Heliostat in der Sonne
Texts on this page have been partially machine translated from German.

Solar Thermal Systems and Hydrogen

Technologies to improve the flexibility of the demand-oriented provision of heat and power will become increasingly important in energy systems with a high proportion of renewable energies. We are developing components such as high-temperature storage systems, as well as creating overall concepts and simulating their use.

Completed Projects

Cuve Waters

Integrated Water Resources Management in Northern Namibia

Duration: 01.07.2009 - 30.06.2012

 

Short information: In the project "CUVEwaters", six multi-stage desalination plants were installed in Akutsima in northern Namibia with the aim of contributing to the drinking water supply of the approximately 500 inhabitants.

In Namibia, the driest country south of the Sahara, the north is the most densely populated area with 42 percent of the country's population. The aim of the joint project was to improve the living conditions of the people in Namibia through integrated water management.

In cooperation with the Ingenieurbüro für Energie- und Umwelttechnik Jülich, the Solar-Institute Jülich developed a multi-stage desalination system (MSD) for solar thermal water desalination, which is particularly suitable for remote areas with little infrastructure due to its low-maintenance and robust operation and, depending on the type of collector, produces between 60 and 80 litres of drinking water per day. Operation does not require any electrical energy, as heat is supplied to the systems purely thermosiphonically.

Within the framework of the project, six such MSD systems were installed in Akutsima, in the north of Namibia, at the end of 2010. They successfully contributed to the drinking water supply of approximately 500 inhabitants.

For more information, please see the following link: http://www.bmbf.wasserressourcen-management.de/de/106.php

Project Partner:

  • Ingenieurbüro für Energie- und Umwelttechnik Jülich (IBEU).

Sponsored by:

  • Federal Ministry of Education and Research

DynaSalt-2

Support of the dynamic operation of molten salt receivers

Project Start: August 2017

 

The aim of the project is to improve the transient operation of solar thermal tower power plants with liquid salt as the heat transfer medium using model-based control and operational management methods. To this end, the Solar-Institute Jülich, together with partners from research and industry, is developing a model predictive control (MPC) for the operation of the filled receiver and a process assistance system (PAS) for the operation of the transition between filled and drained receivers.

In order to represent the dynamic behaviour of the receiver, the fluid and component models developed in the DynaSalt and HPMS projects will be further developed. Simplified models will also be created for the MPC and the PAS, which will allow for model-based process prediction to be carried out during operation. Ultimately, the SWFramework used in the SiBops project will be further developed and the MPC and PAS implemented and tested there.

Project Partners:

  • German Aerospace Center - Institute of Solar Research
  • Institute of Automatic Control at RWTH Aachen University
  • LeiKon GmbH
  • General Elctric (Switzerland) GmbH

Sponsored by:

  • Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

HiTexStor

High Temperatures Heat Exchange and Storage

Duration: 01.10.2010 - 31.12.2016


The idea of using sand as a storage medium for thermal energy is the basis of this project. The resistance at high temperatures, the high availability and the low material prices make sand an excellent storage material.The aim of the project is the development of a process to transfer heat from up to 700°C hot air into sand.

In cooperation with DLR, the properties of various sands and bulk materials were tested in laboratory experiments to determine their suitability as heat transfer media and as heat storage materials. Based on this, a test facility for direct heat transfer from air to sand was designed and built. This will be used to investigate the behavior of the sand during operation.

This heat exchanger is to be used to realize bulk heat storage in solar power plants. A further application is conceivable in industrial processes for exhaust air heat recovery.

 

HPMS

Development of a highly efficient receiver system for salt tower power plants

Project Duration: 01.10.2014 - 31.12.2016

In the HPMS project, a highly efficient receiver technology with molten salt as the heat transfer fluid is developed in cooperation with partners from research and industry.

By developing a highly efficient receiver system for the next generation of salt tower power plants, the project aims to reduce the costs of those plants that use molten salt as a heat transport and storage medium. The receiver and the solar high-temperature circuit (receiver system) are optimised in terms of technology and cost-effectiveness. Currently, both high flux density and high temperature receiver concepts are regarded as the next generation of salt tower power plants.

In the case of the receiver, the efficiency and service life are to be improved and the costs reduced through the selection of the most promising receiver concept and through detailed design optimisation. For this purpose, improved material concepts and innovative coatings will be considered.

