Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector Concentrated Solar Power Plant

Mukund Iyer (10BEE0077) 8608571181 mukundiyer.300@gmail.com

Rajat Agrahari (10BCL0100) 7708700719 agrahari.rajat@gmail.com

In this presentation we present an idea about generation of electricity using solar energy. In the present scenario where the fossil fuel reserves are getting depleted rapidly we look up to a sustainable power generation technique. Developing countries like India, china encounter growing energy demands which can be met through cheap and eco-friendly technology. Solar energy is a prime renewable energy which is free, infinite and not location specific. The proposed solar plant works on the principle of CONCENTRATED SOLAR POWER (CSP) wherein thermal energy of the solar radiations are concentrated on working fluid. It uses linear Fresnel collector plates to concentrate the sun rays falling upon them onto a collector tube passing above them. This tube carries distilled water which is vaporised by the concentrated solar radiation focussed on it by the reflector. This saturated steam is at a temperature of 300oC - 400oC, 70 atm. which are used to rotate the turbines of a steam generator. The steam is then condensed in an air cooling condenser where water is conserved by about 90% and the water is then reused in the collector tubes. The plant requires silver coated plane glass for its reflectors. The collector tubes are steel tubes inside vacuum glass tubes. The advantages of vacuum are heat insulation and better heat absorption. Major advantages of CLFR plant are free raw material (sun), pollution free, negligible maintenance cost due to their durable design and same setup cost as thermal power plant. The energy output per square km. of land is 125MW optimally due to dense spacing of the reflectors close to the ground. The chief advantage we can use the uninhabitable lands for plant setup especially deserts. The main problem encountered with this technology is continuous availability of raw material i.e. sun. The other disadvantage is more expenditure on existing grid connection. The former can be tackled by use of heat storing elements like molten salt which is a mixture of sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate kept at a temperature of 290o C in an insulated tank. This can be used to run the plant during unavailability of sun. The generation is typically in the range of Rs 5.35 to Rs. 6.69 per kWh. Comparing CLFR with other CSP technologies viz. Solar Tower, Parabolic Trough and Sterling Dish System it is found to be most land efficient and cost effective. Implementation of Solar Energy for Power Generation now remains just a matter of will

Keywords: CLFR Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector CSP - Concentrated Solar Power