Energetic optimization and local stability of heliothermal plant models under three thermo-economic performance regimes

G. Valencia-Ortega, S. Levario-Medina, F. Angulo-Brown and M.A. Barranco-Jiménez

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 2023, vol. 613, issue C

Abstract: Solar power plants have the advantage of not producing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. In their operation, some design and construction parameters can be identified for improving their performance. In this work within the context of Finite-Time Thermodynamics (FTT), we analyze a Müser–Curzon–Ahlborn heat engine model by maximizing economic-objective functions which not only provide optimal operation modes, but also they can reduce the energy dissipated in the form of heat towards the atmosphere. In our thermo-economic study we take into account both investment as well as operation and maintenance (O&M) costs. From operation data of three commercial tower-power plants: Eurelios, Gemasolar and Ivanpah, we find optimal values of solar concentration (Ci) for each economic-operation regime, accounting for the effect of internal irreversibilities (through a lumped parameter R). The Ci-values that we found are in the range of current reported values for the three power plants aforementioned. Besides, we present a local stability analysis for the three aforementioned solar plants and we show that for large size plants, disturbed isothermal branches return faster to their respective steady states, in less dissipative regimes, (e.g. the ecological regime).

Keywords: Nonequilibrium and irreversible thermodynamics; Thermo-economic optimization; General linear dynamical system; Solar energy; Thermodynamic constraints on energy production; Power tower systems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:613:y:2023:i:c:s0378437123000717

DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2023.128516

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