An integrated combined cycle system driven by a solar tower: A review

An integrated solar combined cycle system (ISCCS) basically consists of three major components: a combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT), solar steam generator (SSG) and solar field. The solar tower (ST) technology is one of the potential candidates that can provide the solar field. In this study, progress in the development of a ST-ISCCS has been investigated. It is found that a lot of research attention has been given to the ST technology with some commercial ST power plants operating in different parts of the world. This technology has enormous potential for integration with the ISCCS from thermodynamic and economic perspectives. Nevertheless, the maturity level of the ST technology is lower than that of the parabolic trough concentrator (PTC). Very limited research has been directed toward the development of the ST-ISCCS. In addition, most of the ISCCS power plants in operation today employ the PTC technology with no known commercial ST-ISCCS power plant existing at present (2015). In view of this, it is construed that there are some barriers to the development of the ST-ISCCS technology which broadly fall into three categories: (a) technology maturity, (b) financial and policy, and (c) technical factors. It is concluded that the ST-ISCCS is immature, and so more work is needed to improve its technological readiness.