Solar Thermal Power Plant
A solar thermal power plant is a type of power plant that uses the sun’s heat to generate electricity. These plants can be used to produce electricity at a maximum efficiency of around 21%.
Storage of excess heat generated during the day
The storage of excess heat generated during the day is a nifty little thing if done right. Excess heat can be used to warm a chilly community in the winter or to cool down a hot summer day. You can store this heat for months or years. Using this thermal energy smartly can reduce electricity prices or provide a slew of ancillary benefits to the home owner.
There are a number of ways to store heat, from large-scale water ponds to small-scale, solar-powered devices. One of the more exciting methods is to use waste heat from industrial processes, such as steam generators.Alternatively, the heat can be harvested from the sewage system. Interestingly enough, a city in Germany has already implemented such a scheme.
In the same way that you can store hot water in a tank, you can also store excess heat in a large, water-filled pit. A similar scheme is used by an experimental solar community in Alberta.
maximum efficiency of 21%
The efficiency of a photovoltaic (PV) cell has improved considerably in recent years. There are many factors affecting panel efficiency, from the size of the panel to the technology used to make it.
While it might seem counterintuitive, increasing the efficiency of a solar thermal power plant can reduce the amount of energy required to produce electricity. In fact, in some cases, an increase in efficiency could result in a boost in power generation.
A solar thermal power plant uses a combination of pressurized and atmospheric air to perform the Brayton cycle. Typically, the heat from the inter-coolers is stored in a low-temperature thermocline (TES).
It is estimated that an increase in power cycle efficiency of a few percentage points can increase the total output of a TES system. For example, an optimized volumetric air receiver could raise the peak solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency of a TES system from 10% to 30%.
An efficient TES system is one of the most cost-effective ways to add storage capacity to an existing PV system. If you add up the capital and operational expenses of a typical solar farm, you’ll find that it costs a fraction of what you’d spend for batteries or battery-based electric storage systems.
Coal-fired plants vs. solar thermal power plants
Coal-fired plants and solar thermal power plants are used for generating electricity. Both of these power sources have advantages and disadvantages.
Solar thermal power plants are more complex than solar PV plants. They are designed to be built in areas that get a lot of sunlight. For example, a proposed 280-megawatt solar thermal power plant in Solana, Arizona, will be built on nearly 2,000 acres of land.
Solar thermal power plants are a reliable source of electricity in locations that receive plenty of sunshine. However, they require a large amount of water for operation.
Coal-fired plants are a more conventional form of power generation. In a coal-fired power station, steam is created from burning coal. Coal is delivered to a power station by barge, highway truck, or coal ship. The coal is crushed and pulverized before being burned in a pulverized coal-fired boiler. Steam is then used to turn turbines and generators.
Coal-fired plants produce more carbon dioxide and other harmful gases than other types of power generation. This is because coal is mainly carbon. Other forms of power generation use natural gas, which has fewer emissions.
The life cycle of a solar thermal power plant
Solar thermal power plants convert sunlight into heat and electricity. They usually use a large array of solar collectors to concentrate the sun’s rays on one point. The resulting hot fluid is then used to create steam that turns a turbine. This generates electricity that is stored in a thermal energy storage system.
Compared to a coal-fired power plant, the average life-cycle CO2 equivalent emissions of solar thermal power plants are much lower. However, there are still associated environmental impacts. Unlike fossil fuels, a solar thermal power plant is clean and can produce dispatchable baseload energy.
Solar energy is a key player in combating global climate change. It helps reduce ocean acidification by changing precipitation patterns. In addition, it has the potential to contribute to a fully renewable energy supply.
A typical solar thermal power plant comprises a solar field and a power block. The solar field consists of large mirrors, called heliostats, that reflect the incident sunrays.
A solar field is usually coupled with a Rankine cycle. Other technologies have also been coupled with a steam Rankine cycle.