Submitted By:

Md. Ayyub
4116760
 Introduction
Solar thermal power plant is combination of solar energy and thermal
energy. The sun radiations used as fuel in the power plant. Solar energy
is converted into the heat or thermal energy which further use as
mechanical energy to operate the turbine and generators. Solar power
further categories based upon the power cycles i.e. low, medium and
high temperature cycles. These cycles are based upon the solar
radiations and type of collectors used for collecting the solar radiations.
In low temperature cycles the temperature is limited to about 100oc, in
medium temperature range varies from 150oc to 300oc where as in high
temperature cycles temperature may goes above 300oc.
For different temperature cycle different thermodynamic cycles are
used in the power plant. Generally, for low and medium temperature
ranges, Rankine cycle is preferred where as for high temperature range
Brayton cycle is used.
Block Diagram Of Solar Thermal Power
Plant
Components Of Solar Thermal Power Plant
 Solar pond
 Solar energy collectors
 Working fluid
 Evaporator Boiler
 Turbine and Generator
 Condenser and Cooling tower
Solar pond: The solar energy coming from the sun firstly absorbed by the
solar pond. Solar pond is a reservoir of water where sun rays directly focus by
using solar energy collectors. After that solar energy increases the internal
energy and raises the temperature of solar pond. The fluid in the solar pond
may be directly used as the working fluid if its temperature reaches up to
evaporating temperature or other way is to use secondary fluid known as
working fluid. The fluid from the solar pond goes into the cyclic process.
Solar energy collectors: Solar energy collectors are the device used for
collecting the solar radiations and focus the solar radiations at particular
location to transfer the heat energy into the solar ponds or fluid. Generally, two
types of collectors are used first is non-concentrating or flat plate type solar
collector which is used for low temperature cycle and second one is
concentrating or focusing type solar collector which are used for medium and
high temperature applications. Collectors make the solar energy more useful.
Simple flat plate collectors are very simple, the collecting area is equal to
absorbing area where as focusing type collector have several arrangements of
mirrors and lenses for proper concentration of sun light due to this by using
focus type collectors we can capture 100 times solar radiation as compared to
flat plate collector keeping the area same. By using focusing type collector we
can directly generate medium pressure steam.
Evaporator Boiler: In this device, working fluid is kept and gains latent heat
of vaporisation from the sun radiations or by solar pond. Working fluid is
circulating throughout the cycle by evaporating boiler.

Turbine and Generator: Turbine and generators are the essential part of the
power generation system. Working fluid goes through the cyclic operation
runs the turbine which is connected to the generator. Generator generates
electricity which is transferred to the required location.

Condenser and cooling tower: After turbine working fluid goes into the
condenser, condenser and cooling tower condense the working fluid and send
back to the evaporator boiler with the help of pump.
 Advantages
 Solar power plants work on solar energy which is available
in abundant on the earth surface at most of the places.
 Solar energy is available at free of cost.
 Solar power plants produce negligible pollution as
compared to thermal power plant.
 Solar power is available at free of cost after some initial
cost.
 The energy produced is renewable energy with negligible
cost.
 Quantity of water use in solar power plants is very less as
compare to other power plants. So, we can say that solar
power plants save lots of water.
 Disadvantages
 The major drawback is the availability of the sun. Sun radiation of
desired intensity is not available whole day.
 Solar energy is a time dependent source of energy. We can’t rely on
solar energy completely.
 If we talk about our country sun is not available at all the location with
same intensity of radiation. Intensity of solar radiations varies
according to the location. While sun rays coming to sun different
factors are dominate.
 Intensity of sun radiation varies according to weather i.e. in rainy
season solar energy is not available because of clouds.
 Sun light falls on earth surface in variable and inconsistent manner.
 For collecting the sun radiations at useful rate large area is required.