SOLAR CONCENTRATING
POWER
Solar Concentrating Power




Concentrating Solar Power is a method of power
generation from solar energy that employs
incoming radiation’s thermal energy directly
The four major types of CSP Technologies are
 Parabolic

Trough
 Parabolic Dish
 Linear Fresnel
 Solar Power Tower
Focus type

Point focus

Collectors track the sun along a
single axis and focus irradiance on
a linear receiver. This makes
tracking the sun simpler.

Receiver
type

Line focus

Collectors track the sun along
two axes and focus irradiance at a
single point receiver. This allows
for higher temperatures.

LinearFresnel Reflectors

Fixed

Fixed receivers are stationary devices
that remain independent of the plant’
s focusing device.This eases the
transport of collected heat to the
power block.

Parabolic Troughs

Mobile

Towers (CRS)

Mobile receivers move together with
the focusing device. In both line focus
and point focus designs, mobile
receivers collect more energy.

P arabolic Dishes
Parabolic Trough Concentrators
Cost and Efficiencies
Case

Baseline

Near Term

Long Term

Project

SEGS VI

SEGS LS-4

SEGS DSG

Factors

No Storage

10 Hr Storage

10 Hr Storage

Rated Power MW

30

320

320

Capacity Factor

22/34 %

40%

50%

Area/MW
Solar Field
Overall

6266
21166

11223
39000

10545
34666

Solar To electric
Efficiency

10.7%

14.6%

15.3%

Capital Cost
(USD/KW)

3972

2999

2907

LEC (USD/MWh)

194

101

49
Investment Cost of a 5 MW Trough plant
with 7 Hours of Storage
Time To Large Scale Commercialization








Parabolic Trough Collector Solar Power Plants are
the most widely deployed and commercialized CSP
Systems
11 working commercial installations worldwide
and 20 of the 27 CSP Plants under construction are
PTCs
PTCs using mineral oil HTFs and Rankine Cycle
Power blocks are fully commercialized technology
Deployment estimated at 15 GW by 2014
Machinery






Key parts of a Parabolic Trough Solar Power
Generation Plant are:
The Solar Field
The Power Generation System
Thermal Power Storage
Solar Field


Solar Fields are made up of a series of Solar Collector assemblies through
which the heat transfer fluid is pumped.



Key Subsystems

Subsystem

System Used

Current Choice

Future Choice

Collector Structure

LUZ LS 1,2,3; Eurotrough;
Solargenix

EuroTrough

ReflecTech

Reflector Surface

Thick Glass; Thin Glass;
Reflective Film

Thick Glass

Reflective Film

Sun Tracker

Geared; Hydraulic

Geared

Hydraulic

Receiver Tubes

SchottPT; Solel UVAC; Luz
Cermet

Schott PTR

Solel UVAC

Heat Transfer Fluid

Mineral Oil; Molten Salt; DSG

Mineral Oil

DSG

Collector
Interconnect

Flex Hoses; Ball Joints

Flex Hoses

Ball Joints
Power Generation and Thermal
Storage
Subsystem

Systems Used

Current Choice

Future Choice

Thermal Storage
Systems

Direct; Indirect
Single/Double
Tank; Solid Media;
Phase Change
Media
Heat Exchangers;

