TY - JOUR
T1 - Modeling hybrid solar gas-turbine power plants
T2 - Thermodynamic projection of annual performance and emissions
AU - Merchán, R. P.
AU - Santos, M. J.
AU - Reyes-Ramírez, I.
AU - Medina, A.
AU - Calvo Hernández, A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - The annual performance, fuel consumption and emissions of a hybrid thermosolar central tower Brayton plant is analyzed in yearly terms by means of a thermodynamic model. The model constitutes a step forward over a previously developed one, that was satisfactorily validated for fixed solar irradiance and ambient temperature. It is general and easily applicable to different plant configurations and power output ranges. The overall system is assumed as formed by three subsystems linked by heat exchangers: solar collector, combustion chamber, and recuperative Brayton gas-turbine. Subsystem models consider all the main irreversibility sources existing in real installations. This allows to compare the performance of a real plant with that it would have in ideal conditions, without losses. Furthermore, the improved version of the model is capable to consider fluctuating values of solar irradiance and ambient temperature. Numerical calculations are presented taking particular parameters from a real installation and actual meteorological data. Several cases are analyzed, including plant operation in hybrid or pure combustion modes, with or without recuperation. Previous studies concluded that this technology is interesting from the ecological viewpoint, but that to be compelling for commercialization, global thermal efficiency should be improved (currently yearly averaged thermal efficiency is about 30% for recuperative plants). We analyze the margin for improvement for each plant subsystem, and it is concluded that, the Brayton heat engine, by far, is the key element to improve overall thermal efficiency. Numerical estimations of achievable efficiencies are presented for a particular plant and real meteorological conditions.
AB - The annual performance, fuel consumption and emissions of a hybrid thermosolar central tower Brayton plant is analyzed in yearly terms by means of a thermodynamic model. The model constitutes a step forward over a previously developed one, that was satisfactorily validated for fixed solar irradiance and ambient temperature. It is general and easily applicable to different plant configurations and power output ranges. The overall system is assumed as formed by three subsystems linked by heat exchangers: solar collector, combustion chamber, and recuperative Brayton gas-turbine. Subsystem models consider all the main irreversibility sources existing in real installations. This allows to compare the performance of a real plant with that it would have in ideal conditions, without losses. Furthermore, the improved version of the model is capable to consider fluctuating values of solar irradiance and ambient temperature. Numerical calculations are presented taking particular parameters from a real installation and actual meteorological data. Several cases are analyzed, including plant operation in hybrid or pure combustion modes, with or without recuperation. Previous studies concluded that this technology is interesting from the ecological viewpoint, but that to be compelling for commercialization, global thermal efficiency should be improved (currently yearly averaged thermal efficiency is about 30% for recuperative plants). We analyze the margin for improvement for each plant subsystem, and it is concluded that, the Brayton heat engine, by far, is the key element to improve overall thermal efficiency. Numerical estimations of achievable efficiencies are presented for a particular plant and real meteorological conditions.
KW - Annual performance records
KW - Thermodynamic simulation
KW - Thermosolar hybrid power plants
KW - Yearly fuel consumption and emissions
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85007505639&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.enconman.2016.12.044
DO - 10.1016/j.enconman.2016.12.044
M3 - Artículo
SN - 0196-8904
VL - 134
SP - 314
EP - 326
JO - Energy Conversion and Management
JF - Energy Conversion and Management
ER -