Dynamic simulation of concentrating solar power plant and two-tanks direct thermal energy storage

The discontinuous nature of the solar energy forces to study the dynamic behavior of solar plants to characterize their operations, to deepen their process understanding and to improve the performance and maintenance. The present paper focuses on the dynamic simulation and control of concentrating solar plants with the aim to define a reasonably simplified layout as well as to highlight the main issues to characterize the process dynamics of these energy systems and their related energy storages. Detailed first-principles mathematical models of key unit operations are developed, implemented, and integrated into commercial codes to improve the reliability of the plant dynamic simulation as well as the prevision accuracy. The case of Archimede concentrating solar power plant with the related two-tanks direct thermal energy storage technology is investigated.

Discretized horizontal half slice of the economizer units for molten salts/water heat exchange for the detailed dynamic modeling. Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► Dynamic simulation of the Archimede concentrating solar plant is performed.
► Detailed model for economizer unit is developed and integrated in commercial codes.
► Two-tanks direct technology for thermal energy storage is studied.
► Sunrise dynamics are selected since the energy storage is minimum.
► Relevant dynamics can affect power generation at the sunrise.