4th International Conference on Power Engineering, Energy and Electrical Drives
A Study for the Control System of a
Hybrid Solar – Gas Turbine Power Plant
S. Bittanti V. Casamassima
Politecnico di Milano RSE SpA
Milan, Italy Milan, Italy
bittanti@elet.polimi.it vincenzo.casamassima
@rse-web.it
Abstract— In this paper, we investigate the integration of a solar
energy receiver into a standard gas-turbine power plant. Due to the
random characteristics of the solar energy production, such integrated
plant leads to peculiar control problems requiring specific
configurations. We present the plant model and we discuss the main
control issues.
Keywords: Solar power plant control; Hybrid gasturbine-solar
plant; Concentrated solar plant (CPS).
I. INTRODUCTION
Complementing a traditional gas-turbine power plant with a
solar receiver is a promising technology considered in various
locations, e.g. the AORA (170kWe, Israel, operating from
2009), SOLUGAS (4.6MWe, Spain, 2012), THEMIS
(1.4MWe, France, 2013). In this paper we explore the
possibility of setting up a 47.0 MWe Hybrid Solar-Gas Turbine
Power Plant (HSGTPP), motivated by a stream of research
activity taking place at RSE (Ricerca sul Sistema Energetico),
in Milan. Such a large power calls for a peculiar plant
configuration involving a large surrounding field of heliostats,
conveying the solar energy to a number of receivers located at
the four sides of the top of a solar tower (Fig. 1); to be precise
there are 20 receivers per each side.
Figure 1. Sorrounding field
978-1-4673-6392-1/13/$31.00 ©2013 IEEE
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A. De Marco A. Guagliardi B. Karaj
Process Engineer RSE SpA Politecnico di Milano
Milan, Italy Milan, Italy Milan, Italy
antoniodemarco65 antonio.guagliardi bernard.1@libero.it
@gmail.com @rse-web.it
This structure requires a special thermo-hydraulic circuit,
characterized by four uphill connecting pipes between the
compressor (at ground level) and the top of the tower, where
the receivers are located. Analogously, four downhill pipes
connect the outlet of the receivers to the turbine inlet, through
the combustion chamber. Such plant configuration is
summarized in Fig. 2.
Figure 2. Hybrid solar gas turbine flow diagram
As is well known, at the current stage of the solar
technology, the ideal temperature of the gas-turbine inlet flow
(1300 – 1400 °C) cannot be reached by means of solar energy
absorbers (with which a maximum temperature of 800-900°C
only can be achieved). This is the main reason to combine a
solar receiver with a fuel system. Another important reason is
the possibility offered by the hybrid plant to compensate for
disturbances due to the possible shading induced by the cloud
movement, and to produce power even in absence of solar
radiation (e.g. in the night).
Herein, we focus on the modeling and control of the
thermo-hydraulic part of the plant, having the solar radiation as
input. The paper is organized as follows: in Sect. 2, we
describe the conceived structure of plant. Then we concisely
outline the model of the thermo-hydraulic system, and we test
its behavior in open-loop both in steady-state and transient
conditions (Sect. 3). Finally, in Sect. 4, the control system and
the operating procedures are discussed.
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4th International Conference on Power Engineering, Energy and Electrical Drives
II. DESIGN OF THE REFERENCE PLANT
Once the turbine has been chosen, the remaining design
issues are consequently tuned; they concern the thermo
hydraulic part of the plant (highlighted in a dashed box in Fig.
2) and the field of the solar heliostats and the solar tower. This
paper focuses on the modeling and control of the thermo
hydraulic process of the plant with its interaction towards the
grid.
The characteristics of the adopted gas-turbine are
summarized in Table I.
TABLE I. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF THE GAS TURBINE
Power generation 47.0 MWe
Electrical efficiency 37.5%
Turbine speed 3000 rpm
Compressor pressure ratio 19.9
Exhaust gas flow 131.5 kg/s
Exhaust temperature 544°C
The solar tower is equipped with receivers located on its
four sides. The absorbed solar radiation is used to increase the
temperature of the flow of air at the outlet of the compressor
(about 400°C). To this purpose such flow is partitioned into
four flows though the uphill pipes, one for each side of the
tower. Obviously such absorption can take place by resorting to
a high number of tubes (absorbers located on the four sides of
the tower). In the absorbers, the solar radiation is focalized
from the heliostats. The overall scheme is depicted in Fig. 3. In
this way, the maximum achievable temperature is about 850°C.
Figure 3. Absorber configuration
The key characteristics of the absorbers are their surface
and their friction pressure drop. The dimensions, number and
geometrical configuration of the tubes have been chosen in
order to keep at acceptable level the absorbed radiation heat per
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square meter, to minimize the heat dispersion and to reduce the
pressure drops. For these aspects, the interested reader is
referred to [15]. We limit ourselves to underline the importance
of the pressure drop in the produced electric power, as outlined
in the diagram of Fig. 4.
Figure 4. Variation of the produced electric power as a function of the
pressure drop between the compressor outlet and the turbine inlet
More in detail, the receiver is structured as in Fig. 3, where
A, B, C and D denote the four sides of the solar tower. For
each side the uphill air flow is sent first to a low temperature
part (with twenty absorbers in parallel). Each of such low
temperature absorber is connected to a high temperature
absorber. The outlet air is collected in a header from where it is
sent through a downhill pipe to the combustion chamber.
III. PLANT MODELING
The plant simulator was based on the modeling and
simulation tool “LegoPC”, developed at RSE (Ricerca sul
Sistema Energetico). The overall process plant model was built
with the elementary models (LegoPC modules, e.g. valve, tube,
etc.) of the LegoPC thermo-hydraulic library. As for the solar
receiver we worked out a specific model, a new LegoPC
module, as outlined in Sect. 3.2 below. Finally the control and
automation model, developed in Matlab/Simulink, was
integrated to set up an overall plant simulator.
A. Compressor and turbine model
“LegoPC” modules of the thermo-hydraulics library, based
on the characteristic equations of the components provided
from the constructor, have been used.
B. Receiver model
In each control volume the following equations have been
considered:
• Conservation equation of energy in the metal. This
energy is proportional to the temperature of the metal
• Conservation equation of energy in the air. In this
equation the main variable is the air enthalpy.
• Conservation equation of mass of air. Here the main
variables are the pressure and the enthalpy of the air.
Obviously in these equations, the mass flow rate of air at
the boundary of each control volume appears. Such mass flow
rate can be determined by considering the conservation
equation of momentum in new control volumes, centered
around the boundaries of the original control volumes.
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4th International Conference on Power Engineering, Energy and Electrical Drives Istanbul, Turkey, 13-17 May 2013

