R&D for the improvement of O&M in CSP plants. Dr. Marcelino Sánchez. - November,

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1 R&D for the improvement of O&M in CSP plants. Dr. Marcelino Sánchez - November,

2 í n d i c e 1 Need of R&D for O&M improvement in CSP Plants 2 Current R&D activities in O&M improvement carried out by CENER 3 Additional R&D Needs to improve O&M 4 Conclusions

3 1 Need of R&D for O&M improvement in CSP Plants

4 1. Need of R&D for O&M improvement in CSP Plants Cost references from current projects c /kwh c /kwh 35 Source: ESTELA Spain South Africa India Israel Morocco U.S.A 4

Change (UK) 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Nuclear energy price corresponding to initial

5 1. Need of R&D for O&M improvement in CSP Plants Cost references from current projects c /kwh c /kwh 35 Source: ESTELA Source: Department of Energy & Climate Change (UK) Nuclear energy price corresponding to initial agreement reached on new nuclear power station at Hinkley Spain South Africa India Israel Morocco U.S.A 5

O&M cost includes everything to keep the plant in as-new condition for 30 + years When CAPEX is written down the

6 1. Need of R&D for O&M improvement in CSP Plants A CSP plant will last for years LOAN PERIOD GOLDEN YEARS CSP reference price Pool price CSP final price? O & M cost CSP plant lifetime 30, 40, 50? O&M cost includes everything to keep the plant in as-new condition for 30 + years When CAPEX is written down the remaining marginal cost is actually below Pool price providing and improvement to long term economic of the electrical system. This marginal cost is mainly due to O&M 6

capacity (MW) in operation Installed capacity (MW) under construction

7 1. Need of R&D for O&M improvement in CSP Plants Market needs Current CSP Market is dominated by Parabolic Trough technology Installed capacity (MW) in operation Installed capacity (MW) under construction TOTAL: 4638 MW Source: CSP Today Global Tracker (Nov. 2015) TOTAL: 1594 MW 7

1. Need of R&D for O&M improvement in CSP Plants Market needs Total capacity: under development, planning and announced (MW) [1] [1] Source: CSP Today Global Tracker (Nov.

8 1. Need of R&D for O&M improvement in CSP Plants Market needs Total capacity: under development, planning and announced (MW) [1] [1] Source: CSP Today Global Tracker (Nov. 2015) TOTAL: MW Although parabolic trough based power plants are at the moment the dominant concept at commercial level, the central receiver (or power tower) technology has by far more potential in terms of efficiency and cost reduction. 8

9 2 Current R&D activities in O&M improvement carried out by CENER

10 2. Current R&D activities in O&M carried out by CENER Analysis of current situation Most CSP Plants currently under operation and construction belong to Parabolic trough (PT) technology. Current R&D Efforts on supporting CSP industry are mainly focused in improving O&M of PT plants in order to reduce final electricity cost. CENER is currently working in: A. Three projects regarding PT technology: On site inspection of Parabolic Trough Receivers FOCuS (Fringe Optical Characterization of Surfaces) Development of an on line hydrogen detection system to enhance PT plants performance B.One project regarding Central Receiver technology: Automatic calibration of heliostat fields 10

11 2. Current R&D activities in O&M carried out by CENER On site inspection of Parabolic Trough Receivers : Test Campaign 11

12 2. Current R&D activities in O&M carried out by CENER On site inspection of Parabolic Trough Receivers : Modeling and validation at lab scale Measured data are evaluated using an, a especific software developed and validated with controlled tests performed at CENER s Laboratories 12

2. Current R&D activities in O&M carried out by CENER On site inspection of Parabolic Trough Receivers The National Renewable Energy Centre (CENER) has developed an inspection system called ITR

13 2. Current R&D activities in O&M carried out by CENER On site inspection of Parabolic Trough Receivers The National Renewable Energy Centre (CENER) has developed an inspection system called ITR (Inspection Receiver Tubes) to measure the surface glass temperature of receiver tubes in CSP thermal solar plants. This development has been done in order to facilitate performing maintenance operations on the surveillance state of receiver tubes and its degradation over time mainly due to the vacuum losses inside the tubes. 13

receiver tubes on a moving vehicle in a fast thermography process.

IR thermography images and other data measured in the plant.

corresponding to three colours: green (Good), orange (Not so good) and red (Bad).

