Title: Energy-exergy-economic (E3) analysis of stand-alone solar thermal cogeneration power plant

Authors: Prakash Saxena; K.S. Reddy

Addresses: Heat Transfer and Thermal Power Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India ' Heat Transfer and Thermal Power Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India

Abstract: Concentrating solar power (CSP) based solar cogeneration plants are more energy efficient compared to single purpose power plants. In this paper, energy, exergy and economic analysis have been carried out for the stand-alone solar thermal co-generation power plant (SASTCPP), which is based on Rankine cycle. Both direct and indirect steam generation is adopted for the comparative E3 analysis. To achieve high energy efficiency, back pressure steam turbine with regenerative feed water heating is incorporated in power block. Reference cogeneration power plant has a capacity of 50 MW_th. levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) associated to SASTCPP is calculated with three different cost allocation approach - direct, equivalent fuel consumption, and exergy approach. The observed exergy efficiency (33-35%) is comparatively less than energy efficiency (62-70%) and the maximum exergy destruction takes place within the solar field. Minimum LCOE calculated as Indian rupees (INR) 5.46 with direct steam generation (DSG).

Keywords: CSP; concentrating solar power; energy-exergy-economic analysis; levelised cost of electricity; solar thermal cogeneration power plant; DSG; direct steam generation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2018.090325

International Journal of Exergy, 2018 Vol.25 No.3, pp.224 - 251

Received: 11 May 2017
Accepted: 21 Oct 2017
Published online: 12 Mar 2018 *

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