CSP power plant efficiency calculations

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Discussion Overview

The discussion focuses on calculating the overall efficiency of a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant utilizing parabolic trough concentrators. Participants explore the parameters involved in the efficiency calculations, including the Rankine cycle and the integration of collector efficiency.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant requests detailed information on calculating the overall efficiency of a CSP plant with parabolic trough concentrators.
  • Another participant inquires about the specific parameters available for the calculations, such as heat sink temperature, absorptivity, and reflectivity.
  • A participant mentions the need for heat input and work output to determine efficiency, presenting the formula η = W/Q.
  • It is noted that the CSP plant operates under the Rankine cycle, with the parabolic trough concentrator replacing the boiler to generate steam for the turbine.
  • Participants discuss the importance of parameters like pressure, temperature, reflectance, emissivity, and absorptivity in the efficiency calculations.
  • There is a suggestion that the integration of the parabolic trough concentrator may affect the basic Rankine cycle efficiency formula, potentially multiplying it by the collector efficiency.
  • One participant references a Wikipedia section for theoretical efficiency calculations, although they express uncertainty about the specifics of parabolic trough concentrators.
  • A participant expresses a desire to become a scientist and seeks lessons, indicating a broader interest in the topic.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants have not reached a consensus on the specific calculations or the impact of the parabolic trough concentrator on efficiency. Multiple viewpoints and uncertainties remain regarding the integration of parameters and the efficiency formula.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully resolved the mathematical steps or assumptions necessary for calculating efficiency, and the discussion includes various dependencies on definitions and parameters.

sam_89
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Hello,
please I want to know how to calculate the overall efficiency of a concentrated solar power plant (CSP) which uses parabolic trough concentrator,so please if you can provide me with detailed information and calculation method.

Thank you
 
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What parameters are you given to work with? Do you have your heat sink's temperature? The absorptivity of your receiver and so on?
 
yes I have these parameters ,the reflectivity of the collector,the absorptivity of the receiver and the temperatures.
 
sam_89 said:
yes I have these parameters ,the reflectivity of the collector,the absorptivity of the receiver and the temperatures.

In general, you would need the heat input and the work output for efficiency.

[tex]\eta = \frac{W}{Q}[/tex]


Do you have the work output from the steam turbine (or whichever kind) ?

What pressures and temperatures are you working with?

Is your plant running under the rankine cycle or a different one?
 
My CSP power plant is running under rankine cycle.As you know the boiler,in this power plant is replaced by the parabolic trough concentrator to generate steam before entering the turbine.

I have the pressure entering the pump and leaving it,and the output power of the turbine.
Also I have all the temperatures needed,the reflectance of the collector,the emissivity and the absorptivity of the receiver(tube).

The idea is to find how the integration of parabolic trough concentrator,will affect the efficiency formula of the basic rankine cycle,maybe it will multiplied by the collector efficiency,so how to calculate it?
 
Last edited:
sam_89 said:
My CSP power plant is running under rankine cycle.As you know the boiler,in this power plant is replaced by the parabolic trough concentrator to generate steam before entering the turbine.

I have the pressure entering the pump and leaving it,and the output power of the turbine.
Also I have all the temperatures needed,the reflectance of the collector,the emissivity and the absorptivity of the receiver(tube).

The idea is to find how the integration of parabolic trough concentrator,will affect the efficiency formula of the basic rankine cycle,maybe it will multiplied by the collector efficiency,so how to calculate it?


You can see how to get the theoretical efficiency (in combination with carnot efficiency) from this section of Wikipedia.

The final efficiency formula gives all the parameters you would use. I have not really studied parabolic trough concentrators so I can't really tell how much times it would concentrate the solar flux.
 
hey guys i want to become a scientist and i need lessons
 

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