Abstract
ABSTRACT Solar thermal Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) is the process of producing heavy oil by means of steam generated using solar energy. The present investigation was carried out on an operating Glasshouse enclosed parabolic trough (GPTC) plant at Sultanate of Oman. Exergy performance aspects were studied in detail for an evaporator loop. The study explored that the overall second law efficiency and exergy destruction are in the range of 34–43% and 57–56%. Exergy received from the sun was in the range of 4580 to 5820 kW. Exergy expended for steam generation inside the receiver tubes varies between 1580 and 2300 kW. The maximum exergy loss due to the glasshouse enclosure was about 420 kW. Similarly, exergy destruction in radiation concentration process was in the range of 1070–1620 kW. Exergy destructions in the receiver tube is found to be the highest followed by exergy destructions due to solar radiation concentration. The exergy factor is observed to be varying between 0.65 and 0.82. This method of exergy analysis of GPTC installations could support to mitigate the design challenges and enhance the opportunities for design improvement and development, and finally helps to reduce capital investment.
Published Version
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