IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v185y2022icp1221-1244.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Transient simulation of a control strategy for solar receivers based on mass flow valves adjustments and heliostats aiming

Author

Listed:
  • García, Jesús
  • Barraza, Rodrigo
  • Soo Too, Yen Chean
  • Vásquez-Padilla, Ricardo
  • Acosta, David
  • Estay, Danilo
  • Valdivia, Patricio

Abstract

Solar central receivers have inherently large time constants and time delays caused by their thermal inertia are due to the transport of the heat transfer fluid alongside the panels. This problem is even accentuated if these systems are continuously exposed to direct normal irradiance (DNI) fluctuations. Ensuring an adequate operation of this kind of process implies the adaptation of control strategies. This paper proposes a strategy that couples the temperature control of the outlet fluid while considering the heliostats' aiming points location to maintain the receiver operating below its design limit and simulates its performance under several scenarios. These tests are carried out on a non-steady-state solar plant model that considers its optical and thermal characteristics. The structure of the proposed control system is based on using intermediate flow valves along the heating flow path to reduce time delay. Hence, it renders the control system more responsive to either a DNI variation affecting the solar field or moving its operation from one state to another. The control strategy structure contains feedback and feedforward loops to determine the near-future process response to DNI measurements. It allows adding more information to the loop used to maintain the system's desired steady-state operation. The overall strategy can take the process to a steady-state operation regardless of the hour or day of operation. It produces a low variation of the outlet temperature, with a standard deviation of 3 °C, while the receiver is under a transient DNI and maintains the heliostats aimed toward the receiver without exceeding its heat flux limits. Results indicate that the proposed strategy achieves over 80% improvement based on the integral absolute error (IAE) performance index compared to conventional single-loop temperature control. Besides the simulated numerical results, this research also presents the advantages of considering intermediate mass-flow valves for control purposes of the receiver. This work should be considered a step towards improving multivariable control algorithms for the safe operation of solar central receivers.

