A generating facility is provided for generating electricity from both solar and non-solar energy sources. The solar generating portion of the facility includes capability to directly generate electricity from solar insolation, or to store the solar energy in a tangible medium, including stored heat, or solar generating fuel. The generating facility is configured to generate electricity simultaneously from both solar and non-solar sources, as well a solely from immediate solar insolation and from solar energy stored in a tangible medium. Additionally, the solar generating capacity may be segregated; such that separate spectra of solar insolation are used to capture heat for steam turbine based electrical generation, capture light energy for photovoltaic based electrical generation, and to grow biomass to generate a solar fuel.

Hybrid generation with alternative fuel sources

Pollution and increasing fuel prices are the main focus for governments today. The main cause of pollution is existing electricity power plants that use huge quantities of fossil fuel. A new strategy should be applied in the coming decades based on the integration of existing power plants with renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind energy. Hybridization of existing power plants with solar energy is one proven option to overcome the problems of pollution and increasing fuel prices. In this paper, a review of the previous studies and papers for integrating solar thermal energy with conventional and non-conventional power plants was carried out. The focus on hybrid solar conventional power plants includes: the review of studies of hybrid solar–steam cycle power plants, integrated solar combined-cycle systems (ISCCS) and hybrid solar–gas turbine power plants, while for hybrid solar non-conventional power plants the focus of study is hybrid solar–geothermal power plants. The most successful option is ISCCS due to their advantages and the plans for implementation at various power plants in the world like in Tunisia, Egypt, Spain, and Iran.

Advances in the integration of solar thermal energy with conventional and non-conventional power plants

These technology characterizations provide descriptions of the leading renewable technologies and discussions of current capabilities in terms of system performance and cost. The report provides projections of future performance and costs based on the assumption of continuing development support and the successful resolution of unresolved issues. It also discusses the issues and activities necessary to address these unresolved issues. Costs and cost estimates are presented in terms that allow individuals to perform their own financial analyses using methods appropriate to their own situations and needs. In addition, levelized energy cost estimates are offered.

Renewable Energy Technology Characterizations

A solar-powered power generation system and an associated method are provided. The system includes at least one trough solar absorption device for heating a heat transfer fluid to a first temperature, and at least one tower solar absorption device for further heating the transfer fluid to a second temperature. Thus, the generation system can efficiently heat the transfer fluid to high temperatures. Subsequently, the heated fluid can be used, e.g., to generate steam and/or electricity.

Solar power system and method for power generation

The present invention provides methods and system for power generation using a high efficiency combustor in combination with a CO 2 circulating fluid. The methods and systems advantageously can make use of a low pressure ratio power turbine and an economizer heat exchanger in specific embodiments. Additional low grade heat from an external source can be used to provide part of an amount of heat needed for heating the recycle CO 2 circulating fluid. Fuel derived CO 2 can be captured and delivered at pipeline pressure. Other impurities can be captured.

System and method for high efficiency power generation using a carbon dioxide circulating working fluid

A hybrid combined cycle power plant including a solar central receiver for receiving solar radiation and converting it to thermal energy. The power plant includes a molten salt heat transfer medium for transferring the thermal energy to an air heater. The air heater uses the thermal energy to preheat the air from the compressor of the gas cycle. The exhaust gases from the gas cycle are directed to a steam turbine for additional energy production.

Hybrid solar central receiver for combined cycle power plant

A hybrid combined cycle power plant including a solar central receiver (7) for receiving solar radiation and converting it to thermal energy The power plant includes a molten salt heat transfer medium (8) for transferring the thermal energy to an air heater (9) The air heater (9) uses the thermal energy to preheat the air from the compressor (12) of the gas cycle The exhaust gases from the gas cycle are directed to a steam turbine (16) for additional energy production

Hybrid central receiver

Solar thermal electric systems have an advantage over many other renewable energy technologies because the former use heat as an intermediate energy carrier. This is an advantage as it allows for a relatively simple method of hybridization by using heat from fossil-fuel. Hybridization of solar thermal electric systems is a topic that has recently generated significant interest and controversy and has led to many diverse opinions. This paper discusses many of the issues associated with hybridization of solar thermal electric systems such as what role hybridization should play; how it should be implemented; what are the efficiency, environmental, and cost implications; what solar fraction is appropriate; how hybrid systems compete with solar-only systems; and how hybridization can impact commercialization efforts for solar thermal electric systems.

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Solar thermal electric hybridization issues

A hybrid air-cooled condenser system. The system may be provided by converting one among the many air-cooled condensers or condenser bays of a conventional condenser system to an evaporative cooler or condenser. The evaporative condenser may be plumbed in the condenser system to be in series in the vapor path with, upstream or downstream of, the air-cooled condensers. In one embodiment, the working fluid flows from an output or discharge header of the air-cooled section or assembly of the hybrid condensing system to an inlet of the evaporatively cooled section, e.g., to one or more evaporative coolers or condensers. In one modeled geothermal power plant, the condensing load on the air-cooled section was reduced by 50 percent when compared to a fully air-cooled condenser system. The condenser arrangement may be used to improve summer time performance of geothermal power plants.

Hybrid Air-Cooled Condenser For Power Plants and Other Applications

/pdf/solar-thermal-hybridization-i-4i6a2cx5ib.pdf

Thomas A. Williams

Papers

Hybrid solar central receiver for combined cycle power plant

Hybrid central receiver

Solar thermal electric hybridization issues

Hybrid Air-Cooled Condenser For Power Plants and Other Applications

Solar Thermal Hybridization I