Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “CSP”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 487 records · Page 27
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Environmental and Circular Economy Implications of Solar Energy in a Decarbonized U.S. Grid

This report addresses environmental and circular economy (CE) considerations related to solar technologies via novel analysis of the three Solar Futures core scenarios as well as synthesis of published research. We organize these issues into the three basic life cycle phases of a solar technology: manufacturing, operation (including site selection and construction), and EOL. Related environmental justice issues are also explored. Finally, we recommend research and development (R&D) activities that could help clarify challenges and identify solutions. Because PV deployment is projected to be much larger than CSP deployment, we offer a more detailed analysis of PV-related issues.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Design and Technoeconomic Analysis of High-Temperature Particle Conveyance Components for a 100 MW e Concentrating Solar Power Plant

Levelized costs of electricity (LCOE) approaching the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office 2030 goal of 0.05 $/kWh may be achievable using Brayton power cycles that use supercritical CO2 as the working fluid and flowing solid particles with temperatures >700° C as the heat transfer media. The handling and conveyance of bulk solid particles at these temperatures in an insulated environment is a critical technical challenge that must be solved for this approach to be used. A design study was conducted at the National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF) at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM, with the objective of identifying the technical readiness level, performance limits, capital and O&M costs, and expected thermal losses of particle handling and conveyance components in a particle-based CSP plant. Key findings indicated that chutes can be a low-cost option for particle handling but uncertainties in tower costs make it difficult to know whether they can be cost effective in areas above the receiver if tower heights must then be increased. Skips and high temperature particle conveyance technology are available for moving particles up to 640° C. This limits the use of mechanical conveyance above the heat exchanger and suggests vertical integration of the hot storage bin and heat exchanger to facilitate direct gravity fed handling of particles.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Solar Receiver with Integrated Thermal Storage for a Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Power Cycle

This project endeavors to design and demonstrate an integrated CSP system that meets the Department of Energy’s 6¢/kW-hr LCOE goal. This design is based on the 10 MW e Supercritical Transformational Electric Power (STEP) engine specifications, but adaptable to any sCO 2 power module up to 10 MW e . The enabling technology to be tested is a new class of metal hydride based thermal energy storage materials which can store thermal energy in the hydrogen bonds between the metal hydride and hydrogen. This thermochemical energy storage solution provides a much greater energy density than sensible and latent energy storage enabling an integrated system design that closely linked the metal hydride to the power block. This allows the entire system to be mounted up tower to provide cost reductions.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Performance Evaluation of a Prototype Moving Packed-Bed Particle/sCO 2 Heat Exchanger

Particle heat exchangers are a critical enabling technology for next generation concentrating solar power (CSP) plants that use supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO 2 ) as a working fluid. This report covers the design, manufacturing and testing of a prototype particle-to-sCO 2 heat exchanger targeting thermal performance levels required to meet commercial scale cost targets. In addition, the the design and assembly of integrated particle and sCO 2 flow loops for heat exchanger performance testing are detailed. The prototype heat exchanger was tested to particle inlet temperatures of 500 °C at 17 MPa which resulted in overall heat transfer coefficients of approximately 300 W/m 2 -K at the design point and cases using high approach temperature with peak values as high as 400 W/m 2 -K

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Development of Cast Valve Bodies For High Temperature Service

Gen 3 Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power (CSP) system components are required to operate at 750°C - 800°C to achieve the Sunshot target of 6 cents/kWh. Haynes ® 282 and IN ® 740H are preferred alloys for the construction of these components due to their high tensile and creep strengths for service at temperatures greater than 750°C. There is significant motivation to lower the cost of materials and components so that the capital costs can be minimized. One approach to reduce costs is to fabricate castings at the lowest possible cost. To obtain the lowest cost in castings, there is a significant need to maximize yields in castings by decreasing rejects due to casting defects and to minimize wastage in material lost in the gating systems. However, very little work has been performed to develop cast products using Haynes ® 282. Although preliminary work has established the feasibility of casting Haynes ® 282 using investment and sand casting, there are no commercial cast components available. In particular, there is significant interest in the development of casting design and process technology for the fabrication of components such as valve bodies using Haynes ® 282.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Facility to Alleviate Salt Technology Risks (FASTR): Design Report

The Facility to Alleviate Salt Technology Risks (FASTR) is a versatile, high-temperature (>600°C) molten chloride salt test facility designed to enable a variety of testing to advance the Generation 3 (Gen 3) Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) molten salt technology. FASTR includes a salt preparation system and a forced flow test loop with a suite of instrumentation. The FASTR loop is capable of 725°C operation and flow rates of 3–7 kg/s, and it includes heated and cooled sections and swappable components to enable testing of future vendor-supplied hardware. The salt preparation system supplies large batches (e.g., 200 kg) of clean salt for use in the FASTR forced convection loop. This report summarizes the design and capabilities of FASTR in its as-built form as of December 2022.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Facility to Alleviate Salt Technology Risks (FASTR): Commissioning Update

