Performance analysis and cost reduction of Brayton Cycle based Solar Thermal Tower Power Plant using TRNSYS

This paper presents a profitable and efficient model of a solar thermal tower power plant using different simulation tools like TRNSYS, Greenius, and System Advisory Model (SAM). For getting maximum solar radiation, the Bahawalpur region of Pakistan is selected. TRNSYS is used for modeling of the power plant and analyzing its behavior. Solar receiver is the main component of the tower power plant and its height and distance from solar reflectors are measured using Greenius. Heliostats positioning around the solar tower is measured using SAM. Brayton cycle is used to generate 4 MW output by choosing the specification of Siemens made gas turbine. System behavior is observed by changing the input pressure and mass flow rate of the turbine and area of the solar receiver. According to Siemens gas turbine characteristics, 945 heliostats were required initially to get the desired power output. The input flow rate and pressure of the gas turbine are changed along with the solar receiver area to get the same power output with a smaller number of heliostats. The number of heliostats is reduced to 930 and the initial cost of the power plant is reduced. It is found that 4 MW electric Output is produced with 930 heliostats which reduced the initial cost to 1.2 percent.