Development of a control algorithm for a molten-salt solar central receiver in a cylindrical configuration

Conference · Sun Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:10102730

Kolb, Gregory J. ^[1]

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1. Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

A control algorithm is proposed for a molten-salt solar central receiver in a cylindrical configuration. The algorithm simultaneously regulates the receiver outlet temperature and limits thermal-fatigue damage of the receiver tubes to acceptable levels. The algorithm is similar to one that was successfully tested for a receiver in a cavity configuration at the Central Receiver Test Facility in 1988. Due to the differences in the way solar flux is introduced on the receivers during cloud-induced transients, the cylindrical receiver will be somewhat more difficult to control than the cavity receiver. However, simulations of a proposed cylindrical receiver at the Solar Two power plant have indicated that automatic control during severe cloud transients is feasible. This paper also provides important insights regarding receiver design and lifetime as well as a strategy for reducing the power consumed by the molten-salt pumps. 14 refs., 7 figs., 2 tabs.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 10102730
• Report Number(s): SAND--91-2544C; CONF-920436--6; ON: DE92003627
• Resource Type: Conference paper/presentation
• Conference Information: 1992 ASME-JSES-KSES international solar energy conference, Maui, HI (United States), 4-8 Apr 1992
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140702
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990200
ALGORITHMS
CENTRAL RECEIVER
CENTRAL RECEIVERS
CLOUDS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CONTROL
CYLINDRICAL CONFIGURATION
DESIGN
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTERS
MOLTEN SALTS
SERVICE LIFE