Working fluid effects on the performance of hybrid Brayton thermosolar plants

Abstract

In this communication a general thermodynamic model for hybrid Brayton thermosolar plants is proposed. The model is flexible and capable to include multistage configurations and recuperation. During the last years was proved that this kind of plants is technically feasible but R+D efforts need to be done in order to improve its commercial feasibility. From the thermodynamic viewpoint it is necessary to increase its overall efficiency. A general model that allows to simulate recuperative or non-recuperative plants, with an arbitrary number of stages and working with different subcritical fluids is presented. Numerical results for multi-step configurations are compared with those for a reference experimental plant, developed during the last years near Seville. Different working fluids and several plant layouts are analyzed.