Session: 05-07 CSP System Analysis, Controls, and Standards

Paper Number: 107547

107547 - Controls and Operational Strategy for Gen 3 Particle Pilot Plant 

The successful transition to low carbon emissions renewable power generation depends on the successful system integration of energy collection, energy storage, and energy generation subsystems. Concentrating solar power (CSP) provides the capability to increase the temperature of heat transfer fluids (HTF) to higher temperatures, above 750 °C and is readily coupled with thermal energy storage (TES) systems for hours to weeks of energy storage. CSP also opens the possibility to use novel power cycles such as the supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO₂) power cycles that can potentially benefit from higher efficiencies and smaller equipment compared to steam power generation power plants. The use of ceramic-based particles as an energy carrier in CSP systems allows for utilization of higher temperature systems, increasing the energy density of the HTF and gaining higher efficiencies than state-of-the-art commercial CSP technologies. The operating strategy, including the controls of a particle recirculation loop, thermal energy storage, and an sCO₂ cooling loop designed to remove 1 MW of thermal energy is described in this paper. Due to the novel operation of a moving solid media as a bulk energy carrier, the operational philosophy from conventional steam-based power generation is adapted to reflect the unique characteristics of a moving particle system. The combination of the sCO₂ cooling loop (which is planned to be used as a power cycle in future iteration of this technology) with the high temperature, solar heated particle loop presents a complex operational strategy to maintain safe conditions for the equipment during transient conditions. Operating and control procedures for steady state and transient conditions with safety interlocks are described in this paper as well as storage operations, start-up, shut-down, and emergency shut-down.

This work was funded in part or whole by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office under Award Number 34211. Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA0003525. SAND2022-15933 A

Presenting Author: Hendrik Frederik Laubscher Sandia National Laboratories

Presenting Author Biography: Henk Laubscher is a young and creative mechanical engineer with a strong practical background and a passion for sustainability. His field of expertise is solar thermal energy and he holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering (thermal energy storage) that he obtained at Stellenbosch University, South Africa in 2017. He has industry experience in the construction and commissioning of a 100 MW CSP parabolic trough plant, which provides him with the insights of large system integration. He enjoys working with a team of people and can seamlessly take the role of leader as well as team player. He believes that good interpersonal relationships and communication, combined with a positive can-do attitude results in success. He joined Sandia National Laboratories in April of 2019 and is currently working at the National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF) in Albuquerque, NM. Henk applies his logical reasoning skills to solve engineering problems at the simplest way required to solve the problem.