Abstract:
In the first part of thesis, we had started by the estimation of the Algerian solar radiation potential. Because the use of parabolic trough solar collectors implies that these systems only work with the direct normal irradiance (DNI). For this purpose, a proposed methodology for estimating the DNI in the presence or the absence of measured global and diffuse irradiances. When applying the proposed methodology for the calculation of DNI for three Algerian ground stations, we obtained better performances than those of five spatial databases data. Furthermore, an analysis of
optical and thermal performances of a parabolic trough solar collector has been presented. The solar radiation intercepted by the solar collector in different modes of tracking, the incidence angle modifier, the row shadowing and the end loss, in addition to the thermal losses and the conversion efficiency in every moment can be calculated using the developed model in this study.
The third part presents the design of the power block with a steam regenerative 50 MW
Rankine cycle, for solar installations with parabolic trough solar concentrators, and using two different fluids: thermic oil and molten salt. Due to the difference in the main stream parameters of the two power blocks, we can note that the power cycle efficiency at the assumed nominal conditions of the solar salt plant is higher than Therminol VP-1. While the fourth part of our study is based on evaluation and comparison of eight different configurations of these plants (with molten salt and thermic oil, with and without thermal storage system and backup system) in terms
of their design, thermodynamic yield (energetic and exergetic), economic factors and the environmental impacts. The results indicate that the configurations with integrated thermal energy storage and fossil fuel backup system are found to be more techno-economical, but on the other hand, they are less environment friendly.
In the last part, we optimized the two plants using the artificial neural network method. The results show that it is possible to get minimum values of LCOE of 8,3 and 7,0 cent $/kWh for oil and salt configurations, respectively. Moreover, a 4E (energy–exergy–environment–economic) comparison of the optimized plants is studied, in order to choose the best technology to be adapted in the viability study for Algerian locations. According to the feasibility analysis, the semi-arid and arid Algerian sites are suitable for realization of parabolic trough power plants with integrated
thermal energy storage and fuel backup system.
