Hybrid thermosolar and micro gas turbine power plant for distributed generation: Thermoeconomic evaluation

Abstract

[EN]This work provides an integrated design of a small-scale hybrid solar power plant aimed at distributed generation of electrical energy. This technology may be especially interesting for remote areas with no access to electricity and advantageous solar conditions. The inherent limitations of a solar-only power plant (seasonal and meteorological sun fluctuations, nights) may be overcome with a hybrid operation mode. These systems can work uninterruptedly with an approximately constant power output, since the pressurized air of the cycle is heated from the concentrated solar irradiance and, when necessary, from the combustion of a fossil fuel. Then, the transformation of thermal energy to mechanical one is carried out by means of a Brayton thermodynamic cycle. The main purpose in this work is to analyse the performance of the system for any real environmental and geographical conditions, through a thermodynamic model based on a reduced number of parameters, each one of clear physical significance. This is complemented with a thermoeconomic analysis, allowing