WO2013072709A2

WO2013072709A2 - Solar thermal hydro electric power plant for simultaneously energy and drinking water production

Info

Publication number: WO2013072709A2
Application number: PCT/HR2012/000024
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zvonimir Glasnovic; Karmen MARGETA; Marko ROGOSIC
Original assignee: Zvonimir Glasnovic; Margeta Karmen; Rogosic Marko
Priority date: 2011-11-14
Filing date: 2012-11-13
Publication date: 2013-05-23
Also published as: HRP20110835A2; WO2013072709A3; HRPK20110835B3

Abstract

Solar thermal (ST) power plant for the simultaneous production of energy and drinking water, is a new type of power plant that makes a modified pump storage hydroelectric power plant 12-14 coupled with ST power plant 4-8 that uses solar energy 1 and local water resources 3 and the availability of sea or unclean water (rivers, aquifers, etc.) 2 for the simultaneous production of electric energy and drinking water throughout the year. The essence of the invention consists in the fact that ST power plant 4-8 has an open thermodynamic system 5 in entering steam from the evaporator 6, obtained by evaporation of sea water or other impure water using heat from solar thermal collectors 4 an output of drinking water that collects in reservoir 9 cooled by cooler 10, while the same time, produce electric energy by generator 8. Continuity of production of electricity to reservoir 13, which may be stored for a day and seasonal water and energy, and in this way, through the turbine generator 14, to produce electric energy for the consumers needs. So electricity produced is used for auxiliary consumption thermodynamic system 5, and the power of electric heater 7 which submitted heat to evaporator 6, and this thermodynamic system 5, and in this way keeps the power plant in readiness during transient cloudy day and in this way keeps the power plant in readiness during transient cloudy day, but energy and water production allows through cloudy days and night. The new system power plants simultaneously produces green energy and drinking water and is completely sustainable because the energy production based on renewable energy resources, i.e. solar energy 1, and the drinking water production from sea or unclean water sources 2.

Description

SOLAR THERMAL HYDRO ELECTRIC POWER PLANT FOR SIMULTANEOUS ENERGY AND WATER

PRODUCTION

Description of the Invention 1) FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new sustainable and fully controllable source of electrical energy and drinking water which is consist of solar thermal power plant and pump storage hydroelectric for the continuous energy supply of a consumer (house, village, town, island, region, factory, etc.) from renewable energy sources and drinking water supply by desalination or purification of water that is not for drinking. In this way, a new energy source (power plant), that uses only renewable energy sources (solar energy and energy from local water resources), and sea or dirty water sources, could significantly contribute to the sustainability.

2) TECHNICAL PROBLEM

(for the solution which requires patent application)

Water and energy are the basic goods necessary for life and for the further development of civilisation. Given that over 70% of atmospheric pollution is carbon dioxide (and other greenhouse gases) comes from the energy sector, where the pollution has negative effects on the climate of the Earth (global warming, etc.) and that according to estimates from the World Health Organisation more than one billion people lack access to safe drinking water, it is logical to look for technological solutions that simultaneously produced energy and drinking water.

Using solar energy is a large potential for the production of energy, and the drinking- water desalination process, whereby is for this invention interesting conversion and storage of solar energy in the form of gravitational potential energy for continuous electricity production, and the simultaneity of the production of drinking water with desalination process.

However, the problems of increasing the use of solar energy on the one hand still attached to the relatively high cost of solar systems, on the other side intermission of the solar radiation. And while the cost of solar thermal systems are increasingly reducing (especially with the increase in production and technology advances), the biggest problem still remains the problem of continuous power production, and its storage for periods when there is not enough solar energy. Specifically, today's solar thermal (ST) power plant alone can not solve a continuous supply of consumer, but they do so only to submit electricity to electrical power system at a time when the solar energy is available, while for the production of energy, at the time when there is no solar radiation, using fossil fuels (so. hybridisation). This actually means that the electrical energy from ST power plant has been used when it is produced.

