Solar thermal energy use in lead acid batteries recycling industry: A preliminary assessment of the potential in Spain and Chile

摘要

Lead acid batteries recycling industry has a significant heat demand, including processes at around 500 and 1000°C. Due to it, this work faces a preliminary approach to the integration of CSP technology with such an industry. A general description of the recycling process is presented as well as the thermal requirements of the different stages. Smelting and refining are retained among them and they are proposed to be provided with concentrated solar energy as source of heat. Two different locations are evaluated: Murcia, in Spain and Calama, in Chile. Combining the two processes and two locations, four cases are presented. Heliostat field and central receiver dimensions are estimated for each case and the percentage of annual solar fraction is obtained according to the energy demand. A solar multiple is considered in order to include thermal storage and to provide a constant heat demand. While in Spain the proposed solar plants are able to supply 68 and 76% of the smelting and refining respective annual demands, in Chile the solar fraction achieves 90 and 94%.