In the receiver system, the losses occurring during operation as well as start-up and shut-down processes are to be optimised and, consequently, the operating costs are to be decisively reduced. For a subsequent project phase, the basic engineering for a test receiver system will be created based on the results of the project.

Project Partners:

  • German Aerospace Center | DLR
  • Babcock Borsig Steinmüller GmbH | BBS
  • Bilfinger Piping Technology GmbH | BPT
  • M + W Germany GmbH | M+W
  • STEAG Energy Services GmbH | STEAG
  • Salzgitter Mannesmann Forschung | SZMF
  • Outokumpu VDM GmbH | as associated partner
  • BASF | as associated partner

H2Loop

Quasi-closed heliostat field control of a multi-chamber reactor for solar hydrogen production

Project Start: October 2018


The project aims to realise a fully automated control of the process temperature in a solar-chemical multi-chamber reactor by means of the heliostat field. For this purpose, an innovative, novel, quasi-closed control concept (H2Loop) is being developed.

An innovative model-based optimisation tool makes it possible to predictively calculate and optimise the target point strategies for a multi-chamber reactor. The second innovative step is the integration of an online calibration procedure into the heliostat field control software. The real-time capable communication network represents the third innovation in the heliostat field, while the fourth innovation concerns the heliostat itself. To this end, the design of the heliostat is optimised for the use of the network. In addition, individual, automated canting is made possible.

These innovations as a whole enable the automated control of the multi-chamber reactor and, independently of each other, make a significant contribution to increasing performance and reducing costs in solar tower plants, leading to improved cost efficiency of solar hydrogen production.

The SIJ has investigated and improved various existing calibration procedures as well as developed new ones. One calibration procedure was selected and will be tested on a larger scale in the further course of the project.

Project Partners:

  • Hilger GmbH
  • Heliokon GmbH
  • German Aerospace Centre e. V.

Sponsored by:

  • European Union - Investing in our Future European Regional Development Fund
  • State Government North Rhine-Westphalia - Ministry of Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digitalisation and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia
  • EFRE.NRW - Investition in Wachstum und Beschäftigung (Investment in Growth and Employment)
  •  

Indiref

Indirectly solar-heated reformer for the production of methanol

Project Duration: 01.12.2016 - 31.12.2019

In the "Indiref" project, a process of indirect solar-heated reforming for the production of methanol from carbon dioxide and natural gas is further developed. The conventional production of synthesis gas, which is the starting product for many chemical products such as methanol, causes significant carbon dioxide emissions. When concentrated solar irradiance is used, emissions can be greatly reduced. Recycling carbon dioxide in the process further reduces emissions. In this way, the use of solar energy can be expanded into the chemical industry.

The focus is on the development of the reforming reactor and a modified solar receiver for this application, which can be technically implemented and tested under solar conditions. In order to achieve maximum efficiency and cost efficiency of the overall system, a process simulation model will be set up simultaneously and validated against the test results. On this basis, a virtual upscaling of the process takes place in order to evaluate the technical-economic potential for a market launch.

So far, the solar-heated reforming reactor has been developed for the production of synthesis gas. With the help of CFD simulations, the SIJ achieved particularly effective heat transfer and synthesis gas production for the bayonet tube reactor concept developed, on the basis of which a test reactor was designed. Within the framework of the project, the experimental setup was assembled in the Synlight facility (DLR's artificial sun) in Jülich, where tests with artificial solar irradiance will subsequently be carried out. A process simulation of the solar-heated reforming system was modelled and simulated on an industrial scale using Dymola software.

Project Partners:

  • German Aerospace Centre e. V.
  • Hilger GmbH
  • Hille & Müller GmbH

Sponsored by:

  • Ministry for Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digitalisation and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia using ERDF funds.

OER4EE

OERContent.nrw "Technologies for the Energy Transition

Project start: September 2020

The dissemination of knowledge about renewable energies is seen as a social task with the highest topicality. The transfer of teaching content on renewable energies into digital OER (Open Educational Resources) formats offers the opportunity to significantly accelerate the implementation of the energy transition. So far, there are no publicly accessible, editable media that cover entire learning units comprehensively and in high professional quality. In the project, the content that will remain current for a longer period of time is to be prepared appropriately in terms of media didactics. An exchange with the help of content framework files, in which current data can be easily updated, is also to be initiated. The materials created in this way will also enable teachers outside the project consortium to train students in greater depth. As a result, graduates of the planned modules will gain in-depth competences in the assessment and analysis of technologies for the energy transition through digital exercises. The material to be created is also particularly suitable for making the general public knowledgeable about the energy transition with scientifically sound material.

