Abstract
Solar energy is currently an underutilized renewable energy source that could fulfill low-temperature industrial heat demands with significant potential in high solar irradiance counties such as Malaysia. This study proposes a new systematic method for optimization of solar heat integration for different process options to minimize the levelized cost of heat by combining different methods from the literature. A case study from the literature is presented to demonstrate the proposed method combined with meteorological data in Malaysia. The method estimates capital cost and levelized cost of solar heating considering important physical constraints (e.g., available space) and recovery of waste heat. The method determines and optimizes important physical dimensions, including collector area, storage size, and control design. As the result of the case study, the solar thermal integration with Clean-In-Place streams (hot water) gives the lowest levelized cost of heat with RM 0.63/kWh (0.13 EUR/kWh) due to its lowest process temperature requirement. The sensitivity analysis indicates that collector price and collector efficiency are the critical parameters of solar thermal integration.
Highlights
A driver behind the rapid technological growth in renewable energy generation is the harmful environmental effects of using fossil fuels
The cost and convenience need to be compared between setting up a backup utility and a control scheme in order to decide the best potential stream for solar thermal integration, but this will not be discussed in this paper
A case study of solar thermal integration in a milk powder plant from the literature was investigated with multiple classified solar irradiance profiles in Malaysia
Summary
A driver behind the rapid technological growth in renewable energy generation is the harmful environmental effects of using fossil fuels. The overall temperature of the atmosphere will be increased and it will negatively affect the environment and mankind itself This deeper awareness of the environment has fast-tracked a transition towards cleaner, safer, and more sustainable energy systems [1]. The declined price in solar energy equipment, coupled with greenhouse gas (GHG) pricing, peak energy considerations, and renewed global economic growth, have accelerated most of the predictions of experts on the time when solar will achieve price parity with traditional fossil-fuel sources [2]. The solar thermal system design is essential to assure its optimal performance and maximize economic benefits. A method is required to design solar thermal systems to optimally integrate into industrial processes
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