Mathematical modeling of the Mojave Solar Plants

Antonio J Gallego,Eduardo F Camacho,Manuel Macías,Fernando De De Castilla

doi:10.3390/en12214197

Antonio J Gallego, Eduardo F Camacho + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/en12214197

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Journal: Energies	Publication Date: Nov 3, 2019
Citations: 10	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Universidad de Sevilla

Abstract

Competitiveness of solar energy is one of current main research topics. Overall efficiency of solar plants can be improved by using advanced control strategies. To design and tuning properly advanced control strategies, a mathematical model of the plant is needed. The model has to fulfill two important points: (1) It has to reproduce accurately the dynamics of the real system; and (2) since the model is used to test advanced control strategies, its computational burden has to be as low as possible. This trade-off is essential to optimize the tuning process of the controller and minimize the commissioning time. In this paper, the modeling of the large-scale commercial solar trough plants Mojave Beta and Mojave Alpha is presented. These two models were used to test advanced control strategies to operate the plants.

Highlights

Interest in renewable energy sources such as solar energy experienced a great impulse after theBig Oil Crisis in the 1970s
We can mention the three 50 MW Solnova and the two 50 MW Helioenery parabolic trough plants in Spain, and the SOLANA and Mojave Solar parabolic trough plant constructed in Arizona and California, each of 280 MW power production [5,6]
This paper presents the mathematical model of the Mojave Solar Plants Alpha and Beta [6]

Summary

Introduction

Interest in renewable energy sources such as solar energy experienced a great impulse after the. Driven mainly by economic factors, this interest decreased when oil prices fell. By far, the most abundant source of renewable energy. Wind and most of the hydraulic energies come from solar energy [3,4]. Many solar energy plants have been commissioned in the last 15 years. We can mention the three 50 MW Solnova and the two 50 MW Helioenery parabolic trough plants in Spain, and the SOLANA and Mojave Solar parabolic trough plant constructed in Arizona and California, each of 280 MW power production [5,6]

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