Modeling and Hourly Time-Scale Characterization of the Main Energy Parameters of Parabolic-Trough Solar Thermal Power Plants Using a Simplified Quasi-Dynamic Model

Abstract

A simplified mathematical model of parabolic-trough solar thermal power plants, which allow one to carry out an energetic characterization of the main thermal parameters that influence the solar field performance, was evaluated through a comparison of simulation results. Two geographical locations were selected to evaluate the mathematical model proposed in this work—one in each hemisphere—and design considerations according with the practical/operational experience were taken. Furthermore, independent simulations were performed using the System Advisor Model (SAM) software, their results were compared with those obtained by the simplified model. According with the above, the mathematical model allows one to carry out simulations with a high degree of flexibility and adaptability, in which the equations that allow the plant to be energetically characterized are composed of a series of logical conditions that help identify boundary conditions between dawn and sunset, direct normal irradiance transients, and when the thermal energy storage system must compensate the solar field energy deficits to maintain the full load operation of the plant. Due to the above, the developed model allows one to obtain satisfactory simulation results; referring to the net electric power production, this model provides results in both hemispheres with a relative percentage error in the range of [0.28–8.38%] compared with the results obtained with the SAM, with mean square values of 4.57% and 4.21% for sites 1 and 2, respectively.

Techno-Economic Analysis for the Optimal Design of a National Network of Agro-Energy Biomass Power Plants in Egypt

“…SAM has been developed by National renewable energy laboratory (NREL) [30]. It can be used to investigate the techno-economic feasibility of many types of renewable energy systems including solar, wind and biomass power system [6,12,13,[31][32][33][34][35][36][37].…”

Estimation of Solar Radiation and Feasibility Analysis of a Concentrating Solar Power Plant in Birao, Central African Republic

“…Due to its low overall solar-electricity efficiency, concentrating solar power technologies are increasingly being used on a large scale with good solarelectricity efficiencies. This requires first of all the information on the availability of solar resources satisfying the conditions of use of the chosen technology [6][7][8][9][10][11]. The quantification of the solar potential from good quality in situ measurements is ideal for any solar application project [12,13].…”