DESOLINATION Project Partners Visit CSP Plant during Solar & Storage Live KSA 2024

DESOLINATION Project Partners Visit CSP Plant during Solar & Storage Live KSA 2024

by | Oct 17, 2024 | Events, Milestones

As part of its dissemination activities, the DESOLINATION project was prominently featured during the Solar & Storage Live KSA 2024 event held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The project partner Aalborg CSP (ACSP) participated in the event through a dedicated booth, engaging with a diverse and extensive local audience that included installers, commercial and industrial users, property and landowners, and utility companies.
See Event

In conjunction with this participation, key representatives from DESOLINATION project partners Aalborg CSP, Hammam Soliman, and Miguel Herrador Moreno visited the DESOLINATION demonstration site located at King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh. This visit was hosted by our project partners, Dr. Hany Al-Ansary and Zeyad Almutairi from KSU, providing a hands-on opportunity to observe the innovative technologies underpinning the project.

The DESOLINATION project showcases pioneering solutions that merge solar energy with advanced desalination systems. A highlight of the site visit was the 200kW Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant at King Saud University, which operates an air Brayton cycle solar power tower. This facility exemplifies the project’s mission by harnessing solar heat that would otherwise be wasted, utilizing it to drive cutting-edge desalination technologies. This integration offers a dual benefit of sustainable energy production and freshwater generation—both essential resources for a sustainable future.

What is a CSP Plant?

The DESOLINATION demonstration site is set for further expansion in its second phase, which will include the installation of a 2MWe power cycle utilizing CO₂ blends. Similar to the Brayton cycle system, this new technology will also integrate with the desalination process, showcasing the scalability and adaptability of solar-driven solutions for energy and water needs.

Through its participation in Solar & Storage Live KSA 2024, the DESOLINATION project reached a wide audience, sharing its vision for revolutionizing renewable energy and desalination integration. The event underscored the project partners’ commitment to driving innovation and advancing technologies that address global challenges in energy efficiency and water sustainability.

Through events like Solar & Storage Live KSA 2024, the DESOLINATION project is amplifying its impact, demonstrating how CSP technology can address energy and water challenges globally.

What is a

Concentrated Solar Power Plant?

A Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant is a type of renewable energy facility that uses mirrors or lenses to concentrate sunlight onto a small area, typically a receiver, to generate high amounts of heat. This thermal energy is then used to produce electricity, often by powering a steam turbine or a heat engine. CSP plants differ from solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, which directly convert sunlight into electricity.

Key Components of a CSP Plant:

  1. Concentrators: Mirrors or lenses focus sunlight onto a receiver. Different CSP technologies use different types of concentrators:

2. Receiver: The concentrated sunlight heats a fluid, usually oil, molten salt, or air, which then transfers the heat to a steam generator.

3. Power Cycle: The heat from the receiver is used to produce steam, which drives a turbine connected to a generator, producing electricity. CSP plants often use traditional Rankine cycles, and advanced systems can use Brayton or CO2 power cycles.

4. Thermal Storage: One major advantage of CSP plants is their ability to store heat in materials like molten salt, allowing them to generate electricity even after sunset.

Applications

CSP plants are particularly suited to regions with high direct sunlight, such as deserts or sunny climates. They are increasingly being integrated with systems like desalination and thermal storage, improving their efficiency and extending their use beyond electricity production.

Advancing 3D-Printed Heat Exchangers in the DESOLINATION Project: A Milestone at LUT University

Advancing 3D-Printed Heat Exchangers in the DESOLINATION Project: A Milestone at LUT University

by | Oct 6, 2024 | Milestones, Results - Combination of CSP pland and forward osmosis desalination, Results - Pilot plant preparation

As part of the DESOLINATION project’s ongoing mission to decarbonize the desalination process, a major milestone has been achieved at LUT University: the experimental validation of a 3D-printed heat exchanger. This breakthrough demonstrates that additive manufacturing (also known as 3D printing) can significantly enhance the performance of heat exchangers used in supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) Brayton cycles, paving the way for more efficient energy systems.

Recently, the DESOLINATION project team reached a major milestone by successfully validating their experimental setup at LUT University. This validation process involved several key steps:

  1. Design: The team developed a blueprint for the 3D-printed heat exchanger, focusing on optimizing its shape and function.
  2. Simulation: Using tools like Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), the team simulated how the heat exchanger would perform under real-world conditions.
  3. Additive Manufacturing: The heat exchanger was printed using advanced 3D printing techniques, allowing for a more intricate and efficient design.
  4. Assembly: The printed parts were then assembled into a fully functional heat exchanger.
  5. Testing: The final step was to test the heat exchanger to ensure it could withstand the pressures and temperatures expected in the sCO2 Brayton cycle.

