An Overview of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Applications

摘要

India_being a tropical country is blessed with abundant solar radiation throughout the year. Most parts of India experience only three types of climatic conditions namely, hot -hotter- hottest. Rather than the natural climate seasons namely summer, winter, autumn and spring. Therefore India has great potential for harvesting solar energy resources. Concentrated Solar Energy (CSE), compared to other high-energy dense beams, has many advantages, it comes from a natural and inexhaustible energy source, the sun and it's free. It does not pollute the environment; where as the spectrum of the sun's light allows increased absorption of energy. In addition, the cost of the installations used for solar energy concentration is not very high. However, the discontinuity of sunshine during night and cloudy weather hinders the solar energy at an Industrial scale. Generally the CSP comprise of a central tower and a heliostats field and there are many different layout based on the basic scheme. The concentrated solar energy is used for the generation of electricity, heating of buildings, cooking and associated applications. This paper attempts to bring out the various application of concentrated solar energy reported in literature and applied in industries.