Indirect Double
Tank Molten Solar

Direct Molten
Solar; Direct Solid
Media

Heat Exchangers

DSG

Steam Generators

DSG
Turbine

Rankine Cycle;
OCR; Combined
Cycle

Rankine Cycle;
Combined Cycle

ISCCS

Cooling Systems

Wet; Hybrid; Dry

Wet Cooling

Hybrid Cooling
Materials/Resources Required
Sub-Components
Truss

Components

Torque Tube/Box

Parabolic Trough

Support Pylons

Reflecting Surface

Steel

Parabolic Mirror

Receiver

Aluminum

Reflecting Film

Silica/Sand

Hydraulic Cylinders

Receiver
Interconnect
Tracking System

Chemical
Coatings

Gears

Raw Materials

Polymers
Composites

Hose
Ball Joints
Piping
Blading

HTF Oils

Final Components
SCA

HTF Piping System

Heat Transfer
Network

Molten Salt

Thermal Storage

Storage Tanks

Power Block

Heat Exchangers

Cooling System

Rubber

Structures

Water

Electronics

Steam Generator

Oils

Power Electronics

Steam Network

Salts

Rotor/Stator

Turbine

Towers

Generator

Earthing

Cooling Towers
Key Barriers










Size of Plant: CSP cost goes down with capacity and Makes
sense only above 10-20 MW.
Reliability Of Components: Key parts liable to short term
failure. Also most components nto completely proven
Cumbersome and Expensive Storage: Needs multiple heat
exchangers and piping. Capital cost increase of 18%
Shipment and Installation: Suppliers situated in Eur and US.
High shipment density and skilled installation required
Geographical Location: Plants generally located where powe
isn’t required. Transmission is a difficulty
Opportunities for Indegenization





Local manufacture of trusses and Power Block
Design and manufacture of tracking system
Film based mirrors and installation services
Heat Exchangers
Answers to Questions
Entry into the Power Generation Market


Reasons for late entry into market:
Key components- not yet standardized
 Except Trough Systems, technology is not mature
 Limitation- Trough/Tower Systems are financially viable
only in large scale >10MW; Dish Systems are expensive
 Experimental plants require large investments

CSP vs PV
Parameters

PV costs

Thermal costs

Nominal power MW

50

50

Power efficiency

0.14

0.11

Direct capital cost
$/W

5.44

5.6

Indirect capital cost
$/w

1.4

1.4

Storage cost$/W

2.2

1,68

O&M%

0.4

4
CSP Storage
Types

Method

Materials

Advantages

Lowcost Issues

Direct 2
Tank

HTF storage tanks
part of the loop,
one hot one cold

Mineral Oil; Molten
Salt in towers and
experimental direct
salt systems

Simplest System

Low storage time,
large volumes, High
pressure storage
needed

Indirect 2
Tank

HTF Heats
secondary material
stored in tanks

Molten Salt

Proven, Long Term High Cost, Heat loss
Storage
in exchangers,
pumping costs

Indirect
Single Tank

Hot and cold media
stored in same
tank, form
thermocline
Media heated by
radiation, HTF
draws heat from it

Molten Salt

Reduces salt
requirement,
Lesser cost

Thermocline spread,
relatively short term

Graphite Blocks in
power towers

Most Efficient,
simple

Experimental, small
storage only, high
strength tower
required

Pipes pass through
solid, media stores
heat

Cement, Ceramic

Low cost of media

Inefficient, high
volumes required
due to low ∆T

Direct Solid
Media

Indirect
Solid Media
CSP Storage







Indirect Molten Salt storage is currently the most
explored and feasible option in Trough and tower
systems
Cost Trends:
In the case of towers, molten salt direct systems
are the most efficient
If solid media storage works out, it could prove to
be the most useful and cost effective Storage
technology
Materials/Resources Required
Sub-Components
Truss

Components

Torque Tube/Box

Parabolic Trough

Support Pylons

Reflecting Surface

Steel

Parabolic Mirror

Receiver

Aluminum

Reflecting Film

Silica/Sand

Hydraulic Cylinders

Receiver
Interconnect
Tracking System

Chemical
Coatings

Gears

Raw Materials

Polymers
Composites

Hose
Ball Joints
Piping
Blading

HTF Oils

Final Components
SCA

HTF Piping System

Heat Transfer
Network

Molten Salt

Thermal Storage

Storage Tanks

Power Block

Heat Exchangers

Cooling System

Rubber

Structures

Water

Electronics

Steam Generator

Oils

Power Electronics

Steam Network

Salts

Rotor/Stator

Turbine

Towers

Generator

Earthing

Cooling Towers
Next Step in CSP








The next technology in CSP is the Solar Power
Tower
It has multiple advantages over Trough based CSP
while not having any more disadvantages than PCT
The only big problem being that Tower has no
track record
Towers have already been made with next
generation PCT technologies like Direct Salt and
Direct Steam generation
Break Through Technologies








