This paper covers the development of the preliminary design process, analysis, and cost modeling for the critical component specifications of a particle handling system, for a Pre-commercial 26.5 MWe&nbsp;solid Particle Heating Receiver (PHR) based Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) systems in the MENA region. &nbsp;The design investigates different particle handling systems such as drag conveyors, bucket elevators and how the mine hoist like particle lift hoist was selected for this power plant.The particle lift host system consists of the winder, skip, pre-skip charge hopper, upper discharge hopper, and controls. The winder consists the drive system and a double Blair drum system on which the wire rope connected to the skip is wound. The thermally insulated skip is of a Kimberly Skip (KS) configuration which overturns to empty and has only one opening used for the charge and discharge of the particles. The KS configuration is the preferred design based on our structured design selection process. This is in contrast to current mining skips design which charge from the top and discharge from the bottom. If the structured design process were not used maybe this optimum design would not have been found since this configuration is considered old compared to current mine hoist applications. The pre-skip charge hopper is the pre-charging station for the skip prior to ascent. The upper discharge hopper receives the discharged particles from the skip. It acts as a buffer and metering system for the particle heating receiver. &nbsp;The controls consist of a computer controlled variable frequency drive (VFD) used to run the winder and vary the speed of the skip for optimal conveying of the particles of the power plant.The analysis of the system includes with particle charging, storage, discharging, and transport of elevated temperature particles. &nbsp;A heat leak simulation was conducted to optimize the thermal specifications of the system. This is essential since the elevated temperatures of the particle can reach up to 1000°C which well above the operational temperature and thus strength of many other material handling systems.Moreover, the design and analysis consider electrical parasitic loss and heat loss. As part of the analysis kinematic and dynamic simulations were used to confirm electric motor capacity, expected electric parasitic loss, and develop the preliminary controls of the VFD.The capital cost modeling is reviewed based on the particle handling system design considering the specialized feature of operating at elevated temperatures. The cost model is compared to other cost models such as those for mine hoist system as to ascertain the accuracy of the modular based cost model.This is vital as the next step needed in providing commercially viable power via solid particle CSP. This design is compared with the long-term goal of a commercial 460 MWt Solid Particle. The development of this system will contribute to cost effective solid particle CSP, solar chemistry applications, and other elevated temperature particle handling industries.

Preliminary Design, Analysis, and Cost Modeling of the Particle Handling System for a Pre-Commercial 26.5 Mw-E Solid Particle Concentrated Solar Power Plant.

Paper Proceedings: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/ES/ES2021/volume/84881

ASME 2021 Energy Sustainability (ES2021)

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