Work Plan

The methodology of the operation is divided into eight main tasks. Each of these has a well-defined implementation period.

Global project management (3 years)

This task seeks to respond effectively to administrative, financial, and legal aspects, to ensure the successful implementation of the project. It involves the prospection of a concentrators’ manufacturer and the establishment of agreements ensuring confidentiality and intellectual property on research, as well as the process of monitoring all stages of intervention, including the preparation of three annual progress reports.

Optimization of the ALFR concentrator (4 months)

In conjunction with the supplier, this step focuses on the configuration details of the prototype to be installed in the EMSP for testing, regarding the geometric parameters of the concentrator to follow the apparent movement of the sun; optimization of geometry and positioning of the secondary concentrator; analysis of tolerances of the optical elements of the concentrator, in order to ensure performative efficiency; and optical and thermal simulation of the concentrator.

Manufacture and installation of an ALFR module in the PECS test platform and operation at 400ºC with oil circuit (1 year)

Manufacture and installation of the module in PECS and operation, using the potentialities of the two-axis tracking mechanism which allows testing optical and thermal efficiency parameters of the collector for different operating temperatures up to 400ºC, measurement of incidence angle modifier curves, effective concentration and acceptance angle for various angles of incidence.

Manufactures and installation of the ALFR concentrator in EMSP and connection to the salt circuit and commissioning (1 year)

Installation of the prototype in EMSP, connection to the circuit of molten salts, which occurs in conjunction with other projects, such as the HPS-2, and commissioning of the project, in order to ensure that all components of the circuit are operational.

Operation of the concentrator in EMSP with loop of molten salts up to 565ºC (1,5 years)

This task will be the central point of the entire project, with the operation of the ALFR concentrator in all regimes and in different modes of operation. Thermal analysis will be performed (without turbine) but with estimation of electricity production in real scenario and the performance of the concentrator will be studied in detail. The task includes tests and pre-tests to the ALFR concentrator, crucial for the verification of details and ensures safety conditions in operation at 565ºC; operation of the concentrator with exploration of different scenarios relevant to the industrial scale and in different modes, comparing performance with other projects; and analysis of various concentrator parameters (optical efficiency, thermal efficiency, and estimation of overall solar-electricity conversion efficiency).

Comparison of results with numerical models and different technologies (1,5 years)

The results of the present operation are compared with previous results, from numerical models, allowing to estimate an overall conversion efficiency in the order of 14% for the Évora region. This action will allow to detect any gaps in the tool and make improvements, which will allow to carry out analyses and simulations of future technologies. Secondly, a comparison of results will be made with the cylindrical-parabolic technology installed in EMSP, under the HPS-2 project. This comparison allows to discern the potential of ALFR technology, compared to a technology with a very different nature, and to prove the potential of this technology to produce unpackable electricity at low cost, in a competitive way. Finally, it includes the comparison with other results for Fresnel technology present in the scientific literature, which will allow to prove the evolution of this technology.

Analysis of results and economic study

The validation of the reliability of the numerical model involves the discussion of this model and future implementations. The performance improvement check is done by systematically comparing annual conversion and cost yields (LCOE) between the various technologies, extrapolating their potential to other locations with higher solar radiation values. Economic analysis and preparation of scenarios for market insertion includes the analysis of all economic parameters of interest (LCOE, TIR, Balance of Plant, etc.) for different scenarios and locations.

Dissemination of results in the business and academic environment (3 years)

This task included the creation of the website www.alfr-alentejo.uevora.pt, dedicated to the publication and monitoring of results of the study of the operation. At the level of the events, the project includes two workshops, with academics and entrepreneurs, to present the results. Dissemination also involves the preparation of scientific articles for publication in journals and presentation conferences in this area.