Page 27 - Design of Solar Thermal Power Plants

20 1. INTRODUCTION

and thus is a technology that enjoys an extremely efficient standardization
prospect. An air receiver power plant normally applies the Brayton cycle
thermal power generation mode in which air passes through the receiver
and becomes 700 C above-high-temperature hot air before entering the

gas turbine; the hot air drives the compressor to work and realize power
output, which greatly reduces gas consumption, and its operation effi-
ciency can exceed 30%. In addition, it can realize water-free operation and
serves as a major research direction for the development of a highly
efficient solar tower thermal power plant in the future.

1.2.2.2 Parabolic Trough Solar Power Generation
Parabolic trough solar power generation (Fig. 1.9) is a technology that
concentrates solar irradiation in the receiver tube mounted at the focal
line of the paraboloid through linear parabolic mirrors that track the
movement of the sun and thermal the heat transfer liquid for power
generation. Key equipment of a parabolic trough power plant mainly
includes a concentrator, a receiver tube, and thermal storage. The para-
bolic trough power plant is the first (1980s) thermal power generation
technology to realize commercial operation, with a maximum power
plant capacity of up to 80 MW while still ensuring stable operation.
Certain problems with the parabolic trough power generation technology
are the low concentration ratio of the paraboloid mirror (70e80), difficulty
raising the working temperature of the heat transfer liquid, and restrained
system efficiency.

FIGURE 1.9 Parabolic trough solar power generation. Picture provided by the Institute of
Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2017.