The Facility to Alleviate Salt Technology Risks (FASTR) is a versatile, high-temperature (>600°C) molten chloride salt test facility designed to enable a variety of testing to advance the Generation 3 (Gen 3) concentrated solar power (CSP) molten salt technology. FASTR includes a salt preparation system and a forced flow test loop with a suite of instrumentation. The FASTR loop is capable of operating at 725°C with flow rates of 3–7 kg/s, and it includes heated and cooled sections and swappable components to facilitate testing future vendor-supplied hardware. The salt preparation system supplies large batches of clean salt for use in the FASTR forced circulation loop. This report summarizes the shakedown and initial operation of the FASTR forced circulation loop through December 2022.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Solar-Thermal Ammonia Production: A Renewable, Carbon-Neutral Route to Ammonia via Concentrating Solar Thermochemistry [Slides]

Solar Thermal Ammonia Production has potential to produce green ammonia using CSP, air, and water. Air separation to purify N 2 was successfully demonstrated with BSF1585 in packed bed reactor; on-sun reduction reactor under construction. Metal nitrides (MNy) were successfully synthesized and characterized under both ambient and pressurized conditions. Co 3 Mo 3 N shown to successfully produce NH 3 when exposed to pure H 2 at pressures between 5 – 20 bar 600 – 750 °C. Ambient reaction experiments imply there may be a catalytic aspect as well. Technoeconomic and systems analyses show a path towards scale-up.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Narrow-Channel, Fluidized Beds for Effective Particle Thermal Energy Transport and Storage

Colorado School of Mines (Mines) led this program in collaboration with Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia) to characterize narrow-channel fluidized beds of aluminosilicate particles – supplied by Carbo Ceramics – as a means for releasing high-temperature thermal energy in particle heat exchangers and for capturing concentrated solar energy in indirect particle receivers. Single-channel, heat transfer experiments at Mines and reduced-order 1-D models and 3-D two-fluid, CFD models explored many aspects of counterflow, bubbling fluidized beds (net downward particle flow and upward gas flow) for enhancing particle-wall heat transfer at elevated temperatures. Results at Mines on single-channel test sections consistently showed that mild bubbling fluidization increases particle-wall heat transfer coefficients (h T,w ) regularly by more than 4.0x over h T,w values without fluidization at similar conditions (mean particle diameter d p , bed depth Δz b , and bed particle temperatures T p ). Insights from lab-scale tests and modeling studies provided Nusselt number correlations for h T,w and informed the design and fabrication (by Vacuum Process Engineering) of a nominal 40-kWth, particle-sCO 2 plate heat exchanger (HX) with 12 parallel narrow-channel, fluidized beds bounded by stainless-steel walls with embedded microchannels for high-pressure sCO 2 flows. Tests of the 40-kW th HX at the particle-sCO 2 HX test stand at Sandia's National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF) were limited, due to HX design, to particle inlet temperatures T p,in ≤ 520°C with maximum sCO 2 outlet temperatures T sCO2,out ≈ 440°C, which are well below design conditions for a primary HX in a sCO 2 power cycle for a Gen-3 concentrating solar power (CSP) plant. Total heat transfer $\dot{Q}_{HX}$ remains relatively constant with increased fluidization for fixed particle and sCO 2 inlet conditions because higher h T,w due to fluidization is offset by increased axial dispersion, which suppresses temperature differences between the particles and sCO 2 in the counterflow configuration. The axial dispersion reduces the effective overall heat transfer coefficient U based on T p,in to values around 200 W m -2 K -1 .

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Utility-Scale Solar, 2023 Edition: Empirical Trends in Deployment, Technology, Cost, Performance, PPA Pricing, and Value in the United States [Slides]

