Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
10643025 | Solar Energy | 2005 | 11 Pages |
Abstract
A new prototype parabolic-trough collector system was erected at the Plataforma Solar de AlmerıÌa (PSA) (1996-1998) to investigate direct steam generation (DSG) in a solar thermal power plant under real solar conditions. The system has been under evaluation for efficiency, cost, control and other parameters since 1999. The main objective of the control system is to obtain steam at constant temperature and pressure at the solar field outlet, so that changes in inlet water conditions and/or in solar radiation affect the amount of steam, but not its quality or the nominal plant efficiency. This paper presents control schemes designed and tested for two operating modes, “Recirculation”, for which a proportional-integral-derivative (PI/PID) control functions scheme has been implemented, and “Once-through”, requiring more complex control strategies, for which the scheme is based on proportional-integral (PI), feedforward and cascade control. Experimental results of both operation modes are discussed.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Energy
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Authors
Loreto Valenzuela, Eduardo Zarza, Manuel Berenguel, Eduardo F. Camacho,