There are four main types of concentrating solar collectors: parabolic trough systems, parabolic dish systems, power tower systems, and stationary concentrating solar collectors. Parabolic trough systems use long parabolic troughs to focus sunlight onto tubes running along the troughs' focal points. Parabolic dish systems use satellite-like dishes with dual-axis tracking that concentrate sunlight onto receivers at the dishes' focal points. Power tower systems use fields of dual-axis tracking mirrors called heliostats to focus sunlight onto receivers atop high towers. Stationary concentrating systems use compound parabolic reflectors and flat reflectors to direct sunlight without tracking mechanisms.
This document discusses various sources of renewable energy including fossil fuels, solar energy, geothermal energy, hydro energy, and hydrogen as a potential future fuel. It notes that while fossil fuels currently provide a reliable energy supply, they are non-renewable and cause environmental issues like pollution and global warming. Renewable sources like solar, geothermal, and hydro provide clean energy alternatives, but technologies are not yet mature and established. Hydrogen is highlighted as an ideal future fuel because it is abundant, non-toxic, and can be produced from renewable resources, though safe storage and transportation of hydrogen remains a challenge.
The document provides information about wind energy and biomass energy. It discusses various topics related to wind energy sources and potentials in India, types of wind turbines including horizontal axis and vertical axis turbines, their performance characteristics, Betz criteria, and factors affecting wind turbine performance. It also covers biomass energy sources, principles of bioconversion including thermo-chemical and bio-chemical conversion processes like anaerobic digestion and gasification.
Solar collectors are devices that absorb solar radiation and convert it to heat, transferring the heat to a circulating fluid like air, water, or oil. There are two main types of solar collectors:
1. Flat plate or non-concentrating collectors, which have an absorber surface of the same area as the aperture and do not concentrate sunlight. These include liquid collectors using water or glycol and air collectors for space heating.
2. Concentrating or focusing collectors, which use reflectors to concentrate sunlight onto a smaller absorber area to increase heat flux. These include cylindrical parabolic, central receiver, and compound parabolic collectors.
Solar energy storage and its applications iiSARAN RAJ I
This document provides information on solar energy storage and applications. It discusses three main methods for storing solar thermal energy: sensible heat storage, latent heat storage, and thermo-chemical storage. Sensible heat storage involves heating materials without a phase change, latent heat storage uses phase change materials, and thermo-chemical storage relies on reversible chemical reactions. Additional solar thermal storage methods described include solar ponds and stratified storage tanks. The document also outlines various applications that use solar energy, such as solar distillation, drying, photovoltaic power, and remote area power supply systems.
Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical power that can power homes and businesses. A wind turbine works opposite a fan, using wind to generate electricity rather than using electricity to create wind. The wind turns the turbine blades, which spin a shaft connected to a generator to produce electricity. Wind turbines are mounted on towers to reach stronger winds higher above the ground. Large wind farms with many turbines are built in consistently windy areas on land or offshore to provide power for thousands of homes.
Solar energy is radiant light and heat from the Sun that is harnessed using a range of ever-evolving technologies such as solar heating, photovoltaics, solar thermal energy, solar architecture, molten salt power plants and artificial photosynthesis. It is an important source of renewable energy and its technologies are broadly characterized as either passive solar or active solar depending on how they capture and distribute solar energy or convert it into solar power.
what is solar energy definition
10 advantages of solar energy
what is solar energy kids
what is solar energy system
what is solar power definition
facts about solar energy
use of solar energy
solar energy information
interesting civil engineering topics
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The document discusses the benefits of solar energy as a renewable resource. It states that solar energy has the potential to meet humankind's total energy demand given that the amount of solar energy that reaches the Earth's surface in one hour exceeds our total annual energy consumption. It then provides an overview of the two main categories of solar power: solar thermal and solar photovoltaics. Solar thermal is used for water heating and cooking while solar photovoltaics generate electricity. The document outlines various passive solar applications and active solar thermal and photovoltaic technologies to harness the sun's energy.
Oro551 res- unit 1 - environmental impact of solar energykarthi keyan
This document discusses the environmental impacts of solar power generation. It addresses land use and habitat loss, noting that photovoltaic solar requires 3.5 to 10 acres per megawatt while concentrating solar thermal requires 4 to 17 acres per megawatt. Water use is also discussed, stating that concentrating solar thermal requires around 2,000 liters of water per megawatt, while photovoltaic solar requires around 20,000 liters of water per megawatt for regular cleaning. Finally, the document covers the use of hazardous materials in manufacturing, such as chemicals used to clean semiconductor surfaces for photovoltaic cells and toxic materials contained in thin film technologies that must be properly handled and disposed.
This document discusses various sources of renewable energy including fossil fuels, solar energy, geothermal energy, hydro energy, and hydrogen as a potential future fuel. It notes that while fossil fuels currently provide a reliable energy supply, they are non-renewable and cause environmental issues like pollution and global warming. Renewable sources like solar, geothermal, and hydro provide clean energy alternatives, but technologies are not yet mature and established. Hydrogen is highlighted as an ideal future fuel because it is abundant, non-toxic, and can be produced from renewable resources, though safe storage and transportation of hydrogen remains a challenge.
The document provides information about wind energy and biomass energy. It discusses various topics related to wind energy sources and potentials in India, types of wind turbines including horizontal axis and vertical axis turbines, their performance characteristics, Betz criteria, and factors affecting wind turbine performance. It also covers biomass energy sources, principles of bioconversion including thermo-chemical and bio-chemical conversion processes like anaerobic digestion and gasification.
Solar collectors are devices that absorb solar radiation and convert it to heat, transferring the heat to a circulating fluid like air, water, or oil. There are two main types of solar collectors:
1. Flat plate or non-concentrating collectors, which have an absorber surface of the same area as the aperture and do not concentrate sunlight. These include liquid collectors using water or glycol and air collectors for space heating.
2. Concentrating or focusing collectors, which use reflectors to concentrate sunlight onto a smaller absorber area to increase heat flux. These include cylindrical parabolic, central receiver, and compound parabolic collectors.
Solar energy storage and its applications iiSARAN RAJ I
This document provides information on solar energy storage and applications. It discusses three main methods for storing solar thermal energy: sensible heat storage, latent heat storage, and thermo-chemical storage. Sensible heat storage involves heating materials without a phase change, latent heat storage uses phase change materials, and thermo-chemical storage relies on reversible chemical reactions. Additional solar thermal storage methods described include solar ponds and stratified storage tanks. The document also outlines various applications that use solar energy, such as solar distillation, drying, photovoltaic power, and remote area power supply systems.
Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical power that can power homes and businesses. A wind turbine works opposite a fan, using wind to generate electricity rather than using electricity to create wind. The wind turns the turbine blades, which spin a shaft connected to a generator to produce electricity. Wind turbines are mounted on towers to reach stronger winds higher above the ground. Large wind farms with many turbines are built in consistently windy areas on land or offshore to provide power for thousands of homes.
Solar energy is radiant light and heat from the Sun that is harnessed using a range of ever-evolving technologies such as solar heating, photovoltaics, solar thermal energy, solar architecture, molten salt power plants and artificial photosynthesis. It is an important source of renewable energy and its technologies are broadly characterized as either passive solar or active solar depending on how they capture and distribute solar energy or convert it into solar power.
what is solar energy definition
10 advantages of solar energy
what is solar energy kids
what is solar energy system
what is solar power definition
facts about solar energy
use of solar energy
solar energy information
interesting civil engineering topics
seminar topics pdf
civil engineering topics for presentation
civil seminar topics ppt
best seminar topics for civil engineering
seminar topics for mechanical engineers
civil engineering ppt
latest civil engineering seminar topics
The document discusses the benefits of solar energy as a renewable resource. It states that solar energy has the potential to meet humankind's total energy demand given that the amount of solar energy that reaches the Earth's surface in one hour exceeds our total annual energy consumption. It then provides an overview of the two main categories of solar power: solar thermal and solar photovoltaics. Solar thermal is used for water heating and cooking while solar photovoltaics generate electricity. The document outlines various passive solar applications and active solar thermal and photovoltaic technologies to harness the sun's energy.
Oro551 res- unit 1 - environmental impact of solar energykarthi keyan
This document discusses the environmental impacts of solar power generation. It addresses land use and habitat loss, noting that photovoltaic solar requires 3.5 to 10 acres per megawatt while concentrating solar thermal requires 4 to 17 acres per megawatt. Water use is also discussed, stating that concentrating solar thermal requires around 2,000 liters of water per megawatt, while photovoltaic solar requires around 20,000 liters of water per megawatt for regular cleaning. Finally, the document covers the use of hazardous materials in manufacturing, such as chemicals used to clean semiconductor surfaces for photovoltaic cells and toxic materials contained in thin film technologies that must be properly handled and disposed.
The document discusses wind energy and wind turbines. It begins by explaining what wind is and where wind energy comes from, noting that wind energy ultimately comes from the sun. It then discusses different types of wind turbines, including large turbines suited for wind farms and smaller turbines for local grids. Key design considerations for wind turbines are also outlined, such as the number of blades and size of the generator. The document concludes by discussing the costs and environmental impacts of wind energy, as well as the drivers for increasing wind power usage.
Oro551 res- unit 1 - the solar energy optionkarthi keyan
This document discusses renewable energy sources with a focus on solar energy options. It provides information on different solar energy technologies including photovoltaic systems, solar water heating, solar thermal power plants, solar cookers, solar bikes, solar pumps, and solar power towers. For each technology, it describes its basic components and functioning. The document aims to educate about harnessing solar energy for electricity generation and other applications.
This document provides an overview of wind energy and wind turbines. It discusses the history of wind energy usage dating back to ancient Egypt. It then explains how modern wind turbines work to generate electricity and the key components. The document outlines the two main types of wind turbines - horizontal axis and vertical axis. It also covers considerations for wind turbine design like the number of blades and tower height. Additionally, it provides details on wind energy projects and development in Egypt, specifically the large Zafarana wind farms. The goal of the document is to convey useful information about wind energy to the reader.
ORO551 RES - Unit 1 - Role and potential of new and renewable sourcekarthi keyan
This document outlines the syllabus for a course on renewable energy sources. It includes 5 units that cover various renewable technologies like solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass. Unit 1 discusses the principles of solar radiation and its environmental impacts. Unit 2 covers methods of collecting and storing solar energy. Unit 3 explores applications of solar energy. Later units address wind energy, biomass, and other sources like geothermal and tidal energies. The course objectives and outcomes for each unit are provided along with textbook references and an overview of the course content.
Oro551 res - unit 1 - physics of the sunkarthi keyan
1. The document discusses principles of solar radiation from a renewable energy course. It covers topics like the physics of the sun, its composition of mostly hydrogen and helium, and how energy is produced through thermonuclear fusion.
2. The inner parts of the sun include the core where energy is produced, the radiative zone where energy is carried out as radiation, and the convective zone where gas conveys heat to the surface.
3. Outer parts of the sun are the photosphere, chromosphere, and corona. The document provides data on the sun's energy generation, diameters, temperatures, and distance from Earth.
Solar energy is energy from the sun that can be used to provide heat, light, and electricity. It has been used for thousands of years but is now also used to generate electricity, including in remote areas and space. India has significant solar resources and has initiatives to increase solar power production, with a target of 100GW by 2022. Several large solar parks and projects have been implemented, such as the Kamuthi Solar Power Project, which at 648MW is one of the largest single location solar projects in the world.
This document discusses solar air heaters and concentrating solar collectors. It defines solar air heating as a technology that captures solar energy to heat air, which can then be used for space heating, drying processes, or ventilation. The document classifies solar air collectors as either unglazed, with no covering, or glazed, with a glass covering. It lists advantages such as avoiding corrosion and low costs, as well as disadvantages like poor heat transfer properties of air and need for large air volumes. The document also introduces concentrating solar collectors, which use mirrors or lenses to concentrate sunlight onto a receiver, and can achieve higher temperatures than flat-plate collectors.
The document provides an overview of solar energy, including its sources and applications. Some key points:
- Solar energy comes from the sun's radiation and more energy from the sun hits the Earth in one second than what humanity has used since the beginning of time.
- This energy can be harnessed through passive solar techniques like building orientation or active solar technologies like solar panels that directly convert sunlight to electricity.
- Solar energy has various applications from water heating to generating electricity and powering devices. It is a renewable source that produces no pollution.
- Technologies to capture solar energy effectively have advanced, making it more viable to harvest and use, though upfront costs remain high for some applications.
This document provides an overview of wind energy technology presented by Group 1. It discusses that wind energy is a renewable source that can be harnessed to generate power. The key components of a wind power system include wind turbines, generators, and control systems. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy of wind into mechanical or electrical power. Modern wind turbines are primarily horizontal axis turbines that have blades, a gearbox, generator, and a nacelle housed at the top of a tower. The document also notes some benefits and limitations of wind power.
Flat plate collectors are the most common type of solar collector and consist of an absorber plate, transparent cover, heat transport fluid, and insulation. Integral collector storage employs oversized piping or channels within the collector to increase thermal storage capacity without an external tank. Evacuated tube collectors use heat pipes or direct flow of liquid through glass tubes to transfer heat to a fluid in an insulated manifold. Solar air collectors directly heat air for applications like space heating using glazed or unglazed absorber plates.
