Tower solar concentrating system

What is a concentrating solar-thermal power system?

Concentrating solar-thermal power systems are generally used for utility-scale projects. These utility-scale CSP plants can be configured in different ways. Power tower systems arrange mirrors around a central tower that acts as the receiver.

What is a power tower concentrating solar power plant?

In summary, the power tower concentrating solar power plant, at the heart of which lies the heliostat, is a very promising area of renewable energy. Benefits include high optical concentration ratios and operating temperatures, corresponding to high efficiency, and an ability to easily incorporate thermal energy storage.

How do power tower concentrating solar power systems work?

In power tower concentrating solar power systems, a large number of flat, sun-tracking mirrors, known as heliostats, focus sunlight onto a receiver at the top of a tall tower. A heat-transfer fluid heated in the receiver is used to heat a working fluid, which, in turn, is used in a conventional turbine generator to produce electricity.

What is a concentrated receiver system (solar power tower)?

Concentrating Receiver Systems (Solar Power Tower), Fig. 33 Bird ’s eye view of the PS10. (Source: NREL) receiver accepts a thermal power of about 55 MW of concentrated solar radiation with peaks of 650 kW/m2. The steam is sent to the turbine, where it expands, producing mechanical work and electric-ity.