Conceptual Design of a 100 MWe Modular Molten Salt Power Tower Plant
A conceptual design of a 100 MWe modular molten salt solar power tower plant has been developed which can provide capacity factors in the range of 35 to 75%. Compared to single tower plants, the modular design provides a higher degree of flexibility in achieving the desired customer's capacity factor and is obtained simply by adjusting the number of standard modules. Each module consists of a standard size heliostat field and receiver system, hence reengineering and associated unacceptable performance uncertainties due to scaling are eliminated. The modular approach with multiple towers also improves plant availability. Heliostat field components, receivers and towers are shop assembled allowing for high quality and minimal field assembly. A centralized thermal-storage system stores hot salt from the receivers, allowing nearly continuous power production, independent of solar energy collection, and improved parity with the grid. A molten salt steam generator converts the stored thermal energy into steam, which powers a steam turbine generator to produce electricity. This paper describes the conceptual design of the plant, the advantages of modularity, expected performance, pathways to cost reductions, and environmental impact.
- Research Organization:
- eSolar, Inc., Burbank, CA
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
- DOE Contract Number:
- EE0003595
- OSTI ID:
- 1025891
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/EE0003595-1; TRN: US201208%%310
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: SolarPACES 2011, Granada, Spain, September 20-23, 2011, International Energy Agency
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
100 MWe Baseload Molten Salt Plant Phase 1 & 2 Summary Report: Summary of Conceptual Design, Preliminary Design, Commercialization and Risk Reduction Activities
Central Receiver Solar Thermal Power System, Phase 1: preliminary design report. Volume II. System description and system analysis. [150 MW commercial tower focus plant and 10 MW pilot plant]
Related Subjects
25 ENERGY STORAGE
AVAILABILITY
CAPACITY
DESIGN
ELECTRICITY
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FLEXIBILITY
HEAT STORAGE
HELIOSTATS
MOLTEN SALTS
PARITY
PERFORMANCE
POWER GENERATION
SOLAR ENERGY
STEAM
STEAM GENERATORS
STEAM TURBINES
power towers
modular
thermal storage
molten salt
baseload
capacity factor