Conceptual Design of a 100 MWe Modular Molten Salt Power Tower Plant

Conference · Tue Sep 20 04:00:00 EDT 2011

OSTI ID:1025891

Pacheco, James E ^[1]

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1. eSolar

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; USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
• DOE Contract Number: EE0003595
• OSTI ID: 1025891
• Report Number(s): DOE/EE0003595-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
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
baseload
capacity factor
modular
molten salt
power towers
thermal storage