Predicting the Impact of Different Cooling Systems on the Performance of Parabolic Trough Concentrating Solar Plant based on Real Data

By enhancing the availability and dispatchability of energy, concentrated solar power systems with thermal energy storage have a significant impact on tackling the issue of energy insecurity in hot and arid locations. However, these technologies currently face a number of difficulties. Additionally, the selection of the cooling system has a significant impact on how well a concentrated solar power plant performs. The primary three drawbacks of current cooling systems are their high water usage, high cost, limited availability of local water resources, and potential for localized disturbance. As a result, effective low-water cooling solutions for solar power concentration are highly desired. To achieve this, the study assesses the viability and advantages of adding a radiative cooling system to an indirect parabolic trough-concentrating solar thermal plant with two thermal energy storage tanks in arid regions of Algeria. This system is expected to improve the block and efficiency of the power plant and decrease energy costs and water volumes consumed. In order to evaluate these advantages, using the system advisor model software, a number of simulation models have been constructed including wet, dry, and radiative cooling systems with various configurations so that each strategy can be compared. The experimental statistics from the Andasol-1 plant in SPAIN that were documented in the literature were used for plant parameters. The results of the simulations were contrasted with a predetermined set of posted data from the Andasol-1 reference facility. In comparison to dry and wet cooling systems, the results show a rise in annual power generation and nearly 2.4 % and 11 % increase in the use of radiative cooling systems, respectively. Furthermore, the environmental assessment found that the annual water use may be reduced by 771209.7 m3, which would result in a possible annual water savings of more than 50%.