Concentrator Thermal - Electrical Module (CTEM) Production

Concentrator Thermal - Electrical Module (CTEM) Production

Institution
Name of Company/ Institution: 
Gazi University
Department: 
Photonics Research Center

Contact

Dr.Yunus OZEN
Proposal
Country: 
Turkey
Priority topic: 
Advanced linear concentrator Fresnel technology with direct molten salt circulation
Keywords separated by commas: 
Concentrated solar energy, Fresnel lenses, thermal / electric
Brief summary of the project (challenge, objectives and actions foreseen – 3000 characters): 

Concentrator Thermal - Electrical Module (YTEM) System, which is intended to be established within the scope of this proposed project, has been designed to generate electricity with thermal cycling from condensed solar energy. The process of generating electricity with photovoltaics, also called solar - electricity cycle, can be done with PV panels in the market in 2019 with efficiency levels of 16-17%. The targeted system is called as solar thermal cycle and its total efficiency is theoretically expected to be between 24-25%. In the systems established for energy production with solar - electric cycle, many components are met with imported products. Although there are domestic solar panel companies, these companies are generally assembling and crystal growth and wafer operations are met from abroad. A similar situation is observed when looking at DC - AC inverters. Components such as collection boxes, monitoring system, solar cable connectors, batteries, charge regulators are also important investment cost items for the establishment of a GES infrastructure.
In this project, unlike photovoltaics, it is aimed to obtain electricity through the thermal aspect of solar energy. Fresnel lenses specially designed for this purpose concentrate the solar energy on the collector pipe gathered in a certain area and allow it to be transferred to the heat transfer liquid. The heat transfer fluid will be transferred to a heat exchanger system to provide the steam supply needed by the Stirling machine to produce electricity. The system planned to be produced within the scope of this study will produce 6 kWth thermal power and Stirling machine will convert this thermal power to 2.4 kWe electrical output power. The expected yields in the system are expected to be around 24%. This is about 50% higher than the yield from commercial photovoltaics. When evaluated in terms of the use of resources, the main component of the system, the concentrator lenses can be produced entirely with domestic resources. While a PV plant operating for 25 years will pay for itself in a period of 7 years, depending on resource usage, it will use a period of approximately 5 years for the payment of imported resources, if the targeted system is realized, this dependency period can be reduced from 5 years to less than 1 year.
As a result, in terms of price / performance, linear Fresnel lenses will be used in prototypes that are readily available. The system of 360 lenses, consisting of 120 lenses in each layer, will have a thermal power of 6 kW and a power of 2.5 kWe (combined with a Stirling motor) with a length of 6 meters. Solar energy, which is intensified by optical concentrators, provides a high efficiency (~ 50% increase in efficiency compared to photovoltaics) with thermal cycling. The system, which is intended to be developed within the scope of this study, brings a new perspective to the methods of using Solar Energy. The system to be developed is distinguished from its predecessors with its design that minimizes losses arising from daily and seasonal movements of the sun.

Expected results – 3000 characters: 

With Fresnel design to be produced, maximum benefit will be provided from daily and seasonal movements of the sun.
Both electrical energy and thermal power will be obtained as output. 2.4 W electric power will be obtained in an area of 6 m2.
The system design will be able to realize energy production with low cost in a small area.

Total budget expected: 
1560000
Do you have already other beneficiaries involved?: 
No
Profile of the required beneficiaries: 
Within the scope of matrix of eligible topics and subtopics per country / region resp. funding agency , we need partners from Spain, Italy and Greece. We plan to build consortium 4 members from 4 different countires. We would like to establish consortium including research centers , universities and SMS worrking in field of Advanced linear Fresnel technology.
Origin of the Project Manager: 
Turkey