IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v14y2021i1p221-d474377.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Modeling and Hourly Time-Scale Characterization of the Main Energy Parameters of Parabolic-Trough Solar Thermal Power Plants Using a Simplified Quasi-Dynamic Model

Author

Listed:
  • Ignacio Arias

    (Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Tarapacá, Avenida 18 de Septiembre 2222, Arica, Chile
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Eduardo Zarza

    (CIEMAT, Plataforma Solar de Almería, Carretera de Senés km. 4,5, P.O. Box 22, E-04200 Tabernas-Almería, Spain
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Loreto Valenzuela

    (CIEMAT, Plataforma Solar de Almería, Carretera de Senés km. 4,5, P.O. Box 22, E-04200 Tabernas-Almería, Spain)

  • Manuel Pérez-García

    (CIESOL Centro Mixto Universidad de Almería, CIEMAT, 04120 La Cañada de San Urbano Almería, Spain
    Grupo TEP-197 Automática, Robótica y Mecatrónica, Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain)

  • José Alfonso Romero Ramos

    (Escuela Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain)

  • Rodrigo Escobar

    (Escuela de Ingeniería, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Santiago, Chile)

Abstract

A simplified mathematical model of parabolic-trough solar thermal power plants, which allow one to carry out an energetic characterization of the main thermal parameters that influence the solar field performance, was evaluated through a comparison of simulation results. Two geographical locations were selected to evaluate the mathematical model proposed in this work—one in each hemisphere—and design considerations according with the practical/operational experience were taken. Furthermore, independent simulations were performed using the System Advisor Model (SAM) software, their results were compared with those obtained by the simplified model. According with the above, the mathematical model allows one to carry out simulations with a high degree of flexibility and adaptability, in which the equations that allow the plant to be energetically characterized are composed of a series of logical conditions that help identify boundary conditions between dawn and sunset, direct normal irradiance transients, and when the thermal energy storage system must compensate the solar field energy deficits to maintain the full load operation of the plant. Due to the above, the developed model allows one to obtain satisfactory simulation results; referring to the net electric power production, this model provides results in both hemispheres with a relative percentage error in the range of [0.28–8.38%] compared with the results obtained with the SAM, with mean square values of 4.57% and 4.21% for sites 1 and 2, respectively.

