Optimisation of steam-based energy transport in distributed solar systems
Authors:
P. O. Carden and P. K. Bansal
Affiliation:
* Energy Research Centre, Research School of Physical Sciences, The Australian National university, Canberra, ACT, Australia
** Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand
Abstract:
This paper investigates the methodology for the systematic optimisation of a low-cost transport piping network for distributed solar systems. In order to determine the range of power sizes for which this form of energy transport is economical, equations are developed to yield optimum engineering design parameters for steam-based energy transport in pipelines. A computer software package has been developed which gives the most cost effective layout of optimum networks, size of each pipe/insulation, percentage of the maximum pressure drop to the inlet pressure (% Δp), and percentage of the cost of energy transportation to the energy collected (% cost). Power station sizes of up to 84 MWe have been studied with collectors of area 300 m2 each.