Oro551 res - unit 1 - the solar constantkarthi keyan
This document discusses principles of solar radiation. It covers the role of solar energy, environmental impacts, physics of the sun, and measurements of solar radiation. Specifically, it defines the solar constant as the rate at which solar energy arrives at the top of the atmosphere, which is approximately 1.367 kW/m2. It also provides equivalent units of the solar constant in kcal/m2/hr and Btu/ft2/hr.
This document provides an introduction to solar radiation and its role in powering the water cycle. It discusses the composition and structure of the Sun, and how it produces radiation through nuclear fusion. While solar radiation is generally constant, it exhibits variations in the form of solar spots and an 11-year activity cycle. The amount of radiation emitted by any body is determined by the Stefan-Boltzmann law, which relates radiation to the body's temperature and emissivity.
This document discusses solar energy storage and applications. It describes different methods of solar energy storage including sensible heat storage using materials like water, rocks, and concrete. Latent heat storage using phase change is also discussed. Thermal energy storage techniques like solar ponds are explained. Applications of solar energy covered include solar heating/cooling, distillation, drying, and photovoltaic energy conversion. Basic elements of a solar water heating system and different types including natural circulation and forced circulation models are outlined.
Oro551 res- unit 1 - extra terrestrial and terrestrial solar radiationkarthi keyan
This document is about solar radiation and renewable energy sources. It discusses the energy produced by the sun as solar energy, which is radiated as electromagnetic waves with wavelengths between 0.2 to 4 micrometers. The sun's energy reaching the top of the atmosphere consists of 8% ultraviolet radiation, 46% visible light, and 46% infrared radiation. It also discusses extraterrestrial solar radiation, which is the radiation incident on the outer atmosphere, having an average irradiance of 1367 W/m2. Terrestrial solar radiation reaching the earth's surface is always less than extraterrestrial due to atmospheric absorption and scattering. Direct, diffuse, and global solar radiation are also defined.
Solar power plants can generate electricity either directly using photovoltaic cells or indirectly using concentrated solar power that heats a liquid to power steam turbines. Concentrated solar power systems use lenses or mirrors to focus sunlight and heat a liquid for steam generation. Photovoltaic cells convert sunlight directly into electricity through the photovoltaic effect. Solar power has advantages of no fuel costs or pollution but higher initial costs than other technologies.
Thank you very much for checking out my presentation.
If you are a student or a faculty of an engineering college and need to create a presentation, you can contact me. Check out my profile to know how.
This presentation gives us an insight into different types of solar plate collectors, and their respective applications.
This document discusses solar thermal energy. It describes three main ways to use solar thermal energy: heating water or air directly, creating electricity through concentrated solar heat, and passive solar building design. Flat plate and evacuated tube collectors are the most common solar thermal collectors. Solar thermal systems can provide hot water, space heating, or pool heating. Storage of solar energy is usually in the form of heated water. Solar thermal energy is economically efficient, with payback periods of 5-9 years on average. Germany, China, and Turkey have the largest installed solar thermal capacities worldwide.
Energy can be stored in various forms, including chemical energy in batteries. When a battery is connected in a circuit, the stored chemical energy is released as electricity. Energy can also be stored as kinetic energy in moving objects, as potential energy by raising objects vertically, and as latent heat during phase changes of substances like melting ice. However, electricity cannot be stored for long periods, though batteries provide short-term storage. There are also challenges to consistently producing electricity from renewable sources like solar, requiring development of better long-term energy storage solutions.
This document provides information about wind energy and windmills. It introduces the topic of wind energy, discussing the history of wind power generation dating back to 1887. It also notes that India has the 4th largest installed wind power capacity in the world. The document then covers the causes of wind, including uneven heating and the Coriolis effect. It lists some uses of wind energy such as electricity generation and transportation. Both the advantages and disadvantages of wind power are presented. Finally, the document describes windmills and their uses for pumping water and grinding.
This document discusses different types of solar energy collectors, including flat plate collectors and concentrating collectors. It classifies concentrating collectors and covers their orientation and thermal analysis. Flat plate collectors are further broken down into liquid flat plate collectors and air heating collectors. The document provides references for additional reading on non-conventional energy resources and renewable energy systems.
This document discusses different types of concentrating solar collectors that can achieve higher temperatures than flat plate collectors. It describes four main types: parabolic trough systems, parabolic dish/engine systems, power tower systems, and stationary concentrating collectors. For each type it provides details on how it works, temperatures and efficiencies achieved, examples of implementations, and comparisons of features.
Concentrated solar power systems use mirrors to focus sunlight and heat a fluid to produce steam that drives turbines to generate electricity. There are three main types: linear concentrators use curved mirrors to heat fluid in tubes; dish/engine systems use mirrored dishes to concentrate sunlight onto receivers connected to Stirling engines; and power tower systems use many heliostat mirrors to focus sunlight onto a receiver at the top of a tower to heat a fluid and produce steam. Concentrated solar power is advantageous because it is non-polluting, can displace fossil fuel plants, and is efficient and cost-effective to deploy relatively quickly to reduce carbon emissions compared to natural gas systems. Ideal places for concentrated solar power include desert regions of Australia and Africa
The document discusses wind energy and wind turbines. It begins by explaining what wind is and where wind energy comes from, noting that wind energy ultimately comes from the sun. It then discusses different types of wind turbines, including large turbines suited for wind farms and smaller turbines for local grids. Key design considerations for wind turbines are also outlined, such as the number of blades and size of the generator. The document concludes by discussing the costs and environmental impacts of wind energy, as well as the drivers for increasing wind power usage.
Oro551 res- unit 1 - the solar energy optionkarthi keyan
This document discusses renewable energy sources with a focus on solar energy options. It provides information on different solar energy technologies including photovoltaic systems, solar water heating, solar thermal power plants, solar cookers, solar bikes, solar pumps, and solar power towers. For each technology, it describes its basic components and functioning. The document aims to educate about harnessing solar energy for electricity generation and other applications.
This document provides an overview of wind energy and wind turbines. It discusses the history of wind energy usage dating back to ancient Egypt. It then explains how modern wind turbines work to generate electricity and the key components. The document outlines the two main types of wind turbines - horizontal axis and vertical axis. It also covers considerations for wind turbine design like the number of blades and tower height. Additionally, it provides details on wind energy projects and development in Egypt, specifically the large Zafarana wind farms. The goal of the document is to convey useful information about wind energy to the reader.
