DIRECT STEAM GENERATION IN PARABOLIC TROUGHS AT 500°C A GERMAN-SPANISH PROJECT TARGETED ON COMPONENT DEVELOPMENT AND SYSTEM DESIGN

Abstract

The direct steam generation (DSG) in parabolic trough collectors is a promising option to improve the mature SEGS type parabolic trough solar thermal power plant technology. According to previous studies the cost reduction of the DSG process compared to the SEGS technology is expected to be 8 to 25 %. One pre-requisite for this cost reduction is the increase of the system efficiency by increasing the live steam temperature significantly. So far no solar field components, such as absorber tubes, flexible tube connections or a storage system, have been developed suited for an operation temperature higher than 400°C. To solve this problem a German-Spanish consortium was formed to develop these components. Within this project the partners will develop, test and operate all mentioned components for an operation temperature of up to 500°C. To test these components under real solar conditions at 500°C a test collector will be erected and connected to Endesas conventional power plant in Carboneras (Spain). The project partners have the strong intention that the components developed will be used in real solar thermal power plants in the near future. To support this intention the consortium in parallel not only is developing and promoting a first DSG demonstration plant in Spain for a live steam temperature of 500°C but is also starting a conceptual design of a commercial plant with a capacity of 50 MW.