The successful completion of these steps demonstrates that 3D-printed heat exchangers can perform effectively in high-pressure, high-temperature environments. This breakthrough marks an important step toward integrating these advanced designs into real-world concentrating solar power (CSP) systems.

What is a Heat Exchanger?
What This Means for the Future of Sustainable Energy

The ability to use 3D-printed heat exchangers in sCO2 Brayton cycles has far-reaching implications for the DESOLINATION project and beyond. By improving the efficiency of energy conversion, these innovations will make it easier to generate clean electricity from renewable sources like solar power. This is particularly important for the project’s goal of decarbonizing desalination, which requires large amounts of energy to produce fresh water in arid regions.

The Role of Heat Exchangers in Desalination and Energy Generation

Heat exchangers are crucial in systems that convert heat into usable energy. In the DESOLINATION project, they are key components in the sCO2 Brayton cycle, a thermodynamic process that uses heat to generate electricity. When combined with concentrating solar power (CSP)—which concentrates solar energy to produce high levels of heat—these systems offer a more efficient way to produce power while reducing carbon emissions.

However, creating heat exchangers that can handle the extreme conditions required by sCO2 Brayton cycles (temperatures up to 600°C and pressures around 250 bars) presents significant challenges. That’s where additive manufacturing comes in.

Additive Manufacturing: A Game Changer for Heat Exchanger Design

Traditional manufacturing techniques often limit the design of heat exchangers, making it difficult to optimize them for maximum efficiency. Additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, solves this problem by allowing engineers to create more complex designs that would be impossible with conventional methods.

In the DESOLINATION project, the team used 3D printing to create highly specialized heat exchangers that are better suited to the high-pressure, high-temperature conditions of the sCO2 Brayton cycle. These new designs are expected to improve the overall efficiency of the system, making it more effective at converting solar energy into electricity.

As DESOLINATION moves forward, the continued development and testing of 3D-printed heat exchangers will play a crucial role in creating more sustainable, efficient energy systems. With each milestone, the project is getting closer to its vision of a world where desalination is powered by clean, renewable energy. By combining cutting-edge technologies like additive manufacturing and advanced thermodynamic processes, the DESOLINATION project is paving the way for a greener, more water-secure future.

Pushing the Limits of Heat Exchanger Design with CFD in the DESOLINATION Project

Pushing the Limits of Heat Exchanger Design with CFD in the DESOLINATION Project

by | Oct 3, 2024 | Milestones, Results - Combination of CSP pland and forward osmosis desalination, Results - Pilot plant preparation

The DESOLINATION project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program, is making remarkable strides in its mission to decarbonize desalination. One of the most exciting developments comes from our work on optimizing heat exchangers for use in supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) Brayton cycles. These innovations could revolutionize how we generate power from renewable energy sources like solar power. Here’s a closer look at how Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is playing a key role in this effort.
The Role of CFD: Optimizing Heat Exchanger Performance

Designing heat exchangers that can operate under these extreme conditions is no small feat. To ensure the best possible design, DESOLINATION is using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)—a powerful computer tool that models how fluids flow and how heat is transferred in complex systems.

CFD allows the project team (particularly TEMISTh) to simulate the performance of the heat exchanger in a virtual environment. This includes analyzing key factors such as:

  • Thermal efficiency: How well the exchanger transfers heat from one fluid to another.
  • Pressure drop: The reduction in pressure that occurs as the fluid flows through the heat exchanger, which can impact overall system performance.
  • Thermomechanical constraints: The structural stresses the exchanger must withstand at high temperatures and pressures.

By using CFD, the team can find the optimal balance between thermal efficiency and pressure drop, ensuring the heat exchanger performs well while remaining durable.

What Are Heat Exchangers and Why Are They Important?

A heat exchanger is a device that transfers heat from one fluid (either a liquid or gas) to another. In energy systems, they are essential for converting heat into usable power. In the DESOLINATION project, the goal is to create highly efficient heat exchangers that can operate under extreme conditions—temperatures as high as 600°C and pressures up to 250 bars. These conditions are required for a supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) Brayton cycle, a process that uses heat to generate electricity more efficiently than traditional steam cycles.

Real-World Testing at King Saud University

After fine-tuning the design using CFD, the next step is real-world testing. The team plans to run these heat exchangers for 4,000 hours at a pilot plant in King Saud University. These tests will move the project closer to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7, meaning the technology will be ready for deployment in real-world systems.

The Role of CFD: Optimizing Heat Exchanger Performance

The preliminary results from these simulations are promising. The team believes that their designs could push the limits of what’s possible for heat exchangers in sCO2 Brayton cycles. If successful, these innovations will pave the way for more efficient concentrating solar power (CSP) plants, where solar energy is concentrated to generate high levels of heat, which can then be used to produce electricity.

