Test and evaluation of a solar powered gas turbine system

Heller, Peter; Pfänder, Markus; Denk, Thorsten; Téllez, Felix; Valverde, Antonio; Fernandez, Jesus Gil; Ring, Arik

doi:10.1016/j.solener.2005.04.020

Cited by 207 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…A turbine inlet temperature of 1 120 K is a necessary upper limit for tube reliability [20]. The bent tube in a receiver coil is very flexible and thus reduces mechanical stresses from thermal expansion of the tube material [21]. A small-scale Brayton tubular silicon carbide receiver with an aperture diameter of 72 mm and a 17 m 2 dish area was proposed by [22].…”

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confidence: 99%

The efficiency of an open-cavity tubular solar receiver for a small-scale solar thermal Brayton cycle

Roux¹,

Bello‐Ochende²,

Meyer³

2014

Energy Conversion and Management

121

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The first law and second law efficiencies are determined for a stainless steel closed-tube open rectangular cavity solar receiver. It is to be used in a small-scale solar thermal Brayton cycle using a micro-turbine with low compressor pressure ratios. There are many different variables at play to model the air temperature increase of the air running through such a receiver. These variables include concentrator shape, concentrator diameter, concentrator rim angle, concentrator reflectivity, concentrator optical error, solar tracking error, receiver aperture area, receiver material, effect of wind, receiver tube diameter, inlet temperature and mass flow rate through the receiver. All these variables are considered in this paper. The Brayton cycle requires very high receiver surface temperatures in order to be successful.These high temperatures, however, have many disadvantages in terms of heat loss from the receiver, especially radiation heat loss. With the help of ray-tracing software, SolTrace, and receiver modelling techniques, an optimum receiver-to-concentrator-area ratio of A' ≈ 0.0035 was found for a concentrator with 45° rim angle, 10 mrad optical error and 1° tracking error. A method to determine the temperature profile and net heat transfer rate along the length of the receiver tube is presented. Receiver efficiencies are shown in terms of mass flow rate, receiver tube diameter, pressure drop, maximum receiver surface temperature and inlet temperature of the working fluid. For a 4.8 m diameter parabolic dish, the larger the receiver tube diameter and the smaller the mass flow rate through the receiver, the higher the receiver surface temperature and the less efficient the collector becomes. However, the smaller the receiver tube diameter, the higher the pressure drop through the tube and the smaller the second law efficiency. It was found that the 2 receiver with larger tube diameter would perform better in a solar thermal Brayton cycle. An overall solar-to-heat efficiency of between 45% and 70% is attainable for the solar collector using the open-cavity receiver.Keywords: solar, receiver, cavity, tracking, Brayton, efficiency 1.Introduction and background The solar thermal Brayton cycleThe closed Brayton cycle was developed in the 1930s for power applications [ The open Brayton cycle uses air as working fluid, which makes this cycle very attractive for use in water-scarcecountries. The open and direct solar thermal Brayton cycle is shown in Fig. 1 [2]. The parabolic dish concentrator is used to reflect and concentrate the sun's rays onto the receiver aperture so that the solar heat can be absorbed by the inner walls of the receiver. The heat is then transferred to the working fluid (air). The compressor increases the air pressure before the air is heated in the receiver. The compressed and heated air expands in the turbine, which produces rotational power for the compressor and the electric load.In the recuperator, hot exhaust air preheats the colder air before it enters the receiver. For the so...

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confidence: 99%

The efficiency of an open-cavity tubular solar receiver for a small-scale solar thermal Brayton cycle

Roux¹,

Bello‐Ochende²,

Meyer³

2014

Energy Conversion and Management

121

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“…Miller and Koenigsdorff [85] found that the main loss from the receiver is reflection from the window, followed by emission and reflection from inside the receiver. Heller et al [86] demonstrated that pressurised (closed) volumetric receivers are able to produce air of 1 000 °C. Pressurised volumetric receivers and its modelling are described in the literature [87 -89].…”

Section: Solar Receivermentioning

confidence: 99%

A review on the thermodynamic optimisation and modelling of the solar thermal Brayton cycle

Roux

Bello‐Ochende

Meyer

2013

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

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Many studies have been published on the performance and optimisation of the Brayton cycle and solar thermal Brayton cycle showing the potential, merits and challenges of this technology. Solar thermal Brayton systems have potential to be used as power plants in many sun-drenched countries. It can be very competitive in terms of efficiency, cost and environmental impact. When designing a system such as a recuperative Brayton cycle there is always a compromise between allowing effective heat transfer and keeping pressure losses in components small. The high temperatures required in especially the receiver of the system presents a challenge in terms of irreversibilities due to heat loss. In this paper, the authors recommend the use of the total entropy generation minimisation method. This method can be applied for the modelling of a system and can serve as validation when compared with first-law modelling. The authors review various modelling perspectives required to develop an objective function for solar thermal power optimisation, including modelling of the sun as an exergy source, the Gouy-Stodola theorem and turbine modelling.With recommendations, the authors of this paper wish to clarify and simplify the optimisation and modelling of the solar thermal Brayton cycle for future work. The work is applicable to solar thermal studies in general but focuses on the small-scale recuperated solar thermal Brayton cycle.2

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“…Their research activities laid the groundwork for pressurized solar air receiver design, as well as dynamic simulation and control of solar gas-turbines. Since the beginning of the 2000s, a number of EU-funded projects have examined small-scale hybrid solar gas-turbines, such as the SOLGATE [3] and SOLHYCO [4] projects, which showed solarized micro gas-turbine units up to 250 kWe. These projects also allowed the demonstration of different types of high-temperature pressurized solar air receivers, with sustained outlet temperatures up to 960°C.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the pressurized volumetric receiver, the absorber is inside an internally insulated pressure vessel closed by a transparent quartz window and usually connected to a secondary concentrator. Because of the restricted size of quartz windows, a number of volumetric receivers (cluster) is required to achieve the desired power levels [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feasibility analysis of a solar field for a closed unfired Joule-Brayton cycle

Rovense¹,

Pèrez²,

Amelio³

et al. 2017

IJHT

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A solar tower for a closed unfired Joule-Brayton cycle is considered. An analysis for four different plants rated power levels is performed. The system here analyzed comprises an intercooled and regenerated gas turbine engine, a concentrating solar tower with pressurized volumetric receiver and a heat exchanger to perform cooling of the working fluid, allowing its recirculation. The plant scheme enables an output adjustment, using an auxiliary compressor. A constant value of the solar receiver outlet temperature approximately of 800 °C, without use of fuel, in a large range of power, is obtained, guaranteeing a net thermal-to-electric efficiency around 40%. Thermoflex© has been used for the thermodynamics analysis and WinDelsol for solar field design and simulation (heliostat field and receiver). For the purposes of this work, it is assumed that the plant is located in Seville, Spain, with an annual direct normal irradiation (DNI) of 2,068 kWh /m2.

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Test and evaluation of a solar powered gas turbine system

Cited by 207 publications

References 3 publications

The efficiency of an open-cavity tubular solar receiver for a small-scale solar thermal Brayton cycle

The efficiency of an open-cavity tubular solar receiver for a small-scale solar thermal Brayton cycle

A review on the thermodynamic optimisation and modelling of the solar thermal Brayton cycle

Feasibility analysis of a solar field for a closed unfired Joule-Brayton cycle

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