A

PRESENTATION ON

“Analysis and study of solar thermal power plant 24X7 thermal

storage”
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of the
Degree of master of technology
in
Thermal Engineering
Submitted to

Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya, Bhopal, M.P.

Submitted by
Abhinav Pratap Singh
0505ME20MT01
Under the Guidance and supervision of
Prof. Abhishek Kumar
 Introduction
• In current state of affairs, requirement of energy is rising exponentially in every
sectors i.e. manufacturing, infrastructure etc. Heating/cooling requirement of the
building only consumes 30-34% of the total global energy consumption. They are
resulting key problems in a variety are like pollution control, change in climatic
conditions, global warming, ozone layer depletion etc. that creates many health
issues. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has accepted that
Green House Gases (GHGs) are the first and foremost responsible for the various
environmental issues like climate change and global warming. The
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has accepted that Green House
Gases (GHGs) are the first and foremost responsible for the various environmental
issues like climate change and global warming. . Currently energy consumption
rate in India has reached to just double compare to year 2000. There are mainly five
major energy consuming fields i.e. industries, agriculture, transport,
communication, buildings (i.e. commercial and residential).
• In India, 1363 MW was the total installed capacity in 1947. Then reached to 314.64
GW in 2017. During 2012-17 in the 12th Five Year, 88,425 MW target was set.
Majority part means 50,000 MW was based on coal fired thermal power plant.
Major difficulties of 21stcentury are:
 Climate change has come out as a biggest problem
 Global warming due to GHGs
 GHG emissions due to use of fossil fuels
 Reducing balance of fossil fuels
 Availability of 24×7 electricity for all
 Variation in energy demand i.e. during shift change, night peak hours, etc.

To overcome from above problems, it is essential to encourage:-

 Effective energy management to conserve and balance demand & supply
 Optimal use of natural energy resources
 Discourage the use of fossil fuel based energy
 Acceptance of various new hybrid technologies in which partly/fully energy is
share by renewable energy sources
 Promote new hybrid technologies coupled with energy storage
• It can be classified as primary and secondary energy sources.
• Primary energy sources are normally categorized as renewable and non-
renewable on the basis of their depleting characteristics.
• Renewable energy derived from natural resources and they are automatically
replenished. It is also known as clean energy sources.
• Primary energy sources
 Non-renewable

 Exhaustible (Fossil fuels i.e. oil, gas, coal, etc.)

 Renewable

 Inexhaustible (Solar, wind, hydro, geothermal,ocean etc.)

• Secondary energy sources are derived from transformation of primary energy

sources i.e. heat and electricity.

• Renewable energy sources are inexhaustible but as per Indian climatic conditions
solar energy is most suitable renewable energy source
• Solar energy :-
o Solar PV -Directly converts into electricity.
o Solar thermal -Directly converts into heat.
• Solar Photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal both are efficient.
• Selection of them is depends on utility, suitability,economically. For energy storage
and 24×7 energy supply solar thermal technology is getting more popular than solar
PV technology.
• Solar thermal technology is also known as Concentrated Solar Power (CSP).
CSP
• Point focusing
 Solar tower
 Dish system
• Line focusing
 Parabolic trough
 Fresnel trough

• CSP systems could be cost-effectively feasible at minimum 1600-1800 kWh/m 2/year

• These are to work environmentally safe, to diminish primary cost and ground area,
to increase long-term system trustworthiness, to make possible ease in service and
maintenance.
 Parabolic trough comprises a parabolic linear reflector. It reflects or focuses sun
rays/radiations towards the receiver, shown in Figure. Thermal heat is absorbed by
working fluid (i.e. molten salt, etc.), that is filled in the receiver’s tube. Reflector has a
tracking system to track the maximum sun radiations.
 Working fluid achieves the temperature 150-350 o C.
 Weight of parabolic linear reflector is higher due to joint less design.

