IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v314y2022ics0306261922003671.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Can solar tower plants withstand the operational flexibility of combined cycle plants?

Author

Listed:
  • González-Gómez, P.A.
  • Gómez-Hernández, J.
  • Ruiz, C.
  • Santana, D.

Abstract

The aim of this work is to investigate the level of reliability of a 100 MWe solar tower plant operating as a load-following plant using actual operational data of combined cycle power plants. Despite the low cost, the steam generator has been identified as the main cause of unavailability of solar tower plants due to fatigue failures of tube-to-tubesheet joints, which can lead to steam/water leakage into the heat transfer fluid circuit, putting the plant performance at risk. A methodology based on the ASME code and EN standards is proposed to predict the fatigue failures of critical welded points of the steam generator, such as tube-to-tubesheet joints and other T-joints. The results show that the forced outages due to failures of the steam generator lead to an energy penalty that ranges over 230–453 GWh over the plant lifetime. The associated annual degradation rate ranges over 0.123–0.244%. Three tube leakage repair strategies are compared: tube-to-tubesheet weld crack repair, tube plugging and tube plugging with steam generator replacement. The latter strategy was shown to be the best practice because the lowest levelized cost of energy was obtained. In addition, the design of heat exchangers with a minimum of 20% extra area is highly recommended to not compromise the plant operation due to tube plugging. Last, the load-following operation of the solar tower plant increases the levelized cost of energy by approximately 1.6% in the case of tube repair and approximately 0.8% in the case of tube plugging with steam generator replacement.