Project partners:

  • TH Cologne (THK)
  • FH Aachen (FH AC)
  • RWTH Aachen University (RWTH)
  • Ruhr University Bochum (RUB)
  • HS Düsseldorf (HSD)
  • HS Bonn-Rhein-Sieg

PV-eCarPort

Digitalised photovoltaic energy CarPort for large-scale car parks

Link to the PVeCarport Homepage: PVeCarport

 

Project Start: October 2019

A significant share of today's greenhouse gases and air pollutants is emitted by the transportation sector. Electric mobility represents a promising opportunity for the sustainable and environmentally friendly transformation of road transport: Electric vehicles produce fewer pollutants and CO2 emissions compared to combustion engines. If the required electricity is provided by renewable energies, this effect will be significantly enhanced. With the increasing expansion of electromobility, the demand for regeneratively generated power as well as nationwide charging infrastructure and smart solutions for easing the burden on the power grids is also rising.

In the PVeCarport project, the Solar-Institute Jülich is developing a digitalised photovoltaic energy carport system for large-scale car parks. The system consists of a PV carport system, several charging columns as well as stationary and mobile battery storage units. The development work focuses on the networking of the subsystems and creating a digital solution for the control and energy management of the system. This will allow the system to be used not only as a solar charging station for charging e-vehicles, but also as a virtual power station for providing control energy.

In addition, the individual wishes of the vehicle owners, such as the parking duration or desired charging capacity, are to be incorporated into the system control via a mobile application programme (app). This, in turn, will make it possible to charge the e-vehicles in a flexible and cost-effective manner.

 

Qanat

Water quality improvement with the help of a solar desalination plant

Project Start: May 2017


The aim is to improve the quality of drinking water in rural regions of Morocco. The project will implement an environmentally friendly and ecological water resource management of Morocco through renewable energy.

At the end of the project, a solar demonstration plant for water desalination will be installed and put into service near Oujda, Morocco, providing clean water with high drinking water quality for the local population. The intended goal is to offer the technology, which has been fully developed and thoroughly tested by the Solar-Institute Jülich, primarily on the Moroccan market at favourable prices.

Within the framework of the project, scientific analyses will be carried out with regard to the cost-benefit ratio of this technology. Based on this, new innovative designs will be developed and system simulations will be carried out for further optimisation. A prototype will then be built and extensively tested.

The solar desalination plant offers a cost-efficient drinking water supply that is free of CO2. For the desalination system developed by the Solar-Institute Jülich and Ingenieurbüro für Energie- und Umwelttechnik Jülich (IBEU), there are many possible applications in arid, sunny regions across North Africa (such as settlements, farms, schools and small hotels) due to its simple construction, handling, maintenance options, cleaning options and efficient operating behaviour.

Project Partners:

  • Mohamed Premier University (MPU)
  • Subcontractor: Ingenieurbüro für Energie- und Umwelttechnik Jülich (IBEU)

Sponsored by:

  • Federal Ministry of Education and Research

ReSoL

Retrofitting of existing parabolic trough power plants by means of an extension with a solar tower

Project Duration: 01.10.2012 - 31.03.2017

The ReSol project investigates the retrofitting of existing parabolic trough power plants (PRK) with solar towers in order to utilise the synergies of both technologies and to reduce the electricity production costs to an attractive level.

The project aims to further increase solar power generation. The retrofit, by integrating a solar tower, promises to improve the efficiency and increase the flexibility and availability of the plant. The retrofit potential is investigated with regard to the following retrofit features (A and B) (see figures):

A: Retrofit to increase yield while maintaining the size of the power plant. In this case, part of the existing solar field is dismantled and a solar tower is built on the freed-up area.

B: Retrofit to increase the nominal output. Here, the thermal overall performance is extended by a solar tower in order to find out the optimal ratio of trough and tower system.

Project Partners:

  •     MAN Diesel & Turbo | MAN
  •     Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. | DLR

SophosM-Def

System for the Demand-Oriented Provision of Solar Process Heat Using the Example of Phosphate Sludge Drying in Morocco - Definition Project

Project Start: August 2018


The aim of the definition project is to develop innovative solutions in the process heat supply sector in the partner country Morocco by means of concentrating solar technology and to demonstrate their feasibility using the process of phosphate sludge drying. To this end, a new type of solar system is being designed in which innovative German solar technology is utilised. The novelty lies in the fact that the location of the solar system is spatially separated from the location of the drying plant that requires process heat, which means that the solar heat generated must first be transported to the drying plant over a longer distance.