Parabolic trough collector and reflector

• LFR- several curved mirrors are positioned rather than a single parabolic reflector that
is known as Linear Fresnel Reflector (LFR).
• LFR is less proficient compared to parabolic trough, due to problem in tracking its
multiple curved mirrors. As a result of fixed position of curved mirrors, at the time of
sunrise and afternoon some losses also arises.
• Still having these drawbacks, it is trouble- free, less maintenance and generation cost
per kWh is lower than the parabolic trough.

LINEAR FRESNEL REFLECTOR

• SOLAR TOWER- Array of heliostats tracks sun in double-axis. The working fluid is
gets heated in between 500-1000o C.
• Main drawback of this technology is the size, design of the tower.

Solar tower technology with heliostats field

• Parabolic Dish Collector (PDC)- system concentrates sun radiations towards
receiver similar to parabolic trough but focused on a single point, shown as Figure.
• Working fluid gets heated up to 750o C.
• It is more efficient compared to others but suitable for small capacity applications
only.

Parabolic Dish Collector

 ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM (ESS)
• Energy storage systems have the capability to solve the problems up to some extent
towards smooth and continuous energy supply.
• Due to rapid growth in infrastructure sector (i.e. communication, transport, road and
rail networks, etc.), demand of energy is rising enormously and more than 20-30%
demand is satisfied by non-conventional energy sources.
• Many researches come on the conclusion that renewable energy sources are the only
option for sustainable development and appropriate energy storage systems are the
prerequisite. They have feature to store the energy and then release as and when
required.
• Some ESSs i.e. flywheel energy storage, compressed air energy storage, pumped
storage, batteries, regenerative fuel cell storage, superconducting magnet energy
storage are explained here.
 Flywheel energy storage system
• Flywheel energy storage systems store energy mechanically in the flywheel rotor
by rotating the rotor. Afterward generator is employed to convert mechanical
energy to electrical, as shown in Figure. It is efficient and used for various
applications. It is preferred due to compactness, light in weight and high energy
capacity. But due to limited amount of charge/discharge cycle characteristic, it is
not cost-effective.
 Compressed energy air storage
• It is also known as stone storage system. Air is compressed to absorb and store heat
energy after that released to utilized to generate steam and electricity. Conceptual
diagram is shown as Figure. It is getting popularity due to quick start-up, able to
integrate with other energy sources but requires geological structure reliance.
 Pumped storage
• In pumped storage system, water is pumped and stored at height during off-peak
periods then utilized to generate electricity to meet the peak demand, as shown in
Figure. Hydro power plants store electricity in Megawatts (MW) or Gigawatts
(GW). It has many advantages i.e. fast start-up, reliable but requires large area and
cost.
 Battery
• .Portable batteries are well accepted in many small storage applications like
transport sector, utilities, etc. But it has some drawbacks like high cost, short life
and regular maintenance.

