Modelling of a Coil Steam Generator for CSP applications

The project investigates a new design for a CSP plant steam generation system, the Coil Steam Generator (CSG). This system allows faster start-ups and therefore higher daily energy production from the Sun. An analytical thermodynamic simulation model of the evaporator and a mechanical analysis are developed to optimize the behavior of the system in different start-up scenarios. The results improve the effective life time (ELT) of the CSG, the thermal exibility of the overall CSP plant to have faster start-ups. Sensitivity analysis carried out to understand the importance of start-up time, oil circuit pressure in the CSP plant and header thickness, show that these variables are important to determine the total state of stress in the headers, and therefore their effective life time. Applying the results of the optimization analysis means that, the oil headers are not critical anymore regarding the start-up process and can easily resist faster start-ups.