A system-level evaluation of a concentrating solar power (CSP) configuration, with high-temperature sodium boiler receiver, direct-contact NaCl phase change material (PCM) storage and a Stirling engine array at 1 MWe scale was performed using the modelling framework of SolarTherm to provide an estimate of system costs and comparison to a reference 100 MWe two-tank molten salt system. Assuming an allowable receiver peak flux limit of 1.75 MWth/m2 and a Stirling engine efficiency of 34.6%, a levelised cost of energy (LCOE) of 137 USD/MWhe is obtained via genetic optimisation of parameters including solar multiple, receiver size, and storage component geometry. For an optimistic power cycle efficiency at 75% of the Carnot limit, the calculated LCOE is 109 USD/MWhe. Assuming safety risks can be mitigated without major additional cost, this novel concept holds promise when compared to the reference case that has an LCOE of 123 USD/MWhe, especially for small-scale opportunities either off-grid or at the fringe-of-grid. As this concept operates at very high temperature, the thermal efficiency of the receiver is lower than for a conventional CSP plant, and the storage system is more expensive on a unit-cost basis due to the use of high strength alloys in the tank. However, these drawbacks are offset by the use of a low-cost steel lattice tower design which is feasible at small scale, and by high efficiency power conversion at ∼800°C.
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11 December 2020
SOLARPACES 2019: International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems
1–4 October 2019
Daegu, South Korea
Research Article|
December 11 2020
System level analysis of a sodium boiler receiver and PCM storage CSP plant using SolarTherm
Zebedee Kee;
Zebedee Kee
1
Research School of Electrical, Energy and Materials Engineering, Australian National University
, Canberra, Australia
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John Pye;
John Pye
1
Research School of Electrical, Energy and Materials Engineering, Australian National University
, Canberra, Australia
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Joe Coventry
Joe Coventry
a)
1
Research School of Electrical, Energy and Materials Engineering, Australian National University
, Canberra, Australia
a)Corresponding author: [email protected]
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a)Corresponding author: [email protected]
AIP Conf. Proc. 2303, 190021 (2020)
Citation
Zebedee Kee, John Pye, Joe Coventry; System level analysis of a sodium boiler receiver and PCM storage CSP plant using SolarTherm. AIP Conf. Proc. 11 December 2020; 2303 (1): 190021. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0029494
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