GREEN TECHNOLOGY-

SOLAR POWER TOWER

 What is green technology?
 Technological advances made in the field of
power generation which from non
conventional sources.
 These technologies are said to release less or
no green house gases which are responsible
for global warming.
 SOLAR TOWERS
• Solar power towers also known as
Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Towers.
• Generate electric power from sunlight by
focusing concentrated solar radiation on
tower mounted heat exchangers.
Main parts of Solar power tower:

1) Heliostats
2) Central Receiver
3) Salt storage system
4) Steam generator
1)Heliostats:
 Heliostats are reflective surfaces or mirrors
which track the suns rays and reflect it onto
the central receiver.
 Heliostats are placed around the central tower
and they are called heliostat fields.
 Heliostat field represents the largest single
capital investment in a power tower plant
HELIOSTATS
2)Central Receiver:
 The central receiver is also called high-tech
heat exchanger which sits atop a tower.
 The central receiver heats molten salt(HTF) at
around 250°C, pumped from a “cold” storage
tank, to 565°C.
 The salt is returned to the cold tank, where it
is stored and eventually reheated to 250°C.
CENTRAL RECEIVER
3)Salt storage system:

• Salt is a mixture of 60% sodium nitrate and

40% potassium nitrate.
• It melts at 220ºC and is maintained in a
molten state (250°C) in the ‘cold’ storage tank.
• The salt storage system consists of two
875,000 litre storage tanks.
• The tanks are externally insulated and
constructed of stainless steel .
• A natural convection cooling system is used in
the foundation of each tank to minimize
overheating
SALT STORAGE SYSTEM
4) Steam Generator:
 Kettle-boiler design is used for generating
steam.
 Molten salt is moves around the kettle shaped
generator which evaporates the water placed
inside generating steam.
 PILOT PROJECTS:
1) Solar One
2) Solar Two

 COMMERCIAL PROJECTS:
1) Tres Solar Power Tower
 Pilot Projects:
1) SOLAR ONE:
 Was built in 1982 and kept in operation for 6
years.
 Water was used as heat transfer fluid.
• The heliostat field consisted of 1818 heliostats
of 39.3 m2 reflective area each.
• Thermal storage system was made of sand and
rock which was thermodynamically
ineffecient.
• Turbine can operate for 3 hours after the sun
has set.
2) SOLAR TWO:

 Was commissioned in 1996.

 Similar in structure to solar one but molten
salt is used as heat transfer fluid instead of
water.
 Makes use of nitrate salt technology.
• Molten salt is a mixture of 60% sodium nitrate
and 40% potassium nitrate.
• All pipes,valves,etc are made of stainless steel
to reduce corrosion.
 Commercial Solar Towers:

Tres Solar Tower:

 Built in Seville,Spain.
 Commissioned on 27 April,2009.
 Latest and technologically advanced Solar
power towers for commercial purpose.
 Produce more than 10MW of power.
 Height of tower is 165 m.
 Thermal storage system with capacity of
875,000 litres.
 Has 16 hr salt storage system,hence can
generate power round the clock.
 1255 heliostats with 120m² surface area each.
 Major disadvantages:
1) Huge Land requirement

 With respect to “land used Vs electricity

output “, Land used is more than that of
nuclear or coal power plants.
x=3100 ft , y=10,826.77 ft 
 2) High initial investment:

Heliostats account for 30 % of the cost.

Estimated cost of 300 MW solar plant is
around 2 billion dollars.
 500 MW coal power  2700 MW Nuclear
plant 1-1.25 billion Power plant cost 6
dollars. billion dollars.
 3)Availability of water:

 Water required to generate steam.

 Availability of water is major concern as its

built in high temperature regions..
 Advantages:
 Do not release green house gases.
 Very less operating costs.
 Can be operated at night due to efficient
storage system.
 Ease of implementation unlike nuclear power
plant.
THANK YOU