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U.S. Department of Energy
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Solar production of industrial process steam for the Dow Chemical Company. Phase 3: operation and performance evaluation

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5061233
In September 1978 Foster Wheeler Development Corporation (FWDC) began work on a three-phase project to design, construct, and operate a solar process steam plant for the Dow Chemical Company's latex manufacturing plant in Dalton, Georgia. The primary objective of Phase 1, completed in September 1979, was to design a cost-effective solar steam generating system. Phase 2 - Fabrication and Installation began in October 1979 and was completed in November 1981. Phase 3 - Operation and Performance Evaluation began in December 1981, and the results of that phase are presented in this report. Specifically, a summary of the operation, including incidents, experience, and insights, is presented along with a complete record of system performance, operating and maintenance activities, and cost. The solar steam generating system utilizes a heat-transfer loop to deliver a hot organic fluid (Dowtherm LF) from the solar collectors to a heat exchanger where steam is generated. The fluid is then recirculated to the collectors by a centrifugal pump. As it passes through the tubes of the heat exchanger, the hot Dowtherm furnishes the heat required to convert boiler feedwater from the existing plant into saturated steam at 1.03 MPa gage (150 lb/in./sup 2/g). At peak heat absorption, 0.19 kg/s (1500 lb/h) steam would be produced. The temperature and pressure of the boiler feedwater are 96/sup 0/C (205/sup 0/F) and 1.30 MPa gage (190 lb/in./sup 2/g).
Research Organization:
Foster Wheeler Development Corp., Livingston, NJ (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-78CS32199
OSTI ID:
5061233
Report Number(s):
FWC/FWDC/TR-84/39; ON: DE85011535
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English