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386 CHAPTER 12 Concentrating Solar Power

FIGURE 12.10
Schematic flow diagram of a parabolic trough power plant with two-tank molten salt
storage.
Courtesy U. Herrmann, M. Geyer, D. Kearney, Overview on thermal storage systems. Work. Therm. Storage
Trough Power Plants (2006).

Fig. 12.12 shows a comparison of TES configurations commonly used in CSP
plants, according to technological maturity and annual solar-to-electricity efficiency.
Table 12.3 presents the related technical options available for each CSP technology.
Parabolic troughs (PT-oil) and Tower (T) plants using T-SaS and T-SHS are
available in commercial application stages; meanwhile Towers using T-AR and
Linear Fresnel with superheated steam as HTF are currently under transition to com-
mercial applications. PDs are at the demonstration stage.
The amount of solar energy harnessed is a function of the solar collector orien-
tation, and therefore, efficient solar energy harvesting can only occur with the assis-
tance of a solar tracking system. A mobility platform can ensure the movement of
the solar collector system, so that it can follow the sun and harness solar energy dur-
ing the day. This solar tracking mobility platform plays a crucial role in the devel-
opment of solar energy applications, especially in high-temperature solar
concentration systems that directly convert the solar energy into thermal or electrical
energy. In these systems, high precision tracking is required to ensure that the solar
collector is capable of harnessing the maximum amount of solar energy throughout
the day. Some solar tracking platforms designs are shown in Fig. 12.13.