@inproceedings{SchwagerAngeleSchwarzboezletal.2023, author = {Schwager, Christian and Angele, Florian and Schwarzb{\"o}zl, Peter and Teixeira Boura, Cristiano Jos{\´e} and Herrmann, Ulf}, title = {Model predictive assistance for operational decision making in molten salt receiver systems}, series = {SolarPACES: Solar Power \& Chemical Energy Systems}, booktitle = {SolarPACES: Solar Power \& Chemical Energy Systems}, number = {2815 / 1}, publisher = {AIP conference proceedings / American Institute of Physics}, address = {Melville, NY}, isbn = {978-0-7354-4623-6}, issn = {1551-7616 (online)}, doi = {10.1063/5.0151514}, pages = {8 Seiten}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Despite the challenges of pioneering molten salt towers (MST), it remains the leading technology in central receiver power plants today, thanks to cost effective storage integration and high cost reduction potential. The limited controllability in volatile solar conditions can cause significant losses, which are difficult to estimate without comprehensive modeling [1]. This paper presents a Methodology to generate predictions of the dynamic behavior of the receiver system as part of an operating assistance system (OAS). Based on this, it delivers proposals if and when to drain and refill the receiver during a cloudy period in order maximize the net yield and quantifies the amount of net electricity gained by this. After prior analysis with a detailed dynamic two-phase model of the entire receiver system, two different reduced modeling approaches where developed and implemented in the OAS. A tailored decision algorithm utilizes both models to deliver the desired predictions efficiently and with appropriate accuracy.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{RendonSchwagerGhiasietal.2020, author = {Rendon, Carlos and Schwager, Christian and Ghiasi, Mona and Schmitz, Pascal and Bohang, Fakhri and Chico Caminos, Ricardo Alexander and Teixeira Boura, Cristiano Jos{\´e} and Herrmann, Ulf}, title = {Modeling and upscaling of a pilot bayonettube reactor for indirect solar mixed methane reforming}, series = {AIP Conference Proceedings}, booktitle = {AIP Conference Proceedings}, number = {2303}, doi = {10.1063/5.0029974}, pages = {170012-1 -- 170012-9}, year = {2020}, abstract = {A 16.77 kW thermal power bayonet-tube reactor for the mixed reforming of methane using solar energy has been designed and modeled. A test bench for the experimental tests has been installed at the Synlight facility in Juelich, Germany and has just been commissioned. This paper presents the solar-heated reactor design for a combined steam and dry reforming as well as a scaled-up process simulation of a solar reforming plant for methanol production. Solar power towers are capable of providing large amounts of heat to drive high-endothermic reactions, and their integration with thermochemical processes shows a promising future. In the designed bayonet-tube reactor, the conventional burner arrangement for the combustion of natural gas has been substituted by a continuous 930 °C hot air stream, provided by means of a solar heated air receiver, a ceramic thermal storage and an auxiliary firing system. Inside the solar-heated reactor, the heat is transferred by means of convective mechanism mainly; instead of radiation mechanism as typically prevailing in fossil-based industrial reforming processes. A scaled-up solar reforming plant of 50.5 MWth was designed and simulated in Dymola® and AspenPlus®. In comparison to a fossil-based industrial reforming process of the same thermal capacity, a solar reforming plant with thermal storage promises a reduction up to 57 \% of annual natural gas consumption in regions with annual DNI-value of 2349 kWh/m2. The benchmark solar reforming plant contributes to a CO2 avoidance of approx. 79 kilotons per year. This facility can produce a nominal output of 734.4 t of synthesis gas and out of this 530 t of methanol a day.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{ZahraPhaniSrujanChicoCaminosetal.2022, author = {Zahra, Mahdi and Phani Srujan, Merige and Chico Caminos, Ricardo Alexander and Schmitz, Pascal and Herrmann, Ulf and Teixeira Boura, Cristiano Jos{\´e} and Schmitz, Mark and Gielen, Hans and Gedle, Yibekal and Dersch, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Modeling the thermal behavior of solar salt in electrical resistance heaters for the application in PV-CSP hybrid power plants}, series = {SOLARPACES 2020}, booktitle = {SOLARPACES 2020}, number = {2445 / 1}, publisher = {AIP conference proceedings / American Institute of Physics}, address = {Melville, NY}, isbn = {978-0-7354-4195-8}, issn = {1551-7616 (online)}, doi = {10.1063/5.0086268}, pages = {9 Seiten}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) systems are able to store energy cost-effectively in their integrated thermal energy storage (TES). By intelligently combining Photovoltaics (PV) systems with CSP, a further cost reduction of solar power plants is expected, as well as an increase in dispatchability and flexibility of power generation. PV-powered Resistance Heaters (RH) can be deployed to raise the temperature