Numerical Analysis of a Large-Scale Linear Fresnel CSP Plant at Steady-State Condition
Abstract
Thinking of the current emission reduction policies in the field of energy production, one of the key parameters is to increase the ratio of total efficiency over costs of the so-called “green” technologies. Solar power is currently one of the most attended eco-friendly technologies based on conversion of sunlight into electricity, either directly by photovoltaics (PV), or indirectly using concentrated solar power (CSP). Linear Fresnel CSP is one of the latter types, offering cost-effective energy production on large scales as an alternative to conventional power plants. It derives its name from an optical system, which uses thin, flat reflector panels to focus the sunlight on a fixed absorber tube located at a common focal point. The concentrated solar thermal energy is used to expand the water flow inside the absorber tubes and to produce pressurized hot steam in order to operate a heat engine (usually a steam turbine) connected to an electrical power generator. The heat may also be used to increase the temperature of some thermal oil flowing inside the absorber tubes; the oil then goes through a heat exchanger to boil water into steam.