Abstract
Based on the reversible heat engine model, theoretical analysis is carried out for economic performance of a solar tower power plant (STPP) combined with multi-effect desalination (MED). Taking total revenue of the output power and the fresh water yield per unit investment cost as the economic objective function, the most economical working condition of the system is given by analyzing the influence of the system investment composition, the receiver operating temperature, the concentration ratio, the efficiency of the endoreversible heat engine, and the relative water price on the economic parameters of the system. The variation curves of the economic objective function are given out when the main parameter is changed. The results show that the ratio of water price to electricity price, or relative price index, has a significant impact on system economy. When the water price is relatively low, with the effect numbers of the desalination system increasing, and the economic efficiency of the overall system worsens. Only when the price of fresh water rises to a certain value does it make sense to increase the effect. Additionally, the threshold of the fresh water price to the electricity price ratio is 0.22. Under the conditions of the current price index and the heliostat (or reflector), the cost ratio and the system economy can be maximized by selecting the optimum receiver temperature, the endoreversible heat engine efficiency, and the optimum concentration ratio. Given the receiver surface temperature and the endoreversible heat engine efficiency, increasing the system concentration ratio of the heliostat will be in favor of the system economy.
Highlights
The solar tower power plant (STPP) is considered one of the most promising solar power generation technologies
After conducting comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of a STPP combined with a multi-effect desalination (MED) system, the objective function of the system is given
When water-to-electricity relative price index is small, it is meaningless to add the number of effects of the MED system
Summary
The solar tower power plant (STPP) is considered one of the most promising solar power generation technologies. The combination of STPPs and seawater desalination systems is a current trend, because solar power plants themselves demand large amounts of fresh water. Frantz and Seifert [17] gave the thermal analysis of a multi-effect distillation plant powered by a solar tower plant and simulated the relationship between electricity production and fresh water production All these studies provide a good basis for further analysis of the economic analysis on a solar power plant combined with a seawater desalination system. An optimized economic model is proposed to obtain the relationship between the power generation and fresh water production, and the important parameters, such as the optimal concentration ratio, the receiver operating temperature, the component investment ratio, and the endoreversible heat engine efficiency
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