SolarReserve - Concentrated Solar Power Technology Animation

00:02:42
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfUZofkc0Mw

Summary

TLDRConcentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology employs a large array of mirrors known as heliostats to concentrate sunlight onto a central receiver mounted atop a tall tower. In this system, a special fluid, molten salt, flows through the receiver’s walls to absorb heat from the concentrated sunlight. With its ability to maintain a broad temperature range while remaining liquid, molten salt is ideal for energy capture and storage. This heat is then stored in thermal storage tanks with high-temperature molten salt until needed. When electricity is required, the stored heat turns water into steam, which then moves a turbine to generate electricity. This process, akin to traditional power plants but without emissions, provides reliable electricity even under peak demand and after dark. Notably, CSP is distinct in separating energy capture from power generation, ensuring 100% renewable and clean energy output.

Takeaways

  • 🔆 CSP utilizes sunlight to generate electricity.
  • 🌡️ Molten salt is used for heat absorption and storage.
  • ⚡ Provides reliable electricity during peak hours.
  • ☀️ CSP plants can operate after sunset.
  • 🔋 Stores energy separately from electricity generation.
  • ♻️ Offers a 100% renewable energy solution.
  • 📈 Efficiently drives high-performance turbines.
  • 🌍 Produces zero harmful emissions.

Timeline

  • 00:00:00 - 00:02:42

    Concentrated solar power (CSP) technology uses numerous mirrors, known as heliostats, to direct and focus sunlight onto a central point, generating heat then converted to electricity. More than 10,000 heliostats function within a 4 square mile area, reflecting sunlight to a heat exchanger on top of a 550-foot tower. This system employs molten salt as the thermal medium, which is efficient for heat capture and storage due to its wide liquid temperature range, operating safely at low pressure. Upon heating, molten salt transmits heat to a steam generator for electricity production, enabling energy collection separate from generation. This renewable process, using superheated steam, mirrors conventional power generation methods, but without emissions, providing reliable, on-demand power.

Mind Map

Mind Map

Faqs

  • What is concentrated solar power?

    Concentrated solar power (CSP) uses mirrors to focus sunlight onto a central point to generate heat, which is then converted into electricity.

  • How do heliostats function in CSP technology?

    Heliostats are mirrors that track the sun, reflecting and concentrating sunlight onto a receiver to capture heat in CSP systems.

  • What role does molten salt play in CSP?

    Molten salt is used as a heat transfer fluid and energy storage medium due to its ability to maintain a wide temperature range, enabling low pressure and safe operation.

  • How is electricity generated in CSP technology?

    Electricity is generated by using heat from molten salt to produce steam, which drives a turbine similar to conventional power plants.

  • Does solar reserve technology work at night?

    Yes, because it stores energy in molten salt, allowing electricity generation even after sunset.

  • What are the environmental benefits of CSP?

    CSP is 100% renewable with zero harmful emissions or waste, making it an eco-friendly energy source.

  • How does energy storage work in CSP systems?

    Energy is stored as high-temperature molten salt, allowing separation of energy collection from electricity generation.

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  • 00:00:00
    solar reserves technology typically
  • 00:00:02
    referred to as concentrated solar power
  • 00:00:05
    uses thousands of mirrors to reflect and
  • 00:00:07
    concentrate sunlight onto a central
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    point to generate heat which in turn is
  • 00:00:12
    used to generate electricity more than
  • 00:00:14
    10,000 tracking mirrors called
  • 00:00:17
    heliostats reside in a 4 squ M field
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    where they reflect and concentrate
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    sunlight onto a large heat exchanger
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    called a receiver that sits at top of
  • 00:00:25
    550 ft Tower within the receiver fluid
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    flows through through the piping that
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    forms the external walls this fluid
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    absorbs the heat from the concentrated
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    sunlight in solar reserves technology
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    the fluid utilized is molten salt which
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    is heated from 500 to over 1,000° F
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    molten salt is an ideal heat capture
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    medium because it maintains a wider
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    operating temperature range in liquid
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    state allowing the system to operate at
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    low pressure for Superior and safe
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    energy capture and storage after passing
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    through the receiver the molten salt
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    then flows down the piping inside the
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    tower and into a thermal storage tank
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    where the energy is stored as high
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    temperature molten salt until
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    electricity is needed solar reserves
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    technology leverages liquid molten salt
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    as both the energy collection and the
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    storage mechanism which allows it to
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    separate energy collection from
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    electricity generation when electricity
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    is required by the utility day or night
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    the high temperature molten salt flows
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    into the steam generator as water is
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    piped in from the water storage tank to
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    generate Steam steam once the hot salt
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    is used to create steam the cooled
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    molten salt is then piped back into the
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    cold salt storage tank where it will
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    then flow back up the receiver to be
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    reheated as the process continues after
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    the steam is used to drive the steam
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    turbine it is condensed back to water
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    and return to the water holding tank
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    where it will flow back into the steam
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    generator when needed the result is high
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    quality superheated steam to drive a
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    standard steam turbine at maximum
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    efficiency to generate reliable
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    non-intermittent electricity during Peak
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    demand
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    hours the steam generation process is
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    identical to the process used in
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    conventional gas coal or nuclear power
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    plants except that it is 100% renewable
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    with zero harmful emissions or waste
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    solar Reserve Plants provide on demand
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    reliable electricity from a renewable
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    source the
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    sun even after dark work
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    [Music]
Tags
  • Concentrated Solar Power
  • Heliostats
  • Molten Salt
  • Thermal Storage
  • Renewable Energy