Reciprocal Efficiency Improvement of High Temperature Fossil and Low Temperature Solar Heat Sources for Power Generation

Gas turbine systems are investigated for solar energy conversion because they can offer satisfactory performances, particularly in case of combined cycles, and interesting solutions for plant operation. Hybrid concepts, associating solar heating with fossil firing, reduce the need for energy storage. Key problems are: matching of combined gas and steam cycles for performances enhancement, coupling of solar heating with fossil firing, use of as much solar energy as possible and priority use of solar energy at medium temperature (200/650 C), because, within this temperature range, technology is more readily available for the solar receiver system (central receiver, fixed mirror concentrators, parabolic dish collectors…) and for the primary circuit (Gilotherm, Dowtherm, sodium, molten salts…).