Solar power generation belt heats up quickly

How can a solar thermal power plant withstand a high temperature?

Together with industrial partners, we transfer innovations from the laboratory to large-scale applications. New heat transfer and storage media can withstand temperatures of 600 °C, higher than has previously been possible in solar thermal power plants. This increases the efi-ciency of converting solar radiation into heat and then into electricity.

How does a solar power plant work?

The solar energy heats the salt, which melts at 250 °C, to temperatures of up to 560 °C. As soon as electricity needs to be generated, the storage tank supplies a steam generator with thermal energy. The steam generated then drives a conventional steam turbine process. Storage and power plant section of the Andasol 3 parabolic trough power plant.

How do solar thermal power plants work?

Solar thermal power plants therefore rely on the storage of the intermediate product heat and not the end product electricity. Electricity is generated by means of a steam turbine cycle, which is oper-ated according to demand and is supplied from the thermal storage system.

How will solar thermal power plants affect the future electricity mix?

The rapid expansion of the capacities of solar thermal power plants and the grid services available as a result will enable growing proportions of photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy in the future electricity mix. Andasol 3 solar thermal power plant in the province of Granada, Spain. Image: Marquesado Solar 1.

How does a solar system work?

A solar reflector (or a system of reflectors), which gathers and concentrates the Sun radiation. A solar receiver, where the solar radiation is concentrated and absorbed. A power conversion system, which turns the concentrated solar heat into mechanical energy. An electric generator, which transforms that mechanical energy into electricity.

Can solar energy deliver heat at high temperatures?

Using solar radiation, they have engineered a device that can deliver heat at the high temperatures needed for the production processes. The team led by Emiliano Casati, a scientist in the Energy and Process Systems Engineering Group, and Aldo Steinfeld, Professor of Renewable Energy Carriers, has developed a thermal trap.