Suggested Citation

  • Ignacio Arias & Eduardo Zarza & Loreto Valenzuela & Manuel Pérez-García & José Alfonso Romero Ramos & Rodrigo Escobar, 2021. "Modeling and Hourly Time-Scale Characterization of the Main Energy Parameters of Parabolic-Trough Solar Thermal Power Plants Using a Simplified Quasi-Dynamic Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-27, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:1:p:221-:d:474377
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/1/221/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/1/221/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marzo, Aitor & Ferrada, Pablo & Beiza, Felipe & Besson, Pierre & Alonso-Montesinos, Joaquín & Ballestrín, Jesús & Román, Roberto & Portillo, Carlos & Escobar, Rodrigo & Fuentealba, Edward, 2018. "Standard or local solar spectrum? Implications for solar technologies studies in the Atacama desert," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 871-882.
    2. Valenzuela, Loreto & López-Martín, Rafael & Zarza, Eduardo, 2014. "Optical and thermal performance of large-size parabolic-trough solar collectors from outdoor experiments: A test method and a case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 456-464.
    3. Parrado, C. & Marzo, A. & Fuentealba, E. & Fernández, A.G., 2016. "2050 LCOE improvement using new molten salts for thermal energy storage in CSP plants," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 505-514.
    4. Sengupta, Manajit & Xie, Yu & Lopez, Anthony & Habte, Aron & Maclaurin, Galen & Shelby, James, 2018. "The National Solar Radiation Data Base (NSRDB)," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 51-60.
    5. Aqachmar, Zineb & Allouhi, Amine & Jamil, Abdelmajid & Gagouch, Belgacem & Kousksou, Tarik, 2019. "Parabolic trough solar thermal power plant Noor I in Morocco," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 572-584.
    6. Boukelia, Taqiy eddine & Mecibah, Mohamed-Salah, 2013. "Parabolic trough solar thermal power plant: Potential, and projects development in Algeria," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 21(C), pages 288-297.
    7. Fernández-García, A. & Zarza, E. & Valenzuela, L. & Pérez, M., 2010. "Parabolic-trough solar collectors and their applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(7), pages 1695-1721, September.
    8. Benoit, H. & Spreafico, L. & Gauthier, D. & Flamant, G., 2016. "Review of heat transfer fluids in tube-receivers used in concentrating solar thermal systems: Properties and heat transfer coefficients," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 298-315.
    9. 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.
    10. Chen, Z.M. & Chen, G.Q., 2011. "An overview of energy consumption of the globalized world economy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(10), pages 5920-5928, October.
    11. Escobar, Rodrigo A. & Cortés, Cristián & Pino, Alan & Pereira, Enio Bueno & Martins, Fernando Ramos & Cardemil, José Miguel, 2014. "Solar energy resource assessment in Chile: Satellite estimation and ground station measurements," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 324-332.
    12. Manikandan, G.K. & Iniyan, S. & Goic, Ranko, 2019. "Enhancing the optical and thermal efficiency of a parabolic trough collector – A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 1524-1540.
    13. Wang, Qiliang & Hu, Mingke & Yang, Honglun & Cao, Jingyu & Li, Jing & Su, Yuehong & Pei, Gang, 2019. "Performance evaluation and analyses of novel parabolic trough evacuated collector tubes with spectrum-selective glass envelope," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 793-804.
    14. Yang, Honglun & Wang, Qiliang & Huang, Xiaona & Li, Jing & Pei, Gang, 2018. "Performance study and comparative analysis of traditional and double-selective-coated parabolic trough receivers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 206-216.
    15. Salgado Conrado, L. & Rodriguez-Pulido, A. & Calderón, G., 2017. "Thermal performance of parabolic trough solar collectors," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 1345-1359.
    16. Sandá, Antonio & Moya, Sara L. & Valenzuela, Loreto, 2019. "Modelling and simulation tools for direct steam generation in parabolic-trough solar collectors: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1-1.
    17. Nunes, V.M.B. & Queirós, C.S. & Lourenço, M.J.V. & Santos, F.J.V. & Nieto de Castro, C.A., 2016. "Molten salts as engineering fluids – A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 603-611.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Nima Mirzaei, 2022. "A Multicriteria Decision Framework for Solar Power Plant Location Selection Problem with Pythagorean Fuzzy Data: A Case Study on Green Energy in Turkey," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-18, November.
    2. Suzan Abdelhady & Mohamed A. Shalaby & Ahmed Shaban, 2021. "Techno-Economic Analysis for the Optimal Design of a National Network of Agro-Energy Biomass Power Plants in Egypt," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-26, May.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ajbar, Wassila & Parrales, A. & Huicochea, A. & Hernández, J.A., 2022. "Different ways to improve parabolic trough solar collectors’ performance over the last four decades and their applications: A comprehensive review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    2. Zhao, Kai & Jin, Hongguang & Gai, Zhongrui & Hong, Hui, 2022. "A thermal efficiency-enhancing strategy of parabolic trough collector systems by cascadingly applying multiple solar selective-absorbing coatings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 309(C).
