Designing and exergetic analysis of a solar power tower system for Iskenderun region

Abstract

In this paper, a steam cycle assisted solar tower power system is designed and parametrically optimised for Iskenderun region by considering the weather conditions. After the optimisation, exergy-based analysis of the compounds and overall plant is performed for the best-performing cycle conditions. As a result of the annual-based monthly parametric optimisation, the design parameters, working performance, energy and exergy efficiencies of system are compared to obtain the best-performing cycle conditions which are found in July at the tower outlet pressure and temperature of 100 bar and 1,000 degrees C. The net power production and thermal efficiency of the system at the best-performing conditions are calculated as 47,046.60 kW and 45.814%, respectively. After the exergetic analysis of compounds and overall system, the highest exergetic efficiency is evaluated in 2nd turbine (T-2) as 99.23% and the lowest exergetic efficiency is found in 1st heat exchanger (HeX-1) as 74.16%. Moreover, the overall exergetic efficiency is calculated as 47.19%.