Berkeley Lab’s “Utility-Scale Solar, 2023 Edition” presents analysis of empirical plant-level data from the U.S. fleet of ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV), PV+battery, and concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP) plants with capacities exceeding 5 MWAC (PV plants of 5 MWAC or less, including residential rooftop systems, are covered separately in Berkeley Lab’s companion annual report, Tracking the Sun). Highlights of this year’s update include: -10.4 GWAC of new utility-scale PV capacity came online in 2022, bringing cumulative installed capacity to more than 61.7 GWAC across 46 states. -94% of all new utility-scale PV capacity added in 2022 uses single-axis tracking. -Median installed project costs declined to $\$1.32$/WAC (or $\$1.07$/WDC) in 2022. -Plant-level capacity factors vary widely, from 9% to 35% (on an AC basis), with a sample median of 24%. The report explores drivers of this variation. -Utility-scale PV’s LCOE fell to $\$39$/MWh in 2022 ($\$29$/MWh if factoring in the federal investment tax credit, or ITC). -PPA prices have largely followed the decline in solar’s LCOE over time, but have recently stagnated and even moved slightly higher. Prices from a sample of recent contracts average around $\$20-30$/MWh (levelized) in the West and $\$30-40$/MWh elsewhere in the continental US. -In 2022, solar’s average market value (defined in the report to include only energy and capacity value) rose by 40% to $\$71$/MWh and exceeded average wholesale prices in 4 of the 7 ISOs/RTOs and 11 of 18 other balancing authorities analyzed. -Adding battery storage is one way to increase the value of solar. Our public data file tracks metadata and PPA prices from ~100 PV+battery hybrid projects that are already online or that have secured offtake arrangements. -the end of 2022, there were at least 947 GW of utility-scale solar power capacity within the interconnection queues across the nation, 456 GW of which include batteries. For more information, and to explore related interactive data visualizations, go to utilityscalesolar.lbl.gov.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2019

Carbonized Microvascular Composites for Gas Receivers

This project is focused on the development and characterization of a novel carbonized microvascular composite intended for use in advanced, gas-phase Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) collectors, a muVASC receiver. These are polymer-fiber composites with directly integrated microchannels that will be carbonized to form a lightweight, high-absorptivity material that includes an embedded microvascular network of channels. The topology of these microchannels will be engineered to optimize heat transfer to a supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) heat transfer fluid. This system is based on the microVasc technology which enables the formation of defined channels within a composite material through selective depolymerization of polymer fibers. The resulting composite can then be carbonized and coated with an oxidation resistant coating, perhaps in situ, to form a thermally efficient, mechanically robust carbon-carbon composite. Carbon- carbon composites are a potential alternative to metallic systems, because these materials have extreme resistance to high temperatures and maintain mechanical properties with little change from room temperature up to almost 1800 °C and have high thermal conductivity. Compared to metallic microchannel receiver systems, we expect that the proposed system will allow for more efficient heat transfer, improved mechanical durability, and enhanced response to off-axis heating. These advantages will be realized through a combination of material performance and improved microchannel architectures as they are not constrained by available machining processes (weaving and 3-D printing for composites vs. machining for metal).

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Dual-Image Color Normalization to Enable High-Performance Concentrating Solar Optical Metrology

Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) requires precision mirrors, and these in turn require metrology systems to measure their optical slope. In this project we studied a color-based approach to the correspondence problem, which is the association of points on an optical target with their corresponding points seen in a reflection. This is a core problem in deflectometry-based metrology, and a color solution would enable important new capabilities. We modeled color as a vector in the [R,G,B] space measured by a digital camera, and explored a dual-image approach to compensate for inevitable changes in illumination color. Through a series of experiments including color target design and dual-image setups both indoors and outdoors, we collected reference/measurement image pairs for a variety of configurations and light conditions. We then analyzed the resulting image pairs by selecting example [R,G,B] pixels in the reference image, and seeking matching [R,G,B] pixels in the measurement image. Modulating a tolerance threshold enabled us to assess both match reliability and match ambiguity, and for some configurations, orthorectification enabled us to assess match accuracy. Using direct-direct imaging, we demonstrated color correspondence achieving average match accuracy values of 0.004 h, where h is the height of the color pattern. We found that wide-area two-dimensional and linear one-dimensional color targets outperformed hybrid linear/lateral gradient targets in the cases studied. Introducing a mirror degraded performance under our current techniques, and we did not have time to evaluate whether matches could be reliably achieved despite varying light conditions. Nonetheless, our results thus far are promising.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Additively Manufactured Molten Salt to Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Heat Exchanger

Design, fabrication, and experimental characterization of the performance of a molten salt (MS)-to-supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO 2 ) heat exchanger (HE) for concentrating solar power (CSP) applications using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) additive manufacturing (AM) of nickel-based superalloys is presented in this report. The hypothesis is that such additively manufactured HEs will result in a monolithic, compact, low-pressure drop HE that is durable under cyclic operation at high temperature and high pressure in a corrosive salt environment. Two nickel-based superalloys were considered in the project- Haynes 230 (H230) and Haynes 282 (H282). Process windows for LPBF AM were established to provide dense low porosity parts for both alloys. Creep tests results on heat treated AM H230 and H282 samples showed that the AM fabricated specimens were as robust as the wrought specimens and showed no deficit in creep strength at high temperatures. Haynes 282 was down selected for the HE fabrication based on better dimensional tolerance, better corrosion resistance to chloride salt, and higher creep strength.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Utility-Scale Solar, 2024 Edition: Empirical Trends in Deployment, Technology, Cost, Performance, PPA Pricing, and Value in the United States [Slides]

