Principles of CSP performance assessment

Abstract

The performance of a concentrated solar power component of Systems describes ist capacity to accomplish ist design purpose in concentrating and(or converting solar irradiance to useful energy. Generally, this can be quantified by ist Efficiency relating the useful Output of the System or component to the nergy Input or effort. In Addition, for some Standard components, key performance indicators such as specific heat loss for parabolic trough Receivers and Focus Deviation for mirrors have been established in the past decade. The assessment of the performance of a component or System is necessarily based on the measurement of ist operational characteristics, typically involving the Evaluation of energy balances of the System itsefl and/or its heat Transfer fluid (HTF) under specific well-known operating conditions. The Information on prevailing or resulting conditions can be obtained using appropriate measurement Equipment. The key measurement challenges in concentrating solar power applications are presented by high temperature and pressure, concentrated solar Radiation, as well as Special HTF´s such as thermal oil or molten salts.