ORO551 RES - Unit 1 - Role and potential of new and renewable sourcekarthi keyan
This document outlines the syllabus for a course on renewable energy sources. It includes 5 units that cover various renewable technologies like solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass. Unit 1 discusses the principles of solar radiation and its environmental impacts. Unit 2 covers methods of collecting and storing solar energy. Unit 3 explores applications of solar energy. Later units address wind energy, biomass, and other sources like geothermal and tidal energies. The course objectives and outcomes for each unit are provided along with textbook references and an overview of the course content.
Oro551 res - unit 1 - physics of the sunkarthi keyan
1. The document discusses principles of solar radiation from a renewable energy course. It covers topics like the physics of the sun, its composition of mostly hydrogen and helium, and how energy is produced through thermonuclear fusion.
2. The inner parts of the sun include the core where energy is produced, the radiative zone where energy is carried out as radiation, and the convective zone where gas conveys heat to the surface.
3. Outer parts of the sun are the photosphere, chromosphere, and corona. The document provides data on the sun's energy generation, diameters, temperatures, and distance from Earth.
Solar energy is energy from the sun that can be used to provide heat, light, and electricity. It has been used for thousands of years but is now also used to generate electricity, including in remote areas and space. India has significant solar resources and has initiatives to increase solar power production, with a target of 100GW by 2022. Several large solar parks and projects have been implemented, such as the Kamuthi Solar Power Project, which at 648MW is one of the largest single location solar projects in the world.
This document discusses solar air heaters and concentrating solar collectors. It defines solar air heating as a technology that captures solar energy to heat air, which can then be used for space heating, drying processes, or ventilation. The document classifies solar air collectors as either unglazed, with no covering, or glazed, with a glass covering. It lists advantages such as avoiding corrosion and low costs, as well as disadvantages like poor heat transfer properties of air and need for large air volumes. The document also introduces concentrating solar collectors, which use mirrors or lenses to concentrate sunlight onto a receiver, and can achieve higher temperatures than flat-plate collectors.
The document provides an overview of solar energy, including its sources and applications. Some key points:
- Solar energy comes from the sun's radiation and more energy from the sun hits the Earth in one second than what humanity has used since the beginning of time.
- This energy can be harnessed through passive solar techniques like building orientation or active solar technologies like solar panels that directly convert sunlight to electricity.
- Solar energy has various applications from water heating to generating electricity and powering devices. It is a renewable source that produces no pollution.
- Technologies to capture solar energy effectively have advanced, making it more viable to harvest and use, though upfront costs remain high for some applications.
This document provides an overview of wind energy technology presented by Group 1. It discusses that wind energy is a renewable source that can be harnessed to generate power. The key components of a wind power system include wind turbines, generators, and control systems. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy of wind into mechanical or electrical power. Modern wind turbines are primarily horizontal axis turbines that have blades, a gearbox, generator, and a nacelle housed at the top of a tower. The document also notes some benefits and limitations of wind power.
Flat plate collectors are the most common type of solar collector and consist of an absorber plate, transparent cover, heat transport fluid, and insulation. Integral collector storage employs oversized piping or channels within the collector to increase thermal storage capacity without an external tank. Evacuated tube collectors use heat pipes or direct flow of liquid through glass tubes to transfer heat to a fluid in an insulated manifold. Solar air collectors directly heat air for applications like space heating using glazed or unglazed absorber plates.
Oro551 res - unit 1 - the solar constantkarthi keyan
This document discusses principles of solar radiation. It covers the role of solar energy, environmental impacts, physics of the sun, and measurements of solar radiation. Specifically, it defines the solar constant as the rate at which solar energy arrives at the top of the atmosphere, which is approximately 1.367 kW/m2. It also provides equivalent units of the solar constant in kcal/m2/hr and Btu/ft2/hr.
This document provides an introduction to solar radiation and its role in powering the water cycle. It discusses the composition and structure of the Sun, and how it produces radiation through nuclear fusion. While solar radiation is generally constant, it exhibits variations in the form of solar spots and an 11-year activity cycle. The amount of radiation emitted by any body is determined by the Stefan-Boltzmann law, which relates radiation to the body's temperature and emissivity.
This document discusses solar energy storage and applications. It describes different methods of solar energy storage including sensible heat storage using materials like water, rocks, and concrete. Latent heat storage using phase change is also discussed. Thermal energy storage techniques like solar ponds are explained. Applications of solar energy covered include solar heating/cooling, distillation, drying, and photovoltaic energy conversion. Basic elements of a solar water heating system and different types including natural circulation and forced circulation models are outlined.
Oro551 res- unit 1 - extra terrestrial and terrestrial solar radiationkarthi keyan
This document is about solar radiation and renewable energy sources. It discusses the energy produced by the sun as solar energy, which is radiated as electromagnetic waves with wavelengths between 0.2 to 4 micrometers. The sun's energy reaching the top of the atmosphere consists of 8% ultraviolet radiation, 46% visible light, and 46% infrared radiation. It also discusses extraterrestrial solar radiation, which is the radiation incident on the outer atmosphere, having an average irradiance of 1367 W/m2. Terrestrial solar radiation reaching the earth's surface is always less than extraterrestrial due to atmospheric absorption and scattering. Direct, diffuse, and global solar radiation are also defined.
Solar power plants can generate electricity either directly using photovoltaic cells or indirectly using concentrated solar power that heats a liquid to power steam turbines. Concentrated solar power systems use lenses or mirrors to focus sunlight and heat a liquid for steam generation. Photovoltaic cells convert sunlight directly into electricity through the photovoltaic effect. Solar power has advantages of no fuel costs or pollution but higher initial costs than other technologies.
Thank you very much for checking out my presentation.
If you are a student or a faculty of an engineering college and need to create a presentation, you can contact me. Check out my profile to know how.
This presentation gives us an insight into different types of solar plate collectors, and their respective applications.
This document discusses solar thermal energy. It describes three main ways to use solar thermal energy: heating water or air directly, creating electricity through concentrated solar heat, and passive solar building design. Flat plate and evacuated tube collectors are the most common solar thermal collectors. Solar thermal systems can provide hot water, space heating, or pool heating. Storage of solar energy is usually in the form of heated water. Solar thermal energy is economically efficient, with payback periods of 5-9 years on average. Germany, China, and Turkey have the largest installed solar thermal capacities worldwide.
Energy can be stored in various forms, including chemical energy in batteries. When a battery is connected in a circuit, the stored chemical energy is released as electricity. Energy can also be stored as kinetic energy in moving objects, as potential energy by raising objects vertically, and as latent heat during phase changes of substances like melting ice. However, electricity cannot be stored for long periods, though batteries provide short-term storage. There are also challenges to consistently producing electricity from renewable sources like solar, requiring development of better long-term energy storage solutions.
