generation

Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37

UNIT5
SOLAR THERMAL POWER
GENERATION

• T E C H N O LO G I E S ,
Solar thermal power

• PA R A B O L I C T R O U G H ,

• C E N T R A L R E C E I V E R S ,

• PA R A B O L I C D I S H ,

• F R E S N E L , S O L A R P O N D ,
E L E M E N TA RY A N A LY S I S

17/11/2022
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37

Technologies

• The operation and efficiency o f a solar thermal electric system depends upon :

• • detail s of the technical specification and mode of operation;

• •The materials used for the system (Eg:Quality and durability of reflectors
Solar t

[Jorgenson ,1993]); and

• • the incident insolation When compared to fossil electricity generation systems

, solar thermal electric is characterised by a greater share of total
environmental impact attributable to fabrication and installation compared to
the operation phase.

17/11/2022
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37

SOLAR ENERGY
COLLECTION
• A solar thermal collector collects heat by absorbing sunlight.
• It is possible to harness the energy from the sun and convert it into either
electricity or heat using PV (photo-voltaic) or ST (solar thermal)
technologies respectively.
• An evacuated solar system is the most efficient and a common means of
solar thermal energy generation with a rate of efficiency of 70 per cent.
Solar t

• Solar Thermal Energy Collector: Solar thermal energy collector is an equipment in

which solar energy is collected by absorbing the radiation in an absorber and then
transferring to a fluid. There are two type of collectors

11/16/2020
 11/16/2020
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37

TYPES OF SOLAR
COLLECTORS
• Back-pass solar collectors
• Used to heat air
• Glazed surface
• May be integrated with thermal mass
• Concentrating solar collectors
• Best suited for clear skies
• Steam production
Solar t

• Concentrates light at
absorber which can
increase efficiency at
high temperature
• Four forms: parabolic
trough, parabolic dish,
power tower, stationary
solar collectors
• Trombe Wall
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37

FLAT PLATE
COLLECTORS
• It has no optical concentrator. Here the collector area and the absorber area are
numerically same. The efficiency of flat plate collector is low and temperature
of working fluid can be raised only up to 100 0C.
Solar t
 FLAT PLATE COLLECTOR
SCHEMATIC CROSS SECTION OF A
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
 The flat plate collector consists of five major parts as given below:
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37

1: A metallic flat absorber plate: It is made of copper, steel or aluminium

(having high thermal conductivity) and having black surface. The
thickness of the metal sheet ranges from 0.5 to 1.0 mm.

2: Tubes or channels: they are soldered to the absorber plate. Water

flowing through these tubes takes away the heat from the absorber plate.
The diameter of tubes is around 1.25 cm, while that of the header pipe
Solar t

which leads water in and out of the collector and distributes it to

absorber tubes is 2.5 cm.
 3: A transparent toughened glass sheet: of 5 mm thickness is provided as
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37

the cover plate. It reduces convection heat losses through a stagnant

air layer between the absorber plate and the glass. Radiation loss are
also reduced as the spectral transmissivity of glass is such that it
transparent to short wave radiation and nearly opaque to long wave
thermal radiation emitted by interior collector walls and absorbing
plate.
4: Fibre glass insulation: of 2.5 to 8.0 cm thickness is provided at the
bottom and on the sides in order to minimize the heat loss.
Solar t
 Lecture32
5: A container encloses the whole assembly in a box made of metallic
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37

sheet or fibre glass.

The commercially available collector have a face area of 2 m2. The

whole assembly is fixed on a supporting structure that is installed on a
tilted position at a suitable angle facing south in northern hemisphere.
For the whole year, the optimum tilt angle of collector is equal to the
latitude of its location. During winter the tilt angle is kept 10-150 more
than the latitude of the location, while in summer it should be 10-150
Solar t

less than the latitude.

