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Solar
thermal power plants using parabolic troughs are most proven and economic
systems to generate electricity from irradiation in MW range. European
industry and research institutes have a leading position in this area. But
solar irradiation is limited to daylight hours, and for increase in
availability of solar power, suitable storage systems have to be installed.
For
the long term, a direct steam generating (DSG) process shall eliminate
today’s using of oil for heat transfer. Efficient storage systems for DSG
power plants need a constant temperature energy transfer during charging or
discharging. The DISTOR research project focuses on the development of
storage systems based on phase change materials (PCM) used as storage media.
In the meantime other PCM projects have been carried out, but operation
conditions were not suitable to meet the requirements of a direct steam
generating process.
In
order to achieve the aims of the DISTOR project, a consortium has been
formed including companies for design and manufacturing of thermal
components, engineering companies, companies for manufacturing of storage
materials, solar plant design companies and highly experienced research
institutes. |
The DISTOR project is based on parallel research on three
storage concepts including innovative technologies like encapsulated PCM,
evaporation and condensation heat transfer and new design:
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External
arrangement of Expanded Graphite (EG) PCM; the steam pipes are
integrated in a storage material block, built up of rectangular arranged
EG PCM sheets. |
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Macro-encapsulation of PCM; PCM or micro-encapsulated PCM is filled in
small containments and placed inside the steam tubes. |
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Reflux heat
transfer storage using the increased heat transfer rate during
evaporation and condensation. |
The project will result in the following
benefits and main deliverables:
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Development of advanced PCM
storage materials adapted to steam generation and condensation at 200 –
300 °C. |
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Identification of adjusted
design by lab scale testing. |
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Material and design
verification for DSG technology by testing a 100 kW storage module with
a thermal capacity of 200 kWh in an existing DSG loop in Spain (see
also INDITEP project). |
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Identification
of a storage design with a potential for scale up and the capability to
reduce storage costs to less than 20 € per kWh thermal capacity.
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