• Kkk
 Regenerative fuel cell storage
• It is electrochemical cell, converts source fuel (i.e. hydrogen, methane, propane,
methanol, etc.) into electricity. Hydrogen fuel cell is the one type of
electrochemical cell, where hydrogen is used the primary fuel and oxygen is also
required, as shown in Figure.They produce electricity with very little pollution like
hydrogen cell produces by product water. It has many advantages like no
greenhouse gases, more operating time. But has some disadvantages like facing
difficulty in storing of hydrogen due to highly inflammable nature of H2 and
requirement of high capital cost due to platinum catalyst.
 Superconducting magnet storage
• This is an advanced energy storage system. It stores energy in the magnetic field
within magnets that is developed by flow of direct current in a superconducting
coil, and then releases it within fraction of cycle, as shown in Figure.
 Molten salt
• Molten salt storage systems are the established commercially available concept for
solar thermal power plants. Due to their low vapor pressure and comparatively high
thermal stability, molten salts are preferred as the heat transfer fluid and storage
medium. However, due to pricing pressure, the development of alternative, more
cost- effective concepts is an important step in making thermal energy storage more
competitive for industrial processes and solar thermal applications. A closer look at
the capital cost distribution of two-tank storage systems, reveals that indirect
systems with a maximum operating temperature of 400 °C have differing heat
transfer fluids (HTF) and storage media. For direct systems with operating
temperatures up to 560 °C, using molten salt as the HTF and the storage media, the
capital cost ratios are 34 % for the storage media and 31 % for the storage tank, as
shown in Figure.
 Stone storage
• In this type of energy storage medium is pebbles that has significantly higher
thermal conductivity than normal concrete. Although the recipe of this material is
quite complex the main component is quartzite, natural geo-material readily
available in many parts of the world. Further, heat is transported in and out of the
storage by way of a heat transfer fluid (HTF) which flows through steel pipe heat
exchangers that are cast into concrete storage elements, as shown in Figure. These
elements are specially designed to deal with thermal deformations and stressing.
Stone storage may be a good technology for CL-CSP system.
It can be concluded from comparative study of various energy storage systems that for the
need of large scale energy storage underground thermal, pumped hydro and compressed air
energy storage systems are suitable. Superconductors are able to store energy with negligible
losses. Fuel cells are a viable alternative to petrol engines due to their high efficiency.
Flywheels have a narrow range and suitable for small scale operations. Molten salt and stone
storage systems are gaining more acceptability for solar thermal power plants.
OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH WORK
• According to current rising trend in energy demand, reducing balance stock of fossil
fuels and its impact on environment and health, it is urgent to switch over to alternative
source of energy i.e. renewable with efficient storage systems.
• The objectives of the present work are to develop methodology for hybridizing the solar
thermal (i.e. CSP) with thermal storage to 24×7 uninterrupted energy supply.
• Objective-I
• Experimentally performance analysis of 1 MWe (3.5 MW) solar thermal power plant
with 16 hours thermal storage for continuous operation established at Mount Abu,
Rajasthan.
• Experimentally performance analysis of 3.5 kWe (1 kWh) solar thermal power plant
with 24 hours thermal storage for continuous operation established at Bhopal, Madhya
Pradesh.
• Objective-II

To compare the performance of above mentioned both solar thermal power plant
coupled with storage system for the Indian climate conditions.
• EXPERIMENTAL SET UPS
• For controlling pollution level and fulfilling energy demand 24×7, hybrid
(combination of CSP with thermal storage) system is appropriate. In research two
experimental set ups are developed. They are as follows:-
• Experimental set up -01
• Mount Abu
• Experimental set up -02
• Bhopal
 LITERATURE REVIEW
• Literature on the basic concept of solar thermal systems and energy storage
systems, their classifications, performances has been reviewed. It comprises the
performances fetches out their merits and demerits. Therefore, literature review is
presented under following heads:
– Power installed capacity of India
– Battery storage systems
– Thermal storage systems
Fuel Total Power Installed
MW Capacity of India
%
Share
Total Thermal 2,27,644 63.2
Coal 1,96,895 54.2
Lignite 6,260 1.7
Gas 24,937 6.9
Diesel 510 0.1
Hydro(Renewable 45,399 12.6
)
Nuclear 6,780 1.9
RES (MNRE) 82,589 22.7
Total 3,63,370 100

BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEM WITH SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC

Cost analysis of 1 MW solar power (i.e. Solar PV) 24x7 energy storage with lead acid
Load required: 24 MWh-AC

Inverter efficiency @ avg 95% 24/0.95 = 25.26 MWh

Battery @80% 25.26/0.80 = 31.57 MWh

Charge Controller @ 96% 31.57/0.96 = 32.89 MWh

Array thermal loss @ 80% 32.89/0.80 = 41.11 MWh

Radiation available 5 KWh for 5.6 hrs

PV array Capacity required 41.11 MWh/5.6 h = 7.37 MWp

Cost of PV @ 4 crore per MW 7.37 x 4 = 29.89 crores

Battery cost for uninterrupted power supply and best quality power
output
Cost of lead acid battery @ Rs. 8000 per KWh for period of 5 years
Cost of Li-ion battery @ Rs 15000 per
30 MWh approx.
30,000 x 8000 = 24 crores for period of 5 years, Therefore for period
of 20 years, we have to replace the battery 5 times, so total cost for
battery will be around 24 x 4= Rs. 96 crores
30,000 x 15000 = 45 crores for period of

