High-efficiency solar power towers using particle suspensions as heat carrier in the receiver and in the thermal energy storage

Huili Zhang, Hadrien Benoit, Inmaculada Perez-Lopèz, Gilles Flamant, Tianwei Tan and Jan Baeyens

Renewable Energy, 2017, vol. 111, issue C, 438-446

Abstract: Solar thermal electricity generated by concentrated solar power (CSP) plants is increasingly implemented. CSP plants can supply electricity on a fully matched supply-demand basis if equipped with a thermal energy storage. To increase the efficiency and reduce both capital and operating costs, a next generation of CSP concepts is required. Particle suspensions can be applied to meet these targets and can be used throughout the CSP conversion process, as high temperature heat transfer medium in the receiver, for heat storage, and in the power block of the plant. This work presents the novel concept of using particle suspensions as heat carriers, mostly further to initial testing at the CNRS 1 MW solar furnace of Odeillo Font-Romeu (F). Values of the heat transfer coefficient up to 1100 W/m2K (bare tubes) and 2200 W/m2K (finned tubes) were obtained for operation at low superficial gas velocities of 0.04–0.19 m/s, thus limiting heat losses by the exhaust air. Despite additional costs for particle handling and for an appropriate boiler, the required overall investment and operating costs are expected to be significantly lower than for common equivalent molten salt CSPs, leading to a reduction in Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) from approximately 125 €/MWh to below 100 €/MWh.

Keywords: Concentrated solar power; Particulate heat carrier; High efficiency thermal cycle; On-sun proof testing; LCOE (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (18)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:111:y:2017:i:c:p:438-446

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2017.03.101

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