Solar towers generate electricity from sunlight by using an array of mirrors called heliostats to concentrate solar radiation onto a receiver at the top of a tower. There are two main types of solar towers: steam-based systems that use water as a heat transfer medium, and molten salt-based systems that use a molten salt mixture. Molten salt systems can store heat for hours after sunset, allowing electricity generation to continue. India is well-suited for solar towers due to its location along the Tropic of Cancer and availability of land, sunlight, and raw materials. A proposed molten salt solar tower in Gujarat could harness the region's abundant solar energy.

1. Solar Tower
1
An alternate way to enhance
energy
Presented by Aziz Companiwala

2. Contents
 What is Solar Tower
 Classifications
 Steam Based
 Molten Salt Based
 Heliostat
 Advantages of use of Solar Energy
 Application
 Newly setup solar towers
 Scope in India

3. Solar Tower is method to convert solar energy
into electrical energy
 Solar towers generate electric power from sunlight by
focusing concentrated solar radiation on a tower-mounted
heat exchanger (receiver).

4. Solar Tower can basically classified as:1)Steam Based Solar Tower
 Water is used as medium which is converted
to steam to generate electric power
2)Molten Salt Based Solar Tower
 Here melted solution of potassium nitrate and
sodium nitrate is used instead of water as a
medium

5. 1)Steam Based Solar Tower
Working Procedure: In solar tower, water is pumped to the receiver at
topmost part of Solar tower.
 Now solar radiation would be concentrated on
receiver via Heliostat
 Thus steam is generated due to rise in temperature
inside the receiver tank which is further used in
steam turbine generator

6. Working Procedure:-
 Thus Electric Power is generated from Solar
Energy

7. Heliostat
 Heliostat is a Greek word:Helios- sun
stat - stationary
 A Heliostat is a device that tracks
the movement of the sun.
 A heliostat is a device made of a plane metallic mirror,
which turns on as to keep reflecting sunlight towards
a predetermined target.

8.  Limitation of this method is there is no
alternative to produce electricity in
absence of sunlight.

9. 2)Molten Salt Based Solar Tower
 Here melted solution of potassium nitrate and
sodium nitrate instead of water as a medium
 This molten salt mixture (60 % sodium nitrate and
40% potassium nitrate) is used due to its
properties of absorbing and accumulating heat
energy for long time.
This plant is known as Gama Solar Tower.
 This type of solar tower will work for
approximate 4-5 hours in absence of sunlight.

10. Advantages of use of Solar Energy
 Solar energy is renewable, and also accessible in any
part of the world.
 solar energy is non-pollutant, zero noise pollution –
since there are no moving parts in any of the devices
which are used to capture the sunlight.
 Maintenance costs are low as well – only occasional
cleaning and periodic battery replacements are
needed.
 long-life operation guaranteeing.

11. Applications
 In order to supply Electricity for street lights, &
wherever the grid electricity is unreliable or
unavailable, solar power tower technologies are
used.
 Solar Power can be used as Alternative for Wind &
Hydro power.
 These plants are best suited for utility-scale
applications in the 30 to 400 MW range.
 Provides rough enough Electricity for night use &
during Cloudy weather.

12. Newly setup solar towers
 Ivanpah Solar Power Facility:- 1,080 (GWh) Yearly
Production in United States.Estimated to be completed
till 2013.
 Crescent Dunes Solar Energy:- 500 (GWh) Yearly
Production in United States. Estimated to be completed
till 2013
 PS20 solar power tower:- 44 (GWh)
Yearly Production in Spain. Established
in 2009.
 Gemasolar:- 100 (GWh) Yearly
Production in Spain. Established in
2011.
 PS10 solar power tower:- 24 (GWh)
Yearly Production in Spain. Established
in 2006
PS10 solar power
tower in spain

13. Solar Project - Australia
Basic Prnciple:- Hot Air Rises

14. Establishment of solar tower in
India
 As this three basic need (Land, source, and solar
energy) are provided in India this can a great source of
energy in future.
 As Tropic of cancer line passes through India which
give indication that India can have great source of
solar energy.
 As Tropic of Cancer line passes through Gujarat(So
great amount of solar energy), and also a rich source of
sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate and a large flat
surface is available in Kutch, So that Gama solar tower
can be established there which will prove a great
source of energy in future.

15. Thank you
Presented by
Aziz Companiwala
2nd year mechatronics