eSolar has developed a cost-effective, utility-scale solar power tower plant that uses mass-manufactured components which are designed for modularity, rapid deployment and construction, and are easily scalable. eSolar’s design for a full commercial power tower plant consists of 16 receiver-heliostat field modules that generate superheated steam to power a 46 MWe turbine. Each receiver-heliostat field module comprises a north and south rectangular-shaped subfield that reflects concentrated sunlight onto a receiver located between the subfields. The receiver absorbs the concentrated sunlight in a dual cavity. It is a natural-circulation boiler consisting of economizer, evaporator, and superheater panels. A steam drum separates the saturated steam, which is superheated in the superheater panels of the receiver. The steam flows to a turbine generator to produce electricity. After passing through the turbine, the steam is condensed and returns to the cycle. Heat from the condenser is rejected by a wet cooling tower. eSolar is constructing the Sierra Solar Generating Station in Lancaster, California to demonstrate its technology. This power tower plant consists of two full-scale receiver-heliostat fields that can produce 5 MWe. This project will demonstrate the full functionality of two receiver-heliostat field modules coupled with a small Rankine-cycle turbine.
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ASME 2009 3rd International Conference on Energy Sustainability collocated with the Heat Transfer and InterPACK09 Conferences
July 19–23, 2009
San Francisco, California, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Advanced Energy Systems Division and Solar Energy Division
ISBN:
978-0-7918-4890-6
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
eSolar’s Modular Concentrating Solar Power Tower Plant and Construction of the Sierra Solar Generating Station
James E. Pacheco
James E. Pacheco
eSolar, Inc., Pasadena, CA
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James E. Pacheco
eSolar, Inc., Pasadena, CA
Paper No:
ES2009-90475, pp. 701-705; 5 pages
Published Online:
September 29, 2010
Citation
Pacheco, JE. "eSolar’s Modular Concentrating Solar Power Tower Plant and Construction of the Sierra Solar Generating Station." Proceedings of the ASME 2009 3rd International Conference on Energy Sustainability collocated with the Heat Transfer and InterPACK09 Conferences. ASME 2009 3rd International Conference on Energy Sustainability, Volume 2. San Francisco, California, USA. July 19–23, 2009. pp. 701-705. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/ES2009-90475
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