On the other hand, if it is for operation technology for desalination using solar energy, due to the aforementioned problems intermission of solar radiation, also can not ensure the continuity of drinking water.

So evident is the problem of finding such a technological solution that would compensate for fossil fuels and to ensure continuous production of energy from ST power plant during the day and throughout the year, but so that it is exclusively from renewable energy sources and the simultaneous production of drinking water by desalination or purification of water that is not for drink. Here the consumer may include only one residential unit (home), or smaller towns, factories, islands and cities that can become fully sustainable. 3) THE STATE OF TECHNOLOGY

(presentation and analysis of known solutions defined technical problem)

Former patent solutions are mainly solved the problem with separate energy and drinking water supply, using renewable energy source.

The Patent Meuleman, 2002 (DE 101 23 240 Al), Solar energy is used to produce electricity, which pump water from the lower to the upper reservoir, while the discharge of water from the upper to the lower reservoir produces electrical energy, but such a solution does not have any relationship with the environment (for example, by taking advantage of local water resources) and is completely independent of the size of the consumer. Also, it does not use energy from solar thermal generators, but energy from the photovoltaic generator.

The Patent Charlton, 2002 (U.S. Pat. No. 6434942 Bl), solar energy is used to heat water and its circulation, thus producing electricity, but it was closed thermodynamic system that has no daily and / or seasonal energy storing area.

The Patent Van Malderen, 2007 (WO2007009196), electricity is used for reverse osmosis desalination process. However, the energy from the electricity grid, while solar energy is used to heat the incoming seawater.

The Patent Glasnovic, Margeta, 2009 (WO20091 18572), solved the problem of daily and seasonal energy storage, and a continuous supply of energy consumption, but it does not use solar thermal, but photovoltaic power plant.

The Patent Forslund, 2009 (WO2009113954), solar thermal power plants have thermal energy storage option, but it still does not allow for continuous operation of solar power plants in the longer period, and certainly not during the year.

The Patent Brenmiller, Schaal, Yossefi, 2010 (WO2010032238), Solar thermal power plants can hybridize with another plant that is not solar, whereby power plant has the storage of waste heat. However, such a solution can not be an independent continuous supply of energy consumption and no power other than solar. Also, it has a classic closed thermodynamic system, so that there is no possibility for the production of drinking water.

The Patent Frolov, Cyrus, Bruce, 2011 (WO2011137149), Solar thermal collectors are used for the production of drinking water, but this system does not provide the necessary energy for consumers.

The Patent Samson, Al-Mazeedi, 201 1 (WO2011053925), uses a solar thermal power plant that provides energy and which can provide drinking water desalination process.. However, in this patent solution a solar thermal power plants hybridised with power with conventional fuels (to ensure continuous operation when there is no solar radiation), while desalination using waste heat from a power plant, and its energy of a closed thermodynamic systems.

In order to solar thermal (ST) power plant could supply a continuous consumption of energy, they are combined, i.e. hybridised with fossil fuel power plants or daily thermal energy storage. Fossil fuels provide heat energy needed to run it at night and on cloudy days throughout the year. However, the problem with this solution is that it does not provide the only green energy from ST plants and thus remains a source of atmospheric pollution. Daily thermal energy storage with phase changing materials used to maintain the operational readiness of solar thermal power plants mainly for relatively short periods of time, and usually to bridge one night and cloud cover in one day. Thus, the daily storage of thermal energy power plant ST extending the work, but because of their relatively small capacity, it can not be balanced several days deficiency of solar radiation, especially seasonal surpluses and deficits of solar energy and therefore can not ensure the continuity of supply exclusively green energy and power during year. In addition, hybridization of solar thermal power plants using the stored energy, as it is foreseen in this solution, a solution has not been used, but the hybridisation realized by fossil fuels (mainly coal and natural gas). On the other hand, current desalination processes are generally understood and relatively complex and expensive technology, and that demanded relatively large amounts of energy. That's why the desalination logical to use renewable sources of energy, or solar energy.

