Torresol Energy Solar Tres Sener and Masdar Initiative 17MW Gemasolar Solar Power Tower

[SunGreenSolarEnergy]

With all the news recently about sunspots and solar flares I was wondering if these pose any risk to solar power systems?

[beyondzeroemissions]

@vegasjinx Actually almost all large thermal plants either use a rankine (Steam) cycle or Brayton (gaseous cycle). The molten salt systems use salt to collect the heat through the receiver at the top of the tower, and then bank the hot molten salt in the big hot salt tank at the base of the tower. The heat is then drawn out on demand from the molten salt via shell and tube heat exchange into water which flashes to steam and drives a conventional steam turbine. (Same as Coal, Gas Nuke turbine

[vegasjinx]

@beyondzeroemissions Gotcha. Actually had worded last statement wrong. What I meant to say/ask is if stored or pumped water is the primary source of generation. Trying to get a grasp of the re-usable energy push that is going on. Seem to have a bit of trouble trying to convince certain relatives of mine (and/or colleagues) that we must move towards some efficient sources of renewable energy sooner than later. The company that i work for also moving in same direction. But lots of resistance.

[vegasjinx]

As far as I understand it though, this and future solar plants are eliminating water vaporization through the use of molten salt, which holds heat and energy much longer than water. Even the more primitive solar one and solar two projects in daggett california originally used hot oil for steam and then changed to molten salt. Not many if any solar plants generating power through heated water anymore.

[beyondzeroemissions]

@vegasjinx Actually almost all large thermal plants either use a rankine (Steam) cycle or Brayton (gaseous cycle). The molten salt systems use salt to collect the heat through the receiver at the top of the tower, and then bank the hot molten salt in the big hot salt tank at the base of the tower. The heat is then drawn out on demand from the molten salt via shell and tube heat exchange into water which flashes to steam and drives a conventional steam turbine. (Same as Coal, Gas Nuke turbine)

[beyondzeroemissions]

@vegasjinx Actually almost all large thermal plants either use a rankine (Steam) cycle or Brayton (gaseous cycle). The molten salt systems use salt to collect the heat through the receiver at the top of the tower, and then bank the hot molten salt in the big hot salt tank at the base of the tower. The heat is then drawn out on demand from the molten salt via shell and tube heat exchange into water which flashes to steam and drives a conventional steam turbine. (Same as Coal, Gas Nuke turbine

[beyondzeroemissions]

In this case yes. While pumped hydro is the best massive battery available at present, you get around 80% round trip efficiency not including additional transmission losses that may occur getting the electrons from your renewables to your reservoirs. You also require a water resource that is at altitude. Their is very little heat loss in this system. The main loss is through flashing the water to steam in the heat exchangers.

[EcoAli]

I intend to visit Masdar too in my worldwide travels in October. We need to get some action out of our government here to expand the renewable energy industry. I have read you Zero Carbon Australia 2020 plan and know you are working hard to get the politicians to act now. Thank you.

[beyondzeroemissions]

yes in the case of solar thermal plants with about 15 hours storage the overall power is around 11% cheaper according to sources at US Department of Enegy Sandia Labs, Solar Millenium and Solar Reserve

[VCat2006]

So storing heat is more efficient than storing electrons?