After decades of research and development, concentrating solar thermal (CST) power plants (also known as concentrating solar power (CSP) and as Solar Thermal Electricity or STE systems) are now starting to be widely commercialized. Indeed, the IEA predicts that by 2050, with sufficient support over ten percent of global electricity could be produced by concentrating solar thermal power plants. However, CSP plants are just but one of the many possible applications of CST systems. Advances in Concentrating Solar Thermal Research and Technology provides detailed information on the latest advances in CST systems research and technology. It promotes a deep understanding of the challenges the different CST technologies are confronted with, of the research that is taking place worldwide to address those challenges, and of the impact that the innovation that this research is fostering could have on the emergence of new CST components and concepts. It is anticipated that these developments will substantially increase the cost-competiveness of commercial CST solutions and reshape the technological landscape of both CST technologies and the CST industry. After an introductory chapter, the next three parts of the book focus on key CST plant components, from mirrors and receivers to thermal storage. The final two parts of the book address operation and control and innovative CST system concepts.
1. Part One. Introduction - p. xv 2. 1. Introduction to concentrating solar thermal (CST) technologies - p. 3 3. Part Two. Advances in the collection and concentration of sunlight - p. 25 4. 2. Advanced mirror concepts for concentrating solar thermal systems - p. 29 5. 3. Improved design for linear Fresnel reflector systems - p. 45 6. Part Three. Advances in the thermal conversion of concentrated sunlight - p. 55 7. 4. A new generation of absorber tubes for concentrating solar thermal (CST) systems - p. 59 8. 5. Innovative working fluids for parabolic trough collectors - p. 75 9. 6. A new generation of solid particle and other high-performance receiver designs for concentrating solar thermal (CST) central tower systems - p. 107 10. 7. Next generation of liquid metal and other high-performance receiver designs for concentrating solar thermal (CST) central tower systems - p. 129 11. Part Four. Advances in the power block and thermal storage systems - p. 154 12. 8. Supercritical CO2 and other advanced power cycles for concentrating solar thermal (CST) systems - p. 157 13. 9. Advances in dry cooling for concentrating solar thermal (CST) power plants - p. 179 14. 10. High-temperature latent heat storage for concentrating solar thermal (CST) systems - p. 213 15. 11. Thermochemical energy storage for concentrating solar thermal (CST) systems - p. 247 16. 12. Thermal energy storage concepts for direct steam generation (DSG) solar plants - p. 269 17. Part Five. Advances in the control an operation of CPS plants - p. 289 18. 13. Forecasting and nowcasting of DNI for concentrating solar thermal systems - p. 293 19. 14. Advanced control strategies to maximize ROI and the value of the concentrating solar thermal (CST) plant to the grid - p. 311 20. Part Six. Cost competitive CST plants concepts - p. 336 21. 15. Linear Fresnel reflector (LFR) plants using superheated steam, molten salts, and other heat transfer fluids - p. 339 22. 16. Central tower systems using the Brayton cycle - p. 353 23. 17. Solar power towers using supercritical CO2 and supercritical steam cycles, and decoupled combined cycles - p. 383 24. 18. Solar thermal processing - p. 403 25. 18.1. Introduction - p. 403 26. 18.2. H2/CO production - p. 405 27. 18.3. Material processing and chemical commodity production - p. 427 28. 18.4. Other thermal processes - p. 442 29. 18.5. Other solar processes - p. 445 30. 18.6. Conclusions and future trends - p. 445 31. Index - p. 461
After decades of research and development, concentrating solar thermal (CST) power plants (also known as concentrating solar power (CSP) and as Solar Thermal Electricity or STE systems) are now starting to be widely commercialized. Indeed, the IEA predicts that by 2050, with sufficient support over ten percent of global electricity could be produced by concentrating solar thermal power plants. However, CSP plants are just but one of the many possible applications of CST systems. Advances in Concentrating Solar Thermal Research and Technology provides detailed information on the latest advances in CST systems research and technology. It promotes a deep understanding of the challenges the different CST technologies are confronted with, of the research that is taking place worldwide to address those challenges, and of the impact that the innovation that this research is fostering could have on the emergence of new CST components and concepts. It is anticipated that these developments will substantially increase the cost-competiveness of commercial CST solutions and reshape the technological landscape of both CST technologies and the CST industry. After an introductory chapter, the next three parts of the book focus on key CST plant components, from mirrors and receivers to thermal storage. The final two parts of the book address operation and control and innovative CST system concepts.
1. Part One. Introduction - p. xv 2. 1. Introduction to concentrating solar thermal (CST) technologies - p. 3 3. Part Two. Advances in the collection and concentration of sunlight - p. 25 4. 2. Advanced mirror concepts for concentrating solar thermal systems - p. 29 5. 3. Improved design for linear Fresnel reflector systems - p. 45 6. Part Three. Advances in the thermal conversion of concentrated sunlight - p. 55 7. 4. A new generation of absorber tubes for concentrating solar thermal (CST) systems - p. 59 8. 5. Innovative working fluids for parabolic trough collectors - p. 75 9. 6. A new generation of solid particle and other high-performance receiver designs for concentrating solar thermal (CST) central tower systems - p. 107 10. 7. Next generation of liquid metal and other high-performance receiver designs for concentrating solar thermal (CST) central tower systems - p. 129 11. Part Four. Advances in the power block and thermal storage systems - p. 154 12. 8. Supercritical CO2 and other advanced power cycles for concentrating solar thermal (CST) systems - p. 157 13. 9. Advances in dry cooling for concentrating solar thermal (CST) power plants - p. 179 14. 10. High-temperature latent heat storage for concentrating solar thermal (CST) systems - p. 213 15. 11. Thermochemical energy storage for concentrating solar thermal (CST) systems - p. 247 16. 12. Thermal energy storage concepts for direct steam generation (DSG) solar plants - p. 269 17. Part Five. Advances in the control an operation of CPS plants - p. 289 18. 13. Forecasting and nowcasting of DNI for concentrating solar thermal systems - p. 293 19. 14. Advanced control strategies to maximize ROI and the value of the concentrating solar thermal (CST) plant to the grid - p. 311 20. Part Six. Cost competitive CST plants concepts - p. 336 21. 15. Linear Fresnel reflector (LFR) plants using superheated steam, molten salts, and other heat transfer fluids - p. 339 22. 16. Central tower systems using the Brayton cycle - p. 353 23. 17. Solar power towers using supercritical CO2 and supercritical steam cycles, and decoupled combined cycles - p. 383 24. 18. Solar thermal processing - p. 403 25. 18.1. Introduction - p. 403 26. 18.2. H2/CO production - p. 405 27. 18.3. Material processing and chemical commodity production - p. 427 28. 18.4. Other thermal processes - p. 442 29. 18.5. Other solar processes - p. 445 30. 18.6. Conclusions and future trends - p. 445 31. Index - p. 461
