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A thermal-systems analysis has been performed of the effects of adding thermal storage to trough-type solar thermal power plants. Solar plants of the trough type, typically without storage, have generated more solar electricity than of any other type of system in the world. See the figure below as an example of such a plant. The technology has been well developed, but the plants have relied upon a conventional fuel to extend generation to periods when sufficient sunlight is not available. With developing concerns for decreasing the amount of greenhouse gases generated, a new effort is being made to incorporate thermal storage in trough-type power plants.

An example of a trough-type solar power plant field is shown.

Our work has involved performing simulations on trough power systems that incorporate storage. This work has used a modified form of the code TRNSYS. This code was developed many years ago at the University of Wisconsin for building applications, but it is being adapted to trough system analysis.

Two generic types of thermal storage systems have been considered. One assumes liquid-based thermal storage and a variety of operational modes. Another has examined low-cost solid storage configurations like may be possible with concrete designs. Both First Law of Thermodynamic analyses and Second Law analyses of the operational behavior of these systems have been performed to gain insights about operational differences.

Our ultimate goal is to be able to assess the cost/benefit ratio for the inclusion of various kinds of storage materials and operational modes in a solar-trough plant.