An entransy dissipation-based optimization principle for solar power tower plants

The entransy theory, which can be used to optimize the heat transfer network of a solar power tower system (SPTS) and improve its energy efficiency, was introduced in this paper. Firstly, the irreversibility of the heat transfer processes in a SPTS was analyzed and the total entransy dissipation equation of a SPTS was derived. Then, two types of optimization problems (reducing the total circulating flow rate or the total heat-exchanging area) of a SPTS were solved with conditional extremum model based on the formulas of total entransy dissipation. Finally, the entransy dissipation-based optimization principle was applied to a simple SPTS without re-heater and a complex SPTS with a re-heater. The results showed that under the chosen calculation conditions the minimum total thermal conductance was 19306.03 W K^-1 for a SPTS without re-heater when the total heat capacity rate of heat transfer fluid (HTF) was 3200 W K^-1. The minimum total thermal conductance was about 7.9% lower than the value predicted based on the typical outlet temperature of a receiver. This meant that the total heat exchange area or initial investment could be effectively reduced under the prescribed total HTF circulating flow rate. We also studied the variation trends of the two optimized results including minimum total HTF heat capacity rate and minimum total thermal conductance. The minimum total HTF heat capacity rate decreased with the given total thermal conductance, the minimum total thermal conductance decreased first and then increased with the given total HTF heat capacity rate. We also found that for a SPTS with a re-heater, the mixing temperature and the mixing position of HTF had significant effects on the two types of optimization problems.