KWh for period of 10 years

10 years, Therefore for period of 20 years, we have to replace the
battery 5 times, so total cost for battery will be around 45 x 2= Rs.
90 crores
24 x 1000 = 24,000 unit daily
So 1 MWh produces 1000 unit every hour, for 24 hrs
Cost of unit sale @ Rs. 5/ unit 24,000 x 5 = 1,20,000

24,000 x 18 = 4,32,000
Cost of diesel plant is around Rs. 18 per unit

total cost of 1 MW PV based lead acid battery operated power plant: 29.89 + 90 = 119.89 crores
say Rs. 120 crores for stabilized uninterrupted quality power.
 THERMAL STORAGE SYSTEM WITH SOLAR THERMAL
For MW scale solar thermal power plant based on parabolic trough collector (PTC) and
molten salt as thermal storage, the following cost analysis of 1 MW solar power (i.e.
Solar thermal) 24x7 energy storage is presented in Table
Ero trough + schott vacuum tube cost Rs ~ 30,000 per sq.m

1 MW x 24 18% turbine 24 MWh electrical

Thermal anticipating loss 10% 108/18 = 6 times

Megawatt thermal capacity 24 x 6.0 = 144 MWH or say 150 MWH

Average DNI 4.5 KWh/m2

Efficiency of trough 60% 4.5 x 0.6 = 2.7 Kwh/m2 of PTC

Requirements 150 MWH = 150 x 1000= 150000 Kwh/2.7

= 55,555 m2 of PTC x 30,000

= 16.666 crores
BOP turbine Island

Storage-molten salt KNO3 + NaNO3 ~ Rs 120/Kg

150 MWH x 0.7 ~ 105 MWH thermal storage
= 105 x 1000 x 50 x70

= 36.5 crores storage cost

Total cost 16 cr + 36 cr = 60 crores
 24 x 1000 = 24,000 unit daily
So 1 MWh produces 1000 unit every hour, for 24 hrs

Cost of unit sale @ Rs. 5/ unit 24,000 x 5 = 1,20,000

24,000 x 18 = 4,32,000
Cost of diesel plant is around Rs. 18 per unit

Hence total cost of 1 MW solar thermal with molten salt thermal storage is Rs. 60
crore for stabilized uninterrpted quality power.

• It should be noted that life cycle assessment of solar PV based power is required
replacement of batteries after 5 year in case of Lead acid battery and 10 years in case
of Li-ion batteries.
• There is no replacement of solar thermal power plant and continue to run as it
maintain. Hence PV based plant cost will be around Rs. 114 crores and solar
thermal based plant is Rs. 60 crores for stabilized uninterrupted quality power.
• Powell et al. [33] observed that CSP or solar thermal power technology is suitable to
couple with any alternative strategies like coal, natural gas,
biofuels, geothermal, photovoltaic (PV) and wind.
• Globally four main CSP technologies are popular for power generation
• Parabolic Trough (PT)
• Solar Tower (ST)
• Linear Fresnel Reflector (LFR)
• Parabolic Dish (PD)
• After reviewing different research papers, following
research gaps are identified:

 Remarkable scope of energy storage is available coupled with solar thermal (CSP)
systems in in hot climatic conditions i.e. India. Only a few concerned research
papers are accessible for making available electricity 24×7 in hot climatic
conditions i.e. India.