For a detailed description of the various equations the the turbine. This result in a fast negative variation of the
interested reader is referred to [15]. turbine mass flow rate wt (Fig. 5.b) and a consequent slow
variation of the inlet turbine pressure pt (Fig. 5.c); this
C. Combustion chamber model variations are due to the large mass of air in the volumes (Vt)
The model of the combustion chamber is a 0-dimentional of the connecting pipes and the receivers between the
model, where pressure and enthalpy are determined compressor and the turbine. The turbine power variation
considering the energy conservation equation and mass increases due to the joint effect of the (fast) increase of the
conservation equation of the fluid in the combustion chamber. turbine inlet temperature and of the (slow) increase of the
The input variable is the fuel mass flow rate. The combustion turbine inlet pressure, as shown in Fig. 5.c.
chamber is assumed to be adiabatic.
The overall model we have built has been validated by
comparing its behavior with the behavior of the code
Thermoflex, widely used in this field, available at RSE. It is
important to underline that Thermoflex operates only in steady-
state conditions, whereas our model can be used in transient
conditions as well. Therefore the validation has been
performed by referring to the steady-state operation only.

TABLE II. COMPARISON BETWEEN LEGOPC AND THERMOFLEX

STATIONARY MODEL
Quantity Our model Thermoflex
Figure 5.a. Transient of Tr and Tt against the fuel flow rate variation
Air flow rate at compressor inlet 130.2 kg/s 130.2 kg/s
Mechanical power absorbed by the 56.35 MW 57.16 MW
compressor
Air temperature at compressor outlet 430.4 °C 440.1 °C
Air pressure at compressor outlet 20.83 bar 21.07 bar
Air flow rate at turbine outlet 131.7 kg/s 131.6 kg/s
Air temperature at turbine inlet 1279 °C 1256.5 °C
Air pressure at turbine inlet 20.63 bar 20.65 bar
Air temperature at turbine outlet 545 °C 544 °C
Air temperature at receiver outlet 850 °C 850°C
Fuel flow rate 1.4975 kg/s 1.474 kg/s

