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Thermodynamics-II
Project Report

Title: Solar Thermal Power Plant

Submitted by the Students of ME-11-A :

Sr. Names Registration No.

No.
1. Shehroze Amir 220501013
2. Babar Afzal 220501069
3. Ali Abbas 220501041
4. Hadia Abid 220501027
5. Shehzil Baloch 220501051
6. Muskan Ghaffari 220501025
7. Alina Gillani 220501075
8. Toseef E Zahra 220501073
9. Mehwish Mahmood 220501015

Submitted to: Dr. Naseem

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1 CONTENTS
2 Abstract:.............................................................................................................................................3
3 Introduction:.......................................................................................................................................3
4 Parabolic Trough’s working:...............................................................................................................4
5 PTC system operating at Hassi R'mel site:..........................................................................................6
6 Calculations:.......................................................................................................................................7
7 Results And Discussion:...................................................................................................................12
8 Advantages Of Combined PTC power plant:....................................................................................12
9 Disadvantages Of Combined PTC power plant:................................................................................13
10 Recommendations:............................................................................................................................13
11 Conclusion:.......................................................................................................................................14
12 References........................................................................................................................................14
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2 ABSTRACT:

Solar thermal power plants harness the Sun's energy to generate heat, which is then converted
into electricity. To achieve the high temperatures required, solar energy is concentrated using
mirrors. This technology has vast potential, estimated to exceed global electricity demands.
There are three main types of solar thermal power plants, each utilizing a different method to
concentrate sunlight: parabolic troughs, solar towers, and solar dishes. These plants use mirrors,
typically made of glass, to focus sunlight and heat a fluid, such as water, which drives a steam
turbine. Some solar thermal power plants also incorporate heat storage systems, enabling them to
generate electricity even after sunset.

Figure 1: Solar Thermal Power Plant

3 INTRODUCTION:

Fossil fuels have long dominated the global energy landscape, but their excessive consumption
has exacerbated environmental pollution. As the most abundant renewable energy source, solar
energy is crucial for transitioning to a sustainable energy future. Solar thermal power generation
has emerged as a promising technology, harnessing the sun's energy to produce high-temperature
steam and drive steam turbines. Over time, advancements have refined the Solar Thermal Power
Generation (STGP) system, optimizing sunlight collection, reflection, and heat transfer. Three
leading solar thermal technologies have emerged:
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a) Parabolic Trough: This proven technology uses parabolic mirrors to concentrate

sunlight, heating thermal oil to 400°C, which is then used to produce superheated steam
for a conventional Rankine cycle power plant.

b) Central Receiver (Solar Tower): Heliostats concentrate sunlight onto a central receiver,
absorbing radiation and generating thermal energy to produce superheated steam for
turbine operation, with a concentration ratio of up to 1,500 times.

c) Parabolic Dish: This technology uses a parabolic dish to focus sunlight onto a receiver,
heating a fluid to 750°C, which is then used to generate electricity in a small engine or
micro turbine, suitable for remote locations or decentralized power generation.

4 PARABOLIC TROUGH’S WORKING:

Parabolic troughs, stretching over 600 meters in length, are designed to harness the sun's energy
efficiently. As the sun moves from east to west, the troughs are rotated to maximize solar
exposure. At the focal line of these troughs, a metal absorber tube is filled with a fluid, typically
synthetic oil, which is heated to a scorching 400°C-600°C by the concentrated sunlight. Once the
working fluid reaches a temperature of around 400°C, the heat transfer process begins, marking
the start of the power generation process.

The power plant operates on an integrated system, combining three interconnected cycles:

1. Solar System: Harnessing energy from the sun.

2. Brayton Cycle (Gas Cycle): Converting solar energy into gas-powered electricity.

3. Rankine Cycle (Steam Cycle): Utilizing waste heat to generate additional electricity
through steam power.
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Figure 2: parabolic trough solar thermal power plant

During the day, when solar radiation is strong, the synthetic oil is heated to 400°C-600°C. This
hot oil is then directed to the Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG), which is connected to
both the Brayton cycle and Rankine cycle. The HRSG is a heat exchanger that harnesses energy
from the exhaust gas of the Brayton cycle and the synthetic oil to produce superheated steam.

The Brayton cycle is utilized when weather conditions are unfavorable, such as cloudy skies, and
solar radiation is insufficient to heat the synthetic oil to the minimum operating temperature. The
Brayton cycle uses air as its working fluid, which is compressed, passed through a combustion
chamber with fossil fuels, and then heated to a high temperature. This hot air drives a gas turbine
connected to a generator, producing electricity. The exhaust gases from the gas turbine are then
directed to the HRSG.

