Abstract
The objective of this study is to achieve a higher solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency through solar-fossil hybrid thermal power systems compared to a solar-only power plant. The study reveals the thermodynamic details for the improved solar-to-electricity efficiency in a solar hybrid power plant. A correlation was established to describe the main factors influencing the thermodynamic performances, including higher collector efficiency, higher turbine efficiency and upgraded energy level of the moderate-temperature solar heat. This proposed mechanism can be applied to effectively integrate solar and fossil-fired energy in a power system. The studies took typical fossil-fired power plants to hybridize with solar heat in three approaches: preheating the feed water before it entering the boiler for coal-fired system; heating for generation of saturate steam or superheated steam in gas-fired combined cycle. The results indicate that the moderate-temperature solar and fossil hybridization technology can provide a promising direction for efficient utilization of low-grade solar heat.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 832-842 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Energy |
| Volume | 133 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2017 |
Keywords
- Moderate-temperature solar heat
- Solar-fossil hybridization
- Solar-to-electricity efficiency
- Upgrade of energy level
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Mechanical Engineering
- Pollution
- Energy Engineering and Power Technology
- General Energy
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
- Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
- Building and Construction
- Fuel Technology
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Civil and Structural Engineering
- Modeling and Simulation