Suggested Citation

  • González-Gómez, P.A. & Gómez-Hernández, J. & Ruiz, C. & Santana, D., 2022. "Can solar tower plants withstand the operational flexibility of combined cycle plants?," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:314:y:2022:i:c:s0306261922003671
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.118951
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261922003671
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.118951?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wagner, Michael J. & Newman, Alexandra M. & Hamilton, William T. & Braun, Robert J., 2017. "Optimized dispatch in a first-principles concentrating solar power production model," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 959-971.
    2. Stoppato, A. & Mirandola, A. & Meneghetti, G. & Lo Casto, E., 2012. "On the operation strategy of steam power plants working at variable load: Technical and economic issues," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 228-236.
    3. González-Gómez, P.A. & Gómez-Hernández, J. & Briongos, J.V. & Santana, D., 2018. "Fatigue analysis of the steam generator of a parabolic trough solar power plant," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 565-577.
    4. Ignacio J. Perez-Arriaga & Carlos Batlle, 2012. "Impacts of Intermittent Renewables on Electricity Generation System Operation," Economics of Energy & Environmental Policy, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Number 2).
    5. Ferruzza, Davide & Kærn, Martin Ryhl & Haglind, Fredrik, 2019. "Design of header and coil steam generators for concentrating solar power applications accounting for low-cycle fatigue requirements," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 236(C), pages 793-803.
    6. Wogrin, Sonja & Galbally, David & Ramos, Andrés, 2016. "CCGT unit commitment model with first-principle formulation of cycling costs due to fatigue damage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 227-247.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Laporte-Azcué, M. & Rodríguez-Sánchez, M.R., 2024. "Thermal efficiency and endurance enhancement of tubular solar receivers using functionally graded materials," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 360(C).
    2. Shakibi, Hamid & Shokri, Afshar & Assareh, Ehsanolah & Yari, Mortaza & Lee, Moonyong, 2023. "Using machine learning approaches to model and optimize a combined solar/natural gas-based power and freshwater cogeneration system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 333(C).
    3. Arnaoutakis, Georgios E. & Katsaprakakis, Dimitris Al. & Christakis, Dimitris G., 2022. "Dynamic modeling of combined concentrating solar tower and parabolic trough for increased day-to-day performance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).
    4. González-Gómez, P.A. & Laporte-Azcué, M. & Fernández-Torrijos, M. & Santana, D., 2022. "Design optimization and structural assessment of a header and coil steam generator for load-following solar tower plants," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 456-471.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jesse G. Wales & Alexander J. Zolan & William T. Hamilton & Alexandra M. Newman & Michael J. Wagner, 2023. "Combining simulation and optimization to derive operating policies for a concentrating solar power plant," OR Spectrum: Quantitative Approaches in Management, Springer;Gesellschaft für Operations Research e.V., vol. 45(1), pages 119-150, March.
    2. Beiron, Johanna & Montañés, Rubén M. & Normann, Fredrik & Johnsson, Filip, 2020. "Flexible operation of a combined cycle cogeneration plant – A techno-economic assessment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    3. González-Gómez, P.A. & Laporte-Azcué, M. & Fernández-Torrijos, M. & Santana, D., 2022. "Design optimization and structural assessment of a header and coil steam generator for load-following solar tower plants," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 456-471.
    4. Andrzej Rusin & Martyna Tomala & Henryk Łukowicz & Grzegorz Nowak & Wojciech Kosman, 2021. "On-Line Control of Stresses in the Power Unit Pressure Elements Taking Account of Variable Heat Transfer Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-21, August.
    5. Batalla-Bejerano, Joan & Costa-Campi, Maria Teresa & Trujillo-Baute, Elisa, 2016. "Collateral effects of liberalisation: Metering, losses, load profiles and cost settlement in Spain’s electricity system," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 421-431.
    6. Martyna Tomala & Andrzej Rusin, 2022. "Risk-Based Operation and Maintenance Planning of Steam Turbine with the Long In-Service Time," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-17, July.
    7. Luis M. Abadie & José M. Chamorro, 2014. "Valuation of Wind Energy Projects: A Real Options Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 7(5), pages 1-38, May.
    8. Claudio Marcantonini & A.Denny Ellerman, 2015. "The Implicit Carbon Price of Renewable Energy Incentives in Germany," The Energy Journal, , vol. 36(4), pages 205-240, October.
    9. Fogelberg, Sara & Lazarczyk, Ewa, 2017. "Wind power volatility and its impact on production failures in the Nordic electricity market," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 96-105.
    10. Jean-Henry Ferrasse & Nandeeta Neerunjun & Hubert Stahn, 2021. "Managing intermittency in the electricity market," Working Papers halshs-03154612, HAL.
    11. Cullen, Joseph A. & Reynolds, Stanley S., 2023. "Market dynamics and investment in the electricity sector," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    12. Claudio Marcantonini, A. Denny Ellerman, 2015. "The Implicit Carbon Price of Renewable Energy Incentives in Germany," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Number 4).
    13. Villalobos, Cristian & Negrete-Pincetic, Matías & Figueroa, Nicolás & Lorca, Álvaro & Olivares, Daniel, 2021. "The impact of short-term pricing on flexible generation investments in electricity markets," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    14. Blanco, Jesús M. & Vazquez, L. & Peña, F., 2012. "Investigation on a new methodology for thermal power plant assessment through live diagnosis monitoring of selected process parameters; application to a case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 170-180.
    15. Taler, Jan & Taler, Dawid & Kaczmarski, Karol & Dzierwa, Piotr & Trojan, Marcin & Sobota, Tomasz, 2018. "Monitoring of thermal stresses in pressure components based on the wall temperature measurement," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 500-519.
    16. Tapia-Ahumada, Karen & Octaviano, Claudia & Rausch, Sebastian & Pérez-Arriaga, Ignacio, 2015. "Modeling intermittent renewable electricity technologies in general equilibrium models," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 242-262.
    17. Leisen, Robin & Radek, Julian & Weber, Christoph, 2024. "Modeling combined-cycle power plants in a detailed electricity market model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).
    18. Jean-Michel Glachant & Arthur Henriot, 2013. "Melting-pots and salad bowls: the current debate on electricity market design for RES integration," Working Papers EPRG 1329, Energy Policy Research Group, Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge.
    19. Martyna Tomala & Andrzej Rusin & Adam Wojaczek, 2020. "Risk-Based Planning of Diagnostic Testing of Turbines Operating with Increased Flexibility," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-16, July.
    20. Francesc Girbau-Llistuella & Francisco Díaz-González & Andreas Sumper & Ramon Gallart-Fernández & Daniel Heredero-Peris, 2018. "Smart Grid Architecture for Rural Distribution Networks: Application to a Spanish Pilot Network," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-35, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:314:y:2022:i:c:s0306261922003671. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.