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Market-oriented flow allocation for thermal solar plants: An auction-based methodology with artificial intelligence

Author

Listed:
  • Ruiz-Moreno, Sara
  • Gallego, Antonio J.
  • Macías, Manuel
  • Camacho, Eduardo F.

Abstract

This paper presents a novel method to optimize thermal balance in parabolic trough collector (PTC) plants. It uses a market-based system to distribute flow among loops combined with an artificial neural network (ANN) to reduce computation and data requirements. This auction-based approach balances loop temperatures, accommodating varying thermal losses and collector efficiencies. Validation across different thermal losses, optical efficiencies, and irradiance conditions – sunny, partially cloudy, and cloudy – show improved thermal power output and intercept factors compared to a no-allocation system. It demonstrates scalability and practicality for large solar thermal plants, enhancing overall performance. The method was first validated through simulations on a realistic solar plant model, then adapted and successfully tested in a 50 MW solar trough plant, demonstrating its advantages. Furthermore, the algorithms have been implemented, commissioned, and are currently operating in 13 commercial solar trough plants.

Suggested Citation

  • Ruiz-Moreno, Sara & Gallego, Antonio J. & Macías, Manuel & Camacho, Eduardo F., 2026. "Market-oriented flow allocation for thermal solar plants: An auction-based methodology with artificial intelligence," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:260:y:2026:i:c:s0960148125028009
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.125136
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Elyas Rakhshani & Kumars Rouzbehi & Adolfo J. Sánchez & Ana Cabrera Tobar & Edris Pouresmaeil, 2019. "Integration of Large Scale PV-Based Generation into Power Systems: A Survey," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-19, April.
    2. Song, Yuhui & Wang, Jiaxing & Zhang, Junli & Li, Yiguo, 2024. "Temperature homogenization control of parabolic trough solar collector field based on hydraulic calculation and extended Kalman filter," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    3. Salazar, Germán A. & Fraidenraich, Naum & de Oliveira, Carlos Antonio Alves & de Castro Vilela, Olga & Hongn, Marcos & Gordon, Jeffrey M., 2017. "Analytic modeling of parabolic trough solar thermal power plants," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 1148-1156.
    4. Antonio J. Gallego & Manuel Macías & Fernando de Castilla & Eduardo F. Camacho, 2019. "Mathematical Modeling of the Mojave Solar Plants," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-20, November.
    5. Chanfreut, Paula & Maestre, José M. & Gallego, Antonio J. & Annaswamy, Anuradha M. & Camacho, Eduardo F., 2023. "Clustering-based model predictive control of solar parabolic trough plants," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
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