The purpose of the HRSG is to minimize energy input by exchanging heat between systems. The
superheated steam generated in the Rankine cycle drives a turbine to produce electricity. The
steam is then condensed back into liquid and recycled. The Brayton cycle ensures the power
plant remains operational even when solar radiation is weak, providing a reliable source of
electricity.
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5 PTC SYSTEM OPERATING AT HASSI R'MEL SITE:

The Hassi R'mel solar power plant, located in the Algerian Sahara, utilizes a Parabolic Trough
Collector (PTC) system to harness the abundant solar energy in the region. The PTC system
consists of rows of parabolic mirrors that focus sunlight onto a central receiver tube, heating a
synthetic oil to a temperature of around 400°C. This hot oil is then used to generate steam, which
drives a steam turbine to produce electricity. With a capacity of 25 MW, the Hassi R'mel plant is
one of the largest solar power plants in Africa, and its PTC system plays a crucial role in
converting solar energy into thermal energy with high efficiency. In this project, we will analyze
the thermal efficiency of the PTC system at Hassi R'mel, evaluating its performance in
converting solar radiation into useful heat energy.
We extracted temperature ranges and pressure values from relevant articles on the power plant,
and where necessary, made informed estimates to fill in any data gaps.

Figure 3: Hassi Rmel Power PLant

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6 CALCULATIONS:
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7 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

To find the combined thermal efficiency of the power plant we solved the Rankine cycle and
Brayton cycle separately using steam tables (A-5, A-6, and A-17). We used the pump efficiency
as 85% and the turbine and compressor efficiency as 80%. In Rankine cycle firstly we calculated
Wpump,in i.e. 10.08KJ/Kg using data from the first two states of Rankine cycle also we calculated
enthalpies at each state to calculate Q in & Qout 2934.29 KJ and 2023.37 KJ respectively the final
efficiency appears to be 31.%. Also in Brayton cycle we calculated enthalpies at each state to
calculate Wcompressor,in 488.6KJ/Kg and Wturbine,out 717.528KJ/Kg then calculated Wnet 288.928KJ/Kg
also we calculated Qin 823.75 KJ/Kg. The efficiency for Brayton cycle is 27.8%. The combine
efficiency for both cycles was calculated as approximately 50% which is a realistic value.

8 ADVANTAGES OF COMBINED PTC POWER PLANT:

1. Increased Efficiency:
- Combining the Brayton and Rankine cycles allows for higher overall thermal efficiency. The
Brayton cycle (gas turbine) operates at high temperatures and the waste heat from this cycle is
utilized in the Rankine cycle (steam turbine), effectively using the heat twice.

2. Environmental Benefits:
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- Using solar energy reduces reliance on fossil fuels, leading to lower CO2 and other pollutant
emissions.

3. Reduced Fuel Consumption:

- Incorporating solar energy through the PTC reduces the need for fossil fuels, leading to lower
fuel costs and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over time.

4. Potential for Lower Operational Costs:

- Long-term fuel cost savings due to the utilization of free solar energy.

9 DISADVANTAGES OF COMBINED PTC POWER PLANT:

1. High Initial Investment:

- The initial setup cost for a combined cycle plant with a PTC system is higher due to
additional equipment and the need for advanced technology integration.

2. Space Requirements:
- PTC systems require significant land area for the solar collectors, which can be a constraint in
densely populated or land-scarce regions.

3. Intermittent Solar Supply:

- The efficiency and power output of the PTC system are dependent on weather conditions,
with cloudy or rainy periods reducing the available solar energy.

4. Maintenance Challenges:
- Solar collectors need regular cleaning and maintenance to maintain efficiency, particularly in
dusty environments.
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10 RECOMMENDATIONS:

To improve the efficiency of the PTC power plant at the Hassi R'Mel site, we need to enhance
solar collection efficiency by optimizing collector alignment and using advanced reflective
materials, improve heat transfer and storage through high efficiency fluids and thermal energy
storage systems, and integrate advanced real time monitoring and control systems utilizing AI for
predictive maintenance and performance optimization. Additionally, optimizing hybrid
operations, improving insulation to reduce thermal losses, regular cleaning and proactive
maintenance of collectors, and investing in advanced materials and selective coatings are
essential. Furthermore, optimizing the plant layout for minimal thermal and electrical losses,
integrating heat reuse strategies, and continuously investing in research and development for new
technologies will significantly boost overall plant efficiency.

11 CONCLUSION:

In conclusion, our group successfully calculated the thermal efficiency of a Parabolic Trough
Collector (PTC) operating at the Hassi R'mel site. We determined that the Rankine cycle
achieves a thermal efficiency of 31%, while the Brayton cycle achieves 27.8%, resulting in a
combined thermal efficiency of 50%. This theoretical combined efficiency serves as an ideal
benchmark; however, in practice, the actual thermal efficiency of a combined PTC steam power
plant at the Hassi R'mel site tends to be lower due to real-world inefficiencies such as heat losses,
equipment limitations, and environmental factors. Typically, actual efficiencies for such plants
are observed to be in the range of 35-50%. Thus, while our calculated value is somewhat higher
than the typical actual efficiencies, it provides a useful comparison that highlights the potential
for optimization and improvements in real-world applications.

12 REFERENCES

1) https://doi.org/10.1002/eng2.12404
2) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306261916302239
3) https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1757-899X/518/4/042002/meta
4) https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Study-on-integrated-solar-combined-cycle-system-a-
Wang- Duan/d5c1b7c5254b09e4cc5a4a0962610ab37f0e62fb
5) https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Hassi-RMel-ISCC-PTC-power-plant-
layout_fig1_350697406
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6) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0038092X18309204