Modeling and Hourly Time-Scale Characterization of the Main Energy Parameters of Parabolic-Trough Solar Thermal Power Plants Using a Simplified Quasi-Dynamic Model

Dynamic Modeling of the Solar Field in Parabolic Trough Solar Power Plants

Parabolic trough solar power plants use a thermal fluid to transfer thermal energy from solar radiation to a water-steam Rankine cycle in order to drive a turbine that, coupled to an electrical generator, produces electricity. These plants have a heat transfer fluid (HTF) system with the necessary elements to transform solar radiation into heat and to transfer that thermal energy to the water-s...

Conceptual Study of a Thermal Storage Module for Solar Power Plants with Parabolic Trough Concentrators

Reducing the Cost of Energy from Parabolic Trough Solar Power Plants: Preprint

Parabolic trough solar technology is the most proven and lowest cost large-scale solar power technology available today, primarily because of the nine large commercial-scale solar power plants that are operating in the California Mojave Desert. However, no new plants have been built during the past ten years because the cost of power from these plants is more expensive than power from conventio...

The CellFlux storage concept for cost reduction in parabolic trough solar thermal power plants

Although facility scale thermal energy storage of sensible heat in the range of 200-550°C has achieved a high maturity, state-ofthe-art approaches are still not very cost effective. An innovative storage concept is thus proposed that avoids the two major costdriving factors of the concrete storage and 2-tank molten salt systems. First, the storage volume is comprised of low-cost sensible storag...

A Parabolic Trough Solar Power Plant Simulation Model: Preprint

As interest for clean renewable electric power technologies grows, a number of parabolic trough power plants of various configurations are being considered for deployment around the globe. It is essential that plant designs be optimized for each specific application. The optimum design must consider the capital cost, operations and maintenance cost, annual generation, financial requirements, an...