Comprehensive Optimization of Optical Efficiency and Thermal Power Output in Tower Solar Thermal Power Stations

Abstract

Recent years have seen a rise in interest in renewable energy sources, particularly efficient, sustainable, and ecologically friendly solar thermal power generation, due to rising worldwide energy demand and environmental consciousness. The effectiveness of a tower-type photovoltaic power-generating system, which uses concentrated solar radiation to create electricity, is greatly dependent on the design and functionality of its heliostat mirrors. This work develops a single-objective optimization model to optimize the yearly average thermal power production per unit mirror area based on a fixed-sun mirror field model of a tower-type solar thermal power plant. This study uses the approximate formulas for the solar declination angle and solar time angle proposed by Cooper to determine the sun's position at that time. The HFLCAL model has been developed to establish an optical efficiency model for the heliostat field, utilizing the Campo arrangement method to produce a densely packed heliostat field. Finally, a genetic algorithm is employed to determine the optimal unit of mirror surface area, which is calculated to be 0.9575MW. The absorption tower is located at (0,-87.5656). The heliostat measures 4.7825m×4.3666m (width×height), with an installation height of 3.1332m, and there are a total of 3010 heliostats.