Troughs: Reflective Films on Metal Backing
Receivers: Solel UVAC, Selective coatings
HTF: Low temperature salts, Direct Steam
Generation
Storage: Solid Storage Media
Piping: Ball Joints
Power Production: Combined Rankine Cycles

Concentrated solar power in India - an evaluation

  • 1.
  • 2.
    Solar Concentrating Power   ConcentratingSolar Power is a method of power generation from solar energy that employs incoming radiation’s thermal energy directly The four major types of CSP Technologies are  Parabolic Trough  Parabolic Dish  Linear Fresnel  Solar Power Tower
  • 3.
    Focus type Point focus Collectorstrack the sun along a single axis and focus irradiance on a linear receiver. This makes tracking the sun simpler. Receiver type Line focus Collectors track the sun along two axes and focus irradiance at a single point receiver. This allows for higher temperatures. LinearFresnel Reflectors Fixed Fixed receivers are stationary devices that remain independent of the plant’ s focusing device.This eases the transport of collected heat to the power block. Parabolic Troughs Mobile Towers (CRS) Mobile receivers move together with the focusing device. In both line focus and point focus designs, mobile receivers collect more energy. P arabolic Dishes
  • 4.
  • 5.
    Cost and Efficiencies Case Baseline NearTerm Long Term Project SEGS VI SEGS LS-4 SEGS DSG Factors No Storage 10 Hr Storage 10 Hr Storage Rated Power MW 30 320 320 Capacity Factor 22/34 % 40% 50% Area/MW Solar Field Overall 6266 21166 11223 39000 10545 34666 Solar To electric Efficiency 10.7% 14.6% 15.3% Capital Cost (USD/KW) 3972 2999 2907 LEC (USD/MWh) 194 101 49
  • 6.
    Investment Cost ofa 5 MW Trough plant with 7 Hours of Storage
  • 7.
    Time To LargeScale Commercialization     Parabolic Trough Collector Solar Power Plants are the most widely deployed and commercialized CSP Systems 11 working commercial installations worldwide and 20 of the 27 CSP Plants under construction are PTCs PTCs using mineral oil HTFs and Rankine Cycle Power blocks are fully commercialized technology Deployment estimated at 15 GW by 2014
  • 10.
    Machinery     Key parts ofa Parabolic Trough Solar Power Generation Plant are: The Solar Field The Power Generation System Thermal Power Storage
  • 11.
    Solar Field  Solar Fieldsare made up of a series of Solar Collector assemblies through which the heat transfer fluid is pumped.  Key Subsystems Subsystem System Used Current Choice Future Choice Collector Structure LUZ LS 1,2,3; Eurotrough; Solargenix EuroTrough ReflecTech Reflector Surface Thick Glass; Thin Glass; Reflective Film Thick Glass Reflective Film Sun Tracker Geared; Hydraulic Geared Hydraulic Receiver Tubes SchottPT; Solel UVAC; Luz Cermet Schott PTR Solel UVAC Heat Transfer Fluid Mineral Oil; Molten Salt; DSG Mineral Oil DSG Collector Interconnect Flex Hoses; Ball Joints Flex Hoses Ball Joints
  • 12.
    Power Generation andThermal Storage Subsystem Systems Used Current Choice Future Choice Thermal Storage Systems Direct; Indirect Single/Double Tank; Solid Media; Phase Change Media Heat Exchangers; Indirect Double Tank Molten Solar Direct Molten Solar; Direct Solid Media Heat Exchangers DSG Steam Generators DSG Turbine Rankine Cycle; OCR; Combined Cycle Rankine Cycle; Combined Cycle ISCCS Cooling Systems Wet; Hybrid; Dry Wet Cooling Hybrid Cooling
  • 13.
    Materials/Resources Required Sub-Components Truss Components Torque Tube/Box ParabolicTrough Support Pylons Reflecting Surface Steel Parabolic Mirror Receiver Aluminum Reflecting Film Silica/Sand Hydraulic Cylinders Receiver Interconnect Tracking System Chemical Coatings Gears Raw Materials Polymers Composites Hose Ball Joints Piping Blading HTF Oils Final Components SCA HTF Piping System Heat Transfer Network Molten Salt Thermal Storage Storage Tanks Power Block Heat Exchangers Cooling System Rubber Structures Water Electronics Steam Generator Oils Power Electronics Steam Network Salts Rotor/Stator Turbine Towers Generator Earthing Cooling Towers