Suggested Citation

  • García, Jesús & Barraza, Rodrigo & Soo Too, Yen Chean & Vásquez-Padilla, Ricardo & Acosta, David & Estay, Danilo & Valdivia, Patricio, 2022. "Transient simulation of a control strategy for solar receivers based on mass flow valves adjustments and heliostats aiming," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C), pages 1221-1244.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:185:y:2022:i:c:p:1221-1244
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2021.12.008
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148121017274
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2021.12.008?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. Wang, Kun & He, Ya-Ling & Xue, Xiao-Dai & Du, Bao-Cun, 2017. "Multi-objective optimization of the aiming strategy for the solar power tower with a cavity receiver by using the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 399-416.
    2. García, Jesús & Soo Too, Yen Chean & Padilla, Ricardo Vasquez & Beath, Andrew & Kim, Jin-Soo & Sanjuan, Marco E., 2018. "Dynamic performance of an aiming control methodology for solar central receivers due to cloud disturbances," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 355-367.
    3. Conroy, Tim & Collins, Maurice N. & Fisher, James & Grimes, Ronan, 2018. "Thermal and mechanical analysis of a sodium-cooled solar receiver operating under a novel heliostat aiming point strategy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 590-614.
    4. García, Jesús & Barraza, Rodrigo & Soo Too, Yen Chean & Vásquez Padilla, Ricardo & Acosta, David & Estay, Danilo & Valdivia, Patricio, 2020. "Aiming clusters of heliostats over solar receivers for distributing heat flux using one variable per group," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 584-596.
    5. Sánchez-González, Alberto & Rodríguez-Sánchez, María Reyes & Santana, Domingo, 2018. "Aiming factor to flatten the flux distribution on cylindrical receivers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 113-125.
    6. García, Jesús M. & Padilla, Ricardo Vasquez & Sanjuan, Marco E., 2016. "A biomimetic approach for modeling cloud shading with dynamic behavior," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA), pages 157-166.
    7. Crespi, Francesco & Toscani, Andrea & Zani, Paolo & Sánchez, David & Manzolini, Giampaolo, 2018. "Effect of passing clouds on the dynamic performance of a CSP tower receiver with molten salt heat storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C), pages 224-235.
    8. Speetzen, N. & Richter, P., 2021. "Dynamic aiming strategy for central receiver systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 55-67.
    9. Conroy, Tim & Collins, Maurice N. & Grimes, Ronan, 2020. "A review of steady-state thermal and mechanical modelling on tubular solar receivers," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    10. Ashley, Thomas & Carrizosa, Emilio & Fernández-Cara, Enrique, 2017. "Optimisation of aiming strategies in Solar Power Tower plants," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 285-291.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Ruidi Zhu & Dong Ni, 2023. "A Model Predictive Control Approach for Heliostat Field Power Regulatory Aiming Strategy under Varying Cloud Shadowing Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-19, March.
    2. Zeng, Zhichen & Ni, Dong & Xiao, Gang, 2022. "Real-time heliostat field aiming strategy optimization based on reinforcement learning," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    3. García, Jesús & Barraza, Rodrigo & Soo Too, Yen Chean & Vásquez Padilla, Ricardo & Acosta, David & Estay, Danilo & Valdivia, Patricio, 2020. "Aiming clusters of heliostats over solar receivers for distributing heat flux using one variable per group," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 584-596.
    4. Conroy, Tim & Collins, Maurice N. & Grimes, Ronan, 2020. "A review of steady-state thermal and mechanical modelling on tubular solar receivers," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    5. Wang, Shuang & Asselineau, Charles-Alexis & Fontalvo, Armando & Wang, Ye & Logie, William & Pye, John & Coventry, Joe, 2023. "Co-optimisation of the heliostat field and receiver for concentrated solar power plants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 348(C).
    6. Laporte-Azcué, M. & Rodríguez-Sánchez, M.R. & González-Gómez, P.A. & Santana, D., 2021. "Assessment of the time resolution used to estimate the central solar receiver lifetime," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    7. Wang, Wen-Qi & Li, Ming-Jia & Cheng, Ze-Dong & Li, Dong & Liu, Zhan-Bin, 2021. "Coupled optical-thermal-stress characteristics of a multi-tube external molten salt receiver for the next generation concentrating solar power," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    8. Sánchez-González, Alberto & Rodríguez-Sánchez, María Reyes & Santana, Domingo, 2018. "Aiming factor to flatten the flux distribution on cylindrical receivers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 113-125.
    9. Abutayeh, Mohammad & Padilla, Ricardo Vasquez & Lake, Maree & Lim, Yee Yan & Garcia, Jesus & Sedighi, Mohammadreza & Soo Too, Yen Chean & Jeong, Kwangkook, 2019. "Effect of short cloud shading on the performance of parabolic trough solar power plants: motorized vs manual valves," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 330-344.
    10. Conroy, Tim & Collins, Maurice N. & Fisher, James & Grimes, Ronan, 2018. "Thermal and mechanical analysis of a sodium-cooled solar receiver operating under a novel heliostat aiming point strategy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 590-614.
    11. Hu, Yeguang & Xu, Zhigang & Zhou, Chaoying & Du, Jianjun & Yao, Yingxue, 2020. "Design and performance analysis of a multi-reflection heliostat field in solar power tower system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 498-512.
    12. Wang, Yanjuan & Li, Yi & Zhu, Zheng & Chen, Zhewen & Xu, Jinliang, 2024. "Thermal-hydraulic-structural analysis and optimization of supercritical CO2 solar tower receiver," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 293(C).
    13. Liu, Zengqiang & Lin, Xiaoxia & Zhao, Yuhong & Feng, Jieqing, 2023. "Determination of simulation parameters in Monte Carlo ray tracing for radiative flux density distribution simulation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    14. Ashley, Thomas & Carrizosa, Emilio & Fernández-Cara, Enrique, 2019. "Heliostat field cleaning scheduling for Solar Power Tower plants: A heuristic approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 653-660.
    15. Ellingwood, Kevin & Mohammadi, Kasra & Powell, Kody, 2020. "Dynamic optimization and economic evaluation of flexible heat integration in a hybrid concentrated solar power plant," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    16. Merad, Faycel & Labar, Hocine & Samira KELAIAIA, Mounia & Necaibia, Salah & Djelailia, Okba, 2019. "A maximum power control based on flexible collector applied to concentrator solar power," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 315-331.
    17. Gentile, Giancarlo & Picotti, Giovanni & Binotti, Marco & Cholette, Michael E. & Manzolini, Giampaolo, 2024. "A comprehensive methodology for the design of solar tower external receivers," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    18. Dasari, Hari Prasad & Desamsetti, Srinivas & Langodan, Sabique & Attada, Raju & Kunchala, Ravi Kumar & Viswanadhapalli, Yesubabu & Knio, Omar & Hoteit, Ibrahim, 2019. "High-resolution assessment of solar energy resources over the Arabian Peninsula," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 248(C), pages 354-371.
    19. Arias, I. & Cardemil, J. & Zarza, E. & Valenzuela, L. & Escobar, R., 2022. "Latest developments, assessments and research trends for next generation of concentrated solar power plants using liquid heat transfer fluids," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    20. He, Caitou & Zhao, Hanli & He, Qi & Zhao, Yuhong & Feng, Jieqing, 2021. "Analytical radiative flux model via convolution integral and image plane mapping," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).

    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:renene:v:185:y:2022:i:c:p:1221-1244. 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.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    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.