Concentrating solar power (CSP) has received significant attention among researchers, power-producing companies and state policymakers for its bulk electricity generation capability, overcoming the intermittency of solar resources. The parabolic trough collector (PTC) and solar power tower (SPT) are the two dominant CSP systems that are either operational or in the construction stage. The USA and Spain are global leaders in CSP electricity generation, whereas developing countries such as China and India are emerging by aggressive investment. Each year, hundreds of articles have been published on CSP. However, there is a need to observe the overall research development of this field which is missing in the current body of literature. To bridge this gap, this study 1) provides a most up-to-date overview of the CSP technologies implemented across the globe, 2) reviews previously published review articles on this issue to highlight major findings and 3) analyzes future research trends in the CSP research. Text mining approach is utilized to analyze and visualize the scientific landscape of the research. Thermal energy storage, solar collector and policy-level analysis are found as core topics of discussion in the previous studies. With a holistic analysis, it is found that direct steam generation (DSG) is a promising innovation which is reviewed in this study. This paper provides a comprehensive outlook on the CSP technologies and its research which offers practical help to the future researchers who start to research on this topic.

A comprehensive review of state-of-the-art concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies: current status and research trends

Progress in dynamic simulation of thermal power plants

Modeling, simulation and performance analysis of parabolic trough solar collectors: A comprehensive review

In this work, a review on solar cookers is presented. This review includes principle and classification, parameters influencing the performance of a solar cooker, and energy and exergy analysis related to solar cooker systems. Moreover, an economic study is performed for different scenarios in Lebanon (home, hotel, restaurant and snack) and for several categories of solar cookers (solar box cooker, solar panel cooker, parabolic solar cooker and evacuated tube solar cooker with thermal storage). The main idea of the economic study is to estimate the payback period in function of percentage of time Pr where solar cooker is utilized, for each solar cooker and in each scenario. It was obtained that the higher dependence on solar cooker decreases payback period. Besides, environmental analysis is implemented to compute the amount of reduction in carbon dioxide emissions in the different scenarios as percentage of time where solar cooker is used varies. It was shown that the reduction in amount of carbon dioxide raised from 6.05 to 60.55 kg/month, 605.52 to 6055.2 kg/month, 399.64 to 3996.43 kg/month and from 90.82 to 908.28 kg/month in home, restaurant, hotel and snack respectively when Pr increased from 0.1 to 1. Hence, utilizing a solar cooker diminishes carbon dioxide emissions in all scenarios where Pr has direct relationship with minimization of carbon dioxide emissions.

Review on solar cooker systems: Economic and environmental study for different Lebanese scenarios

Improving the efficiency and reducing the pollutants are the critical concerns for any design of power generation plants Identifying the characteristics of the Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) system and locating the optimum operation conditions via simulation models are irreplaceable route due to the huge system and the impossibility of experimental investigations To that end, this paper presents modelling analysis with the aim of enhancing the performance and optimization conditions seeking of the (CCGT) power plant with various configurations The developed simulation models are integrated to encapsulate thermal analysis according to thermodynamics principles, optimization techniques, error analysis, and performance metrics assessment of the various CCGT system configurations using the MATLAB 10A software A statistical tool, ANOVA, is utilized to assess the results and to develop correlations between the power outputs and performance metrics of the CCGT plants The new correlations which are developed within the frame of this work are of acceptable accuracy for all the considered range of the simulation data The coefficient of determination (R2) is calculated as 0985 which is considered satisfactory as well The validity of the correlations is investigated against actual performance and operation data extracted from an actual power generation plant, the MARAFIQ CCGT plant in KSA Consequently, an error analysis which is carried out considering the actual operation and performance records of MARAFIQ CCGT plant as a benchmark proved the validity of the model An error of about 08104% is found The operation parameters and performance metrics of the CCGT plant are ultimately assessed against variations of selected parameters via the developed model Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy System (ANFIS) is used as an optimization technique The highest attained power output and thermal efficiency were 1540 MW and 61%, respectively Turbine inlet temperature is found to be the key parameter for the optimum performance (power and thermal efficiency) The models developed in this work are a powerful tool for analyzing and optimising CCGT which take the place of very expensive and strenuous experimental works

The Optimum Performance of the Combined Cycle Power Plant: A Comprehensive Review

Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plants generate renewable electricity using the conversion of solar direct normal irradiation into thermal energy, then into mechanical work and electricity through the use of a thermodynamic cycle. Among the several available technologies, Direct Steam Generation (DSG), in which steam is generated directly in the absorber tubes of the solar field, and then directly fed to the turbine or thermal storage, holds interesting advantages. However, the steam generation system shows a difficult dynamic behavior which constitutes a challenge for the control system design. It is mainly due to the conjunction of the natural transient condition of solar irradiation and the presence of two-phase flow in the absorber tubes. This paper reviews the control methods of the DSG systems used in linefocus CSP. The control systems are either proposed in literature, or actually applied in currently running plants or prototypes, although an extensive description is difficult to obtain in the case of the latter. The control systems are classified according to which DSG operation mode they refer to.

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Control systems for direct steam generation in linear concentrating solar power plants – A review

Dynamic Simulations of Fresnel Solar Power Plants

Experimental assessment of woody biomass gasification in a hybridized solar powered reactor featuring direct and indirect heating modes

Thermal Energy Storage systems (TES) for a Direct Steam Generation (DSG) solar plant feature preferably three stages in series including a latent heat storage module so that steam can be recovered with a limited temperature loss. The storage system designed within the Alsolen Sup project is characterized by an innovative combination of sensible and latent modules. A dynamic model of this three-stage storage has been developed and applied to size the storage system of the Alsolen Sup® plant demonstrator at CEA Cadarache. Results of this simulation show that this promising concept is an efficient way to store heat in DSG solar plants.

Valéry Vuillerme

Papers

Control systems for direct steam generation in linear concentrating solar power plants – A review

Dynamic Simulations of Fresnel Solar Power Plants

Experimental assessment of woody biomass gasification in a hybridized solar powered reactor featuring direct and indirect heating modes

Design and modelling of an innovative three-stage thermal storage system for direct steam generation CSP plants

Development and application of a multi-domain dynamic model for direct steam generation solar power plant