Economic evaluation of a novel fuel-saver hybrid combining a solar receiver with a combustor for a solar power towerwee

CATEGORY: SOLAR POWER
Applied Energy, Volume 113, January 2014, Pages 1235–1243
Economic evaluation of a novel fuel-saver hybrid combining a solar receiver with a combustor for a solar power tower
G.J. Nathan (a), D.L. Battye (b), P.J. Ashman (b)
a Centre for Energy Technology, Schools of Mechanical Engineering, University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
b Centre for Energy Technology, Schools of Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
Abstract
Describes an innovative concept of a hybrid receiver–combustor (HRC), in which the functions of a solar-receiver and a combustor are combined into a single device.
Researchers conducted an economic assessment of the concept for a solar power tower electricity generating plant employing molten salt technology, to evaluate the conditions under which an economic benefit can be derived. They compared the HRC with an equivalent well-known concept of Solar Gas Hybrid, SGH, with otherwise identical specifications, for both 1 h and 13 h of thermal storage capacity, as well as with an equivalent stand alone solar power tower, SPT, and a gas-only boiler.
Based on the assumption that the HRC achieves the same combustion efficiency as the boiler for twice the capital cost of a solar receiver, researchers found the HRC to reduce the overall capital cost of generating electricity relative to the equivalent hybrid.
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