Advanced thermodynamic cycles for finite heat sources: Proposals for closed and open heat sources applications

Solar thermal power plants for electricity production include, at least, two main systems: the solar field and the power block. Regarding this last one, the particular thermodynamic cycle layout and the working fluid employed, have a decisive influence in the plant performance. In turn, this selection depends on the solar technology employed. Currently, the steam Rankine cycle is the most widespread and commercially available option, usually coupled to a parabolic trough solar field. However, other configurations have been implemented in solar thermal plants worldwide. Most of them are based on other solar technologies also coupled to a steam Rankine cycle, although integrated solar combined cycles have a significant level of implementation. In the first place, power block configurations based on conventional thermodynamic cycles—Rankine, Brayton, and combined Brayton–Rankine—are described. The achievements and challenges of each proposal are highlighted, for example, the benefits involved in hybrid solar source/fossil fuel plants. In the second place, proposals of advanced power block configurations are analyzed, standing out: supercritical CO2 Brayton cycles, advanced organic Rankine cycles, and innovative integrated solar combined cycles. Each of these proposals shows some advantages compared to the conventional layouts in certain power or source temperature ranges and hence they could be considered attractive options in the medium term. At last, a brief review of proposals of solar thermal integration with other renewable heat sources is also included. This article is categorized under: Concentrating Solar Power > Systems and Infrastructure Energy Efficiency > Systems and Infrastructure Energy Research & Innovation > Systems and Infrastructure

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“…Balanced hybrid Rankine–Brayton cycle configuration and corresponding T – s diagram, in this case:

p_{1} = 1.2 MPa; p_{2} = 17 MPa

working with propane (Rovira, Muñoz, Sánchez, et al, 2020)…”

Section: Solar Plants Based On Advanced Power Cyclesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermodynamic cycles for solar thermal power plants: A review

Muñoz

Rovira

Montes

2021

WIREs Energy & Environment

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“…A detailed description of the DRDE cycle is found in [ 24 ], which includes its comparison to other thermodynamic cycles. Briefly, the DRDE cycle consists of an ORC-like cycle with two parallel heating lines working at a supercritical pressure.…”

Section: Configurationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Propane is a possible working fluid that fits well with the nature of the cycle (regarding the critical temperature, pressure, and slope of the saturated vapor in the T-s diagram) [ 24 ].…”

Section: Configurationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… Layout of the double recuperative double expansion (DRDE) cycle ( a ) and its T-s diagram ( b ) [ 24 ]. …”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, the hybrid Rankine and Brayton (HRB) cycle [ 22 , 23 ] and double recuperative and double expansion (DRDE) cycle [ 24 ] have been proposed for working with finite sources at maximum temperatures of 400 °C. While the HRB cycle is suitable for closed heat sources [ 24 ], DRDE is a good solution for heat recovery. Due to the range of working temperatures, the latter cycle is a good candidate to be installed as the bottoming cycle of CC using a recuperative GT.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Analysis of an Integrated Solar Combined Cycle with Recuperative Gas Turbine and Double Recuperative and Double Expansion Propane Cycle

Rovira

Abbas

Muñoz

et al. 2020

Entropy

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The main objective of this paper is to present and analyze an innovative configuration of integrated solar combined cycle (ISCC). As novelties, the plant includes a recuperative gas turbine and the conventional bottoming Rankine cycle is replaced by a recently developed double recuperative double expansion (DRDE) cycle. The configuration results in a fuel saving in the combustion chamber at the expense of a decreased exhaust gas temperature, which is just adequate to feed the DRDE cycle that uses propane as the working fluid. The solar contribution comes from a solar field of parabolic trough collectors, with oil as the heat transfer fluid. The optimum integration point for the solar contribution is addressed. The performance of the proposed ISCC-R-DRDE design conditions and off-design operation was assessed (daily and yearly) at two different locations. All results were compared to those obtained under the same conditions by a conventional ISCC, as well as similar configurations without solar integration. The proposed configuration obtains a lower heat rate on a yearly basis in the studied locations and lower levelized cost of energy (LCOE) than that of the ISCC, which indicates that such a configuration could become a promising technology.

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Thermodynamic feasibility and multiobjective optimization of a closed Brayton cycle-based clean cogeneration system

Rad,

Tayyeban,

Assareh

et al. 2023

J Therm Anal Calorim

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The present research has analyzed the energy and exergy of a combined system of simultaneous power generation and cooling. To provide a comprehensive data sheet of this system, the system has been investigated in the temperature range of 300–800 °C, and 6 working fluids, including air, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon, xenon, and helium, have been investigated. The parameters affecting the performance of the system, namely the compressor inlet pressure, the compressor pressure ratio, and the intermediation pressure ratio were investigated. The power produced by the Brayton cycle at a pressure ratio of 5.2 is the highest due to the increase in compressor power consumption and turbine power generation. The results of the parametric study showed that the exergy efficiency of the system has the maximum value at the pressure ratio of 4.73. The results of the parametric study showed that increasing the pressure of the compressor does not have a significant effect on the electricity consumption and the temperature of the working fluid due to the constant pressure ratio. The input energy to the heat exchanger of the absorption chiller decreases with the increase in the Brayton cycle pressure ratio, and as a result, the cooling created by the chiller also decreases. In this method, three objective functions of exergy efficiency, energy efficiency, and total production power are considered as objective functions. The most optimal value of intermediation pressure ratio was obtained after the optimization process of 1.389. Also, the most optimal value of the pressure ratio of high-pressure and low-pressure turbines was reported as 2.563 and 1.845, respectively.

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Advanced thermodynamic cycles for finite heat sources: Proposals for closed and open heat sources applications

Cited by 10 publications

References 42 publications

Thermodynamic cycles for solar thermal power plants: A review

Thermodynamic cycles for solar thermal power plants: A review

Analysis of an Integrated Solar Combined Cycle with Recuperative Gas Turbine and Double Recuperative and Double Expansion Propane Cycle

Thermodynamic feasibility and multiobjective optimization of a closed Brayton cycle-based clean cogeneration system

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