 CONCENTRATING TYPE SOLAR COLLECTOR
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37

Here the receiving area of solar radiation is several times greater than
the absorber area and the efficiency is high. Mirrors and lenses are
used to concentrate sun rays on the absorber. The temperature of
working fluid can be raised only up to 500 0C.
For better performance, the collector is mounted on a tracking
equipment to always face the sun with its changing position
Solar t
 Types of concentrating
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37

collectors
• Parabolic trough,
• central receivers,
• parabolic dish,
• Fresnel,
Solar t

• solar pond,
• elementary analysis
• Stationary concentrating collectors
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37

PARABOLİC TROUGH SYSTEM

Parabolic troughs are devices that are shaped like the letter
“u”. The troughs concentrate sunlight onto a receiver tube that
is positioned along the focal line of the trough. Sometimes a
transparent glass tube envelops the receiver tube to reduce heat
loss [3].
Their shapes are like letter “u” as The parabolic trough sytem is shown in
shown figure 3.1.1 below. the figure 3.1.2 below.
Solar t

Figure 3.1.1 Crossection of parabolic trough [4]. Figure 3.1.2 Parabolic trough system [3].
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37

POWER TOWER SYSTEM

•A heliostat uses a field of dual axis sun trackers that direct solar energy to
a large absorber located on a tower. To date the only application for the
heliostat collector is power generation in a system called the power tower
.
Solar t

Figure 3.3.1 Power tower system [4].

Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37

PARABOLİC DİSH SYSTEMS

A parabolic dish collector is similar in
appearance to a large satellite dish, but has
mirror-like reflectors and an absorber at the focal
point. It uses a dual axis sun tracker .
The below figure 3.2.1 shows The Parabolic dish collector is shown
crossection of parabolic dish. in the below figure 3.2.2.
Solar t

Figure 3.2.2 Parabolic dish collector with a mirror-like

Figure 3.2.1 Crossection of parabolic dish [4]. reflectors and an absorber at the focal point [Courtesy of
SunLabs - Department of Energy] [3].
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
 11/16/2020
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37

SOLAR POND
• Solar ponds have a one to two metre salinity gradient which stops the process
of water convecting when heated.

• Large quantities of salt dissolved in the hot lower layer of the pond render it
too dense to rise to the surface and cool. There are three main layers; the top
layer is cold and has relatively little salt content, the bottom layer is hot - up to
100°C and has a 20% salt concentration, there are separated by a non-
Solar t

convecting layer of increasing salt concentration .

• During the winter of 1987 the surface o f the El Paso, USA, Solar Pond was
frozen while 2.3m below the ice the temperature remained a t 70°C - hot
enough to generate electricity with an organic Rankine cycle engine.
 11/16/2020
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
 11/16/2020
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
 11/16/2020
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
 11/16/2020
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
 Conti..

11/16/2020
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
 Conti..

11/16/2020
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
 11/16/2020
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
 11/16/2020
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
 Conti..

11/16/2020
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
 11/16/2020
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
 11/16/2020
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
 11/16/2020
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
 11/16/2020
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
 11/16/2020
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
 11/16/2020
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
 11/16/2020
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37

• When the sun's rays contact the bottom of a shallow pool, they heat the water adjacent to the bottom.

• When water at the bottom of the pool is heated, it becomes less dense than the cooler water above it,
and convection begins.

• Solar ponds heat water by impeding this convection. Salt is added to the water until the lower layers of water
become completely saturated.
Solar t

• High-salinity water at the bottom of the pond does not mix readily with the low-salinity water above it, so when the
bottom layer of water is heated, convection occurs separately in the bottom and top layers, with only mild mixing
between the two.

• This greatly reduces heat loss, and allows for the high-salinity water to get up to 90 °C while maintaining 30 °C low-
salinity water.

• This hot, salty water can then be pumped away for use in electricity generation, through a turbine or as a source of
thermal energy.
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37

STATİONARY CONCENTRATİNG SOLAR

COLLECTORS
 Stationary concentrating collectors use compound
parabolic reflectors and flat reflectors for directing
solar energy to an accompanying absorber or
aperture through a wide acceptance angle. The
wide acceptance angle for these reflectors
eliminates the need for a sun tracker.
Solar t

 This class of collector includes parabolic trough

flat plate collectors, flat plate collectors with
parabolic boosting reflectors, and solar cooker.
Development of the first two collectors has been
done in Sweden. Solar cookers are used throughout
the world, especially in the developing countries .
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation
Dr.Ahmad Syed CBIT(A) DEPT OF EEE Lecture-37 Solar t
hermal power generation