Solar Thermal Power Station

Abstract

A solar thermal power plant 20 comprises a solar radiation receiver 28 mounted on a tower 22 surrounded by a heliostat field 24 to receive solar radiation reflected by heliostats 26 forming the heliostat field 24. The power plant 20 comprises a power generation circuit 30 including a steam turbine for driving an electrical generator to produce electrical power, and water in the power generation circuit 30 is capable of being heated directly by solar radiation reflected onto the solar radiation receiver 28 by the heliostat field 24 to generate steam to drive the steam turbine. The power plant 20 also comprises an energy storage circuit 36 including a thermal energy storage fluid, such as molten salt, which is capable of being heated directly by solar radiation reflected by the heliostat field 24. A heat exchanger 44 is also provided for recovering thermal energy from the thermal energy storage fluid in the energy storage circuit 36; the recovered thermal energy may then be used to generate steam to drive the steam turbine.

Description

technical field [0001] Generally, the present invention relates to the field of concentrated solar power (CSP). In particular, embodiments of the present invention relate to solar thermal power plants that utilize concentrated solar power to generate electricity. Background technique [0002] Concentrated solar power (CSP) involves the use of lenses, mirrors, or other optical devices to focus solar radiation from a large area of ​​incidence onto a small area. Energy from solar radiation is then used to generate electricity. Concentrated solar power has the potential to become an important energy source in the future. [0003] There have been many proposals for concentrated solar power technology. The technology believed to have the greatest potential for providing high efficiency electricity generation is central receiver solar thermal power plants. This technique involves the use of solar radiation receivers mounted on towers to receive solar radiation reflected by an a...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

In general, this type of solar thermal power plant is not as efficient as a direct steam concentrating solar thermal power plant during the daylight hours, because the heat energy recovered from the molten salt in the heat exchanger is lost at all times by indirect heating Both generate steam in the electricity generation circuit

Also, this type of solar thermal power plant is generally less attractive than direct steam concentrating solar thermal power plants because it is more complex to construct (and therefore more expensive) and the technology is still in a relatively early stage of development stage

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