Modular tower-type solar thermal power generation system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tower solar thermal power generation systems face high costs due to complex heliostat tracking and limited scalability, leading to inefficient power generation and high costs per unit of energy produced.
Innovation Solution
A modular tower solar thermal power generation system comprising multiple A-type and B-type tower solar thermal modules, with centralized and distributed thermal storage units, and sub-thermal exchangers, allowing for flexible use of molten salt and steam as thermal working mediums, connected in series or parallel configurations to enhance efficiency and reduce construction and investment costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the scale of the heliostat field is expanded to increase power generation capacity, then the power generation capacity increases, but the overall efficiency sharply decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the heliostat field into multiple independent modular units, each with its own tower solar thermal module. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high efficiency in each module while achieving large total capacity through parallel operation of multiple modules, avoiding the efficiency loss that occurs when a single large-scale heliostat field is used.
2Measurement precision
If the accuracy requirement of long-distance tracking is increased to improve power generation precision, then the tracking precision improves, but the production difficulty and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system adopts short-distance tracking for each modular unit instead of long-distance tracking for a large-scale system. This local approach reduces the tracking distance and required precision for each heliostat, thereby simplifying manufacturing requirements and reducing production difficulty while maintaining adequate tracking precision for effective solar energy concentration.
3Productivity
If the scale of the heliostat field is expanded to reduce power generation cost through economies of scale, then the cost reduction space increases, but the overall efficiency sharply decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple standardized modular units that can be deployed in parallel. Each module operates independently at high efficiency, and the total system capacity scales by adding more modules rather than expanding a single large field. This approach maintains high overall efficiency while achieving cost reduction through standardized mass production and modular deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters by using short-distance tracking and modular configuration instead of large-scale long-distance tracking. This parameter change enables the system to achieve both cost effectiveness and high efficiency simultaneously, as each module operates in an optimized parameter range.
4Ease of operation
If gear wheels are designed to achieve seamless transmissions to improve tracking smoothness, then the tracking smoothness improves, but the production difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses short-distance tracking mechanisms in each modular unit, which reduces the complexity requirements for transmission components. The reduced tracking distance allows for simpler gear designs that can achieve smooth transmission without requiring highly complex precision engineering, thereby reducing production difficulty while maintaining operational smoothness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The modular system simplifies construction, reduces costs, improves heliostat efficiency, ensures continuous power supply by isolating module failures, and enhances overall power generation stability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a solar thermal collector device configured for collecting solar thermal energy
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger connected to the solar thermal collector device and configured for producing steam
Implementation Method 3
a thermal power conversion device connected to the heat exchanger and configured for converting steam into electrical energy
Implementation Method 4
a centralized thermal storage unit configured to store thermal energy of heated thermal working medium
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates to a modular tower-type solar thermal power generation system, which comprises: a solar thermal collector device configured for collecting solar thermal energy, a heat exchanger connected to the solar thermal collector device and configured for producing superheated saturated steam, and a thermal power conversion device connected to the heat exchanger and configured for converting the superheated saturated steam into electrical energy; the solar thermal collector device comprises a plurality of tower-type solar thermal modules. By adopting a solar power generation system with a modular solar energy collector device, the present application can simplify the construction process, reduce the construction period, and can further reduce design cost and investment cost of a power station, as well as improve the efficiency of the heliostat field; moreover, when one of the single towers malfunctions, the working situations of other tower-type solar thermal modules won't be affected, and thus the continuity and stability of power supply using the whole power generation system are ensure.