Analysis of Integrated Photovoltaic Solar and Combined Cycle (IPVCC) Power Plants

摘要

Solar energy installed capacity in Thailand grew to 1.3GW in 2014 (1), a significant increase over the 111 MW in 2011(2). The estimated installed capacity for 2016 is 3.39 GW and the target for 2036 is 6 GW installed capacity for solar energy (1). In a case study utilizing detailed thermodynamic models, the integration of Photovoltaic (PV) solar with a natural gas combined cycle plant is analyzed and compared against a stand-alone combined cycle plant with duct burners. Parametric studies for different locations in Thailand and the Middle East using historical weather and solar radiation data are performed to quantify the fuel and emission savings that an Integrated Photovoltaic Combined Cycle (IPVCC) power plant can attain. Results include detailed heat balance results and a discussion of the effects of the photovoltaic integration on the hourly overall plant performance over an entire year of dispatch operations. The paper studies and compares various commercially available configurations and designs of CCGT plants integrated with photovoltaic power generation. The study focuses on different configuration options to achieve fuel savings. It quantifies the fuel savings relative to a CCGT without a photovoltaic solar field. The study was performed using the EBSILON Professional heat and mass balance software (3) to construct detailed thermodynamic models for both, design and off-design conditions for two different locations, one in Thailand, and one in the Middle East. A typical 2-pressure level unfired HRSG is used in one case, and a typical 3-pressure fired HRSG is used in the other case. The study incorporates the extensive experience the authors have in power plant design, optimization, simulation and operations as well as available documentation, such as books, publications and government policies.