Solar powered micro gas turbine

Solar powered micro gas turbine: Power generation by CSP in rural areas

Postma, T.M.

Boersma, B.J. (mentor)
Pecnik, R. (mentor)

Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

Process and Energy

2016-12-08

A solar powered micro gas turbine is a new technique which is currently under development. Although promising, a turbocharger as replacement for a micro gas turbine could provide a simple, compact and low cost alternative. Therefore this research focusses on the energetic and technical performance expectations of a turbocharger based solar micro gas turbine when applied as parabolic dish engine. A thermal analysis and a study on the applicability of turbochargers as micro gas turbine were performed to conclude the viability of this new technological concept. Thermal performance was analyzed by simulating a recuperated, open Brayton cycle at various operation conditions. Special attention was paid to low pressure ratios which characterizes turbocharger operation. Additionally, practical applicability of a turbocharger as micro gas turbine was studied. Results showed that turbochargers need to be modified for gas turbine application. Furthermore, turbocharger rotational speed was identified as design constraint. Regarding the proof of concept design, most effort has been put into recuperator design and turbocharger modification. Final conclusions state that a turbocharger as micro gas turbine is technical feasible and can produce enough power although corresponding pressure ratios suppress high efficiency.

Concentrated Solar Power
Micro Gas Turbine
Parabolic Dish Engine
Turbocharger
Recuperator
Rural areas
Brayton cycle

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:80e06d30-4eba-401e-8f7c-3a51a11c5507

Student theses

master thesis

(c) 2016 Postma, T.M.