Concentrated Solar Power
Concentrated Solar Power
An Analysis on Solar Thermal Power and its Application
Hassan Almutawa and Chavis Sabin
Abstract
Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) is a renewable energy source that converts the radiation from the Sun into thermal energy. CSP plants collect solar energy throughout the day and can continue to provide electricity for up to six hours after dark using thermal storage. CSP plants can only be built in arid flat areas with a high annual solar radiation rating. Many countries can benefit from CSP including oil dependent countries like Saudi Arabia and third world countries like Kenya.
Introduction Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), also known as solar thermal power is a renewable energy source that uses the Sun’s radiation to produce electricity. There are three different types of CSP plants. One type is a parabolic trough where long curved mirrors pivot to concentrate sunlight onto tubes filled with a heat transfer fluid, generally oil and water, whose steam moves a power generating turbine [1]. The second type is a dish -engine combination. Mirrored dishes (resembling those for satellite television) track the sun and concentrate its heat onto a power-generating unit that has an engine powered by a heat-responsive fluid [1]. The third type is known as a power tower system that consists of a field of mirrors that focus sunlight onto a tower which contains a solar receiver containing heat transfer fluid, such as water or molten salt.
Design and Operation of CSP
CSPs operate by converting solar radiation to thermal energy, and then convert thermal energy to electricity. Figure 1 shows the general steps towards converting solar radiation to electricity.
Fig. 1 How power tower CSP’s convert solar energy into electricity
1. Solar radiation is reflected off of mirrors known as heliostats which are software-controlled to follow the Sun throughout the day. The angles of the heliostats are set to direct the solar radiation to a
An Analysis on Solar Thermal Power and its Application
Hassan Almutawa and Chavis Sabin
Abstract
Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) is a renewable energy source that converts the radiation from the Sun into thermal energy. CSP plants collect solar energy throughout the day and can continue to provide electricity for up to six hours after dark using thermal storage. CSP plants can only be built in arid flat areas with a high annual solar radiation rating. Many countries can benefit from CSP including oil dependent countries like Saudi Arabia and third world countries like Kenya.
Introduction Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), also known as solar thermal power is a renewable energy source that uses the Sun’s radiation to produce electricity. There are three different types of CSP plants. One type is a parabolic trough where long curved mirrors pivot to concentrate sunlight onto tubes filled with a heat transfer fluid, generally oil and water, whose steam moves a power generating turbine [1]. The second type is a dish -engine combination. Mirrored dishes (resembling those for satellite television) track the sun and concentrate its heat onto a power-generating unit that has an engine powered by a heat-responsive fluid [1]. The third type is known as a power tower system that consists of a field of mirrors that focus sunlight onto a tower which contains a solar receiver containing heat transfer fluid, such as water or molten salt.
Design and Operation of CSP
CSPs operate by converting solar radiation to thermal energy, and then convert thermal energy to electricity. Figure 1 shows the general steps towards converting solar radiation to electricity.
Fig. 1 How power tower CSP’s convert solar energy into electricity
1. Solar radiation is reflected off of mirrors known as heliostats which are software-controlled to follow the Sun throughout the day. The angles of the heliostats are set to direct the solar radiation to a
References: [3] National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). United States, Washington. U.S. Department of Energy. Solar Energy Technologies Program. Battelle: Midwest Research Institute, 2008. Web. <http://www.nrel.gov/csp/pdfs/43685.pdf>. [10] “How Much Electricity Does an American Home Use?” U.S. Energy Information Administration, http://www.eia.gov/tools- /faqs/faq.cfm?id=97&t=3, December 2011 [11] “Sierra Sun Tower,” eSolar http://www.esolar.com/sierra- _fact_sheet.pdf, 2010.