Dynamic Simulations of Fresnel Solar Power Plants

Abstract

As solar energy is a variable power source, solar power plants are facing transients that are not experienced in conventional power plants such as nuclear or fossil ones. It is thus of primary importance to be able to simulate the dynamic behavior of the solar plants for their design and operation. The regulation modes have to be decided and the operation strategy has to be optimized. Using concentrated solar energy enables to convert solar power into heat before running thermodynamic cycles. Thermal inertia of the systems along with possible heat thermal storages help to smooth solar variations provided that these systems can be managed dynamically. Two solar power plants (with oil or water/steam as heat transfer fluid) are simulated with Dymola using Modelica code. The solar power plant using oil as heat transfer fluid is already running and preliminary results are compared with simulated data. Concerning the solar steam power plant, the model is run to investigate the regulation scheme of the plant that will be commissioned at the end of 2013. For both plant a DNI perturbation is tested and results are discussed concerning the system response and possible improvements.