4) PRESENTATION OF ESSENCE OF INVENTIONS

(so that the technical problem and its solution can understand the latest technical guidance in relation to the prior technique)

Until now, technological solutions that are provided energy from renewable energy sources, as well as technological solutions for desalination. However, there are solutions that can be during the day, or as needed (eg, at night), and simultaneously and continuously to provide energy from renewable energy sources and drinking water by desalination process.

The proposed fully viable hydro solar thermal power plant for the simultaneous production of power and drinking water, basically consists of a solar thermal power plant (ST) 4- 8 and pump storage hydroelectric (PSH) 12-14 that are functionally related to each other so that they can supply a continuous consumption of energy and power throughout the year.

Compared to previous solutions, this hybrid power system (ST-PSH) has the option of daily, and seasonal energy storage and balance of production and consumption, and drinking water needs of a consumer. Also, in addition to using solar energy 1, ST-PSH system uses energy of available water resources 3 (rainfall and surface water), which contributes to its sustainability and efficiency because the local water resources generate extra mass of water in relation to over pumped, which means less need to invest in the entire ST-PSH system required for the same energy.

ST power plant consists of 4 solar thermal collectors that can be of various types, and that convert solar radiation 1 into heat energy one that commits the working fluid, and steam or degassed water of thermodynamic system 5 and then there is that first converts thermal energy into mechanical and then and electricity generators 8.

The essential difference with the previous ST power plant lies in the fact that its thermodynamic system 5 in this patent solutions are open, which means that the water in it comes from the sea (or impure water source) 2, evaporated 6 in the evaporator using solar heat collectors 4, which is then degassed water or steam under high pressure is used in this system thermodynamic 5, and then to its output collected in the reservoir 9 and the cooler 10, with the help of seawater second water from the reservoir 9 is then delivered to final consumers.

Another essential difference with respect to any existing solution consists in the fact that water 2 in the evaporator 6 can evaporate and the electric heater 7, thus ensuring operational readiness ST power plant during transient cloudy day. This of course means that for the time products and drinking water at the exit of a thermodynamic system 5, which is collected in a storage of drinking water 9, which is cooled by cooler 10. Therefore, drinking water will also be provided during the day cloudy because the whole system works and products and energy. However, given that the reservoir 13 hydro electric revisable power plant 12-14 can be dimensioned so that it is seasonal water reservoir 13, or energy, it also means that there may be sufficient water and energy to be powered water heater 7, if necessary (and therefore at night) if it is necessary then to provide drinking water. But it also means that at night, ensuring water and electricity provided on the generator 8 which this energy can be taught in the electrical system, if it is connected to, or through an inverter 11 to teach the motors and turbines, and again back into the reservoir 13. All this of course creates a certain energy losses in the system, but if it is a priority of getting drinking water for certain consumers, then their significance is less, even more so because they are relatively small and because the water reservoir 13 can be very large.

The water in the reservoir 13 is accumulated for the continuous production of energy is coupled to the reversible hydro (including periods when there no solar radiation), or on the turbine and generator (TG) 14, which can then be fed a continuous consumption of electricity. In this way, the reservoir 13 is used for daily and seasonal storage of energy generated during sunny weather by ST power 4-8.

With the use of solar energy, patented solution to use and available water resources (surface water, precipitation, and collection of water from artificial rainfall) 3. In fact, the ST- PSH system allows parallel use of solar energy and of water resources 3, in which a higher water inflows into the reservoir 13, can reduce the size of the power plant for the same ST conditions of energy supply.