This document provides information about wind energy and windmills. It introduces the topic of wind energy, discussing the history of wind power generation dating back to 1887. It also notes that India has the 4th largest installed wind power capacity in the world. The document then covers the causes of wind, including uneven heating and the Coriolis effect. It lists some uses of wind energy such as electricity generation and transportation. Both the advantages and disadvantages of wind power are presented. Finally, the document describes windmills and their uses for pumping water and grinding.
This document discusses different types of solar energy collectors, including flat plate collectors and concentrating collectors. It classifies concentrating collectors and covers their orientation and thermal analysis. Flat plate collectors are further broken down into liquid flat plate collectors and air heating collectors. The document provides references for additional reading on non-conventional energy resources and renewable energy systems.
This document discusses different types of concentrating solar collectors that can achieve higher temperatures than flat plate collectors. It describes four main types: parabolic trough systems, parabolic dish/engine systems, power tower systems, and stationary concentrating collectors. For each type it provides details on how it works, temperatures and efficiencies achieved, examples of implementations, and comparisons of features.
Concentrated solar power systems use mirrors to focus sunlight and heat a fluid to produce steam that drives turbines to generate electricity. There are three main types: linear concentrators use curved mirrors to heat fluid in tubes; dish/engine systems use mirrored dishes to concentrate sunlight onto receivers connected to Stirling engines; and power tower systems use many heliostat mirrors to focus sunlight onto a receiver at the top of a tower to heat a fluid and produce steam. Concentrated solar power is advantageous because it is non-polluting, can displace fossil fuel plants, and is efficient and cost-effective to deploy relatively quickly to reduce carbon emissions compared to natural gas systems. Ideal places for concentrated solar power include desert regions of Australia and Africa
iaetsd Modeling of solar steam engine system using parabolicIaetsd Iaetsd
The document describes the modeling and testing of a solar-steam engine system using a parabolic concentrator. The system focuses solar radiation onto a boiler to generate steam, which is then used to power an oscillating steam engine coupled to a generator to produce electricity. The parabolic dish has a diameter of 0.625m and focuses sunlight onto a 1L boiler. Testing showed the system could produce 9V with no load and 5.3V under load, demonstrating its potential for rural electrification applications.
Abstract:
Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology is one of the most promising candidate for mitigating the future energy crisis. The extracted power from CSP technology is very clean, reliable and environmental friendly. An overview of CSP technologies like Parabolic Trough, Solar Tower, Parabolic Dish, Linear Fresnel technology have been described in this paper. Comparison among these technologies has been illustrated in this work. For extenuating the present power crisis in Bangladesh CSP technology has great opportunities, since the average Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) in Bangladesh is 4-6.5 KWh/m 2 which is suitable for all types of CSP technology. Suitable locations for different CSP plants in Bangladesh are also proposed on the basis of efficiency, required area and amount of DNI received.
DOI: 10.1109/ECACE.2017.7913020
1) Solar energy comes from nuclear fusion reactions in the sun. Some of this energy reaches Earth where it can be converted to electricity or heat through various technologies.
2) Photovoltaic cells directly convert sunlight into electricity by freeing electrons when photons are absorbed. PV cells are made of materials like crystalline silicon or thin films and connected in panels and arrays.
3) Concentrating solar power plants use reflectors to concentrate sunlight and convert it to high-temperature heat, which is then used to power steam turbines and generate electricity. Types of CSP plants include parabolic troughs, power towers, and parabolic dishes.
The document discusses various topics related to solar energy systems:
1. It describes the basic components and types of photovoltaic (PV) systems, including crystalline and thin film solar cells that convert sunlight into electricity.
2. It analyzes the characteristic curves of different maximum power point tracking (MPPT) techniques used to extract maximum available power from PV modules.
3. It examines applications of solar energy collectors and the principle of converting solar energy to heat through diagrams.
Solar energy can be used directly or indirectly from sunlight. Direct solar energy heats rooms through windows. Indirectly, solar energy can generate electricity through solar cells. Electricity is generated in solar cells through two processes - solar thermal electric which uses solar heat to drive generators, and solar photoelectric which converts sunlight directly to electricity using semiconductors. Solar energy can be concentrated using collectors to achieve higher temperatures for applications like power generation.
The document discusses the various methods of utilizing solar energy, including direct and indirect uses. Direct uses include thermal conversion through solar water heating, space heating/cooling, power generation, distillation, drying, and cooking. Indirect uses involve utilizing solar energy to create wind, biomass, ocean/hydro energy. A typical solar energy plant consists of six subsystems: solar collectors to concentrate diffuse sunlight, energy transportation mechanisms, storage systems for intermittent sunlight, conversion to electricity or steam, power conditioning, and alternative backup supplies.
Solar energy and solar Thermal ConcentratorMohammdEssa1
Solar thermal power plants use the sun's energy to heat a fluid, typically producing steam that drives a turbine to generate electricity. There are three main types of solar thermal power systems: parabolic troughs, solar dishes, and solar power towers. Parabolic troughs use linear parabolic reflectors to heat a receiver pipe, and the largest plant using this technology is located in California's Mojave Desert. Solar dishes concentrate sunlight at a higher ratio than troughs to heat a receiver at the dish's focal point. Solar power towers use hundreds of flat sun-tracking mirrors to reflect sunlight onto a central receiver tower.
Solar Energy Resources and Concentratd Energy.pptMohammdEssa1
Solar thermal power plants use the sun's heat to produce steam that drives turbines to generate electricity. There are three main types of solar thermal power systems: parabolic troughs, solar dishes, and solar power towers. Parabolic troughs use linear parabolic reflectors to heat a fluid in a receiver tube and are the most common type, such as the facility in California's Mojave Desert that has operated since the 1980s. Solar dishes concentrate sunlight at a higher ratio than troughs directly at a receiver and engine. Solar power towers use hundreds of heliostat mirrors to focus sunlight on a central receiver tower to heat a working fluid.
Concentrated solar power (also called concentrating solar power, concentrated solar thermal, and CSP) systems generate solar power by using mirrors or lenses to concentrate a large area of sunlight, or solar thermal energy, onto a small area. Electricity is generated when the concentrated light is converted to heat, which drives a heat engine (usually a steam turbine) connected to an electrical power generator.
A solar power plant is based on the conversion of sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV), or indirectly using concentrated solar power (CSP). Concentrated solar power systems use lenses, mirrors, and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam. Photovoltaics converts light into electric current using the photoelectric effect. The largest photovoltaic power plant in the world was the 354 MW Solar Energy Generating Systems (SEGS) CSP installation located in the Mojave Desert, California. But now the largest is in india, India owns world's largest solar power plant - Believe it or not | The Economic ... Other large CSP plants include the 250 MW Agua Caliente Solar Project in Arizona, the Solnova Solar Power Station (150 MW, 250 MW when finished) and the Andasol solar power station (150 MW), both in Spain.