Within the framework of the project, a network is to be established, consisting of research and innovation partners from Germany and from the target country Morocco, with the aim of facilitating longer-term cooperation and partnership.

Sponsored by:

  • Federal Ministry of Education and Research

SpOpt

Increasing the Cost Efficiency, the Utilisation Rate as well as the Flexibility and Operating Time of the Storage System in the Solar Tower Jülich

Project Start: 01.07.2010 - 31.12.2013

With the solar thermal experimental power plant Jülich (SVJ), the first power plant of this type in the world was built in Germany. This project aims to improve the utilisation of storage technology and, as a result, reduce the operating costs of the power plant. The focus of this project is to use new numerical simulation tools to increase the economic efficiency, degree of utilisation, flexibility and operating time of the storage system. The optimisations should result in an innovative storage system concept that is ideally suited for use in solar tower power plants.

Project Partners:

  •     KBA-MetalPrint GmbH | KBA
  •     Kraftanlagen München GmbH | KAM

TRAKSOL

Development and Qualification of Solar Receivers Based on Transparent Ceramics for Solar Process Engineering Processes

Project Start: March 2018


Nowadays, high-temperature heat from concentrating solar thermal systems is used commercially for the production of electricity, but it is also suitable for substituting fossil energy sources in process engineering. Especially in the chemical industry, there is great potential for the use of solar energy.

In the TRAKSOL project, a receiver concept is being developed for the application of concentrating solar technology in chemical processes. The focus is on the investigation and qualification of the transparent ceramic Perlucor® - developed by CeramTec - with regard to its suitability for concentrating solar technology. Due to the possibility of directly heating the working fluids, the use of this ceramic offers the promise of higher degrees of efficiency. Given its high resistance, the ceramic can be used for a wide range of processes.

The evaporation of sulphuric acid at about 400 °C was considered as an exemplary process. The evaporation of the sulphuric acid is the most energy-intensive part of the two-stage sulphuric acid hybrid process (HyS), in which water is split using thermal energy and hydrogen is produced. Conventional hydrogen production processes cause high CO2 emissions. The use of solar energy can greatly reduce these emissions.

The objective of the project was adapted to the results of corrosion tests and the property profile of the ceramics:  The focus of the development is now on developing a high-temperature particle receiver. The extremely hard and temperature-resistant ceramic enables direct irradiation of the particles. After heating, the thermal energy of the particles can be stored and used for steam cycle processes to generate electricity or for continuous chemical processes, such as that of sulphuric acid evaporation.

Project Partners:

  • CeramTec-ETEC GmbH
  • German Aerospace Centre e. V.
  • Hilger GmbH

Sponsored by:

  • European Union - Investing in our Future European Regional Development Fund.
  • Government of North Rhine-Westphalia - Ministry of Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digitalisation and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia
  • EFRE.NRW - Investment in Growth and Employment

ConSolTi-Def

Concentrating Solar Thermal Energy in Iran

Project Start: September 2018

The aim of the definition project is to identify the promising application area for the solar thermal demonstration plant in Iran, to select an adequate German technology for it and to initiate stable cooperations for the joint project.

To this end, a network consisting of research and innovation partners from Germany and the target country Iran is to be established and a longer-term cooperation and partnership facilitated. In various applications, the plant will use solar energy to provide heating, cooling, electricity, clean water or a combination of the above.

At the end of the definition project, the cooperation partners will jointly submit an R&D collaborative project outline in the CLIENT II call for funding in order to define the tasks and responsibilities for the joint development of the pilot plant.

Sponsored by:

  • Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Editor

Evaluation of the Dispatchability of a Parabolic Trough Collector System with Concrete Storage

Link to the EDITOR homepage: EDITOR


Project Duration: 01.10.2015 to 30.09.2018

The objective of EDITOR is to demonstrate and verify the base load capability and performance of a solar thermal system designed for continuous operation. During the project duration, a system consisting of a medium-sized parabolic trough collector, concrete heat storage tank and boiler will be installed in Cyprus. The system will produce saturated steam and feed it into the steam system of a beverage producer.

The parabolic trough collector uses an innovative vacuum receiver to heat a novel, environmentally friendly thermal oil to a temperature above 400 degrees Celsius. An innovative new concrete heat storage system stores the extracted heat to use it for the production of saturated steam in times without (sufficient) direct sunlight.

