Thermodynamic analysis of a novel concentrated solar power plant with integrated thermal energy storage

Abstract

This research provides a detailed thermodynamic analysis of a new Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant with integrated Thermal Energy Storage (TES). The plant combines a central receiver tower with a supercritical CO2 (sCO2) Brayton power cycle and a hybrid sensible-latent heat storage system.The analysis shows significant improvements in energy and exergy efficiencies (41.3 % and 38.7 %, respectively) compared with conventional CSP plants. The integrated system’s optimal operating conditions are obtained with a receiver temperature of 750 °C, a TES capacity of 12 h, a solar multiple of 2.5, an s CO2 cycle with a turbine inlet temperature of 750 °C, and a pressure ratio of 2.8.The analysis of the TES performance shows the great potential of the hybrid storage system in improving dispatchability and capacity factors. The economic analysis shows acompetitive Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE), and the environmental impact assessment shows a great reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.The present study presents a blueprint for developing high-performance CSP systems with advanced components and operating conditions. It demonstrates the promising potential of the proposed CSP-TES system, a viable, efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective technology for power generation. This technology will enable us to address the global transition towards clean energy.