Solar thermal power generation design specifications

What is solar thermal plant?

Solar thermal plant is one of the most interesting applications of solar energy for power generation. The plant is composed mainly of a solar collector field and a power conversion system to convert thermal energy into electricity.

What are the different types of solar thermal technologies?

There are three primary solar thermal technologies based on three ways of concentrating solar energy: solar parabolic trough plants, solar tower power plants, and solar dish power plants. The mirrors used in these plants are normally constructed from glass, although other techniques are being explored.

Are solar thermal power plants generating electricity at reasonable costs?

Yet large, commercial, concentrating solar thermal power plants have been generating electricity at reasonable costs for more than 15 years. Volker Quaschning describes the basics of the most important types of solar thermal power plants. Most techniques for generating electricity from heat need high temperatures to achieve reasonable efficiencies.

What are the different types of solar thermal power plants?

There are two other types of solar thermal power plant. One is a solar pond, a large area of water exposed to sunlight that is designed to maintain a small temperature gradient between its upper and lower layers that can be used to drive a heat engine. This is a relatively low-technology solar thermal plant and it has been rarely used.

What is a low temperature solar thermal power plant?

Solar thermal power cycles are classified as low (up to 100° C), medium (up to 400° C) and high (above 400° C) temperature cycles . 2. Status of low and medium temperature technologies of solar thermal power plants Low temperature solar thermal power plants use flat-plate collectors, or solar ponds for collection of solar energy.

How efficient are solar thermal trough power plants?

Altogether, solar thermal trough power plants can reach annual efficiencies of about 15%; the steam-cycle efficiency of about 35% has the most significant influence. Central receiver systems such as solar thermal tower plants can reach higher temperatures and therefore achieve higher efficiencies.