Thermal Energy Storage Systems For Concentrated Solar Power Plants

The fluid is stored in two tanks one at high temperature and the other at low temperature.

Thermal energy storage systems for concentrated solar power plants.

Dynamic simulation results for a two tank direct thermal energy storage system used in a parabolic trough concentrated solar power system are presented by powell and edgar. Thermal energy storage for concentrating solar thermal power csp plants can help in overcoming the intermittency of the solar resource and also reduce the levelized cost of energy lcoe by. The adaptation of storage systems both to the solar energy receiver system and the power cycle of the plant is essential. However one of the key factors that determine the development of this technology is the integration of efficient and cost effective thermal energy storage tes systems so as to overcome csp s intermittent character and to be more economically competitive.

Thermal energy storage tes improves the dispatchability of a csp plant. The presence of the storage system its interaction with the other components of the plant and how it can be leveraged to control power output in addition to the collector outlet temperature was emphasized. Solar thermal energy in this system is stored in the same fluid used to collect it. Among the various options of thermo chemical energy storage calcium looping represents a promising alternative for concentrated solar power plants thanks to high operating temperatures high.

Solar thermal energy especially concentrated solar power csp represents an increasingly attractive renewable energy source. Steam accumulators and molten salts. The integration of thermal energy storage systems enables concentrating solar power csp plants to provide dispatchable electricity. Fluid from the low temperature tank flows through the solar collector or receiver where solar energy heats it to a high temperature and it then flows to the high temperature tank for storage.

This paper presents a review of the current commercial thermal energy storage systems used in solar thermal power plants. A concentrating solar power csp system converts sunlight into a heat source which can be used to drive a conventional power plant. Department of energy along with several electric utilities built and operated the first demonstration solar power tower near barstow california during the 1980s and 1990s.