Concentrated solar power plants first appeared in the 1980s. Solar power is increasingly used.
This document discusses solar thermal power generation systems. It describes how solar thermal systems use mirrors to collect sunlight and produce steam to drive turbines for power generation. There are two main types of solar thermal systems: passive systems that directly use thermal energy, and active systems that require equipment to absorb, collect, and store solar radiation. Active systems include solar thermal power plants that use various technologies like parabolic troughs, power towers, solar dishes, and compact linear Fresnel reflectors to generate electricity from heat. Solar thermal has advantages like no fuel costs and reduced pollution but also high initial costs and limited storage capabilities.
The document discusses different types of solar thermal power generation systems that use mirrors to collect sunlight and produce steam to drive turbines for power generation. It describes the main types as parabolic trough systems, solar power tower systems, solar dish/engine systems, and compact linear Fresnel reflectors. These systems work by using mirrors to concentrate sunlight and heat a working fluid like molten salt that is then used to generate electricity via steam turbines. The document also discusses advantages like no fuel costs, disadvantages like high installation costs, and challenges around energy storage and bringing costs down further.
Solar thermal power generation systems use mirrors to collect sunlight and produce steam by solar heat to drive turbines for generating power. This system generates power by rotating turbines like thermal and nuclear power plants, and therefore, is suitable for large-scale power generation.
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2. Table of Contents
1.Introduction.......................................................4
2.Concentrating collectors...................................5
3.Types of concentrating collectors.....................6
3.1. Parabolic trough system.............................7
3.2. Parabolic dish system.... ...........................11
3.3. Power tower system...................................14
3.4. Stationary concentrating solar collectors....16
3. 4.Working principles of concentrating collectors..17
4.1. Trough Systems..........................................18
4.2. Dish Systems...............................................21
4.3. Central Receiver Systems...........................23
5. Technology Comparison...................................25
6. Calculations.......................................................28
7. Economic and Environmental Considerations..37
8. Conclusions.......................................................39
References........................................................41
4. 1. Introduction
For applications such as air conditioning, central power
generation, and numerous industrial heat requirements, flat
plate collectors generally cannot provide carrier fluids at
temperatures sufficiently elevated to be effective. They
may be used as first-stage heat input devices; the
temperature of the carrier fluid is then boosted by other
conventional heating means. Alternatively, more complex
and expensive concentrating collectors can be used. These
are devices that optically reflect and focus incident solar
energy onto a small receiving area. As a result of this
concentration, the intensity of the solar energy is
magnified, and the temperatures that can be achieved at
the receiver (called the "target") can approach several
hundred or even several thousand degrees Celsius. The
concentrators must move to track the sun if they are to
perform effectively [1].
5. 2. Concentrating
collectors
Concentrating, or focusing, collectors intercept direct
radiation over a large area and focus it onto a small
absorber area. These collectors can provide high
temperatures more efficiently than flat-plate collectors, since
the absorption surface area is much smaller. However,
diffused sky radiation cannot be focused onto the absorber.
Most concentrating collectors require mechanical equipment
that constantly orients the collectors toward the sun and
keeps the absorber at the point of focus. Therefore; there
are many types of concentrating collectors [2].
6. 3. Types of concentrating
collectors
Parabolic trough system
Parabolic dish
Power tower
Stationary concentrating collectors
There are four basic types of concentrating collectors:
7. 3.1. Parabolic trough
system
Parabolic troughs are devices that are shaped like the
letter “u”. The troughs concentrate sunlight onto a
receiver tube that is positioned along the focal line of the
trough. Sometimes a transparent glass tube envelops the
receiver tube to reduce heat loss [3].
Figure 3.1.2 Parabolic trough system [3].
Figure 3.1.1 Crossection of parabolic trough [4].
The parabolic trough sytem is
shown in the figure 3.1.2 below.
Their shapes are like letter “u”
as shown figure 3.1.1 below.
8. Parabolic troughs often use single-axis or dual-axis
tracking.
Figure 3.1.3 One Axis Tracking Parabolic Trough
with Axis Oriented E-W [8].
Figure 3.1.4 Two Axis Tracking Concentrator [8].
The below figure 3.1.3 shows one axis
tracking parabolic trough with axis
oriented E-W.
The below figure 3.1.4 shows two
axis tracking concentrator.
9. Temperatures at the receiver can reach 400 °C and
produce steam for generating electricity. In California,
multi-megawatt power plants were built using parabolic
troughs combined with gas turbines [3].
Parabolic trough combined with gas turbines is shown
figure 3.1.5 below.
Figure 3.1.5 Parabolic trough combined with gas turbines [4].
10. Cost projections for trough technology are higher than
those for power towers and dish/engine systems due in
large part to the lower solar concentration and hence
lower temperatures and efficiency.However with long
operating experience, continued technology
improvements, and operating and maintenance cost
reductions, troughs are the least expensive, most
reliable solar thermal power production technology for
near-term [4].
11. 3.2. Parabolic dish
systems
A parabolic dish collector is similar in appearance to
a large satellite dish, but has mirror-like reflectors
and an absorber at the focal point. It uses a dual
axis sun tracker [3].
Figure 3.2.2 Parabolic dish collector with a mirror-
like reflectors and an absorber at the focal point
[Courtesy of SunLabs - Department of Energy] [3].
Figure 3.2.1 Crossection of parabolic dish [4].
The below figure 3.2.1 shows
crossection of parabolic dish.
The Parabolic dish collector is
shown in the below figure 3.2.2.
12. A parabolic dish system uses a computer to track the sun
and concentrate the sun's rays onto a receiver located at the
focal point in front of the dish. In some systems, a heat
engine, such as a Stirling engine, is linked to the receiver to
generate electricity. Parabolic dish systems can reach 1000
°C at the receiver, and achieve the highest efficiencies for
converting solar energy to electricity in the small-power
capacity range [3].
Figure 3.2.3 Solar dish stirling engine [9].
The right figure 3.2.3
shows the solar dish
stirling engine.
13. Engines currently under consideration include Stirling
and Brayton cycle engines. Several prototype
dish/engine systems, ranging in size from 7 to 25 kW
have been deployed in various locations in the USA.
High optical efficiency and low start up losses make
dish/engine systems the most efficient of all solar
technologies. A Stirling engine/parabolic dish system
holds the world’s record for converting sunlight into
electricity. In 1984, a 29% net efficiency was
measured at Rancho Mirage, California [4].