Berkeley Lab’s “Utility-Scale Solar, 2024 Edition” presents analysis of empirical plant-level data from the U.S. fleet of ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV), PV+battery, and concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP) plants with capacities exceeding 5 MWAC (PV plants of 5 MWAC or less, including residential rooftop systems, are covered separately in Berkeley Lab’s companion annual report, Tracking the Sun). Key findings from this year’s report include: -18.5 GWAC of new utility-scale PV capacity came online in 2023, bringing cumulative installed capacity to more than 80.2 GWAC across 47 states. Installed costs continued to fall in 2023. Relative to 2022, capacity-weighted averages decreased by 8% to -$\$1.43$/WAC (or $\$1.08$/WDC). Costs, based on a 7.1 GWAC sample of 76 plants completed in 2023, have fallen by 75% (averaging 10% annually) since 2010. Plant-level capacity factors vary widely, from 6% to 36% (on an AC basis), with a sample median of 24%. -Levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of new 2023 projects increased slightly to $\$46$/MWh prior to the application of tax credits but continued to fall to $\$31$/MWh when accounting for federal incentives. PPA prices have largely followed the decline in solar’s LCOE over time, but newly signed longer-term PPA prices have increased since 2021, to an average of $\$35$/MWh (levelized, in 2023 dollars). -Solar’s average energy and capacity value (i.e., ability to offset costs of other power generation sources) across the U.S. was $\$45$/MWh in 2023. Solar’s average market value was lowest in CAISO ($\$27$/MWh), the market with the greatest solar generation share, and highest in ERCOT ($\$67$/MWh). -Newer solar projects had greater market value in 2023 than their generation costs, yielding $\$1.1$ billion in benefits. Projects built in 2022 delivered on average $\$15$/MWh more market value than their costs in 2023. -Solar’s combined value from wholesale electricity markets, public health and climate damage reduction were greater than generation costs and incentives, yielding $\$13.7$ billion in net benefits in 2023. We estimate U.S. health benefits of $\$24$/MWh and reduced global climate damages of $\$101$/MWh. -Adding battery storage is one way to increase the value of solar. Deployment of 52 new PV+battery hybrid plants set a record with 5.3 GW installed in 2023. Our public data file tracks metadata and PPA prices from more than 100 PV+battery hybrid projects that are already online or that have secured offtake arrangements. -Looking ahead, a massive pipeline of at least 1,085 GW of solar capacity dominates the nation’s interconnection queues at the end of 2023. Nearly 571 GW, or 53%, of that total was paired with a battery – in CAISO it was a staggering 98%. Historically only 10% of the requested solar capacity is built. -For more information, and to explore related interactive data visualizations, go to utilityscalesolar.lbl.gov.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Enhancing particle-to-sCO2 heat exchanger effectiveness through novel high-porosity metallic foams

In this project, a novel concept of Octet-shape based lattice frame material was developed for deployment in particle-to-sCO2 heat exchangers for CSP application. A comprehensive experimental and numerical program was performed to investigate and characterize the thermal and flow transport behavior in high porosity lattice frame material. The thermal properties include effective thermal conductivity and interstitial heat transfer coefficient and flow properties including permeability and inertial coefficient. Above quantities were determined for both air flow and heated particle flow through the porous channels which were representative of the hot channel in a typical counter flow heat exchanger. The cold side of the heat exchanger feature minichannels which are known to be very efficient in thermal transport. The goal of this project was to enhance the overall heat transfer coefficient (Up) on the hot side by introducing Octet-shape based lattice frame material through enhancement in effective thermal conductivity of the channel and through enhancement in the interstitial heat transfer coefficient.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Tribology Test Bed: NiWC3b Cermet, Chloride Salts (Technical Report)

In this project, the best material and processes that we have available now are used build a pump for validation testing and to be able to provide a quotation for a pump for the Gen3 CSP Phase 3 test facility. Enough high temperature and aged material data is collected to be able to safely design a pump with a high level of confidence of good performance. Manufacturing processes for the nano-composite material including spray coating and joining methods are investigated. These processes enable application of this novel material to pump components.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Static Corrosion Summary: Static Corrosion Testing, Haynes 230 Recession Rate, Chloride Salts

In this project, the best material and processes that we have available now are used build a pump for validation testing and to be able to provide a quotation for a pump for the Gen3 CSP Phase 3 test facility. Enough high temperature and aged material data is collected to be able to safely design a pump with a high level of confidence of good performance. Manufacturing processes for the nano-composite material including spray coating and joining methods are investigated. These processes enable application of this novel material to pump components.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