of the molten salt hot storage from 385 °C up to 565 °C in a Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC) plant. To avoid freezing and decomposition of molten salt, the temperature distribution in the electrical resistance heater is investigated in the present study. For this purpose, a RH has been modeled and CFD simulations have been performed. The simulation results show that the hottest regions occur on the electric rod surface behind the last baffle. A technical optimization was performed by adjusting three parameters: Shell-baffle clearance, electric rod-baffle clearance and number of baffles. After the technical optimization was carried out, the temperature difference between the maximum temperature and the average outlet temperature of the salt is within the acceptable limits, thus critical salt decomposition has been avoided. Additionally, the CFD simulations results were analyzed and compared with results obtained with a one-dimensional model in Modelica.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{AlexopoulosRauHoffschmidtetal.2012, author = {Alexopoulos, Spiros and Rau, Christoph and Hoffschmidt, Bernhard and Breitbach, Gerd and Latzke, Markus}, title = {Modelling and validation of a transient heat recovery steam generator of the solar tower power plant Juelich}, series = {Eurosun 2012 : Solar energy for a brighter future : conference proceedings : Rijeka, 18.-22.09.2012}, booktitle = {Eurosun 2012 : Solar energy for a brighter future : conference proceedings : Rijeka, 18.-22.09.2012}, address = {Rijeka}, pages = {ID 97}, year = {2012}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{SchwarzerVieiraMuelleretal.2003, author = {Schwarzer, Klemens and Vieira, Maria Eugenia and M{\"u}ller, Christoph and Lehmann, Harry and Coutinho, Lecimara}, title = {Modular solar thermal desalination system with flat plate collector}, series = {RIO 3 - World Climate \& Energy Event : proceedings of the international conference held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1 -5 december 2003 / chief-ed.: Stefan Krauter ...}, booktitle = {RIO 3 - World Climate \& Energy Event : proceedings of the international conference held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1 -5 december 2003 / chief-ed.: Stefan Krauter ...}, publisher = {Krauter}, address = {Rio de Janeiro}, isbn = {85-902710-2-1}, pages = {281 -- 286}, year = {2003}, language = {en} } @article{GoettscheAlexopoulosDuemmleretal.2019, author = {G{\"o}ttsche, Joachim and Alexopoulos, Spiros and D{\"u}mmler, Andreas and Maddineni, S. K.}, title = {Multi-Mirror Array Calculations With Optical Error}, pages = {1 -- 6}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The optical performance of a 2-axis solar concentrator was simulated with the COMSOL Multiphysics® software. The concentrator consists of a mirror array, which was created using the application builder. The mirror facets are preconfigured to form a focal point. During tracking all mirrors are moved simultaneously in a coupled mode by 2 motors in two axes, in order to keep the system in focus with the moving sun. Optical errors on each reflecting surface were implemented in combination with the solar angular cone of ± 4.65 mrad. As a result, the intercept factor of solar radiation that is available to the receiver was calculated as a function of the transversal and longitudinal angles of incidence. In addition, the intensity distribution on the receiver plane was calculated as a function of the incidence angles.}, language = {en} } @article{BlankeHagenkampDoeringetal.2021, author = {Blanke, Tobias and Hagenkamp, Markus and D{\"o}ring, Bernd and G{\"o}ttsche, Joachim and Reger, Vitali and Kuhnhenne, Markus}, title = {Net-exergetic, hydraulic and thermal optimization of coaxial heat exchangers using fixed flow conditions instead of fixed flow rates}, series = {Geothermal Energy}, volume = {9}, journal = {Geothermal Energy}, number = {Article number: 19}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Berlin}, issn = {2195-9706}, doi = {10.1186/s40517-021-00201-3}, pages = {23 Seiten}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Previous studies optimized the dimensions of coaxial heat exchangers using constant mass fow rates as a boundary condition. They show a thermal optimal circular ring width of nearly zero. Hydraulically optimal is an inner to outer pipe radius ratio of 0.65 for turbulent and 0.68 for laminar fow types. In contrast, in this study, fow conditions in the circular ring are kept constant (a set of fxed Reynolds numbers) during optimization. This approach ensures fxed fow conditions and prevents inappropriately high or low mass fow rates. The optimization is carried out for three objectives: Maximum energy gain, minimum hydraulic efort and eventually optimum net-exergy balance. The optimization changes the inner pipe radius and mass fow rate but not the Reynolds number of the circular ring. The thermal calculations base on Hellstr{\"o}m's borehole resistance and the hydraulic optimization on individually calculated linear loss of head coefcients. Increasing the inner pipe radius results in decreased hydraulic losses