A software tool for the preliminary performance modelling of central receivers and associated power cycles

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dc.contributor.advisorBennett, Kevinen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorSmith, Leeen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2016-04-05T11:37:17Z
dc.date.available2016-04-05T11:37:17Z
dc.date.issued2011en_ZA
dc.description.abstractA software tool for assisting in the preliminary performance modelling of central receiver solar thermal plants was developed using Matlab®. Scope was limited to the thermodynamic study of the power cycle and receiver. The receiver model was validated by comparing results to published data. The model was able to simulate billboard, C-cavity and cylindrical receivers within 1% in cases involving single-phase fluids and by at most 3% - 5% for water. Performance studies were conducted to demonstrate the usefulness of the model. Power cycle studies investigated the performance limits on non-reheated cycles as well as the effects of reheat and regenerative feedwater heating. The results showed expected trends of efficiency increasing with turbine inlet temperature and pressures. Also, efficiency was shown to increase asymptotically with number of feedwater heaters and reheat was shown to improve exhaust quality and efficiency. Billboard and cylindrical receivers were studied in detail using a number of heat transfer fluids, namely thermal oil, molten salt, molten sodium and water to compare the relative performance over a range of rated powers. Water and thermal oil were shown to be the best performing fluids for use in billboards and cylindrical receivers, respectively. Water and salt were shown to require the least area for use in billboards and cylindrical receivers, respectively. The effects of power cycle performance on receiver performance and size were investigated from which it was found that receiver efficiency increases marginally with power cycle efficiency but the required area is reduced significantly.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationSmith, L. (2011). <i>A software tool for the preliminary performance modelling of central receivers and associated power cycles</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Energy Research Centre. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/18584en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationSmith, Lee. <i>"A software tool for the preliminary performance modelling of central receivers and associated power cycles."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Energy Research Centre, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/18584en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationSmith, L. 2011. A software tool for the preliminary performance modelling of central receivers and associated power cycles. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Smith, Lee AB - A software tool for assisting in the preliminary performance modelling of central receiver solar thermal plants was developed using Matlab®. Scope was limited to the thermodynamic study of the power cycle and receiver. The receiver model was validated by comparing results to published data. The model was able to simulate billboard, C-cavity and cylindrical receivers within 1% in cases involving single-phase fluids and by at most 3% - 5% for water. Performance studies were conducted to demonstrate the usefulness of the model. Power cycle studies investigated the performance limits on non-reheated cycles as well as the effects of reheat and regenerative feedwater heating. The results showed expected trends of efficiency increasing with turbine inlet temperature and pressures. Also, efficiency was shown to increase asymptotically with number of feedwater heaters and reheat was shown to improve exhaust quality and efficiency. Billboard and cylindrical receivers were studied in detail using a number of heat transfer fluids, namely thermal oil, molten salt, molten sodium and water to compare the relative performance over a range of rated powers. Water and thermal oil were shown to be the best performing fluids for use in billboards and cylindrical receivers, respectively. Water and salt were shown to require the least area for use in billboards and cylindrical receivers, respectively. The effects of power cycle performance on receiver performance and size were investigated from which it was found that receiver efficiency increases marginally with power cycle efficiency but the required area is reduced significantly. DA - 2011 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2011 T1 - A software tool for the preliminary performance modelling of central receivers and associated power cycles TI - A software tool for the preliminary performance modelling of central receivers and associated power cycles UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/18584 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/18584
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationSmith L. A software tool for the preliminary performance modelling of central receivers and associated power cycles. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Energy Research Centre, 2011 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/18584en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentEnergy Research Centreen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherEnergy Studiesen_ZA
dc.titleA software tool for the preliminary performance modelling of central receivers and associated power cyclesen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMScen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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