 Thermal energy storage system (i.e. solid) coupled with solar thermal (CSP)
systems for the Indian climatic conditions is found.
 EXPERIMENTAL SET UP
• Thermal storage Receivers:
• Each Receiver can store thermal energy up to 150 kwhrs per day
• Direct steam generation of temperature ranging from 250 o DegC 450DegC at
operating pressure from 38 Bar g to 44 Bar
 Overall plant output:

• The overall plant produces 7000 kgs of steam every hour for continuous 24 hours
plant operation.
• Turbine – Generator can produce peak of 1.2MW of power output per hour
• The thermal storage allows the plant to run on continuous basis round the clock. It
also allows the plant to generate power as per demand
 Parabolic solar reflector
• This supporting stand requires design as per the latitude of the location.
• The base of the supporting stand is designed in triangular shape for more stability
and less land requirement.
• All the materials used for the designare of Mild steel grade as per IS2062 and M.S.
Sections as per IS4923.
• All the surface areas are protected with epoxy paint coat and marine protection PU
paint coat on the properly cleaned surface through copper slag blasting.
 Supporting stand
Concrete foundation is done for providing proper strength to 60 SQM Parabolic Solar
Reflector as shown in Figure. Designing of stands is done according to latitude of the
location, hence different design is done for different locations. Base of supporting stand
is selected in triangular shape for providing proper strength with less land requirement.
• Rotating wheel :- It links to supporting stand and parabolic frame, as Figure.
Materials employed for rotating wheel are of mild steel grade as per IS 2062 and
M.S. sections as per IS 4923. The daily tracking arrangement is through rack and
pinion arrangement with actuators and DC motor for daily rotation.

•Parabolic Outer Frame: The next main component of the Parabolic Reflector is
the parabolic frame. The outer frame is designed in three parts as per the requirement
of flexibility and rigidity balance to accommodate various shapes of parabola’s for
different seasonal requirements. This outer frame provides hinge support to various
cross-bars and long-bars that are designed to support the mirror pieces that make a
perfect parabolic reflective surface.
• Flexible Parabola: The structural design has the flexibility option in the structure
to provide flexible parabola. There is different parabolas option for different
seasons. These flexible parabolas are possible through automatic dual axis tracking
mechanism. There are three types of tracking systems:
1. Daily tracking: This tracking mechanism allows the Reflector to track the sun
throughout the day. This is done with the help of rack and pinion mechanism.
2. Seasonal tracking: This tracking mechanism allows the Reflector to align with the
changes in the angle of the sun due to change in the season.
3. Shape change tracking: This tracking mechanism allows the reflector to change the
shape of the parabola to increase the concentration ration of the focus.
 Static cast iron receiver
• Receiver is constructed by monolithic cast iron, in conical cavity shape, opening of
500 mm and 700 mm deep in conical design. A single helical boiler grade coil is
wound around the monolithic conical cavity cast iron body around the periphery.
• The entire body of the Receiver is covered with mineral wool Insulation of 6 inch
thickness with aluminum cladding to minimize heat loss to atmosphere.
• The Receiver is supported and mounted on a triangular structure for better
stability and supported with fixtures that minimize heat loss due to heat transfer.
 Equipment list used in the experimental set
up
Sl. Name of Specifications Make / Cost Date of Utilization Remarks
No Equipmen Model (FE / Installation Rate (%) regarding
t Rs) Maintenance
/ Breakdown
Tracker Unit Assembly
complete with Micro- 23rd
1. Solar Tracker Unit Controller with Computer 7,04,175.00 Jan,2016 100% Control
Interfacing Facility and full System
auto operation throughout Components
the year and data logging Replaced
system.

Piping work
2. D4#23P 1,19,914.85 75% was revised for
Heat Transfer Unit Plunger Type Positive SR NO: CE- 26th better steam
(Boiler Feed Pump Return Metering; 0-50 LPH 5606 Mar,2016 generation and
& Piping & Core of with discharge pressure Dosing the Core s under
MS and Copper) 11kg/cm2 ; Flooded suction; Metering revision to Cast-
Pump speed Pump Iron crucible
– 145 RPM; All material SS design for
316 ; Plunger – Hard improving
Chrome Plated steam
parameters.

