SOLAR THERMAL POWER

TOWER
Presented by
RAMESH V
USN:4MC06ME084

CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION
2.SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
3.RANKINE CYCLE
4.HELIOSTAT
5.WORKING OF SOLAR TOWER
6.SOLAR ONE
7.SOLAR TWO

INTRODUCTION
The solar thermal power
tower is a type of solar
furnace using a tower to
receive the focused sunlight.
It uses an array of flat,
moveable mirrors to focus the
sun's rays upon a collector
tower. The high energy at this
point of concentrated sunlight
is transferred to a substance

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION AND

WORKING

RANKINE CYCLE
There are four processes in the Rankine cycle, each changing the
state of the working fluid.
Process 4-1: First, the working fluid is
pumped from low to high pressure by a
pump. Pumping requires a power input.
Process 1-2: The high pressure liquid
enters a boiler where it is heated at
constant pressure by an external heat
source to become a superheated vapor.
Process 2-3: The superheated vapor
expands through a turbine to generate
power output.
Process 3-4: The vapor then enters a
condenser where it is cooled to become
a saturated liquid. This liquid then reenters the pump and the cycle repeats.

HELIOSTAT
A Heliostat is a device
that tracks the movement of
the sun. It is typically used to
orient a mirror, throughout
the day, to reflect sunlight in
a consistent direction. When
coupled together in sufficient
quantities, the reflected
sunlight from the heliostats
can generate an enormous
amount of heat if all are
oriented towards the same
target. It was originally
developed as an instrument

SOLAR ONE
Solar One, which operated from 1982 to 1988,
was the worlds largest power tower plant. It proved
that large-scale power production with power towers
was feasible.
The project met most of its technical objectives by
demonstrating
(1)The feasibility of generating power with a
power tower
(2)The ability to generate 10 MW for eight hours a
day at summer solstice and four hours a day at
winter solstice.

SOLAR TWO
Solar Two has produced 10 MW of electricity with
enough thermal storage to continue to operate the
turbine at full capacity for three hours after the sun
has set.
The Solar Two receiver comprises a series of
panels (each made of 32 thin-walled, stainless
steel tubes) through which the molten salt flows
in a separate path.
The energy storage system for Solar Two
consists of 875,000 liter storage tanks.
Thermal capacity of the system is 110MWh

USE OF MOLTEN SALT

The molten salt is a mixture of 60 percent sodium
and 40 percent potassium-nitrate, commonly called
saltpeter.
The salt melts at 430F and is kept liquid at 550F in
an insulated cold storage tank.
The salt is pumped to the top of the tower where
concentrated sunlight heats it in a receiver to 1050F.
The heated salt then flows back down to a second
insulated 'hot' storage tank. From here, it can be
pumped to a generator that creates superheated
steam to drive a turbine or it can be stored and its
thermal energy used later.

ADVANTAGES OF USING
MOLTEN SALT
It is liquid at atmospheric
pressure.
It provides an efficient , low cost medium in
which to store thermal energy,
Its operating temperatures are compatible with
today's high-pressure and high temperature
steam turbines,

LAND AND WATER

REQUIREMENTS
Land(Acreage)
:
Acreage needs for a parabolic trough or
compact linear Fresnel reflector development
would average about 5 acres/megawatt (MW),
while acreage for the other solar technologies
would average about 9 acres/MW. Acreage
needs increase if the solar field is oversized to
take advantage of thermal or electrical storage
Water:
Parabolic trough, compact linear Fresnel
reflector, and power tower technologies would
require up to 15 acre-feet per year per megawatt
for wet cooling or up to 1.5 ac-ft/yr/MW for dry
cooling. Water required for mirror washing would
be about 0.5 ac-ft/yr/MW.

ENERGY COST OF SOLAR POWER

TOWER
Turbin
e size

Capaci
ty cost

100 MW 27%
Solar
100MW 9%
Fossil
200MW 40%Sol
ar
200MW
40%
Solar
63%Sol
ar

Install
ed
capital
cost

Annual
Annual
operation fuel
and
cost
maintenan
ce cost

Leveliz
ed
energy
cost

$256M

$4.9M

$3M

114/KW
h

$328M

$4.9M

$564M

$6.1M

114/KW
h

$800M

$7.4M

94/KWh
84/KWh

APPLICATIONS
1)The solar thermal systems convert the radiant
energy of the sun into heat, and then use that heat
energy as desired.
2)The solar electric systems convert the radiant
energy of the sun directly into electrical energy,
which can then be used as most electrical energy is
used today

CONCLUSION
Solar thermal power towers meet the needs of
todays utility grids.
The technology for solar thermal power towers is
proven.
The cost performance and reliability of solar
thermal power towers can be confidently
predicted.
Power towers will produce electricity at a
competitive cost.

THANK YOU..