In the project, both the technical activities of installation, start-up operations and running of the system, as well as commercial aspects, such as feasibility in terms of upscaling, identification of future customers and the accompanying communication process with the potential market, will be implemented.

Project Partners:

  • protarget AG
  • Cyprus University of Technology
  • CADE Soluciones de Ingeniería, S. L.
  • German Aerospace Centre e. V.

Helibo

Heliostat field operation optimisation for tower systems for solar power and hydrogen generation

Project Start: November 2017


The aim of the HELIBO project is the reduction of costs for solar thermally produced electricity through technical developments that improve the efficiency of heliostat fields in operation. Measures, in particular improved measurement and control technology for the heliostats, have significant potential to increase the utilisation of the mirror surface and future installations by an estimated 10 - 15 %.

The Solar-Institute Jülich has the research goal of improving the tracking accuracy of two-axis tracking heliostats with a novel, precise and fast online control method based on laser technology. In this patented online control method, laser beams are emitted from a central position onto a mirror that is to be measured. The beams reflected from the mirror become visible to cameras due to scattering processes in the atmosphere and are photographed. In order to determine the orientation of the heliostat, the photos are automatically analysed with an evaluation algorithm. The correction of the orientation for the heliostat in the azimuth and zenith angle is then calculated.

In the project, a prototype laser system with tracking will be manufactured, according to the requirements developed by the SIJ, by a project partner in order to carry out the tests in the heliostat field. The prototype should make it possible to measure a small group of heliostats in an automated way.

Project Partners:

  • German Aerospace Center e. V. - Institute of Solar Research.
  • CSP Services GmbH
  • LeiKon GmbH
  • Radiant Dyes Laser & Accessories GmbH

Sponsored by:

  • State of North Rhine-Westphalia

Heureka

Helium cycle systems for solar tower power plants

Project duration: 01.09.2013 - 31.08.2016.

The aim of the project is to investigate, develop and evaluate a closed helium turbine cycle in conjunction with a pressurized solar receiver. For this purpose, different power plant concepts are modeled with the simulation software EBSILON®Professional. Furthermore, a helium receiver is developed, designed and tested on a laboratory scale. Here, the concentrated solar energy is mimicked by a near-infrared radiation module.

Benefits to the community: Solar powered gas turbine processes have a high potential to reduce the cost of solar thermal power generation. Helium has very good thermal properties. This means that heat exchangers can be dimensioned smaller. In addition, no corrosion processes need to be taken into account when helium is used. Another advantage is that helium has a low pressure drop in the circuit. This has a positive effect on overall efficiency.

Project funding: German Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Project partners:

  • Heaeus
  • Enertech
  • German Aerospace Center e. V.

MHF

Mikrohelix-Feldtest

Project start: March 2018


The MHF project pursues the overarching goal of reducing the investment costs for a heliostat field by developing, manufacturing and qualifying a mass-production-suitable and material-saving micro-heliostat. This results in a drastic reduction of the investment costs in the heliostat field and, as such, a significant overall reduction in the investment costs of solar thermal tower power plants. The competitive electricity production costs that are achieved in this way should accelerate the expansion of CSP technologies and bring about a further reduction in environmentally harmful greenhouse gases.

To this end, the Solar-Institute Jülich, in cooperation with Hilger GmbH, has developed a new heliostat technology, the micro-heliostat (MH). The first MH prototypes have already been built and tested under laboratory conditions. The results demonstrated, in principle, the suitability of this heliostat technology for use in solar thermal power plants. In the MHF project, the micro-heliostats are to be studied on an industrial scale, i.e. in a larger test field and under real conditions. In order to fully exploit the advantages of the MH concept, the micro-heliostats are intended to be optimised for mass production.

So far, the source code of a proprietary ray tracer software "SolCal" has been extensively revised for the design of the MH fields. The results of the simulations conducted were analysed and the optimal MH field setup was determined. The SIJ has created CFD and FEM models to simulate the temperature as well as mechanical loads of the micro-heliostat. In addition, a first series of tests with a small MH prototype has already been carried out and the functionality of the acquired laboratory equipment for measuring mirror surfaces has been partially demonstrated.

Project Partners:

  • Hilger GmbH
  • HELIOKON GmbH

Sponsored by:

  •  Ministry for Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digitalisation and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia using ERDF funds.

