Advances in Concentrating Solar Thermal Research and Technology

After decades of research and development, concentrating solar thermal (CST) power plants (also known as concentrating solar power (CSP) and as Solar Thermal Electricity or STE systems) are now starting to be widely commercialized. Indeed, the IEA predicts that by 2050, with sufficient support over ten percent of global electricity could be produced by concentrating solar thermal power plants. However, CSP plants are just but one of the many possible applications of CST systems. Advances in Concentrating Solar Thermal Research and Technology provides detailed information on the latest advances in CST systems research and technology. It promotes a deep understanding of the challenges the different CST technologies are confronted with, of the research that is taking place worldwide to address those challenges, and of the impact that the innovation that this research is fostering could have on the emergence of new CST components and concepts. It is anticipated that these developments will substantially increase the cost-competiveness of commercial CST solutions and reshape the technological landscape of both CST technologies and the CST industry. After an introductory chapter, the next three parts of the book focus on key CST plant components, from mirrors and receivers to thermal storage. The final two parts of the book address operation and control and innovative CST system concepts.

Contains authoritative reviews of CST research taking place around the worldDiscusses the impact this research is fostering on the emergence of new CST components and concepts that will substantially increase the cost-competitiveness of CST powerCovers both major CST plant components and system-wide issues

Part I: Introduction

1. Introduction to concentrating solar thermal (CST) technologies

Manuel J. Blanco, Sarah Miller

Part II: Advances in the collection and concentration of sunlight

2. Advanced mirror concepts for concentrating solar thermal systems

Arantxa Fernandez Garcia, Florian Sutter, Lucía Martínez-Arcos, Loreto Valenzuela, Chris Sansom

3. Improved field design for Linear Fresnel reflector systems

Manuel Collares Pereira Sr., Diogo Canavarro, Júlio Chaves

Part III: Advances in the thermal conversion of concentrated sunlight

4. A new generation of absorber tubes for concentrating solar thermal (CST) systems

Angel Morales, Gema San Vicente

5. Innovative working fluids for parabolic trough collectors

Eduardo Zarza Moya

6. A new generation of solid-particle and other high performance receiver designs for concentrating solar thermal (CST) central tower systems

Cliff Ho

7. Next generation of liquid metal and other high performance receiver designs for concentrating solar thermal (CST) central tower systems

Manuel Romero, Jose Gonzalez-Aguilar

Part IV: Advances in the power block and thermal storage systems

8. Supercritical CO2 and otheradvanced cycles for concentrating solar thermal (CST) systems

Saeb Besarati, Yogi Goswami, Barbara Graham

9. Advances in dry cooling for concentrating solar thermal (CST) plants

Kamel Hooman, Zhiqiang Guan, Hal Gurgenci

10. High temperature latent heat storage for concentrating solar thermal (CST) systems

Joseph Stekli, Ranga Pitchumani, Karthik Nithyanandam

11. Thermochemical energy storage for concentrating solar thermal (CST) systems

Joseph Stekli, Ranga Pitchumani

12. Three-step storage for direct steam generation (DSG) solar plants

Loreto Valenzuela

Part V: Advances in the control an operation of CPS plants

13. Forecasting and nowcasting of DNI for concentrating solar thermal (CST) systems

Lourdes Ramirez, Jose Maria Vindel

14. Advance control strategies to maximize ROI and the value of the concentrating solar thermal (CST) plant to the grid

Eduardo F. Camacho, Antonio J. Gallego Len Sr.

Part VI: Cost competitive CST plants concepts

15. Linear Fresnel reflector (LFR) plants using superheated steam and other alternative working fluids

Manuel Collares Pereira Sr., Diogo Canavarro, Júlio Chaves

16. Central tower systems using the Brayton cycle

Reiner Buck, Ralf Uhlig, Stefano Giuliano

17. Central tower systems using supercritical CO2 and supercritical steam cycles and decoupled combined cycles

Manuel Silva-Perez

18. Concentrating solar thermal (CST) applications other than electricity production (e.g. solar chemistry)

Wojciech Lipinski, Roman Bader