Integration of Steam Recovered from Molten Salts in a Solar Integrated Combined Cycle

Paula Iglesias-Varela, Pedro García-Regodeseves, Juan de-la-Cruz-Fernández and Andrés Meana-Fernández ()
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Paula Iglesias-Varela: Fluid Mechanics Area, Department of Energy, University of Oviedo, C/Wifredo Ricart, s/n, 33204 Gijón, Spain
Pedro García-Regodeseves: Fluid Mechanics Area, Department of Energy, University of Oviedo, C/Wifredo Ricart, s/n, 33204 Gijón, Spain
Juan de-la-Cruz-Fernández: TSK Electrónica y Electricidad, S.A., Parque Científico Tecnológico, C/ Ada Byron 135, 33203 Gijón, Spain
Andrés Meana-Fernández: Thermal Machines and Engines Area, Department of Energy, University of Oviedo, C/Wifredo Ricart, s/n, 33204 Gijón, Spain

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 15, 1-16

Abstract: In the current context of the energy transition, Integrated Solar Combined Cycle (ISCC) power plants are an alternative that are able to reduce carbon emissions from combined cycle (CC) power plants. In addition, the coupling to an energy storage system based on molten salts benefits hybridization, allowing the energy surplus to be to stored to cover peaks in energy demand. Because it is a recent technology, the determination of the optimal injection points for the solar-generated steam into the combined cycle is a critical issue. In this work, a thermodynamic model of a hybrid natural gas and solar thermal CC power plant has been developed using Thermoflex to analyze the integration effects in terms of efficiency and power. For all the steam injection candidate positions, the effects of ‘power boosting’ and ‘fuel saving’ operation modes have been simulated, considering operation conditions that are compatible with the useful range of molten salts. The results show that injection of steam at the high-pressure line before the steam turbine increases the cycle’s gross efficiency with respect to the reference case, estimating a reduction of carbon emissions of 6696 kg/h in the ‘fuel saving’ mode and an increase in gross power of 14.4 MW in the ‘power boosting’ mode. Hence, adapting current combined cycles for hybridization with solar power is a viable solution in the transition period towards more sustainable energy sources.

Keywords: integrated solar combined cycle; power boosting; fuel saving; solar power hybridization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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