Title: A solar thermal power system in the city of Thessalonica with the use of the Pinch method for entropy minimisation

Authors: C. Koroneos, D. Rovas

Addresses: Department of Management of Energy Resources, University of Western Macedonia, Kastorias and Fleming Street, Kozani, Greece. ' Laboratory of Heat Transfer and Environmental Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.O. Box 483, GR. 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece

Abstract: The objective of this paper is to create a small power plant, (producing 2 MW annually), which will be using solar energy as a driving fuel. The system is made up of three sub-systems: a set of Solar Collectors (SCS), a Rankine power cycle and a Heat Exchanger Network (HEN). Two cases with variations in the operation of the solar collectors and the heat exchanger network will be examined. The Pinch analysis methodology is used in their design. This will lead to minimum and hence a minimum entropy production. The exergy gains from the low entropy production techniques will be calculated.

Keywords: exergy analysis; Pinch analysis; power system; solar energy; solar power; thermal power plants; Greece; solar collectors; Rankine power cycle; heat exchangers; low entropy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2007.012062

International Journal of Exergy, 2007 Vol.4 No.2, pp.134 - 150

Published online: 16 Jan 2007 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article