Simulation study on dynamic response characteristics of the collector field and steam generation system in a parabolic-trough solar thermal power plant
WANG Qiang
SI Lengge
CHEN Chen
XING Yuepeng
YU Gang
XU Ershu
LIAO Zhirong
XU Chao
Abstract：Parabolic-trough solar thermal power,characterized by its green,low-carbon,and grid-friendly attributes,is a highly promising renewable energy generation technology.However,existing research lacks in-depth analysis of the dynamic response characteristics of the heat collection field and the steam generation system in the parabolic-trough solar thermal power plant.To address this gap,this study focuses on China's operational 50 MW parabolic-trough solar thermal power plant in Delingha.A dynamic simulation model of the plant's collector field and steam generation system was established on the domestic STAR-90 software platform and validated against the plant's actual operational data.Subsequently,the dynamic responses under step perturbations of two critical parameters-Direct Normal Irradiance(DNI)and heat transfer oil flow rate-were investigated.Key findings reveal that when DNI fluctuates by±50 W/m2 around its design parameter of 900 W/m2,the outlet temperature of the heat collection field exhibits a response time of 4 minutes and fluctuates within±5.6℃;the steam generation system demonstrates a response time of 12.5 minutes for both main and reheat steam,with temperatures fluctuating by±5.6 and±4.0 ℃,respectively,and pressures varying by±0.46 MPa(main steam)and±0.07 MPa(reheat steam).When the heat transfer oil flow rate of the steam generation system fluctuates by±10％from its design value,the main and reheat steam exhibit response times of 8 minutes(for a step increase)or 9 minutes(for a step decrease),with temperature fluctuations of±0.4 and±2.0 ℃,respectively,and pressure variations of±0.4 and±0.07 MPa.
Keywords：parabolic-trough solar thermal power plantcollector fieldsteam generator systemdynamic simulationdynamic response characteristics
Publication Date：2025-11-30
Online Publishing Date：2025-12-24(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：10( 105-114 )