The proposed plant has a great advantage because it is a local source of electricity for their work does not consume resources, requires no supply of raw materials or a significant transfer of energy to the consumer. This means that the energy and water can both produce and consume in isolated, from transport and supply routes distant locations (islands, etc.). In this way, the lower costs of construction of transmission systems and energy losses that occur due to the transfer of energy. At these locations, power can be competitive in today conventional sources of energy because it does not require the construction and operating costs associated with transportation or energy, or raw materials for the production of energy and water. Power plants can be constructed at all locations where there are water resources 3 which flows into the reservoir 13, as well as water resources are used for the production of drinking water (sea, unclean water sources) 2 and the corresponding hydro potential. Using ST 4-8 power and local topography, this capability can create an artificial manner. 5) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawing which is included in the description, and which forms part of the description of the invention, illustrated previously considered the best way to perform the invention and help to explain the basic principles of the invention.

Figure 1. Solar thermal hydro electric power plant for simultaneous energy and drinking water production.

6) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AT LEAST ONE OF THE

WAYS CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

This section will be referred to in detail this assumed realisation of the invention, which is a basic example illustrated with drawings attached.

Solar thermal hydro electric power plant for simultaneous energy and drinking water production consists of the following elements:

1) Solar radiation;

2) Sea or unclean water sources (big rivers, aquifer, etc.).

3) Available natural water resources of the upper reservoir;

4) Solar thermal collectors;

5) Thermodynamic system;

6) Water evaporator;

7) Electric heater;

8) Generator (G);

9) Drinking water reservoir;

10) Cooler;

11) Inverter;

12) Motor and pump (MP);

13) Reservoir (new or existing) or water / energy storage;

14) Turbine and generator (TG) of hydroelectric power plant.

In case of using the existing hydroelectric power parts 13 and 14 are not built, but use of existing available hydroelectric power facilities.

Solar thermal hydro power plant works that solar energy 1 from the. environment converts by the solar thermal collectors 4, into the heat, which submit to the working fluid of thermodynamic system 5, which uses steam from the evaporator water 6 for their work and whose condensation at the exit of 5 that system gets clean, drinkable water that is stored in the reservoir 9 and and cooled with cooler 10. Thermodynamic system 5 driven generator (G) 8 that produces electricity, which is over inverters 11 , primarily used to start the motor and pump (MP) 12, while the surplus electric energy from the generator (G) 8 directly over the regional power system, if he is on it connected. Pump and motor assembly (MP) 12 pump water out of the sea (or impure water source) 2 in reservoir 13 where it is day and seasonally stored and used as needed so that it is discharged to the turbine 14, thereby producing electrical energy submitted to a local consumer consumption.

Once in the turbine and generator 14 produces electricity, water is discharged to the sea (or other contaminated water sources: large rivers, aquifers, etc.) 2 Electricity generated by the turbine and generator assembly (TG) 14 is used for the continuous supply of the consumers and auxiliary thermodynamic systems 5. However, this electricity is used in order to maintain operational readiness of power during transient cloudy day because it is powered by an electric heater 7, by which the evaporator 6 evaporate seawater, and thus developed steam transfers heat energy in a thermodynamic system 5 that can then produce electricity generator (G) 8. However, electricity can be used in cases that at night or during cloudy weather require potable water in the same way, i.e. it is powered by an electric heater 7 that heat in the evaporator 6 is used for the evaporation of sea water, and the resulting steam then enters the thermodynamic system 5 in which the output is obtained by drinking water that is stored in the reservoir 9 (which is of course necessary to cool the cooler 10) and the electric generator (G) 8 energy that can delivered to electric power system when not connected to it.

Operation of this system includes the achievement of complete independence supply some electricity users who are mostly derived from solar energy, but also from the available water resources (rivers, rainfall, etc.) 3, as well as supplying consumers with drinking water desalination or purification of water that are not drink. The proposed hybrid ST-PSH plant is completely sustainable and without harm to the environment because it is based solely on the use of renewable energy sources and to use water as the main resource for the transmission, storage and power generation, but also the drinking water. PSH 12-14 is very flexible in operation and energy production, and therefore can be easily adapted to the needs of users, as opposed to 4-8 ST plant, whose work and intermittent energy production depends on solar radiation. Combining these two plants, we get a new type of highly economical hybrid power plant is suitable for permanent and manageable power generation, and the opening of a thermodynamic system and the new power plant, also comes with drinking water. An important feature of this new hybrid solar thermal power plant for the simultaneous production of energy and water is that it is not limited in size, so it can be used from the smallest to the largest unit, i.e. the supply of housing units of a few kilowatt power plants to strong order of tens or several hundred megawatts.