IV. PROCESS DYNAMICS

In order to study the plant dynamics, two tests have been
performed with the developed simulator:
• a 20% positive step variation in the fuel flow rate (with
Figure 5.b. Transient of wt against the fuel flow rate variation
constant solar radiation);
• a 20% negative step variation in the solar radiation
power (with constant fuel flow rate).
In the diagrams we will present next, the following symbols
are used:
• Tr: outlet receivers temperature;
• Tt: turbine inlet temperature;
• wt: turbine inlet mass flow rate;
• wcc: combustion chamber inlet mass flow rate;
• pt: turbine inlet pressure;
• P: generated power .
A. Step variation of the fuel
In Fig. 5a, the transients of Tr and Tt against the positive Figure 5.c. Transient of pt and P against the fuel flow rate variation
step variation in the fuel flow rate are depicted. Note the large
difference in the scale for the two temperatures. To be precise, B. Negative variation of the solar radiation
there is a small variation of the outlet receiver temperature Tr
(about 1°C); on the opposite, there is a fast and large variation In Fig. 6.a-c, the main transients taking place against the
(about 100°C) of the inlet turbine temperature Tt. This negative variation in the solar radiation are shown. Note that
temperature increase affects the “resistance” of flow through there is a slow decrease of the outlet receiver temperature Tr

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4th International Conference on Power Engineering, Energy and Electrical Drives
and a consequent decrease of the turbine inlet temperature Tt
(Fig. 6.a). In Fig. 6.b the variation of the air mass flow rate wcc
at the outlet of the receiver is depicted: the decrease of solar
power results in the increase of air density, which brings about
the air mass flow rate increase at the outlet of the receiver. In
Fig. 6.c, the generated power P and the turbine inlet pressure pt
are represented.
Figure 6.a. Transient of Tr and Tt against the solar radiation disturbance
Figure 6.b. Transient of wcc against the solar radiation disturbance
Figure 6.c. Transient of pt and P against the solar radiation disturbance
V. CONTROL SYSTEM
The control is focused around the main operating
procedures, such as the start-up control, the rolling-up control,
the shut-down, the load variations control (power and
frequency control), etc. in this paper we focus on this last
aspect. A main issue to be considered is that such control
action must respect important constraints on the temperature of
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the air at the outlet of the receivers and the temperature of the
flue-gas at the inlet of the turbine. Such constraints must be
satisfied not only in presence of power demand variations, but
also in presence of unexpected disturbances on the intensity of
the solar radiation. The basic control loops and the control
system structure are reported in Fig. 7.
Figure 7. Hybrid Solar-GT control system
A. Solar Receivers Temperature Control
The plant structure, with the solar receivers located at the
four sides of the tower, can lead to significant problems where
there is an unbalance of the solar energy radiations on the four
sides: for instance, suppose that one side is subject to the full
nominal radiation whereas the remaining three sides have very
low radiation. Then, the air mass flow rate through the
receivers subject low radiation increases whereas it decreases
through the receiver with full radiation, being the air mass
flow-rate at the outlet of the compressor almost constant.
Consequently, the outlet temperature of the last receiver can
overcome the acceptable values for the given material. To
avoid such obnoxious effect, the plant is equipped with four
control valves located at the inlet of the uphill connecting
pipes. The valve of the receiver with maximum solar radiation
is set fully open, whereas the remaining three valves are
controlled so as to impose a mass flow rate of ¼ of the total
flow rate from the compressor. In such a way, the temperatures
remain in the safety limits [15].
B. GT Temperature Control
The temperature controller has the task of protecting the
turbine from excessive temperatures of the combustion gasses:
it limits the turbine inlet temperature by acting on the fuel mass
flow rate. However, the turbine inlet temperature is too high to
measure directly because the temperature sensors would only
have a short service life. For this reason, the much lower
turbine exhaust temperature is measured and used to limit the
fuel demand of the power-frequency controller.
C. Power-frequency Control
As is well known, the power-frequency regulation has the
objective to supply electric power to the grid and participate to
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4th International Conference on Power Engineering, Energy and Electrical Drives Istanbul, Turkey, 13-17 May 2013

the frequency regulation. The classical scheme of power 50

GT Power generated

control and primary frequency control is reported in Fig. 7.

