A Method to Assess Flux Hazards at CSP Plants to Reduce Avian Mortality

Conference · Tue Jun 27 00:00:00 EDT 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4984369· OSTI ID:1372042

Ho, Clifford K.; Wendelin, Timothy; Horstman, Luke; Yellowhair, Julius

A method to evaluate avian flux hazards at concentrating solar power plants (CSP) has been developed. A heat-transfer model has been coupled to simulations of the irradiance in the airspace above a CSP plant to determine the feather temperature along prescribed bird flight paths. Probabilistic modeling results show that the irradiance and assumed feather properties (thickness, absorptance, heat capacity) have the most significant impact on the simulated feather temperature, which can increase rapidly (hundreds of degrees Celsius in seconds) depending on the parameter values. The avian flux hazard model is being combined with a plant performance model to identify alternative heliostat standby aiming strategies that minimize both avian flux hazards and negative impacts on plant performance.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 1372042
• Report Number(s): NREL/CP-5500-68908
• Resource Relation: Conference: Presented at SOLARPACES 2016: International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, 11-14 October 2016, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
irradiance
solar energy
heat capacity