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Energy, Exergy and Economic Feasibility Analyses of a 60 MW Conventional Steam Power Plant Integrated with Parabolic Trough Solar Collectors Using Nanofluids

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Abstract

The present study focuses on the detailed technical and cost-effective feasibility analyses of a 60 MWe steam power plant integrated with parabolic trough solar collectors. Aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles are mixed with thermal oil to be used as a heat transfer fluid in the collector loops. The electric power is generated using steam Rankine cycle. For this purpose, the steam turbine of 60 MWe production capability of Teknecik power plant located in Northern Cyprus has been analyzed and an integrated solar steam turbine system is presented which generates electric power. Detailed energy and exergy assessment of the solar thermal plant is carried out. The important parameters are examined including overall energy and exergy efficiencies, exergy destruction rate and system performance by varying direct normal irradiation (DNI), mass flow rate of the collector, ambient and inlet temperatures. Furthermore, thermal power available from the solar field at various solar multiples is assessed, and levelized energy cost has been calculated. Results show that turbines are the main source of exergy destruction (63855 kW) followed by feedwater heaters and boiler. Overall energetic and exergetic efficiencies of the system are observed to be 22.64 and 23.83%, respectively. The integration of PTC system with conventional plant results in a reduction in fuel consumption which significantly brings down the CO2 emissions by almost 33%.

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Abbreviations

A ap :

Aperture area (m2)

A r :

Receiver area (m2)

A c :

Collector area (m2)

C:

Concentration ratio

C p :

Specific heat capacity (kJ/kg K)

D:

Diameter (m)

\(\dot{E}x\) :

Exergy rate (kW)

F R :

Heat removal factor

G b :

Intensity of direct irradiation (W/m2)

h c, ca :

Convective heat transfer coefficient from glass cover to ambient (W/m2 K)

h r, ca :

Radiation heat transfer coefficient between ambient and cover (W/m2 K)

h r, cr :

Coefficient of radiation heat transfer between cover and receiver (W/m2 K)

\(\kappa_{\gamma }\) :

Incidence angle modifier

k :

Thermal conductivity, (W/m K)

\(\dot{m}\) :

Mass flow rate (kg/s)

N u :

Nusselt number

P r :

Prandtl number

\(\dot{Q}\) :

Thermal energy produced (kW)

R e :

Reynolds number

S :

Radiations absorbed by receiver (W/m2)

T c :

Glass cover temperature (K)

T r,av :

Receiver average temperature (K)

T a = T 0 :

Ambient temperature (K)

T S :

Sun Temperature (K)

U L :

Overall heat loss coefficient of solar collector (W/m2K)

\(\dot{W}\) :

Electricity/network output (kW)

ann:

Annual

bf:

Base fluid

b:

Boiler

con:

Condenser

c:

Cover

col:

Collector

en:

Energy

ex:

Exergy

hpt:

High pressure turbine

Issp:

Integrated solar steam turbine generation plant

In:

Inlet

i:

Inner

incr:

Incremental

invest:

Investment

lpt:

Low pressure turbine

nf:

Nanofluid

np:

Nanoparticle

ov:

Overall

o:

Outer

O and M:

Operation and maintenance

Ref:

Reference

r:

Receiver

s:

Sun

sur:

Surface

st:

Steam

Sp:

Steam turbine plant

th:

Thermal

U:

Utilization

\(\alpha\) :

Absorbance of receiver

\(\gamma\) :

Intercept factor

\(\epsilon\) :

Emissivity

\(\eta\) :

Efficiency

\(\theta\) :

Incident angle, degrees

\(\mu\) :

Dynamic viscosity, (Pa s)

\(\rho\) :

Reflectance of mirror

\(\dot{\rho }\) :

Density (kg/m3)

\(\sigma\) :

Stefan-Boltzmann constant (W/m2-K4)

\(\tau\) :

Transmittance of glass cover

\(\varphi\) :

Percentage of nanoparticles

ASS:

Annual solar share

Al2O3 :

Aluminum oxide

CFWH:

Closed feedwater heater

DNI:

Direct normal irradiation

HTF:

Heat transfer fluid

LEC:

Levelized electricity cost

OFWH:

Open feedwater heater

PTC:

Parabolic trough collector

SM:

Solar multiple

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta, North Cyprus via Mersin 10, Turkey

    Muhammad Sajid Khan

  2. Department of Energy Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Cyprus International University, Nicosia, North Cyprus via Mersin 10, Turkey

    Muhammad Abid

  3. National University of Science and Technology, PNEC, Karachi, Pakistan

    Tahir Abdul Hussain Ratlamwala

Authors
  1. Muhammad Sajid Khan
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  2. Muhammad Abid
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  3. Tahir Abdul Hussain Ratlamwala
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Correspondence to Muhammad Abid.

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Khan, M.S., Abid, M. & Ratlamwala, T.A.H. Energy, Exergy and Economic Feasibility Analyses of a 60 MW Conventional Steam Power Plant Integrated with Parabolic Trough Solar Collectors Using Nanofluids. Iran J Sci Technol Trans Mech Eng 43 (Suppl 1), 193–209 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40997-018-0149-x

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