Eventos Anais de eventos
COBEM 2021
26th International Congress of Mechanical Engineering
SOLAR TOWER CSP USING MOLTEN SALTS: A REVIEW
Submission Author:
Cristiana Brasil Maia , MG
Co-Authors:
Lucas Rodrigues Neumann, Gabriela de Andrade Oliveira, Magdalena Walczak , Pedro Paiva Brito, Cristiana Brasil Maia
Presenter: Lucas Rodrigues Neumann
doi://10.26678/ABCM.COBEM2021.COB2021-1380
Abstract
An increase in population growth has been observed, that combined with the increase in consumption levels, has considerably elevated global energy demands. In addition, it has already been demonstrated that a strong connection exists between energy consumption and environmental impacts, with fossil fuels being the largest contributor to climate change due to the emission of greenhouse gases. Currently, the total primary energy supply is essential based on fossil fuels. As such, it is necessary to employ renewable energy sources to reduce atmospheric emissions and increase global energy safety. In this context, solar energy stands out as a clean, renewable and abundant source. In Concentrating Solar Power (CSP), a series of mirrors concentrate solar radiation in a receiver and convert it to heat, which can be used to drive an electricity-generating plant or an energy source for an industrial process. There are currently four CSP technologies: Linear Fresnel reflectors and parabolic trough collectors, which concentrate sunlight on a linear receiver; and central tower receiver and parabolic dish systems, which concentrate sunlight on a focus point. The latter technologies are capable of achieving higher concentration ratios but require more effort in tracking accuracy. In 2013, plants based on PTCs were the most widely installed CSP technology, but central towers are increasing in number and power delivered. The first generation of CSP plants did not integrate a thermal energy storage (TES) system, and therefore couldn’t produce dispatchable electricity. To increase the competitiveness compared to conventional power plants, new CSP plants are being developed with TES. Nowadays, molten salts are used as both the primary heat transfer fluid and TES medium in many CSP plants, to increase the maximum operating temperatures and plant efficiency. This paper intends to summarize the current status of concentrating solar power using central towers and molten salts
Keywords
CSP, TES, sensible heat storage, solar tower, molten salts.
