Marcelino Sánchez

Optical and Thermal Characterization of Solar Receivers for Parabolic Trough Collectors

Concentrating Solar Power Technology (CSP) is nowadays growing mainly due to the technical and economic success of the first projects and to the stable green pricing or support mechanisms that bridges the initial gap in electricity costs (i.e. feed-in tariffs). Future growth will depend on a successful cost reduction and on a strong effort in R&D to optimize the potential for technical improvement [1]. Testing of new materials, components and systems is still of key importance to drive research and innovation improvements to a commercial stage. Receiver manufacturers are investing in R&D in order to improve performances and reduce costs, while project developers are demanding standards to help them evaluate satisfactorily the risks and the benefits of introducing new developments in commercial power plants. The Solar Thermal Energy Department, of the National Renewable Energy Centre (CENER) and the Applied Optics Department of the Universidad de Zaragoza (UZ) have joined efforts to develop a characterization equipment able to measure as far as possible most of the receiver optical and thermal properties. In this paper the testing facility developed by CENER-UZ is described technically. The methodology for optical and thermal characterization of solar receivers for parabolic trough collectors is explained and the preliminary results are presented and discussed in detail.

Concentrating PV: An Alternative to Calorimeters for Measuring High Solar Flux Densities

Gardon calorimetric transducers are widely used to measure concentrated solar radiation flux on solar thermal areas. These measurements need some correction to adapt their response from thermal to solar irradiance measurement. The authors propose the use of concentrating photovoltaic PV-cells to measure concentrated solar radiation flux. This paper shows the results obtained from a comparative test carried out in a solar furnace measuring concentrated solar irradiance with calorimetric and photovoltaic sensors, Gardon, and PV-Cells, respectively.

Standards for Components in Concentrating Solar Thermal Power Plants - Status of the Spanish Working Group

Today Spain is still the worldwide leader in the use of Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) technology with more than 2300 MW installed solar thermal power rated in 2015, compared to the 4600 MW installed worldwide. In order to improve the quality of current plants and require the best quality for future plants, the subcommittee SC 117 “Thermoelectric Solar Energy Systems”, which is part of the committee AEN/CTN 206 for electricity production, works on different aspects of the plants since 2010. This paper gives an overview of the state of the publications in draft to qualify the performance and the durability of the main components of the solar field (receiver tubes, solar tracking systems, reflectors, heat transfer fluids, collectors and specific sensors). A summary of the main tests set for each component in the future Spanish standards is presented. The first complete standard drafts will be ready by the end of the current year 2015 and most are expected to be published within the following years.

Analysis of the energy demand of the Chilean mining industry and its coverage with solar thermal technologies

Abstract The mining industry represents more than half of Chile’s foreign exchange earnings and its increasing expansion will demand a continuous development of its energy supplies. Mostly, all the mines in Chile are located in the desert regions, having a large surface with one of the highest solar radiations levels and clearest skies in the world. Covering the mining industry’s energy demand with solar energy is thus an obvious and promising approach. In this paper, the implementation of solar thermal heating is studied in every mining process and the solar thermal electricity generation for the entire mine demand is considered as well. The work concludes that the installation of flat plate collectors to heat water for mine processes, especially for electrowinning, is strongly recommended. Additionally, the installation of solar thermal power plants can satisfy the mining electricity demand.