Preliminary Considerations for the Selection of a Working Medium for the Solar Sea Power Plant

摘要

Some of the effects of choice of working medium on the estimated size and cost of a 100-MW solar sea power plant (SSPP) are discussed. The working-medium candidates - ammonia, three hydrocarbons, two Freons, carbon dioxide, methyl chloride and ethylene oxide - cover considerable ranges of properties. Other substances considered generally fell within these same ranges of properties. Only those substances for which the data were most readily available were considered. It is concluded that the present preliminary study gives a decided advantage to ammonia as a choice for the working fluid in a solar sea power plant. However, it is recognized that the selection of an optimum working fluid will require careful evaluation of many factors such as toxicity, materials compatibility, fire and explosive hazards, and plant maintenance and operational factors. Ammonia has problems in several of these areas, whereas propane would have fewer problems. Freons would be better still from a safety and handling standpoint, but plant cost would be higher than for propane. An exhaustive search for other media that may approach the performance of ammonia should be made. (ERA citation 09:025739)