Modeling the efficiency and emissions of a hybrid solar-gas power plant

Abstract

In this paper, modeling and analysis of a hybrid solar power plant are presented. Within a theoretical framework, thermodynamic modeling of several components of the cycles has been conducted through simultaneous consideration of energy, exergy, and emissions. The energy and exergy of the combined cycle of the solar-gas turbine and organic Rankine cycle (ORC) have been investigated. Heat loss from the solar receiver has been studied considering essential factors such as wind speed, air pressure, and ambient temperature. The emissions, mass flow rate of working fluids, pressure ratio, and concentration ratio are evaluated and compared with a standard fossil-fueled power plant. The results show that the energy efficiency and exergy of the overall system are substantially improved as the solar radiation intensity increases. Furthermore, the output power of the ORC is reported to be higher than that of the Rankin steam cycle. Consequently, when solar energy is used, the carbon dioxide emission is reduced by 150%.

KEYWORDS:

• Solar power plant
• solar combined cycle
• renewable energy
• exergy
• organic fluid
• emissions

Acknowledgments

We aknowledge the “Open Access Funding by the Publication Fund of the TU Dresden”. Also, we acknowledge the financial support of this work by the Hungarian State and the European Union under the EFOP-3.6.1-16-2016-00010 project and the 2017-1.3.1-VKE-2017-00025 project. This research has been additionally supported by the Project: ‘Support of research and development activities of the J. Selye University in the field of Digital Slovakia and creative industry’ of the Research & Innovation Operational Programme (ITMS code: NFP313010T504) co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

We acknowledge the open access funding by the publication fund of the TU Dresden. Also, we acknowledge the support of this work by the Hungarian State and the European Union under the EFOP-3.6.1-16-2016-00010 project and the 2017-1.3.1-VKE-2017-00025 project. This research has been additionally supported by the Project: ‘Support of research and development activities of the J. Selye University in the field of Digital Slovakia and creative industry’ of the Research & Innovation Operational Programme (ITMS code: NFP313010T504) co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.