Analysis of an innovative direct steam generation-based parabolic trough collector plant hybridized with a biomass boiler

Abstract

Summary Direct steam generation (DSG) is the process by which steam is directly produced in parabolic trough fields and supplied to a power block. This process simplifies parabolic trough plants and improves cost effectiveness by increasing the permissible temperature of the working fluid. Similar to all solar‐based technologies, thermal energy storage is needed to overcome the intermittent nature of solar. In the present work, an innovative DSG‐based parabolic trough collector (PTC) plant hybridized with a biomass boiler is proposed and analyzed in detail. Two additional configurations comprising indirect steam generation PTC plants were also analyzed to compare their energy and exergy performance. To consider a wide range of operation, the share of biomass input to the hybridized system is varied. Energy and exergy analyses of DSG are conducted and compared with an existing indirect steam generation PTC power plants such as Andasol. The analyses are conducted on a 50 MW regenerative reheat Rankine cycle. The results obtained indicate that the proposed DSG‐based PTC plant is able to increase the overall system efficiency by 3% in comparison with indirect steam generation when linked to a biomass boiler that supplies 50% of the energy.

Design and Construction of a Solar Electric Plastic Extruder Machine Based on a Parabolic Trough Collector

“…Likewise, [28] presented a summary of thermal applications of solar energy with a focus on the use of PTCs in heating, cooling, and desalination processes, where PTCs can reach heat temperatures of up to 400 °C. In other papers, the authors of [29] and [30] report, respectively, the use of PTCs in concentrated solar power plants for steam generation and to preheat seawater deposited in a distillation pond within a desalination process. As observed in the literature, PTC systems have been used to carry out various low and médiumtemperature applications; however, to date, no studies have been carried out on the integration and use of solar energy, through a PTC with solar tracking, in the extrusion process or thermoplastics and/or waste plastics in horizontal extrusion machines.…”

Combustion and heat transfer characteristics of co-firing biomass and coal under oxy-fuel condition

“…Recently, there are a number of investigations on biomass utilization which are beneficial to control the global warming . A refined model was proposed by Bunchmayr et al to conduct the CFD study on air staging combustion in a lab‐scale biomass furnace.…”

“…Recently, there are a number of investigations on biomass utilization which are beneficial to control the global warming. 21,22 A refined model was proposed by Bunchmayr et al 23 to conduct the CFD study on air staging combustion in a lab-scale biomass furnace. A computationally inexpensive steady flamelet model was used to calculate the gas phase combustion of wood chips.…”