Objectives

The objective of the project is to build a prototype solar thermal power plant based on a fixed primary mirror. The prime mover will be a gas turbine. The advantages of the fixed mirror arrangement are that reflector costs can be reduced significantly. The solar receiver can be located on a tracking arm which is always positioned in the direction of the reflected solar radiation. Alternatively a secondary mirror can be located on the arm and used to reflect to a point focus.

Technical Approach

The present generation of high temperature solar thermal electricity systems all use tracking mirrors and fixed receivers. Mirror accuracy is important in order to achieve high concentration coefficients, and the costs of tracking mirrors is relatively high. For example heliostats for central receiver systems presently cost $250/m2. By fixing the primary mirror, costs can be reduced significantly. The fixed mirror hemispherical bowl system is a known concept that has been discarded by past researchers because of its poor optics - concentration coefficients at the focal line are quite low, limiting its use for power generation.

In the proposed concept higher concentrations are possible using a geometry for the main solar/air heat exchanger in which the solar radiation is always incident normally. Alternatively a secondary mirror can be used to re-direct all rays to a point focus. This idea overcomes the problems of former hemispherical systems whilst keeping the cost benefits of a fixed mirror.

By using a gas turbine as the prime mover, costs can be reduced. Maintenance costs will also be lower than for other systems and there is no need for cooling water. Gas turbine technology is advancing dramatically, particularly at the lower power range. Solar thermal technologies are in a position to capitalise on this work.

Expected Achievements and Exploitation

The prototype will produce an output of 1 MWe at a peak efficiency of 22%. Solargen Europe will continue operations to maintain R&D on an ongoing continuous basis and also to exploit the technology with a full marketing staff in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. The Joule team will continue to work together to develop the concept further.

In Crete, SDO aims are to develop the local economy by encouraging self sufficiency in energy supply, the rational use of energy and using energy technologies that make use of local labour. Although the Public Power Company in Crete has installed capacity of 400MW, the utility has difficulty meeting increasing peak load demand during the middle of the day. The Solargen Project will demonstrate, by connection to the Greek national grid, the potential contribution of this technology on an industrial scale to counter this problem of supply and demand in Crete and as an example for other countries.

Call for proposal

Data not available

Coordinator

Solargen (Europe) Ltd
EU contribution
No data
Address
Bartholomews Foxton
CB2 6SU Cambridge
United Kingdom

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Total cost
No data

Participants (3)