3. Core Material Mild Steel, Copper and 3,38,401.00 7th 75% Size of
from RPI USA Cast- Iron May,2016 Crystal
revised
HS
4. Fresnel Lens 1100mm(dia.) x 5mm(thick); 7117190000 31,000.00 23rd 100% -
MMA Polymer; Focal 0 Jan,2016
Length of 1300mm Focal length
1300mm
1100mm Dia.
• Other materials are-
• Thermocouple R-Type ; 360mm Long; 0-1500o C range ; Compensating Cable SS
braided and Digital Meter along with accessories.
• Thermo-Electric Device duly designed and fabricated at Micro-and Nano Fabrication
Clean Room (MNCR), RPI, USA. Conversion Efficiency more than 5%.
• Thermal Storage Salt for Research developed at the RPI Lab, USA and imported vide
invoice dated 25th April, 2016- having high “Energy Density” exceeding
300kWh/m3and Density 2200kg/m3.
 The aim of this project is to demonstrate a solar thermal storage system with 1 kW
capacity of volumetric energy density, exceeding 300 kWh/m 3 and capable of operating
at high temperatures up to 1000 oC.
 The unique aspects of this system are the selection of an alkali halide salt with high
melting temperature and a corrosion-resistant, low- cost ceramic container material.
Sized and photo of mixed
alkali halide compounds
doped with metallic
impurities

Tracking rope and

chain
 EXPERIMENT RESULTS
• The thermal output from the reflector is computed by the aperture area of the
reflector, the Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) and the efficiency factor of the
reflector. The efficiency factor of the reflector depends on different things i.e.
mirror reflectivity, surface of mirror cleaned, purity and accuracy of mirror,
normally it is taken 60% as efficiency factor of reflector surface. Actual DNI is
calculated on the location for every 10 mins and averaged out for hour and then for
the day. So the output of Reflector = aperture area (SQM) x avg. DNI for the day
(kWhrs) x efficiency factor. Ave. DNI of the location for the year 2021 is shown as
Figure.
Thermal output of 60 SQM reflectors for the year 2021
• THERMAL BEHAVIOR OF RECEIVER
• Without front glass
• The testing was carried out in the month of Feb 2022. The Static receiver is charged during
the day time through the solar rays reflection focus from the Paraboloid reflector, shown as
Fig..The Receiver is charged without front glass covering. Observation: Max. Temperature
recorded is 400 Oc

Thermal behavior of the Receiver without front glass

• With front glass covering at the receiver opening and with water flow through the
heat transfer coil
• Observation:
•
– Flow rate of water through the heat transfer coil – 3.5 litrs/min.
– Max. temperature reached at the Receiver – 450 oC
– Max. pressure of steam discharged – 42 bar
– Max. temperature of steam discharged – 430 oC
– Discharging 2/3rd of time superheated steam and 1/3rd of time saturated steam before
rapid temperature drop.
• With front glass cover at receiver opening as shown Fig.
• Observation: Max. temperature recorded – 450 oC

Thermal behavior of the cover at receiver opening front glass

• Research on a large host of sensible heat storage and phase-change materials have been
conducted over the past two decades. The materials parameters that are relevant for this
application are: melting point, boiling point, vapor pressure, density, heat capacity,
thermal conductivity, latent heat of fusion and chemical reactivity.
• Current heat storage systems utilize either sensible heat storage (i.e. water in storage
tanks) or latent heat storage (i.e. phase-change materials such as molten salts). The
relatively low operating temperatures of these systems limit their capacity to store
thermal energy; storage systems with higher temperatures would be more economical.
• The unique aspects of this system are the selection of an alkali halide salt with high
melting temperature .
• RESULT OBSERVED-
o During 3 days of trial run from 11th Feb to 14th Feb 2022, we have achieved a drop in
temperature at the middle of core to the tune of 2 to 2.5 oC per hour in 15 hours from
310oCto 278oC.
o .The trial operations will continue for about 6 month to get study steam flow at highest
possible temperature and pressure to run the steam turbine for Power generation to the
tune of 300W electric (1000W thermal).
o The temperature achieved at the tip of solar focal point about 1400 oC. The temperature
at the core mid-point was found to be of the order of 310 oC which may be sufficient to
generate steam for heat transfer studies.
TEMPERATURE RECORDED
DURING FIELD TEST

