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Technical assessment of 10 MW solar thermal plant using nano-fluids and molten salts: a case study of Saudi Arabia

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Abstract

Radiant heat and light emerging from the sun can be harnessed in a variety of ever-evolving technologies mainly consisting of thermal and photovoltaic. In this research, comprehensive and systematic description of solar thermal technologies supported by techno-economic analysis was performed. The research starts with the optimization and classification of these technologies with a prime focus on the implementation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Theoretical analysis was conducted to calculate the technical specifications of various solar thermal technologies for the purpose to assess the optimized technology for the KSA. A 10 MW parabolic trough-based plant is designed and simulated by using four different heat transfer fluids including nano-fluids and molten salts with four collectors for the purpose to conclude the optimized design. Hydrogen and oxygen gas were used in receiver assemblies to calculate the absorbance, emittance, and transmittance along with various other effective parameters. It was observed that under specific conditions, collectors, and receivers have different values which is then affect the efficiency of the system. The prime objective of the research is to present the up-to-date solar thermal technologies in the KSA and the feasibility of a solar thermal pilot plant.

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Acknowledgements

The authors also extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University for funding this work through research group no. RGP-255.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sustainable Energy Technologies Center, College of Engineering, King Saud University, P.O. Box 800, Riyadh, 11421, Saudi Arabia

    Salah Ud-Din Khan & Zeyad Almutairi

  2. K.A. CARE Energy Research and Innovation Center, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Salah Ud-Din Khan & Zeyad Almutairi

  3. Chemical Engineering Department, King Saud University, P.O. Box 800, Riyadh, 11421, Saudi Arabia

    Irfan Wazeer

  4. Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Saud University, P.O. Box 800, Riyadh, 11421, Saudi Arabia

    Zeyad Almutairi

  5. Pakistan Tokamak Plasma Research Institute, P.O. Box 3329, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Shahab Ud-Din Khan

Authors
  1. Salah Ud-Din Khan
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  2. Irfan Wazeer
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  3. Zeyad Almutairi
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  4. Shahab Ud-Din Khan
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Correspondence to Salah Ud-Din Khan.

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Khan, S.UD., Wazeer, I., Almutairi, Z. et al. Technical assessment of 10 MW solar thermal plant using nano-fluids and molten salts: a case study of Saudi Arabia. Appl Nanosci 12, 3621–3628 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-022-02385-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-022-02385-x

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