Analysis of a fuel-solar assisted central DPP

Abstract In this work, a new arrangement for central fuel fired solar assisted dual purpose plant (DPP) is presented and is thermodynamically analyzed as well. The solar energy, collected at moderate temperatures, drives an open cycle LiBr-H 2 O absorption machine with a ϕp s turbine replacing the condenser and the evaporator used in such conventional heat pumps. In a DPP, this heat pump is connected upstream of the multistage flash (MSF) distillator where the ϕp s turbine receives the pass out steam assigned to the MSF and the steam leaves the heat pump generator is fed to the MSF. Whenever it is applied to a central desert steam power plant (DSPP), the heat pump is introduced upstream of the steam condenser. The same basic steam cycle is used in analysing the combined arrangement for both the DPP and DSPP with a reheat being used to reduce the ϕp s corrosion problems. For a solar collecting temperature of 190°C for the DPP and 134°C for the DSPP the power output increased by 56 and 53 percent at an extra firing of 10.5 and 21 percent respectively. In the DPP, the combined arrangement can increase the water produced by four folds at the design power output or increasing the power output by 56 percent while maintaining the design water output.