Insight into Dynamic Characteristics of Concentrated Solar Power Systems with Calcium Looping Based on ZnO–Na₂SO₄ Co‐Doped CaO Composites

Abstract

Concentrated solar power (CSP) integrated with calcium looping (CaL) technology has garnered significant interest as a solution to mitigate the issue of intermittency in solar power production. However, the deactivation of CaO‐based materials during cycling limits the application of CaL technology on a large scale. Herein, the dynamic characteristics of the CSP‐CaL system indirectly integrated with the s–CO2 Brayton cycle using CaO–ZnO–Na2SO4 composites are studied. Energy analysis shows that the energy storage density varies from 1328.13 to 1232.03 J g−1, and its average value increases by 32.0%. Round‐trip efficiency of the system varies from 40.0% to 39.5%, and its average value increases by 22.6%. Exergy analysis shows that the co‐doping of ZnO and Na2SO4 into CaO enhances the exergy efficiency of the calciner and the heat exchange network, but reduces the exergy efficiency of the carbonator. Exergy round‐trip efficiency of the CSP‐CaL system has slightly decreased from 44.0% to 43.4%, with an average increase of 22.8%. Techno‐economic analysis shows that the levelized cost of electricity for different sizes of CSP‐CaL systems using CaO–ZnO–Na2SO4 ranges from 176.44 to 153.70 $ MWh−1. Therefore, the CaO–ZnO–Na2SO4 composite shows promising prospects for application in solar thermal power generation.