Distributed Collector System: Modelling, Control and Optimal Performance

Abstract

Continual increases in electricity demand, the global rise in oil consumption and prices, the contribution of oil consumption to greenhouse gases emissions and the fact that the supply of fossil fuels will eventually run out are all driving factors in the need for renewable energy solutions. This paper gives an overview of the main concentrated solar thermal power technologies with an emphasis on the modelling and control of conventional parabolic trough technology. Specific focus is given to the benefits of model-based predictive control in a distributed solar collector field of a parabolic trough plant.