Designing a Concentrated Solar Thermal Power Plant Using Energy–Exergy–Economic–Environment Analysis

• Published in: Applied solar energy 2020, Vol.56 (6), p.477-489
• Main Authors: Umish Srivastva, Kumar, K. Ravi, Malhotra, R. K., Kaushik, S. C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon dioxide; Cost analysis; Cost control; Design; Economic analysis; Economics; Efficiency; Electrical Machines and Networks; Energy; Engineering; Exergy; Heat transfer; Power Electronics; Power plants; Solar energy; Solar Energy Concentrators; Solar heating; Solar power plants; Thermal power; Thermal power plants; Thermodynamic efficiency; Thermodynamics; Thermoelectricity
• ISSN: 0003-701X; 1934-9424
• DOI: 10.3103/S0003701X20060109

The paper deals with the design aspects of a 5-megawatt electrical (5-MWe) parabolic trough based concentrated solar thermal power plant located in the city of Jaipur, India using energy, exergy, economic, and environment cost analysis. As a novelty in the study, quantification of the energetic and exergetic potential of heat transfer fluid has also been carried out. Based on the energetic heat of the heat transfer fluid (HTF) going into the boiler, the solar field design is then carried out. The energy–exergy analysis shows that the energetic efficiency of parabolic trough based concentrated solar power plant (PTCSTPP) was 29.38% and exergetic efficiency was 31.86%. The gross thermal efficiency of the power plant was 31.47% and net thermal efficiency is 25.07%. Methodology for arriving at a solar-alone operating power plant has also been enumerated and shown that at a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of US cent 5.6, the total cost of the plant comes out to be US $ 53 million payback of 19 years, with an annual coal saving worth US $ 0.96 million and CO 2 savings of US $ 0.29 million. Analysis has also been carried out to assess the per-hour increment in the design cost owing to additional operating hours of the solar plant.