in the inner pipe but increased losses in the circular ring. The net-exergy diference is a key performance indicator and combines thermal and hydraulic calculations. It is the difference between thermal exergy fux and hydraulic efort. The Reynolds number in the circular ring is instead of the mass fow rate constant during all optimizations. The result from a thermal perspective is an optimal width of the circular ring of nearly zero. The hydraulically optimal inner pipe radius is 54\% of the outer pipe radius for laminar fow and 60\% for turbulent fow scenarios. Net-exergetic optimization shows a predominant infuence of hydraulic losses, especially for small temperature gains. The exact result depends on the earth's thermal properties and the fow type. Conclusively, coaxial geothermal probes' design should focus on the hydraulic optimum and take the thermal optimum as a secondary criterion due to the dominating hydraulics.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{MahdiRendonSchwageretal.2019, author = {Mahdi, Zahra and Rend{\´o}n, Carlos and Schwager, Christian and Teixeira Boura, Cristiano Jos{\´e} and Herrmann, Ulf}, title = {Novel concept for indirect solar-heated methane reforming}, series = {AIP Conference Proceedings}, volume = {2126}, booktitle = {AIP Conference Proceedings}, publisher = {AIP Publishing}, address = {Melville, NY}, issn = {0094-243X}, doi = {10.1063/1.5117694}, pages = {180014-1 -- 180014-7}, year = {2019}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{DuranParedesMottaghyHerrmannetal.2020, author = {Duran Paredes, Ludwin and Mottaghy, Darius and Herrmann, Ulf and Groß, Rolf Fritz}, title = {Online ground temperature and soil moisture monitoring of a shallow geothermal system with non-conventional components}, series = {EGU General Assembly 2020}, booktitle = {EGU General Assembly 2020}, year = {2020}, abstract = {We present first results from a newly developed monitoring station for a closed loop geothermal heat pump test installation at our campus, consisting of helix coils and plate heat exchangers, as well as an ice-store system. There are more than 40 temperature sensors and several soil moisture content sensors distributed around the system, allowing a detailed monitoring under different operating conditions.In the view of the modern development of renewable energies along with the newly concepts known as Internet of Things and Industry 4.0 (high-tech strategy from the German government), we created a user-friendly web application, which will connect the things (sensors) with the open network (www). Besides other advantages, this allows a continuous remote monitoring of the data from the numerous sensors at an arbitrary sampling rate.Based on the recorded data, we will also present first results from numerical simulations, taking into account all relevant heat transport processes.The aim is to improve the understanding of these processes and their influence on the thermal behavior of shallow geothermal systems in the unsaturated zone. This will in turn facilitate the prediction of the performance of these systems and therefore yield an improvement in their dimensioning when designing a specific shallow geothermal installation.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{SattlerChicoCaminosUerlingsetal.2020, author = {Sattler, Johannes Christoph and Chico Caminos, Ricardo Alexander and {\"U}rlings, Nicolas and Dutta, Siddharth and Ruiz, Victor and Kalogirou, Soteris and Ktistis, Panayiotis and Agathokleous, Rafaela and Jung, Christian and Alexopoulos, Spiros and Atti, Vikrama Naga Babu and Teixeira Boura, Cristiano Jos{\´e} and Herrmann, Ulf}, title = {Operational experience and behaviour of a parabolic trough collector system with concrete thermal energy storage for process steam generation in Cyprus}, series = {AIP Conference Proceedings}, booktitle = {AIP Conference Proceedings}, number = {2303}, doi = {10.1063/5.0029278}, pages = {140004-1 -- 140004-10}, year = {2020}, abstract = {As part of the transnational research project EDITOR, a parabolic trough collector system (PTC) with concrete thermal energy storage (C-TES) was installed and commissioned in Limassol, Cyprus. The system is located on the premises of the beverage manufacturer KEAN Soft Drinks Ltd. and its function is to supply process steam for the factory's pasteurisation process [1]. Depending on the factory's seasonally varying capacity for beverage production, the solar system delivers between 5 and 25 \% of the total steam demand. In combination with the C-TES, the solar plant can supply process steam on demand before sunrise or after sunset. Furthermore, the C-TES compensates the PTC during the day in fluctuating weather conditions. The parabolic trough collector as well as the control and oil handling unit is designed and manufactured by Protarget AG, Germany. The C-TES is designed and produced by CADE Soluciones de Ingenier{\´i}a, S.L., Spain. In the focus of this paper is the description of the operational experience with the PTC, C-TES and boiler during the commissioning and operation phase. Additionally, innovative optimisation measures are presented.}, language = {en} }