Assessment of Improved Molten Salt Solar Tower Plants

Singer, Csaba; Giuliano, Stefano; Buck, Reiner

doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2014.03.164

Cited by 14 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…According to a study performed by Singer et al [2], future use of ultra-supercritical steam cycles at temperatures of 750°C and 350 bar could further reduce the LCOE [2]. However, these advantages in LCOE reduction require further development of plant components and technology, according to for example Kolb and Singer et al [1,3]. A particular challenge is the choice of suitable high temperature heat transfer fluids.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Construction of a Test Facility for Demonstration of a Liquid Lead-bismuth-cooled 10kW Thermal Receiver in a Solar Furnace Arrangement - SOMMER

et al. 2015

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Liquid metals have been proposed in the past as high temperature heat transfer media in concentrating solar power (CSP) systems. Until the mid 80s test facilities were operated with liquid sodium-cooled central receivers. After a period of reduced interest in that approach, several new efforts have been reported recently, particularly from the US, South Africa and Australia. In addition, several recent publications have highlighted the attractive properties of liquid metals for CSP applications. A new contribution to this topic has been launched by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the Solar Institute of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), combining their experience in CSP and liquid metal technology. The overall goals of this project are planning, design, construction and operation of a small concentrating solar power system in the 10 kW thermal range (named SOMMER) using liquid metal as heat transfer fluid for re-gaining operation experience and validating design methodology and providing a complete design concept for a large pilot CSP plant based on liquid metal technology, up to evaluation of O&M cost and levelized cost of electricity. This paper describes the current status of the work on the design and setup of SOMMER, the research goals of this facility, first results of numerical activities in view of the liquid metal cooled receiver design and the connection to the design activities for the pilot plant.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Construction of a Test Facility for Demonstration of a Liquid Lead-bismuth-cooled 10kW Thermal Receiver in a Solar Furnace Arrangement - SOMMER

et al. 2015

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“…The tower height has a significant influence to the field efficiency but also to the parasitic losses due to pumping in the open salt loop. Commercial plants have tower heights between 100 and 200 m. This work uses the following tower height dependent cost function (Singer, 2014)…”

Section: Cost Functionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Techno-economic analysis of solar thermal power plants using liquid sodium as heat transfer fluid

2019

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Solar thermal power plants with central receiver and thermal storage are expected to be one key technology in future electricity generation, because they are renewable and due to the thermal storage independent of the current solar radiation. State-of-the-art solar power plants often use molten nitrate salts as heat transfer fluid. The use of liquid sodium instead leads to lower electricity generation costs. Sodium has a high thermal conductivity and thus large heat transfer rates are possible. Hence, a smaller absorber surface is sufficient for the same thermal power. As a result, the sodium receiver achieves a higher efficiency at lower investment cost. Additionally, the aiming strategy, which reduces the peak heat flux on molten salt receivers isn't necessary for sodium. Even at high heat flux densities, the absorber tubes will be cooled sufficiently due to the high heat transfer coefficients. Therefore, the sodium receiver in this analysis is designed for one single aim point, resulting in a heat flux density of q 1.06 MW/m mean 2 = and q 2.99 MW/m peak 2 =. The state-of-the-art system with molten salt considers q 0.51 MW/m mean 2 = and q 1.0 MW/m peak 2 =. The presented techno-economic analysis of two sodium based concepts compared to a reference system with molten salt results in up to 16% lower electricity generation costs.

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“…The detailed model explanation of the used system analysis dataflow and sensitivity analysis is given in previously published literature (11,14). The overall assessment dataflow of the coupled tools is described in (12) and sketched in Fig. 2.…”

Section: System Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…General costs dataset is comparable to previous assessments (11,12), where todays molten salt state-of-the-art technology was analyzed. Similarity is only considered for general costs dataset like heliostats or financing assumptions, which should be comparable.…”

Section: A) General Costsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Differences to state of the art have been taken into account with a first best-guess for cost assumptions. The general cost assumptions are listed in Table 2 and were discussed in the previous study related to increased receiver temperatures (12). Annual assessment also considers cost assumptions related to the labor costs per employee, number of persons for development, operation and the field maintenance, specific water cost, O&M Equipment costs percentage of investment annual insurance cost and service including equipment (for staff, water, etc.…”

Section: A) General Costsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cost Analysis of Different Operation Strategies for Falling Particle Receivers

Gobereit

Amsbeck

Buck

et al. 2015

Volume 1: Advances in Solar Buildings and Conservation; Climate Control and the Environment; Alternate Fuels and Infrastructure

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The potential for highly efficient and cost competitive solar energy collection at high temperatures drives the actual research and development activities for particle tower systems. One promising concept for particle receivers is the falling particle receiver. This paper is related to a particle receiver, in which falling ceramic particles form a particle curtain, which absorbs the concentrated solar radiation. Complex operation strategies will result in higher receiver costs, for both investment and operation. The objective of this paper is to assess the influence of the simultaneous variation of receiver costs and efficiency characteristics on levelized cost of heat (LCOH) and on levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). Applying cost assumptions for the particle receiver and the particle transport system, the LCOE are estimated and compared for each considered concept. The power level of the compared concepts is 125 MWel output at design point. The sensitivity of the results on the specific cost assumptions is analyzed. No detailed evaluation is done for the thermal storage, but comparable storage utilization and costs are assumed for all cases.

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Assessment of Improved Molten Salt Solar Tower Plants

Cited by 14 publications

References 8 publications

Construction of a Test Facility for Demonstration of a Liquid Lead-bismuth-cooled 10kW Thermal Receiver in a Solar Furnace Arrangement - SOMMER

Construction of a Test Facility for Demonstration of a Liquid Lead-bismuth-cooled 10kW Thermal Receiver in a Solar Furnace Arrangement - SOMMER

Techno-economic analysis of solar thermal power plants using liquid sodium as heat transfer fluid

Cost Analysis of Different Operation Strategies for Falling Particle Receivers

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