Morewa-Def

Mobile and renewable energy and water supply unit for rural populations in semi-arid areas

Project Start: April 2017

In this definition project, contacts are being established with processing companies and the state university in South Kazakhstan. The overarching goal is to develop a supply unit for the rural population in Kazakhstan. Through solar applications, this supply unit is to generate drinking water from the air as well as to provide heat and electricity. Due to high temperature differences between summer and winter, the water and heat supply in rural areas is a great challenge.

In the first part of the intended project, the needs and possibilities in Kazakhstan will be explored. In the second part, a prototype of the supply unit will be designed and produced. Subsequently, it is planned to carry out field tests of the unit in Kazakhstan in order to test the security of supply.

More details can be found here.

An article by Deutsche Welle can be found here.

Sponsored by:

  • Federal Ministry of Education and Research

OMF

Optimisation of Microheliostat Fields

[Translate to Englisch:]

Brief information: Application of generic algorithms to optimise the economic efficiency of small heliostat systems (micro heliostats).


With about 50 %, the heliostat field causes the largest share of the total investment costs of a solar tower power plant. The SIJ has undertaken the task of developing new heliostat concepts in order to reduce these investment costs. The micro heliostat is a biaxial mirror system that tracks the sun. In contrast to conventional heliostats, a large number of individual small mirror facets are coupled together and track the sun synchronously. The tracking takes place inside a permanently installed module box. The aim of the project was the development of a numerical optimisation tool to be able to optimise the economic efficiency of innovative concentrator systems as early as during the conceptual design phase. For the assessment of the microheliostats, they were studied in the context of a power plant. For this purpose, simulation tools were developed to determine a resulting radiation flux distribution on the absorber, taking optical effects into account (ray tracing).

Project Duration: 01.09.2012 - 30.06.2015

Project Partners:

  • Hilger GmbH, Wipperführt
  • Jokey Plastic Wipperfürth GmbH

Sponsored by:

  • Ministry for Economic Affairs, SMEs and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia

S3

Smart Solar System

One of the best renewable technologies for supplying industrial process heat is concentrated solar thermal (CST) energy, especially as it can provide heat on demand with the help of thermal energy storage (TES). The main goal of the industrial research project S3 is to realise a next-generation smart solar system for generating steam based on CST technology. For this purpose, an existing parabolic trough collector (PTC) and a TES installed at KEAN Soft Drinks Ltd. in Limassol, Cyprus, as part of the previous EDITOR project, will be further developed. The proposed intelligent control system is intended to have predictive and automatic features. One objective is to improve the overall performance of this system and make a transition to Industry 4.0. The project partners are listed below along with selected details of their work content.

  • Protarget AG
  • University of Patras
  • German Aerospace Centre e.V.
  • Solar-Institute Jülich

Associated Partner:

  • Cyprus University of Technology

Protarget AG (coordinator): The heart of the smart solar system is a main control unit (MCU) developed by Protarget. The MCU receives various inputs such as CST and TES sensor data, factory boiler sensor data, the factory production schedule as well as DNI and soiling forecasts along with real-time data. On the basis of this input, the MCU will select an appropriate control strategy. With the development of next-generation control strategies and new hybrid modes, plant operation will become even more efficient.

University of Patras: A newly developed soiling forecasting tool will be used to predict the reduction in reflectivity of parabolic trough mirrors due to dust build-up. Based on the soiling forecast, the MCU can decide and suggest dates for cleaning the mirrors. This avoids wasting water and reduces costs, as mirror cleaning is done on demand rather than on a fixed schedule. The costs for maintenance staff can also be reduced.

German Aerospace Center (DLR): DLR will test the HELISOL® XLP heat transfer medium with the objective of achieving higher system efficiency. In particular, the formation kinetics of gases in the range of 300 - 400 °C will be investigated. This information will be linked to the solubility of the gases in order to define suitable venting strategies to control the gas concentrations in the system. Optimal maintenance of the HTF system will be determined to control the hydrogen concentration.

Cyprus University of Technology (CUT): The associated partner CUT supports the project and performs such activities as inspection of the CST system, maintenance of a weather station and mirror reflection measurements.

Solar-Institute Jülich (SIJ): SIJ focuses on the development of a DNI forecasting tool with the objective of increasing the amount of process steam production and the system performance. The DNI forecasting data is used by the main control unit (MCU) to decide on the operating strategy for the next day, which includes deciding on when to charge or discharge the TES. The DNI forecasting tool will use freely available cloud forecast data with a resolution of 1 hour as input. The forecasting tool will be tested on, and optimised for, the KEAN CST system. SIJ is also carrying out simulation work to assess the fossil fuel cost savings for the KEAN plant with a scaled-up CST plant.