14. 3.3. Power tower system
A heliostat uses a field of dual axis sun trackers that
direct solar energy to a large absorber located on a
tower. To date the only application for the heliostat
collector is power generation in a system called the
power tower [3].
Figure 3.3.2 Heliostats [4].
Figure 3.3.1 Power tower system [4].
Heliostats are shown in
the figure 3.3.2 below.
The Power tower system is
shown in the figure 3.3.1 below.
15. A power tower has a field of large mirrors that follow
the sun's path across the sky. The mirrors concentrate
sunlight onto a receiver on top of a high tower. A
computer keeps the mirrors aligned so the reflected
rays of the sun are always aimed at the receiver, where
temperatures well above 1000°C can be reached. High-
pressure steam is generated to produce electricity [3].
The power tower system with heliostats is shown in the
figure 3.3.3 below.
Figure 3.3.3 Power tower system with heliostats [4].
16. 3.4. Stationary concentrating
solar collectors
Stationary concentrating collectors use compound
parabolic reflectors and flat reflectors for directing solar
energy to an accompanying absorber or aperture through
a wide acceptance angle. The wide acceptance angle for
these reflectors eliminates the need for a sun tracker.
This class of collector includes parabolic trough flat plate
collectors, flat plate collectors with parabolic boosting
reflectors, and solar cooker. Development of the first two
collectors has been done in Sweden. Solar cookers are
used throughout the world, especially in the developing
countries [3].
17. 4. Working principles of
concentrating collectors
Unlike solar (photovoltaic) cells, which use light to produce
electricity, concentrating solar power systems generate
electricity with heat. Concentrating solar collectors use
mirrors and lenses to concentrate and focus sunlight onto
a thermal receiver, similar to a boiler tube. The receiver
absorbs and converts sunlight into heat. The heat is then
transported to a steam generator or engine where it is
converted into electricity. There are three main types of
concentrating solar power systems: parabolic troughs,
dish/engine systems, and central receiver systems.
These technologies can be used to generate electricity for
a variety of applications, ranging from remote power
systems as small as a few kilowatts (kW) up to grid
connected applications of 200-350 megawatts (MW) or
more. A concentrating solar power system that produces
350 MW of electricity displaces the energy equivalent of
2.3 million barrels of oil [5].
18. 4.1. Trough Systems
These solar collectors use mirrored parabolic troughs to
focus the sun's energy to a fluid-carrying receiver tube
located at the focal point of a parabolically curved trough
reflector [5].It is shown in the figure 4.1.1 below.
Figure 4.1.1 Parabolic trough with mirrored parabolic troughs [10].
19. The energy from the sun sent to the tube heats oil
flowing through the tube, and the heat energy is then
used to generate electricity in a conventional steam
generator. Many troughs placed in parallel rows are
called a "collector field." The troughs in the field are
all aligned along a northsouth axis so they can track
the sun from east to west during the day, ensuring
that the sun is continuously focused on the receiver
pipes. Individual trough systems currently can
generate about 80 MW of electricity.
20. Trough designs can incorporate thermal storage-
setting aside the heat transfer fluid in its hot phase
allowing for electricity generation several hours into
the evening. Currently, all parabolic trough plants are
"hybrids," meaning they use fossil fuels to
supplement the solar output during periods of low
solar radiation. Typically, a natural gas-fired heat or a
gas steam boiler/reheater is used. Troughs also can
be integrated with existing coal-fired plants [5].
21. 4.2. Dish Systems
Dish systems use dish-shaped parabolic mirrors as
reflectors to concentrate and focus the sun's rays onto a
receiver, which is mounted above the dish at the dish
center. A dish/engine system is a stand alone unit
composed primarily of a collector, a receiver, and an
engine. It works by collecting and concentrating the sun's
energy with a dishshaped surface onto a receiver that
absorbs the energy and transfers it to the engine. The
engine then converts that energy to heat. The heat is
then converted to mechanical power, in a manner similar
to conventional engines, by compressing the working
fluid when it is cold, heating the compressed working
fluid, and then expanding it through a turbine or with a
piston to produce mechanical power. An electric
generator or alternator converts the mechanical power
into electrical power.
22. Each dish produces 5 to 50 kW of electricity and can
be used independently or linked together to increase
generating capacity. A 250-kW plant composed of
ten 25-kW dish/engine systems requires less than an
acre of land. Dish/engine systems are not
commercially available yet, although ongoing
demonstrations indicate good potential. Individual
dish/engine systems currently can generate about 25
kW of electricity. More capacity is possible by
connecting dishes together. These systems can be
combined with natural gas, and the resulting hybrid
provides continuous power generation [5].
Figure 4.2.1 Combination of parabolic dish system [4].
The right figure 4.2.1
shows the combination of
parabolic dish system.
23. 4.3. Central Receiver Systems
Central receivers (or power towers) use thousands of
individual sun-tracking mirrors called "heliostats" to
reflect solar energy onto a receiver located on top of tall
tower. The receiver collects the sun's heat in a heat-
transfer fluid (molten salt) that flows through the
receiver. The salt's heat energy is then used to make
steam to generate electricity in a conventional steam
generator, located at the foot of the tower. The molten
salt storage system retains heat efficiently, so it can be
stored for hours or even days before being used to
generate electricity [5]. In this system, molten-salt is
pumped from a “cold” tank at 288 deg.C and cycled
through the receiver where it is heated to 565 deg.C
and returned to a “hot” tank. The hot salt can then be
used to generate electricity when needed. Current
designs allow storage ranging from 3 to 13 hours [4].
24. Figure 4.3.1 The process of molten salt storage [11].
Figure 4.3.1 shows the process of molten salt storage.
25. 5. Technology Comparison
Towers and troughs are best suited for large, grid-
connected power projects in the 30-200 MW size,
whereas, dish/engine systems are modular and can be
used in single dish applications or grouped in dish farms
to create larger multi-megawatt projects. Parabolic
trough plants are the most mature solar power
technology available today and the technology most
likely to be used for near-term deployments. Power
towers, with low cost and efficient thermal storage,
promise to offer dispatchable, high capacity factor, solar-
only power plants in the near future.
26. The modular nature of dishes will allow them to be used in
smaller, high-value applications. Towers and dishes offer
the opportunity to achieve higher solar-to-electric
efficiencies and lower cost than parabolic trough plants,
but uncertainty remains as to whether these technologies
can achieve the necessary capital cost reductions and
availability improvements. Parabolic troughs are currently
a proven technology primarily waiting for an opportunity to
be developed. Power towers require the operability and
maintainability of the molten-salt technology to be
demonstrated and the development of low cost heliostats.
Dish/engine systems require the development of at least
one commercial engine and the development of a low cost
concentrator [4].