    3. Arias, I. & Cardemil, J. & Zarza, E. & Valenzuela, L. & Escobar, R., 2022. "Latest developments, assessments and research trends for next generation of concentrated solar power plants using liquid heat transfer fluids," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    4. Kumaresan, G. & Sudhakar, P. & Santosh, R. & Velraj, R., 2017. "Experimental and numerical studies of thermal performance enhancement in the receiver part of solar parabolic trough collectors," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 1363-1374.
    5. Aqachmar, Zineb & Allouhi, Amine & Jamil, Abdelmajid & Gagouch, Belgacem & Kousksou, Tarik, 2019. "Parabolic trough solar thermal power plant Noor I in Morocco," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 572-584.
    6. Fasquelle, T. & Falcoz, Q. & Neveu, P. & Lecat, F. & Flamant, G., 2017. "A thermal model to predict the dynamic performances of parabolic trough lines," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 1187-1203.
    7. Moosavian, Seyed Farhan & Borzuei, Daryoosh & Ahmadi, Abolfazl, 2021. "Energy, exergy, environmental and economic analysis of the parabolic solar collector with life cycle assessment for different climate conditions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(P1), pages 301-320.
    8. Xu, Li & Sun, Feihu & Ma, Linrui & Li, Xiaolei & Yuan, Guofeng & Lei, Dongqiang & Zhu, Huibin & Zhang, Qiangqiang & Xu, Ershu & Wang, Zhifeng, 2018. "Analysis of the influence of heat loss factors on the overall performance of utility-scale parabolic trough solar collectors," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1077-1091.
    9. Manikandan, G.K. & Iniyan, S. & Goic, Ranko, 2019. "Enhancing the optical and thermal efficiency of a parabolic trough collector – A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 1524-1540.
    10. Bellos, Evangelos & Tzivanidis, Christos & Tsimpoukis, Dimitrios, 2017. "Multi-criteria evaluation of parabolic trough collector with internally finned absorbers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 540-561.
    11. Wang, Qiliang & Hu, Mingke & Yang, Honglun & Cao, Jingyu & Li, Jing & Su, Yuehong & Pei, Gang, 2019. "Performance evaluation and analyses of novel parabolic trough evacuated collector tubes with spectrum-selective glass envelope," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 793-804.
    12. Georgios E. Arnaoutakis & Dimitris Al. Katsaprakakis, 2021. "Concentrating Solar Power Advances in Geometric Optics, Materials and System Integration," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-25, September.
    13. Zhou, Ran & Wang, Ruilin & Xing, Chenjian & Sun, Jian & Guo, Yafei & Li, Weiling & Qu, Wanjun & Hong, Hui & Zhao, Chuanwen, 2022. "Design and analysis of a compact solar concentrator tracking via the refraction of the rotating prism," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).
    14. Stanek, Bartosz & Wang, Wujun & Bartela, Łukasz, 2023. "A potential solution in reducing the parabolic trough based solar industrial process heat system cost by partially replacing absorbers coatings with non-selective ones in initial loop sections," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 331(C).
    15. Delise, T. & Tizzoni, A.C. & Menale, C. & Telling, M.T.F. & Bubbico, R. & Crescenzi, T. & Corsaro, N. & Sau, S. & Licoccia, S., 2020. "Technical and economic analysis of a CSP plant presenting a low freezing ternary mixture as storage and transfer fluid," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    16. Gharat, Punit V. & Bhalekar, Snehal S. & Dalvi, Vishwanath H. & Panse, Sudhir V. & Deshmukh, Suresh P. & Joshi, Jyeshtharaj B., 2021. "Chronological development of innovations in reflector systems of parabolic trough solar collector (PTC) - A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    17. Gong, Jing-hu & Wang, Jun & Lund, Peter D. & Zhao, Dan-dan & Hu, En-yi & Jin, Wei, 2020. "Improving the performance of large-aperture parabolic trough solar concentrator using semi-circular absorber tube with external fin and flat-plate radiation shield," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 1215-1223.
    18. Wang, Ruilin & Qu, Wanjun & Hong, Hui & Sun, Jie & Jin, Hongguang, 2018. "Experimental performance of 300 kWth prototype of parabolic trough collector with rotatable axis and irreversibility analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 595-609.
    19. Yang, Honglun & Wang, Qiliang & Zhong, Shuai & Kwan, Trevor Hocksun & Feng, Junsheng & Cao, Jingyu & Pei, Gang, 2020. "Spectral-spatial design and coupling analysis of the parabolic trough receiver," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    20. Choi, Kelvin, Tsz Hei & Brindley, Helen & Ekins-Daukes, N. & Escobar, Rodrigo, 2021. "Developing automated methods to estimate spectrally resolved direct normal irradiance for solar energy applications," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 1070-1086.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:1:p:221-:d:474377. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.