Improving the Efficiency of Solar Power Plants

Abstract

Introduction. An urgent scientific problem is to increase the efficiency of using solar energy in solar power plants (SES). The purpose of the article is to study methods for increasing the efficiency of solar power plants. Materials and Methods. Solar power plants based on modules with a two-sided working surface are considered. Most modern solar power plants use solar modules. The reflection of solar radiation from the earth’s surface provides an increase in the production of electrical energy by 20% compared with modules with a working surface on one side. It is possible to increase the efficiency of using solar energy by increasing the annual production of electric energy through the creation of equal conditions for the use of solar energy by the front and back surfaces of bilateral solar modules. Results. The article presents a solar power plant on a horizontal surface with a vertical arrangement of bilateral solar modules, a solar power station with a deviation of bilateral solar modules from a vertical position, and a solar power plant on the southern slope of the hill with an angle β of the slope to the horizon. The formulas for calculating the sizes of the solar energy reflectors in the meridian direction, the width of the solar energy reflectors, and the angle of inclination of the solar modules to the horizontal surface are given. The results of computer simulation of the parameters of a solar power plant operating in the vicinity of Luxor (Egypt) are presented. Discussion and Conclusion. It is shown that the power generation within the power range of 1 kW takes a peak value for vertically oriented two-sided solar modules with horizontal reflectors of sunlight at the installed capacity utilization factor of 0.45. At the same time, when the solar radiation becomes parallel to the plane of vertical solar modules, there is a decrease in the output of electricity. The proposed design allows equalizing and increasing the output of electricity during the maximum period of solar radiation. Vertically oriented modules are reliable and easy to use while saving space between modules.