Energy and Exergy (2E) Analysis of an Optimized Solar Field of Linear Fresnel Reflectors for a Conceptual Direct Steam Generation Power Plant

Eduardo González-Mora and Ma. Dolores Durán-García
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Eduardo González-Mora: Ingeniería en Sistemas Energéticos Sustentables, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Cerro de Coatepec S/N, Toluca 50110, Mexico
Ma. Dolores Durán-García: Ingeniería en Sistemas Energéticos Sustentables, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Cerro de Coatepec S/N, Toluca 50110, Mexico

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 14, 1-21

Abstract: Direct steam generation is a promising alternative to conventional heat transfer fluids for solar thermal power plants using linear concentrators because water and steam do not have thermal and chemical stability problems. The novelty of this study, an energy and exergy (2E) analysis, was that it was performed on several configurations of a conceptual direct steam generation solar power plant with optimized Fresnel reflectors in Agua Prieta, Mexico coupled with a regenerative steam Rankine power cycle to quantify their efficiency and establish a reference for future implementation of this technology in concentrated solar power plants in Mexico. The thermal model was assumed to be a 1D steady-state flow and validated against results in the literature. It was then applied directly to a case study to determine the size of the solar field. The design point was the lowest solar irradiance day, and evaluating the solar multiple with the highest solar irradiance, taking care not to oversize the solar field, as suggested for solar plants without energy storage. Comparing the performance of the optimized Fresnel field against the FRESDEMO field of Plataforma Solar de Almería, a considerable decrease in the length of the loop has been demonstrated with a low reduction in thermal efficiency.

Keywords: linear Fresnel reflector; direct steam generation; energy; exergy; efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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