14 2. Current R&D activities in O&M carried out by CENER On site inspection of Parabolic Trough Receivers The inspection system ITR performs measurements of the glass surface temperature of the receiver tubes on a moving vehicle in a fast thermography process. A software has been developed to evaluate the performance of each glass tube combining videos of IR thermography images and other data measured in the plant.. Depending on the measurement value, the software classifies tubes in three different states corresponding to three colours: green (Good), orange (Not so good) and red (Bad). The vehicle goes parallel to the direction of the halfloop at a maximum distance of 4-5 m and approximately at km/h. Results: Receivers classified Results: Receivers Historical database 14

2. Current R&D activities in O&M carried out by CENER FOCuS Project (Fringe Optical Characterization of Surfaces) Goal FOCuS Tool (Fringe Optical Characterization of Surfaces) is being developed to

15 2. Current R&D activities in O&M carried out by CENER FOCuS Project (Fringe Optical Characterization of Surfaces) Goal FOCuS Tool (Fringe Optical Characterization of Surfaces) is being developed to improve the qualification of industrial mirror production and operating solar collectors in solar power plants. This technique enhances considerably some difficult aspects of current surface qualification techniques: complex arrangements; long measurement times and sometimes limited spatial resolution. Fringe Reflection Layout Description The Fringe Reflection technique is considered to be an effective, reliable and robust non-contact optical method for characterizing specular surfaces. Results generated by the tool offer quality parameters such as: RMS Slope Deviation in x-direction (SDx), RMS Slope Deviation in y-direction (SDy) and Intercept Factor Map (IC) by a ray trace analysis. FOCuS Tool main features are: High spatial resolution (more than 1 million points per facet). Short measurement time. Easy set-up for mirror production lines and solar plants qualification 15

2. Current R&D activities in O&M carried out by CENER FOCuS Project (Fringe Optical Characterization of Surfaces) FOCuS Measurement Summary Conclusions The obtained statistical values can be used for

The developed FOCuS Tool has proven to obtain effectively a detail map of the local slope deviation of the mirror analyzed, as well as the Intercept Factor map of the corresponding mirror.

16 2. Current R&D activities in O&M carried out by CENER FOCuS Project (Fringe Optical Characterization of Surfaces) FOCuS Measurement Summary Conclusions The obtained statistical values can be used for comparison with standard parameters for sample qualification. Local values can be used for detection of faulty areas in the mirror. The developed FOCuS Tool has proven to obtain effectively a detail map of the local slope deviation of the mirror analyzed, as well as the Intercept Factor map of the corresponding mirror. Main Achievements and future work Focus has been applied successfully at lab scale and it is currently fully operational at CENER laboratories. Focus application to on site characterization of PT Collectors is been developed by CENER in collaboration with UNAM, First tests on real scale have been ENEA within SFERA Project Parabolic trough mirror modules characterization by focus tool p

2. Current R&D activities in O&M carried out by CENER Development of an on line hydrogen detection system to enhance PT plants performance Goal The goal of the project is to design and build a sensor

17 2. Current R&D activities in O&M carried out by CENER Development of an on line hydrogen detection system to enhance PT plants performance Goal The goal of the project is to design and build a sensor able to detect and quantify the presence of hydrogen in a heat transfer oil in Concentrating solar plants (CSP) on line. Why? What is the problem? Receiver efficiency decrease due to Vacuum loss. Molecular hydrogen permeation causes the thermal losses drastically up to 2.9 times that from standard receiver. (*). What is the proposed solution? Design and development of an on-line hydrogen detection system which be able to detect its presence in HTF before it is too late. This new online sensor is the unique real solution that makes it possible to: Perform continuous monitoring Enhance plant performance. Enable preventive maintenance Minimize O&M costs. This system is protected by a patent (P Method of detection and quantification of hydrogen in a heat transfer oil) that ensures its uniqueness in the market. (*)Source: N. Benz et al. Advances in receiver technology for parabolic trough. 17

PT plants performance G A E B D Prototype under development at

F C On line HTF monitorization while performing HTF

18 2. Current R&D activities in O&M carried out by CENER Development of an on line hydrogen detection system to enhance PT plants performance G A E B D Prototype under development at lab scale Optical measurements have shown: High sensitivity to HTF degradation. Good and accurate correlation to traditional chemical analysis F C On line HTF monitorization while performing HTF degradation test at lab scale (ongoing) Installation of first Prototype in a commercial power plant scheduled march

2. Current R&D activities in O&M carried out by CENER Heliostat calibration Automatic calibration of heliostat fields Current status

CENER and IK4-TEKNIKER are developing a new approach for a computer vision based online calibration system: Low-cost camera on each

Minimal interference with plant operation by ability to calibrate during night time.

