Go Greener Tips

A solar tower is a device that converts photo voltaic thermal energy (heat from the sun) into electricity. Solar towers are appropriate for large-scale energy generation.

The Basic Component Parts of a Solar Tower Energy Plant:

* Solar Tower – The solar tower is simply a large structure with a boiler (a tank used to heat liquids) at the top. The boiler collects the heat from the sun. It is also referred to as the “central tower” or “power tower”.
* Heliostats – These are moveable mirrors that observe the sun and reflect the sunlight at the top of the photo voltaic tower where the heat is collected. These mirrors move because the sun moves, in order to constantly reflect maximum daylight toward the tower.
* Heat Transfer Fluid – We use the time period “heat switch fluid” because not all solar towers use the same. Early photo voltaic towers used water to gather the heat from the sun. Some solar towers use liquid sodium. Whichever liquid is used, it is known as “heat switch fluid.”
* Heat Storage – Because we still wish to generate energy at night time after the sun is gone, newer photo voltaic towers have methods of storing heat so that it can be used during the night to continue producing electricity.
* Steam Generator – As said earlier, liquid sodium is now used to collect the heat, and the liquid sodium is then used to generate steam.
* Steam Turbine – This is a generator that makes use of steam to generate electrical power. This is identical set-up as is used in a conventional power plant.

How Does a Solar Tower Work?

Computer managed mirrors (called heliostats) comply with the sun, adjusting their position because the sun moves, and reflect daylight toward the top of the photo voltaic tower, where a heat collector tank is located. Of course, multiple heliostat is needed, so an arrangement of hundreds and even thousands of heliostats is used.

The combined mirrored sunlight of those heliostats can produce temperatures as high as 550 degrees, Celsius at their focal point.

Thus, the liquid contained in the boiler is rapidly heated and is then pumped downward into storage tanks, or is pumped straight into to a warmth exchanger where it is used to make steam.

The steam produced by the heat exchanger is then led by means of a steam turbine, which uses the steam to generate electricity.

As an fascinating note, liquid sodium can be utilized as a warmth transfer/storage liquid, because of its ability to hold and retailer heat efficiently. Large storage tanks can be utilized to maintain the heated liquid sodium. The stored “heat” can then be used at night, in order to continue generating steam which is used to generate electricity.

Currently, there are two solar towers in operation utilizing the above design. The 64 MW Nevada Solar One and eleven MW PS10 solar power tower in Spain.

Solar tower vitality is categorized as CSP (concentrated photo voltaic power) technology. There are several other power plant designs which use concentrated solar power technology. This consists of the parabolic trough and the solar dish engine.

Energy is Life. Save energy and save money by using magnets 4 energy. For more information about magnets 4 energy. Visit our website at http://www.gosavepower.com/magnets-4-energy-review