All partners: A very important aspect of the project is the dissemination of the project results at the end of the project through publications and a Dissemination Workshop. The planned dissemination workshop, to which key players from industry and politics as well as the media will be invited, will take place in Cyprus or online towards the end of the project.

Sponsored by: Ministry of Innovation, Science and Research of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.

SiBopS

Simulation-supported operation optimisation for solar towers through innovative heliostat tracking system, target point optimisation and operation assistance system

Project Duration: 01.02.2012 - 31.05.2015


The aim of the project is to increase the efficiency of solar tower power plants through software-based measures. The work focuses on innovative methods for heliostat field control and efficiency-optimised operation management. Based on preliminary work by the partners, software-based methods are being developed and tested at the Jülich Solar Tower. The methods, which can also be applied to other tower power plant concepts, together with the functional verification at the Jülich Solar Tower, offer opportunities for timely implementation in the CSP sector. At the same time, the research infrastructure at the Jülich Solar Tower power plant will be qualitatively upgraded through implementation of the developed methods and a partially improved heliostat field.

Project Partners:

  • Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. | DLR
  • RWTH Aachen - Institut für Regelungstechnik | IRT
  • RWTH Aachen - Institut für Dampf- und Gasturbinen | IDG
  • Kraftanlagen München GmbH | KAM
  • CSP Services GmbH | CSPC
  • Stadtwerke Jülich | SWJ
  • Universität Leuven, Belgien | OPTEC_Gruppe
  • LeiKon GmbH

 

SolMethCO²

Solar production of methanol from carbon dioxide

Project duration: 01.02.2009 to 31.01.2012

Within the scope of the project "SolMethCO²", the properties of various catalysts for the reforming reaction were investigated. Based on literature research, practical experience, experimental results and simulation calculations, various CO²-to-methanol processes were analysed and assessed. In order to gain a better understanding of the process parameters, such as conversion, efficiency and reaction rate of the CO² reforming of methane, a laboratory test stand was developed and set up. The operating characteristics were analysed under constant conditions as well as under solar-typical fluctuating boundary conditions. Two scenarios were investigated:CO2 production by "post-combustion" and synthesis gas production byCO2 reforming, as well as absorption ofCO2 from the atmosphere and photocatalytic methanol direct production. Commercialisation of the process will allow diversification of solar energy use, in addition to electricity generation as a fuel and as a feedstock for the chemical industry.

Project partners:

  • German Aerospace Center e. V.
  • Ferrostaal AG
  • Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology at FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences

Funded by:

  • European Union - European Regional Development Fund

SWS

Power-to-Heat Technologies with Salt Storage for Use in Industry and PV CSP Hybrid Power Plants

Project Start: May 2018


The industrial sector accounts for about 30 % of the final energy demand of the Federal Republic of Germany. Of this, around two thirds is used for the generation of process heat, whereby large amounts of waste heat are usually generated. The waste heat is typically generated at a temperature level that is below the temperature required for the respective processes. The SWS project is therefore investigating a high-temperature heat pump in combination with a molten salt heat storage system. By means of the heat pump, waste heat is brought to a temperature of more than 500 °C and stored in the heat storage tank. Depending on the connected consumer, the storage tank is discharged as required.

In addition to a high-temperature heat pump, a commercial resistance heater is being explored as a further power-to-heat technology (P2H). This can also be used to charge a thermal storage unit. During time periods with a large supply of renewable electricity and the resulting surplus, negative electricity prices are regularly observed at the electricity exchange. With help of the technologies studied, this surplus electricity can be used and, as a result, it can make an additional contribution to grid stability. Furthermore, the implementation of P2H technologies in CSP power plants (Concentrating Solar Power) is being investigated. This is of particular interest for the location of North Rhine-Westphalia, as industrial companies located here have a high market share in the production of CSP components and also offer services in this area. Beyond that, the design of these two P2H technologies in an innovative concept for use as a PV-CSP power plant is being examined. Here, low-cost PV electricity will be partially stored in high-temperature heat storage tanks (Carnot battery) for use during times without solar irradiance and will thus be offered as required.