40

30

[MW]
20

10

-10
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
[s]

Figure 9. GT net mechanical power

GT speed
3500

3000

2500
Figure 8. Power-frequency control system
2000

[rpm]
Basically, we resort to the classical regulation scheme (Fig. 1500

8). However, suitable additional actions have to be adopted in 1000

order to counteract the effect of disturbances. To be precise, if
the solar radiation exhibits a fast and large decrease, a 500

traditional control system would lead to an exceeding increase 0

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
of mass-flow rate of the fuel. This would imply a dangerous [s]

increase of the temperature of the combustion gases at the inlet

of the turbine and the consequent intervention of the GT Figure 10. GT speed
temperature controller. But this bad effect can be avoided with Solar receivers out temperature
a fine tuning of the controller parameter (PI gains, saturation 900

values, function parameter etc.). 800

700
D. Startup Speed Control
600
In the GT startup phase the Speed Controller has the task of
[°C]

increasing the GT speed up to the synchronization speed with 500

the grid. The control scheme is designed in order to allow two 400

control mode. In the first control mode, from 0 to 600 rpm, the 300
speed ramp-up, is managed powering the generator with the
GT starter. In the second, up to 3000 rpm, the speed is actuated 200
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

by the fuel control valve. [s]

Figure 11. Solar receivers air out temperature

VI. PLANT START UP TRANSIENT SIMULATION
Solar receivers thermal power
In the following figures is reported the transient simulation 60

of the plant startup performed with the 50

LegoPC/Matlab/Simulink hybrid power plant simulator.
40

The transient starts from a warm condition, with the solar

receivers not in operation and the GT turbine in stop state. At
[MW]

30

the start of the maneuver the speed ramp (Figure 10. ) is 20

controlled by the motor power starter (Figure 14. ) up to the

speed of self-sustaining 600 rpm. After a pause the speed ramp 10

is governed by the fuel (Error! Reference source not found.) 0

up to the speed of “full-speed-no-load” (3000 rpm). After the

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
[s]

synchronization with the grid (t=1500 s), the solar receivers is

set in service and at the same time the load ramp to the nominal Figure 12. Solar receiver thermal power
power is set up.

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4th International Conference on Power Engineering, Energy and Electrical Drives Istanbul, Turkey, 13-17 May 2013

1.8
Fuel flow
and built the mathematical model in the platform “LegoPC
1.6 /Matlab/Simulink”. With the simulator of the hybrid-power-
1.4 plant were carried out various transient that allowed exploring
1.2 some of the characteristics and operating limits of this power-
1 generation system solution. In the final analysis, the simulator
[Kg/s]

0.8 was considered to be reliable in assessing the behavior of the

0.6 gas turbine hybrid and with it were explored possible solutions
0.4 to improve in terms of power output, fuel economy and
0.2 flexibility of system performance, however, since the
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
particularly innovative aspect of the system (note that the
[s] largest gas turbine hybrid solar SOLUGAS, 4.6 MWe, is an
experimental, not in commercial operation) for the effective
Figure 13. Fuel flow rate realization remain open important technological issues here not
power starter
analyzed regarding for example the combustion stability but
1.6
especially the reliability of the solar receivers which must
1.4
withstand on an ongoing conditions of pressure and
1.2 temperature very high.
1

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
[MW]

0.8

This work, promoted by RSE (Ricerca sul Sistema

0.6

0.4
Energetico), Milan. The support by the MIUR national project
0.2
”Identification and adaptive control of industrial systems” and
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 by CNR – IEIIT is gratefully acknowledged.
[s]

Figure 14. GT starter power REFERENCES

The startup sequence time table is:
• t = 50 s - GT start;
• t = 220 s - GT at self-sustaining speed 600rpm, fuel
burners on;
• t = 520 s - Speed ramp to 3000 rpm start;
• t = 1360 s - Synchronizing speed;
• t = 1900 s - Start load ramp and solar receivers on;
• t = 2550 s - End load ramp, 47 MW.
I. CONCLUSIONS
This paper deals with a study of the control strategy of a
hybrid power plant based on integration of a solar thermal with
Brayton cycle. It was built a model of the solar hybrid gas
turbine with its control system, thus realizing a power plant
simulator. The integration of solar energy with a conventional
power-generation system such as the gas turbine is a great
potential technique to produce electricity and heat using
renewable energy and at the same time ensure predictability of
generation for the grid. In the power-generation system
described in this paper, solar energy is used to preheat the air
leaving the compressor and directed to the combustion
chamber of the GT where, before being fed into the turbine,
receives additional energy, in a conventional manner, with the
gaseous fuel (i.e. natural gas). This allows on one hand to
operate the plant even during periods of absence of solar
radiation (at the night) and on the other it allows to compensate
with the gaseous fuel unanticipated events on the solar
radiation caused by the movement of clouds, thus guaranteeing
to the grid power generation predictable and programmable.
In this activity is designed a solar-hybrid system based on a
gas turbine of 50 MW, is designed the control system strategy
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