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Renewable Energy - Micro CS Thermal
Concentrating Solar Power (CST) concentrates solar power on a small area, using mirror or lenses. The heat from the solar energy used to heat water or fluid which is used to drive a heat engine.
Yes. CSP can be used for industrial and commercial applications for generating hot water, steam hot water, hot air and hot thermic oil. This type of application is called micro CST to distinguish it from the CST that uses the concentrated heat energy to generate electricity.
There are several different technologies used in Concentrating Solar thermal in general but for micro CST in India the main types of technology used is the parabolic dish technology.
Parabolic dish systems consist of a parabolic-shaped dish concentrator reflects solar radiation onto a receiver mounted at the focal point.
Different vendors in India use single or multiple axis tracking systems.
The typical applications are steam and hot water generation which can in turn be used for air conditioning, cooking, laundry and other uses. This has uses in hotels and hospitals.
Solar air conditioning uses the principle of absorption chilling which works on the principle of using a heat source (hot water) instead of electrical energy. Solar air conditioning is typically useful for small and medium chilling capacities of less than 100 TR.
The typical applications in the industrial sector are Pharmaceutical Industry (Sterilization, Drying, Syrup preparation), Textile industry (mercerizing, drying, finishing), Chemicals (drying, dissolving, distillation, thickening, leaching), Pulp & Paper Industry (pulping and bleaching), Food Industry (cooking, drying and canning)
Solar micro CSP works well to replace diesel and furnace oil. An example of a hotel & a hospital is provided below.
Like in all our cost benefit examples, the data shown is collected from vendor sources or customer case studies. The results are indicative and will depend on specific equipment and operating conditions.
| Hotel | Hospital | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of rooms/beds | 300 | 300 |
| Capacity – steam per sunny day (kg) | 10,000 | 5,040 |
| Capital Cost | Rs. 3,40,00,000 | Rs. 1,70,00,000 |
| Furnace Oil/Diesel Oil saved per annum | 1,80,00 liters | 90,000 liters |
| Furnace Oil/Diesel Oil saving per annum (Rs. 50/ liter) | Rs. 90,00,000 | Rs.45,00,000 |
| Tax Benefit on Accelerated Depreciation amount | Rs. 89,76,000 | Rs. 44,88,000 |
| Approximate payback period | 2.78 years | 2.78 years |
As a potential customer, what are some of the questions that I should be asking?
The micro CST technology can be used for meeting steam requirements (and the hot water requirements not met by solar water heaters). The micro CST technology output of stream will be integrated into your boiler head. The steam will be used for air conditioning, laundry, cooking and then for hot water generation (for bathing). The micro CSP technology works in tandem with your solar water heaters. The micro CSP takes care of your high temperature needs and the solar water heaters of your low temperature needs.
The dish components are fabricated off-site, shipped to the site, and assembled into a single dish on-site.
It takes about 15-21 days to assemble and erect and commission-site. However, the product has to be placed on a foundation and that involves civil construction and co-ordination between two vendors and this process typically takes time.
Depending on the design and the vendor, the dish may require small ground area and a larger aerial space. You should check with your solution provider.
No, it does not.
Yes. You should ask your solution provider for guarantees and customer references.
The troughs and the dishes require regular cleaning. Other than that the life of these systems are like other solar systems about 25 years.
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