So far, a market analysis of the process heat demand for various suitable industrial sectors has been carried out for the location of NRW. The SIJ has identified and evaluated existing energy-intensive process heat producers and consumers in North Rhine-Westphalia and has made contact with a number of process heat-intensive companies.
Moreover, dynamic simulations of different power-to-heat systems in combination with a molten salt heat storage system for different power classes, working fluids and coupling concepts have already been carried out and partially validated using the Dymola® software.

Project Partners:

  • TSK Flagsol
  • German Aerospace Centre e. V.

Sponsored by:

  • Ministry for Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digitalisation and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia using ERDF funds.

Tes4Trig

Innovative thermal energy storage (TES) combined with a solar solution for heating, cooling and electricity requirements

Project start for the SIJ: June 2022

For CSP technology to be cost-effective, highly efficient, flexible CSP technologies equipped with thermal energy storage (TES) must be used. To further reduce costs, it is possible to utilise combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) systems that can generate additional revenue by meeting the heating and cooling needs of utilities, commercial enterprises or households.

TES4Trig aims to combine the above strategies into a single innovative CCHP system powered by solar parabolic trough collectors (PTCs) and based on the integration of the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) and the Ejector Cooling Cycle (ECC) with a low-cost TES system. In modern large CSP enclosures, TES systems with molten salts are usually used. In TES4Trig, a concrete-based solid-state TES is proposed, which has the potential to be more economical, simpler and environmentally friendly, but requires research to overcome operational barriers, accompanied by new PTC component designs and cost reductions.

The solar energy stored during periods of excess solar availability is used to generate electricity when needed and to meet space heating needs in winter, while space cooling is generated in summer. To increase the overall utilisation of solar energy, electricity is generated at times when there is no need for heating or cooling. The system will have a control system to increase its flexibility and efficiently adapt the electricity, cooling and heating output to the needs of the consumers. As part of the project, the individual subsystems (PTCs, TES, ORC-ECC module) will be designed and integrated into a TES4Trig prototype, which will be demonstrated on site at a consumer in Greece to prove its feasibility and assess its actual performance in a real operating environment.

Within the TES4Trig project, the SIJ will be responsible for the following main tasks:

  • Procurement of a solar measurement station and installation at the TES4Trig site in Greece.
  • Development and validation of a simulation model for the TES4Trig system.
  • Feasibility study for a scale-up TES4Trig system.

Project partner:

  • National Technical University of Athens (NTUA)
  • "DEMOKRITOS" National Centre for Scientific Research
  • CADE Soluciones de Ingeniería, S.L.
  • Protarget AG
  • MES ENERGY S.A.
  • Solar Institute Jülich of the FH Aachen

Click here for the Linked-In channel.

Supported by the:

  • Ministry of Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digitalisation and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia

Vesuw

Test facility for bulk solids and heat

Project start: July 2019

A key task for permanently available and cheap electricity is the cost reduction in the heat storage of solar energy. For this purpose, the SIJ has developed a novel air-bulk material heat transfer system, which, in contrast to the systems available on the market, is characterised by direct material contact and a maximum process temperature of up to 800°C. The better heat transfer from direct contact is confronted with the challenges of fluidic engineering. The better heat transfer from the direct contact is opposed to the challenges of the fluidic phenomenologies.

In the VESUW project, the system is being advanced to market maturity together with local project partners. Particular attention is being paid to the temperature behaviour of the materials (800° temperature difference), the service life and operating costs, as well as the optimisation of the heat transfer process. This is being thoroughly researched by combining numerical simulations with extensive experiments on a laboratory scale. The final goal here is the transfer of innovation with raising the development status to the next level.

Project partner:

  • Hilger GmbH
  • Grenzebach BSH

Funded by:

  • Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

Vorwairts

Volumetric Receiver with High Air Return Rate to Improve System Efficiency

Project Start: September 2016

The open volumetric receiver (HiTRec) technology offers a tried and tested, effective and scalable concept for on-demand solar power generation. HiTRec technology has significant advantages in operational simplicity and robustness when compared to systems with molten salt receivers. The higher process temperature also opens up the potential to use modern high-efficiency 620°C steam processes.

In this project, new approaches are being developed to improve air receiver technology. Here, concepts for both short-term and longer-term implementation will be developed and tested. The main approach is a modification in the receiver geometry including an improved recirculation of the hot air. In addition, the efficiency and annual yield are to be increased through optimised operational management.

Project Partners:

  • German Aerospace Center | DLR
  • Kraftanlagen München GmbH | KAM