27. Parabolic Trough Dish/Engine Power Tower
Size 30-320 MW 5-25 kW 10-200 MW
Operating Temperature
(ºC/ºF)
390/734 750/1382 565/1049
Annual Capacity Factor 23-50 % 25 % 20-77 %
Peak Efficiency 20%(d) 29.4%(d) 23%(p)
Net Annual Efficiency 11(d)-16% 12-25%(p) 7(d)-20%
Commercial Status
Commercially Scale-up
Prototype
Demonstration AvailableDemonstration
Technology
Development Risk
Low High Medium
Storage Available Limited Battery Yes
Hybrid Designs Yes Yes Yes
Cost USD/W 2,7-4,0 1,3-12,6 2,5-4,4
(p) = predicted; (d) = demonstrated;
Table 5.1 Key features of the three solar technologies [4].
Table 5.1 highlights the key features of the three solar technologies.
28. 6. Calculations
Heat from a solar collector may be used to drive a heat
engine operating in a cycle to produce work. A heat
engine may be used for such applications as water
pumping and generating electricity.
The thermal output Qout of a concentrating collector
operating at temperature T is given by
Qout = F'[gamma.Ainqin - U.Arec(T - Ta)],
Ain : the area of the incident solar radiation (m2).
29. Arec : the area of the receiver (m2)
gamma:optical efficiency
qin : the incident solar irradiation (W/m2)
Ta :the ambient temperature (°C)
U :the heat loss coefficient (W/m2K)
F’ :collector efficiency factor
The quantity Ain/Arec is called the concentration ratio.
30. High concentration ratios are obtained by making Ain the
area of a system of mirrors designed to concentrate the
solar radiation received onto a small receiver of area Arec.
Heat losses from the receiver are reduced by the smaller
size of the receiver. Consequently, high concentration
ratios give high collector temperatures. The stagnation
temperature Tmax is given by:
gamma.Ainqin = U.Arec(Tmax - Ta).
31. For example, if the optical efficiency is gamma = 0.8,
the incident solar irradiation is qin = 800W/m2, the
ambient temperature is Ta = 30°C, and the heat loss
coefficient is U = 10W/m2K, then a concentration ratio
Ain/Arec = 1 (no concentration) gives Tmax = 94°C, and a
concentration ratio Ain/Arec = 10 gives Tmax = 670°C.
32. The collector efficiency etac at operating temperature T is
etac=Qout/Ainqin = F'[gamma-U.Arec(T -Ta)/Ainqin]
= F'gamma(Tmax - T)/(Tmax - Ta).
The available mechanical power from the thermal power
output of the collector that would be obtained using a Carnot
cycle is Qout(1 - Ta/T), where the temperatures are absolute
temperatures.
33. The second law efficiency eta2 of a heat engine is
defined by
eta2=(mechanical power delivered)
/(available mechanical power).
Suppose a heat engine with second law efficiency eta2
uses as input the thermal power Qout from the solar
collector. The first law efficiency of the engine is
eta1 = (mechanical power delivered)/Qout = eta2(1 - Ta/T),
34. where Tmax depends on the design of the collector and
on the solar radiation input qin. Now, given F', gamma,
eta2, Ta, and Tmax, we can find the maximum efficiency
obtainable, and the optimum operating temperature Topt
from the condition d(eta)/dT = 0. This occurs at the
optimum temperature
Topt = [TmaxTa],
and the maximum efficiency is obtained by putting
T = Topt in the equation
eta = etac.eta1.
½
35. For example, putting F' = 0.9, gamma = 0.8, eta2 = 0.6,
Ta = 30°C = 303K, we get the efficiencies etamax for
different degrees of concentration shown in Table 6.1.
Very low overall efficiencies are obtained unless
operating temperatures greater than 500°C are used.
Expensive concentrating systems are needed to reach
these high temperatures, so commercial viability is
difficult [12].
36. Efficiencies for Converting Solar Radiation to Work
Tmax Topt etamax
100°C 63°C 2.2%
200°C 106°C 4.8%
400°C 179°C 8.5%
800°C 297°C 13.2%
1600°C 480°C 18.4%
Table 6.1. Different degrees of concentration [12].
37. 7. Economic and Environmental
Considerations
The most important factor driving the solar energy
system design process is whether the energy it
produces is economical. Although there are factors other
than economics that enter into a decision of when to use
solar energy; i.e. no pollution, no greenhouse gas
generation, security of the energy resource etc., design
decisions are almost exclusively dominated by the
‘levelized energy cost’. This or some similar economic
parameter, gives the expected cost of the energy
produced by the solar energy system, averaged over the
lifetime of the system.
38. Commercial applications from a few kilowatts to
hundreds of megawatts are now feasible, and plants
totaling 354 MW have been in operation in California
since the 1980s. Plants can function in dispatchable,
grid-connected markets or in distributed, stand-alone
applications. They are suitable for fossil-hybrid operation
or can include cost-effective storage to meet
dispatchability requirements. They can operate
worldwide in regions having high beam-normal
insolation, including large areas of the southwestern
United States, and Central and South America, Africa,
Australia, China, India, the Mediterranean region, and
the Middle East, . Commercial solar plants have
achieved levelized energy costs of about 12-15¢/kWh,
and the potential for cost reduction are expected to
ultimately lead to costs as low as 5¢/kWh [6].
39. 8. Conclusions
Concentrating solar power technology for electricity
generation is ready for the market. Various types of
single and dual-purpose plants have been analysed
and tested in the field. In addition, experience has been
gained from the first commercial installations in use
worldwide since the beginning of the 1980s. Solar
thermal power plants will, within the next decade,
provide a significant contribution to an efficient,
economical and environmentally benign energy supply
both in large-scale gridconnected dispatchable markets
and remote or modular distributed markets. Parabolic
and Fresnel troughs, central receivers and parabolic
dishes will be installed for solar/fossil hybrid and solar-
only power plant operation. In parallel, decentralised
process heat for industrial applications will be provided
by low-cost concentrated collectors.
40. Following a subsidised introduction phase in green
markets, electricity costs will decrease from 14 to 18
Euro cents per kilowatt hour presently in Southern
Europe towards 5 to 6 Euro cents per kilowatt hour in
the near future at good sites in the countries of the
Earth’s sunbelt. After that, there will be no further
additional cost in the emission reduction by CSP.
This, and the vast potential for bulk electricity
generation, moves the goal of longterm stabilisation
of the global climate into a realistic range. Moreover,
the problem of sustainable water resources and
development in arid regions is addressed in an
excellent way, making use of highly efficient, solar
powered co-generation systems. However, during the
introduction phase, strong political and financial
support from the responsible authorities is still
required, and many barriers must be overcome [7].