Solar radiation 1 is used to lower the water level or the sea or impure water (reservoirs, aquifers, lakes, rivers) 2 transported to a higher level at which is stored in a reservoir 13. Stored water is used for hydropower generation in accordance with formed hydro-potential (difference in height) on the turbine and generator (TG) 14, from which the water is discharged into a water resource 2, and from which is pumped by motor and pump 12 through an inverter that is 11 powered by electricity from the generator (G) 8 (Figure 1). In this way, a continuous circulation of water within an artificially created and closed hydrological cycle. Available energy reservoir 13 is actually stored solar energy 1 and 3 available water resources, available for permanent use in the turbine and generator (TG) 14 (day and night), in accordance with the needs of consumers.

The proposed plant is a source of energy and drinking water that can be built close to the place of their consumption if there are any pre-conditions, which is very convenient because the energy, but the water should not be transported away. A prerequisite for the operation of this plant is the occasional sunshine, sea, or other source of impure water level difference between the sea and the upper reservoir, which uses the force of gravity-hydropower. Hydro potential can be formed according to the topographical features of the terrain wherever there is adequate height difference field. However, it can be anywhere and build a hydropower potential of creating artificial constructions corresponding to a height difference between the upper and lower water. This means that a smaller or larger hydropower potential can be created anywhere, with of course different costs.

The system may be smaller or larger. Water reservoir 13 can be closed or open. All large systems typically have an open reservoir 13, while in a small closed system on the whole.

Local natural features, climate, water resources, topography, geology, etc. are the framework for the realisation of the power plant and its productivity. What is important to emphasize that the plant viable and as long as the solar radiation and the force of gravity and the sea or impure water resource, plants can continuously produce both electricity and drinking water. Energy price depends on a variety of elements, and profitability depends on the price of competing conventional sources. At present, it is still expected that the classical sources of energy (thermal and nuclear power plants) competitive no matter what is done on clean and renewable energy. However, in the long term it is expected that it will be a classic sources more expensive so that the proposed plant is likely to be more competitive and more profitable.

It is very important that the solar thermal for the simultaneous production of energy and drinking water is properly designated power plants ST 4-8, costing the greatest. The main role in this has a reservoir 13. Reservoir 13 allows the accumulation of water in the longer term and it continued production of hydropower as a bridging period of time from when the input power is less ST or absent. In this way, the size of the ST plant 4-8 elected in accordance with the critical one-year period in a number of years so that it chooses its minimum than the maximum power necessary to ensure continuity of hydropower generation in the critical period (the required volume of water), and selected safety level of work (additional volume of water in the reservoir for incidental or unforeseen situations). If upstream from the reservoir 13 there is water that can be used 3 or turn into the reservoir, then the system is more efficient because the water filling the reservoir 13 and takes place by gravity, so that the power plant ST 4-8 for the appropriate amount was lower. The system will be more effective if part of the solar energy during periods when solar radiation is very 1, directly used by the user, since the volume of the reservoir 13, the capacity of the motor and pump 12 and ST 4-8 power will be lower.

The total cost of building and construction costs affecting building cost of reservoir 13. In doing so, various combinations are possible. The best is when the construction of the reservoir 13 simple and cheap, or if such a reservoir-lake already exists. Hydropower (turbine and generator (TG)) 14 is basically a cost-effective disposable fall (potentially energy) is higher. However, it is needed more power plants ST 4-8 to transport water to the reservoir 13. Also, proposed solution can use existing hydroelectric power plants, so it is not necessary to build a reservoir nor 13, nor complex turbine and generator (TG) 14.