FOCUS OF LENS AT
THE TIP OF RECIEVER
 STEAM OUTPUT
OF THE SYSTEM

STEAM GENERATION
FROM THE CAST IRON THERMAL
STORAGE
 Conclusion

• In present era the growth of population is very fast, resulting energy demand is also
increasing exponentially mainly due to their modern life style, etc. Therefore,
renewable based 24×7 energy solutions have to be invented.
• Conventional renewable energy generation systems have enormous issues i.e.
uninterrupted supply, energy storage with controlled GHGs emissions.
• Unlike conventional renewable approach, an innovative passive hybrid approach is
the coupling of energy storage system with Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)
system. By using solar energy, the hybrid system is able to generate huge amount of
energy. These systems are characterized by various advantages i.e. appropriate
efficiency, no emissions of GHGs with very low operation and maintenance costs
etc.
• Two experimental set ups with objective to proficient exploitation solar energy and
store through solid storage systems to provide the power 24×7. A 1 MWe (3.5 MW
thermal) solar power plant with 16 hours thermal storage capacity and A 1 kWe
high energy density thermal energy storage for concentrated solar plant were
experimented and found satisfactory results as per Indian climatic conditions.
• CONCLUSIONS FROM PERFORMANCE OF 1 MWe (3.5 MWh)
SOLAR POWER PLANT WITH 16 HOURS THERMAL STORAGE
CAPACITY
• The plant operates on Rankine cycle principle. The Parabolic Reflector
concentrates the solar radiation towards the in-house developed, highly efficient
cavity receiver. The cavity of the Receiver which is made of monolithic cast iron
acts as perfect black body and thus provides excellent thermal storage. The boiler
grade coil around the body acts as a heat exchanger which allows for water to
exchange heat and convert into steam.
• The thermal storage can be operated between 250 oC to 550oC and can be
discharged. The steam generated is mostly super- heated steam and the rest is
saturated steam to pertaining pressure from 38 bar to 44 bar gauge pressure.

• CONCLUSIONS FROM PERFORMANCE OF 1 kWe HIGH

ENERGY DENSITY THERMAL STORAGE
• It was concluded from various readings that the temperature achieved at the tip of
solar focal point about 1400oC. The temperature at the core mid-point was found to
be of the order of 310oC which is sufficient to generate steam for heat transfer.
 •COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SOLID
THERMAL STORAGE SYSTEM WITH OTHER
SYSTEMS

S.N. Parameter India One Mount MNRE R&D Project ,

abu Bhopal

Technical Parameter
1 Thermal Capacity 3.5 MWth 40 KWth
2 Electrical Capacity 1 MWe 10 kWe

3 Heat source(CSP 60 sq m parabolic 16 sq m parabolic

System) Scheffler dish Scheffler dish

4 Storage medium Cast Iron Halide Salt

4.1 Specific heat(KJ/Kg K) 2100 3500

4.2 Life (year) 25 35
4.3 Heat redundancy ( min) 6000 8000
4.4 Density (kg/m3) 120 80
4.5 chemical composition
4.6 Chemically activeness inert inert
4.7 Impact on Environment
5 Area (Acre) 8 4.5
 Future Scope
The long term aim of this research work is to develop the necessary technology
know- how to enable the manufacturing process in India for large scale MW
systems. Promote energy efficient concept of steam generation through solar thermal
storage and apply in Carbon Capture Sequestration (CCS) system, shown as Figure.
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