Solar-Coupled Steam Power Plant with Parallel Heat Exchangers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional steam power plants with solar thermal support have limited flexibility in coupling solar energy into the water-steam cycle, resulting in a small contribution to electrical energy generation, and existing solutions are inflexible, costly, and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A steam power plant design with heat exchangers connected in parallel to preheaters allows for flexible integration of solar energy at various temperature levels, enabling efficient coupling of solar energy into the steam cycle, reducing fuel consumption, and increasing electrical output without additional pressure loss or efficiency impairment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If solar energy is coupled into the water-steam cycle at fixed temperature levels, then the integration is simple, but the flexibility and contribution of solar energy to power generation are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the solar energy integration into multiple parallel heat exchangers, each operating at different temperature levels. This allows the system to selectively couple solar thermal energy at various points in the water-steam cycle (e.g., economizer, preheaters, evaporator), thereby achieving flexible temperature-level integration without requiring complete system redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The parallel heat exchanger configuration enables the solar thermal support system to serve multiple functions: it can integrate at low temperatures (economizer), medium temperatures (preheaters), or high temperatures (evaporator) depending on solar radiation availability and plant requirements. This multi-functional design maximizes the contribution of solar energy while maintaining system simplicity.
2Productivity
If thermal energy is coupled into the water-steam cycle using serial heat exchanger arrangement, then the solar energy contribution can be significant, but additional pressure loss occurs and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single serial heat exchanger that would cause cumulative pressure losses, the patent segments the heating function into multiple parallel heat exchangers. Each heat exchanger handles only a portion of the thermal energy coupling, thereby minimizing pressure losses in the steam circuit while still achieving significant solar energy contribution to electrical output.
Solution Approach 2:
The parallel heat exchanger arrangement acts as an intermediary between the solar thermal energy source and the water-steam cycle. This intermediary configuration allows thermal energy transfer without forcing the main steam flow through a single long path, thereby reducing pressure losses while maintaining effective heat coupling.
3Temperature
If solar collectors are integrated with intervention in the steam generator, then the coupling temperature is fixed, but the manufacturing costs and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the steam generator functions into distinct thermal zones (economizer, preheaters, evaporator) and places heat exchangers in parallel with these segments. This allows solar thermal energy to be coupled at multiple temperature levels without requiring intervention in the core steam generator structure, thereby maintaining temperature flexibility while reducing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The parallel heat exchangers serve as intermediary devices that enable solar thermal energy integration without direct modification of the steam generator. These intermediaries transfer heat to the water-steam cycle at various stages, providing temperature flexibility while avoiding the complexity of steam generator intervention.
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 flexible integration of solar energy significantly enhances the contribution of solar radiation to power generation, reduces fuel requirements, and maintains high availability and reliability, even in varying geographical and environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
heat from one or more solar collectors is collected
Implementation Method 2
heat from one or more solar collectors is collected in the at least one heat exchanger transferred to the partial flow of the condensate
Implementation Method 3
This steam drives a generator via one or more steam turbines
Implementation Method 4
This steam drives a generator via one or more steam turbines
Implementation Method 5
is then liquefied again in a condenser
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method and to a steam power plant, wherein solar energy can be very flexibly and very efficiently coupled into the water steam circuit of the steam power plant.