Evaluation of Concentrated Solar Power Systems and the Impact of

Different Heat Transfer Fluids on Performance

MOHAMED R. GOMAA*, RIAD AHMAD, M. A. NAWAFLEH

Mechanical Engineering Department,

Faculty of Engineering, Al-Hussein Bin Talal University,

Maan, 71110 Maan,

JORDAN

parabolic dish reflector, central receiver collector, linear Fresnel reflector, and parabolic trough collector. As

well as, in this study, ranges of the heat transfer fluids are compared with each other by using exergy and

energy analysis. The heat transfer fluids that are examined are liquid sodium, molten salt (60 % NaNO3, 40 %

KNO3), supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2), water/steam, and air. Results showed that the liquid sodium at an

elevated temperature range of (540–740 °C) is performed the best, with exergy efficiency of 61% of solar-to-

fluid, the best liquid sodium case is at (do=10.3 mm, nbanks = 1, Δprec= 7.72 bar, ηII = 45.47 %) has been found.

Finally, vas a positive and effective approach to solving the energy problems.

Key-Words: - Solar energy; Concentrated solar power; Heat transfer fluid, Concentration ratio, Receiver

efficiency.

energy to obtain energy due to the near depletion of

conventional energy sources and the issue of climate

change. In recent years, solar energy has become

one of the most widely used sources of renewable

energy; its use has increased by 35 percent over the

past decade. Among these technologies are CSP

technologies, [1], [2]. It is an active solar system,

meaning that it requires mechanical equipment, such

as fans and pumps, to convert solar energy into

electricity or heat, [3], [4]. A CSP system can

systems to maximize the amount of sunlight that can

be used to generate and supply power to the tracking

system. Construction and maintenance of this

system are expensive, despite its high efficiency and

productivity, [6]. Globally, solar energy capacity is

growing rapidly to meet the energy demand. The

Fig. 1: Components of CSP plant, [8].

Mirrors or concentrators are used in solar fields to

direct normal irradiance to an absorber referred to as

the receiver, as well as a heat transfer system and

thermal energy storage system that enhances energy

are used to direct normal sunlight to an absorber,

referred to as the receiver, as well as heat transfer

and thermal energy storage systems that enhance

energy efficiency and store energy for the use of the

plant at night (as shown in Figure 2), though not all

CSP plants can store energy, [12], [13], [14].

Fig. 2: Power generation in the parabolic trough,

[14].

type of station. It is the receiver that receives the

solar radiation coming from the mirrors, and then

the receiver stores the energy of the radiation by

converting it into heat through the use of a working

fluid, which retains the heat in the form of steam for

later use, [13].

1-Improved exergy efficiency.

2- Faster charging and discharging rate.

3- Raised heat transfer rate at the time of charging

and discharging, specifically during phase

A concentrating solar collector consists of a tracking

divided into four different types. They are referred

to as parabolic trough concentrators (PTCs), [4],

Fig. 8: Working principle of the solar tower, [39].

In the next table and charts, the main differences

collector with an efficiency of about 21 %, then the

Linear Fresnel reflector and the parabolic trough

collector with an efficiency of about 19 % and 14 %

respectively. On the other hand, in the field of

price, the Linear Fresnel reflector is the most cost-

effective with a very low price, followed by the

parabolic trough collector, central receiver

collector, and parabolic dish reflector respectively.

The concentration ratio is categorized in ascending

order as follows; firstly, the Linear Fresnel reflector

receiver temperature can reach 400 °C. The Linear

Fresnel reflector with a Receiver temperature of

about 500 °C, as well as, the central receiver

collector receiver temperature can be estimated at

1000 °C. The highest receiver temperature among

each concentrator is for a parabolic dish reflector,

which can reach 1500 °C.

Fig. 11: Receiver temperature differences for CSPs.

According to the previous comparisons, we can

a higher temperature than the other CSPs, in

addition to the highest efficiency and concentration

ratio of the others. However, the cost of

the CSPs. So, it is used for producing usable heat in

the medium and high-temperature range.

Heat transfer fluids (HTF) play a critical role in

collecting energy from the solar field and

transporting it to the power plant. As shown in

Figure 12 the different HTF uses with the solar

application, [38].

Exergy destruction in absorption was large

Figure 14 shows a comparison between receiver

efficiency and Tmax for the selected (HTFs), which

shows that the liquid sodium has the highest

performance, then molten salt follows it.

As a result of differing tracking strategies and

methods for focusing light, concentrated solar