COST AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF TERRESTRIAL SOLAR THERMAL POWER SYSTEMS

A thorough evaluation of cost and performance of solar thermal power systems is required in order to assess the viability of such systems for commercial applications, particularly before the commitment of large investments to the manufacture of particular systems. Optimization and simulation models can be effectively used for the evaluation and analysis of several varieties of these systems.; A cost optimization model was developed based on relating systems costs to performance and minimizing the system electric energy production costs. The model was applied to systems representing major categories of solar thermal power systems such as the central receiver, the parabolic dish, the line-focusing and the fixed orientation focusing collectors. Several types of engines and energy storage systems were included in the analysis. Energy cost comparisons and sensitivities to system cost and performance parameters were analyzed for several plant sizes.; A dynamic simulation model was also developed for the parabolic dish-Brayton system based on detailed system performance analysis and subsystem interfaces. The model was used to establish the system's performance characteristics over a wide range of insolations, engine speeds and temperatures. System performance variations due to the effect of reflector surface accuracy and receiver aperture as well as ambient conditions were included in the study. Transient performance and system response to large variations in insolation were also investigated for the development of stable feedback control systems.