Design & Optimization of Organic Rankine Cycle Solar-Thermal Powerplants
File(s)
Date
2006Author
McMahan, Andrew C.
Publisher
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Solar-thermal powerplants have enjoyed limited success in the energy market to date.
The ability to better characterize the performance of existing solar-thermal technologies
as well as investigate the potential of new technologies is a crucial step in developing
more economically viable designs. To this end, computer models and simulation
capability are developed in this thesis to predict the performance of several emerging
solar-thermal powerplant technologies. Specifically, models of organic Rankine cycles
and packed-bed stratified (thermocline) thermal energy storage systems are developed.
These models provide a low-cost context for analyzing the design and optimization (both
economic and engineering) of solar-thermal technologies that show tremendous
unrealized potential.
Organic Rankine cycles have unique properties that are well suited to solar power
generation. The thermodynamic potential of a variety organic Rankine cycle working
fluids and configurations are analyzed. In addition, a general economic optimization
methodology for solar-thermal organic Rankine cycle powerplants is developed and
presented. The methodology is applied to an existing plant design which demonstrates
opportunities for further optimization in current design practice.
Thermal energy storage enables powerplant output to be tailored to meet end-user
demands. The design and integration of thermal energy storage systems is discussed.
Plant operating and control strategies for a variety of utility pricing schedules are
developed and analyzed. The potential for thermal energy storage to impact the
economic attractiveness of solar power generation is shown to be heavily dependent on
energy market structure and utility pricing strategies.
Subject
Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 2006.
Dissertations Academic Mechanical Engineering.
University of Wisconsin--Madison. College of Engineering.
Permanent Link
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/7889Description
Under the supervision of Professor Sanford A. Klein; 216pp.
Citation
McMahan, A.C. (2006). Design & Optimization of Organic Rankine Cycle Solar-Thermal Powerplants. Master's Thesis, University of Wisconsin-Madison.