Exergoeconomic and Exergoenvironmental results of power plant integrated with solar field of Heliostats
Exergy, exergoeconomy , exergoenvironmental analysis, heliostats, power plant
The growing demand for energy generation means that the search for more efficient ways to generate electricity, with lower costs and lower environmental impacts, is frequent among the lines of research. This work analyzes a cycle of power generation using solar energy captured by means of heliostats and solar tower receiver. The simulation uses the parameter of normal direct radiation in Natal-RN in order to study the behavior of the cycle in the region. The mathematical model was developed in the EES software and using the SPECO methodology the components of the cycle were evaluated according to an exergetic analysis, an ex-economical analysis and an ex-environmental analysis. The plant's energy storage system has been scaled to maintain power generation throughout the day. The results obtained were compared with those of other authors and indicated lower power generation (51 MW) with lower exergetic efficiency (9.31%) but obtaining a lower specific cost of electricity generated (15.93 US $ / GJ). The solar system presented the highest costs of the cycle and the lowest exergética efficiency, expected result due to the high exergy loss rates in the heat transfer process from the sun to the system. Based on the econometric results, the receiver of the solar tower and the electric generator were considered critical components for the optimization of the system. In conclusion, the analysis was satisfactory and discussions for future studies and improvements were made.