  • 14.
    Key Barriers      Size ofPlant: CSP cost goes down with capacity and Makes sense only above 10-20 MW. Reliability Of Components: Key parts liable to short term failure. Also most components nto completely proven Cumbersome and Expensive Storage: Needs multiple heat exchangers and piping. Capital cost increase of 18% Shipment and Installation: Suppliers situated in Eur and US. High shipment density and skilled installation required Geographical Location: Plants generally located where powe isn’t required. Transmission is a difficulty
  • 15.
    Opportunities for Indegenization     Localmanufacture of trusses and Power Block Design and manufacture of tracking system Film based mirrors and installation services Heat Exchangers
  • 16.
  • 17.
    Entry into thePower Generation Market  Reasons for late entry into market: Key components- not yet standardized  Except Trough Systems, technology is not mature  Limitation- Trough/Tower Systems are financially viable only in large scale >10MW; Dish Systems are expensive  Experimental plants require large investments 
  • 18.
    CSP vs PV Parameters PVcosts Thermal costs Nominal power MW 50 50 Power efficiency 0.14 0.11 Direct capital cost $/W 5.44 5.6 Indirect capital cost $/w 1.4 1.4 Storage cost$/W 2.2 1,68 O&M% 0.4 4
  • 19.
    CSP Storage Types Method Materials Advantages Lowcost Issues Direct2 Tank HTF storage tanks part of the loop, one hot one cold Mineral Oil; Molten Salt in towers and experimental direct salt systems Simplest System Low storage time, large volumes, High pressure storage needed Indirect 2 Tank HTF Heats secondary material stored in tanks Molten Salt Proven, Long Term High Cost, Heat loss Storage in exchangers, pumping costs Indirect Single Tank Hot and cold media stored in same tank, form thermocline Media heated by radiation, HTF draws heat from it Molten Salt Reduces salt requirement, Lesser cost Thermocline spread, relatively short term Graphite Blocks in power towers Most Efficient, simple Experimental, small storage only, high strength tower required Pipes pass through solid, media stores heat Cement, Ceramic Low cost of media Inefficient, high volumes required due to low ∆T Direct Solid Media Indirect Solid Media
  • 20.
    CSP Storage     Indirect MoltenSalt storage is currently the most explored and feasible option in Trough and tower systems Cost Trends: In the case of towers, molten salt direct systems are the most efficient If solid media storage works out, it could prove to be the most useful and cost effective Storage technology
  • 21.
    Materials/Resources Required Sub-Components Truss Components Torque Tube/Box ParabolicTrough Support Pylons Reflecting Surface Steel Parabolic Mirror Receiver Aluminum Reflecting Film Silica/Sand Hydraulic Cylinders Receiver Interconnect Tracking System Chemical Coatings Gears Raw Materials Polymers Composites Hose Ball Joints Piping Blading HTF Oils Final Components SCA HTF Piping System Heat Transfer Network Molten Salt Thermal Storage Storage Tanks Power Block Heat Exchangers Cooling System Rubber Structures Water Electronics Steam Generator Oils Power Electronics Steam Network Salts Rotor/Stator Turbine Towers Generator Earthing Cooling Towers
  • 22.
    Next Step inCSP     The next technology in CSP is the Solar Power Tower It has multiple advantages over Trough based CSP while not having any more disadvantages than PCT The only big problem being that Tower has no track record Towers have already been made with next generation PCT technologies like Direct Salt and Direct Steam generation
  • 24.
    Break Through Technologies       Troughs:Reflective Films on Metal Backing Receivers: Solel UVAC, Selective coatings HTF: Low temperature salts, Direct Steam Generation Storage: Solid Storage Media Piping: Ball Joints Power Production: Combined Rankine Cycles