Modelo de otimização para geração de calor a partir de plantas heliotérmicas de foco linear

Abstract

The use of heat generated from solar irradiation in the industrial sector has advantages overheat generated from fossil fuels, such as increasing energy security, supplying heat for more remote locations and avoiding local-impact atmospheric emissions and greenhouse gases. However, these systems are still not widespread. This is especially true for systems based on concentrating collectors, capable of reaching temperatures above 150 °C. In order to boost the development of heat generation for the industrial sector from concentrating collectors, this thesis develops the MESH - Model for Evaluation of Solar Heat, an optimization tool capable of estimating the design, components´ selection and plant performance of the least cost linear focus solar heat generation plant. The model works on an hourly basis and uses solar radiation data, equipment characteristics and cost. In addition to the development of the tool, 36 performance analyzes and one case study, based on a real Brazilian industrial facility, were carried out, varying the solar resource and energy demand. From the results of these tests, it was possible to apprehend the benefits of the optimization tool, on an hourly basis, which selects different options of solar-thermal plant components, having the ability to identify the most appropriate systems according to the available equipment and the balance of supply and energy demand in quantity and quality.