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An Organic Rankine Cycle as technology for Smaller Concentrated Solar Powered

Systems

1 B.Eng (Mechanical), Department Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University, STERG

2 Prof. Eskom Chair in CSP, Director of STERG, Stellenbosch University

3 Dr. Senior Lecturer Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University, STERG.

Louis Karsten1, Frank Dinter2 and Jaap Hoffmann3

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• Motivation• Objectives• ORC maturity in CSP• Specific site in SA• Simulation • Conclusion

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• The real value of CSP

• Economic competiveness of CSP

• Why ORC?

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Proposed Thermal range of Rankine Cycles (Dickes, 2016)

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• Advantages of ORCo Turbine simplicityo No condensation on turbine bladeso Reduced maintenanceo Cheaper plant with less components

• Disadvantageo Low efficiency

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• Determine the technological maturity

• Identify an industry and site in Southern Africa

• Analyse and simulate an ORC with CSP

• Perform an over-head economic analysis

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• 1 MW APS Saguaro PT plant in Arizona, USA in 2006

• Smaller developments and other industries

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• Possible industrieso Industrialo Residential off-grid

• United Manganeseof the Kalahari(UMK)

Site (Google maps, 2017)

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• Model functional blockso Solar fieldo Storageo Power block

• Steady state and transient model

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• Steady state modelo Specify output (500kWe – 5MWe)o Neglect storageo Solar field analysiso Power block

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• Transient simulationo Specify output (500kWe – 5MWe)o Incorporate storageo Simulate over TMYo Calculate LCOE

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• The technology is very immature

• Mining site will be considered

• The future of ORC with CSP

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• Dickes, R. (2016). Solar-based ORC power systems. In ORC-Plus Workshop.

• Google maps, (2017). https://www.google.de/maps/place/Umk+Mine+Hotazel/

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

CONTACT DETAILS:

visit us: concentrating.sun.ac.za

Solar Thermal Energy Research Group (STERG)Stellenbosch University South Africa

Louis Karsten17180430@sun.ac.za