Given that this is a technological solution that combines the unique technological system has been developed ST power plant with pump storage hydroelectric, and that this solution uses an open thermodynamic system and the input it receives vapor by evaporation of sea water or impure water, the combination of the technology presented method can be realised. In this way, it is created enduring, useful and very cost effective system that can simultaneously reliably supply some energy consumption and drinking water throughout the year.

Experts will be obvious that they could make even more numerous modifications and upgrades to such a system for the production of energy and water, without leaving the scope of the spirit of this invention.

7) METHOD OF INVENTION APPLICATION

By linking solar thermal power plant that has 4-8 which has open thermodynamic system 5 with pump storage hydroelectric 12-14 in one technological system for continuous simultaneous production of power and drinking water, whith this invention are open numerous opportunities for the application of such systems, which could strongly encourage industry of solar thermal power plants and its components 4-8, and especially of electric heating of water and its evaporation.

It also means that these sustainable systems , which would provide a full supply of an energy independence consumption of electric energy and drinking water of some consumer, respectively exploited the maximum available solar energy 1 and hydropower 3 at the location and the sea or impure water resources 2, with the minimum impact on the environment, would have a secure future.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS AND SYMBOLS

REFERENCE SIGNS:

1) Solar radiation;

2) Sea or unclean water sources (big rivers, aquifer, etc.).

3) Available natural water resources of the upper reservoir;

4) Solar thermal collectors;

5) The thermodynamic system;

6) Water Evaporator;

7) Electric heater;

8) Generator (G);

9) Drinking water reservoir;

10) Cooler;

11) Inverter;

12) Motor and pump (MP);

13) Reservoir (new or existing) or water / energy storage;

14) Turbine and generator (TG) of hydroelectric power plant.

Claims

) PATENT CLAIMS

1) Solar thermal hydro power plants for simultaneous production of energy and drinking water, consisting of solar thermal collectors 4, of a thermodynamic system 5, the water evaporator 6, an electric heater 7, a generator 8, drinking water reservoir 9, cooler 10, inverter 1 1, the motor and pumping assembly 12, the reservoir 13, the turbine and generator assembly 14, characterized thereby, that it simultaneously uses solar energy 1 and available natural water resources 3, and water from the sea or impure water source 2 for continuous simultaneous production of energy and drinking water for a consumption, throughout the year;

2) Solar thermal hydro power plants for simultaneous production of energy and drinking water, as required 1 , characterised thereby, that it has an open thermodynamic system 5 which enters the water from the sea or impure water source 2, an output tap water which is stored in the reservoir 9;

3) Solar thermal hydro power plants for simultaneous production of energy and drinking water, as required 1 -2, characterised thereby, that it has a daily and seasonal storage of electrical energy stored in the form of hydraulic energy of water in the reservoir 13, necessary to manage the planned power generation and drinking water, respectively for its production according to the consumers needs of energy and water;

4) Solar thermal hydro power plants for simultaneous production of energy and drinking water, as required 1-3, characterised thereby, to have water evaporator 6 and electric water heater 7, which maintains daily operational readiness of a thermodynamic system 5 when there is not enough solar radiation 1, but during the night, can produce potable energy and drinking water;

5) Solar thermal hydro power plants for simultaneous production of energy and drinking water, as required 1-4, characterised thereby, to size solar thermal collectors 4 and 13 reservoir 13 must be sized so that they gather together as solar 1 and hydro energy 3 from the environment for planned continuous supply of an isolated consumption of electricity and drinking water throughout the year, in line with the regime of energy and potable water; 6) Solar thermal hydro power plants for simultaneous production of energy and drinking water, as required 1-5, characterised thereby, that the manner of its performance (elements 4-14) and using adapted to local climatic and topographical and hydrological characteristics and needs of consumers of electricity and drinking water.