19 2. Current R&D activities in O&M carried out by CENER Heliostat calibration Automatic calibration of heliostat fields Current status Step-by-step adjustment of each heliostat (using lambertian target). Does not scale well for large amounts of small heliostats. CENER and IK4-TEKNIKER are developing a new approach for a computer vision based online calibration system: Low-cost camera on each heliostat and active targets in solar field Estimate the actual orientation of each heliostat and adjust their tracking accordingly. Minimal interference with plant operation by ability to calibrate during night time. Designed to calibrate large amounts of heliostats in parallel. Fast procedure to allow frequent re-calibration, thus reducing requirements (and costs) on drive mechanism. Patent Application (reference P ) 19

20 2. Current R&D activities in O&M carried out by CENER Heliostat calibration Cameras rigidly attached to heliostat facet. No specific position and direction. Possibly at back side for protection. Capture artificial targets (light sources) in the solar field. Adjust tracking according to observed images. 20

21 3 Additional R&D needs to improve O&M

22 3. Additional R&D needs to improve O&M Additional R& D Needs to Improve O&M common to all technologies 1. Developments of New tools for forecasting and Nowcasting. CENER is currently involved in the project DNI CAST Direct Normal Irradiance Nowcasting methods for optimized operation of concentrating solar technologies funded by EU-FP7 CENER is currently involved in the project PREFLEXMS Predictable Flexible Molten Salts Solar Power Plant funded by H2020 funded by H Methodology for analyzing and predicting degradation and lifetime. CENER is currently participating in the creation of national and international standards for concentrating solar thermal power plants in the committees AEN/CTN 206/SC Thermoelectric Solar Energy Systems (IEC TC 117) Solar thermal electric plants 3. Advanced Cleaning Systems ( higher degree of automation, low water use). Additional R& D Needs to Improve O&M In Central Receiver 1. On line Flux measurement in commercial towers. CENER is currently coordinating the WP12 Point focusing STE Technologies of the Project STAGE-STE Scientific and Technological Alliance for Guaranteeing the European Excellence in Concentrating Solar Thermal Energy funded by EU-FP7 2. Measurement and modeling of the Atmospheric Attenuation ATM. 22

3. Additional R&D needs to improve O&M Real-time automated measurement and modeling of atmospheric attenuation in central receiver Power plants (Solar Towers) Current status Current models show

Main goal Development of the required equipment and the methodology for accurate measurement, characterization, modelling and estimation of the atmospheric attenuation in central receiver solar power

23 3. Additional R&D needs to improve O&M Real-time automated measurement and modeling of atmospheric attenuation in central receiver Power plants (Solar Towers) Current status Current models show important differences when estimating ATM losses in Central Receiver technology even in clear days. This fact has a strong impact on technology risk. Main goal Development of the required equipment and the methodology for accurate measurement, characterization, modelling and estimation of the atmospheric attenuation in central receiver solar power plants Specific goals Development of a real time and automated measurement system of solar radiation attenuation in typical distances of central receiver solar power plants. Development of universal mathematical models for atmospheric attenuation and mirror soiling as a function of different sets of input variables. 23

24 4 Conclusions

to significant cost reduction of final electricity price.

25 4. Conclusions Main R&D activities have been identified in order to improve O& M in CSP plants. O&M cost will become the major cost of electricity from CSP plants once the loan has been paid R&D can have strong influence in O&M improvements leading to significant cost reduction of final electricity price. Increasing operational life of the plant Enhancing plant performance along operational life Reducing annual cost of O&M CSP will become much more competitive by improving O&M trough R&D projects CENER is currently working in several R&D projects aiming to reduce O&M cost and final cost of solar electricity. 25

26 Thank you!!! Marcelino Sánchez, Ph.D.

INTRODUCTION TO SOLAR THERMAL POWER STATIONS We shall look at some of the different methods of supplying solar energy to the power stations.

INTRODUCTION TO SOLAR THERMAL POWER STATIONS We shall look at some of the different methods of supplying solar energy to the power stations. SOLAR THERMAL POWER PLANTS There are different types of solar thermal power stations where the energy from the sun is collected by an arrangement of mirrors. These rotate or tilt to follow the suns arcing