CFD: More Than Just an Engineering Tool

Beyond its technical capabilities, CFD has also proven to be a powerful communication tool. The simulations it creates provide visually engaging representations of how heat and fluids move through the system, making it easier to explain the science behind the project to a broader audience.

By using CFD to design and optimize these cutting-edge heat exchangers, the DESOLINATION project is taking a huge step toward more sustainable and efficient energy systems, bringing us closer to a future where desalination can be powered by clean, renewable energy.

Preliminary Characterization of the Desolination Project Demo Plant: Design and Off-Design Operability

Preliminary Characterization of the Desolination Project Demo Plant: Design and Off-Design Operability

by | Sep 5, 2024 | Milestones, Publications, Results - Pilot plant preparation

The DESOLINATION project, a beacon of innovation in renewable energy, has taken a major step forward with the preliminary performance analysis of its demonstration plant.

Recently unveiled at the ASME Turbo Expo 2024, this work brings together the expertise of TEMISth, UNIBS (University of Brescia), and Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI) to explore the potential of a novel power cycle built for sustainability and efficiency.

Read publication
What makes this Demo Plant unique?

This demo plant operates a simple recuperative transcritical power cycle, a system that sets new standards in energy conversion. Here’s what makes it stand out:

  • Innovative Working Fluid: Instead of conventional fluids, the plant uses a mixture of CO₂ and SO₂, selected for its unique thermodynamic properties.
  • Adapted to Harsh Conditions: Designed to thrive in environments with high solar radiation and elevated ambient temperatures, this air-cooled system mirrors real-world challenges faced by Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants.
Key features of the cycle
  • Powerful yet Compact: At the heart of the system is an axial turbine handling a flow rate of 0.2 m³/s, enabling a power output of 1.8 MWel.
  • Next-Gen Heat Exchangers: Equipped with gyroid-structured recuperators and heat exchangers, these components maximize thermal transfer while minimizing material use.
  • Modeling Precision: Advanced simulations in MATLAB, enhanced by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) results, ensure the system is optimized for both design and off-design conditions.
How efficient is it?

Efficiency is key for renewable energy systems, and the DESOLINATION demo plant doesn’t disappoint. By operating in a sliding pressure mode, the cycle achieves impressive efficiencies of over 30%, even when running at partial load.

Adapting to changing temperatures

One of the standout features of this system is its ability to handle varying ambient conditions:

  • At high ambient temperatures (above 30°C), the cycle functions seamlessly, thanks to fixed-speed condenser fans.
  • At lower temperatures (around 10°C), the air velocity can be adjusted to ensure optimal operation.
Handling the system’s inventory

The study also delves into the plant’s piping system, revealing that the total fluid inventory is heavily influenced by the condenser’s operation. Adjustments in fluid storage of up to 300 kg are required to maintain stability when switching between different temperature conditions.

This research represents a significant milestone in the DESOLINATION project’s mission to develop renewable energy systems that are not only efficient but also adaptable to a variety of real-world conditions. By bridging the gap between innovative design and practical application, the demo plant is a glimpse into the future of clean, sustainable power generation.
Read publication

Authors: Ettore Morosini, Marco Astolfi, Michele Doninelli, Paolo Iora, Damien Serret, Jean-Michel Hugo and Giampaolo Manzolini.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1115/GT2024-127246

Innovative Thermodynamic Solutions: effective and efficient coupling of CSP and desalination technologies

Innovative Thermodynamic Solutions: effective and efficient coupling of CSP and desalination technologies

by | May 28, 2024 | Milestones, Results - Combination of CSP pland and forward osmosis desalination

Discover our groundbreaking work over the past year in advancing CO2 mixtures for thermodynamic cycles, pushing the boundaries of energy efficiency and sustainability.

The research team from the Energy Department at Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI), DESOLINATION project coordinator, has successfully simulated large-scale Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants using innovative CO2 mixtures, enhancing their efficiency and performance. Additionally, they introduced the CO2+SiCl4 mixture in literature for trans-critical cycles, showcasing its potential in improving cycle efficiency.

Our Journey in Thermodynamic Cycle Development

Over the past year, POLIMI has made significant strides in the development and simulation of thermodynamic cycles using CO2 mixtures. Here are some of the key milestones and achievements.

Introduction of CO2+SiCl4 Mixture Research

Introducing the CO2+SiCl4 mixture into the literature for transcritical cycles

With regard to the application of CO2 mixtures in thermodynamic cycles, the work was developed both on the simulation of the large-scale CSP plant with innovative CO2 mixtures, introducing the CO2+SiCl4 mixture into the literature for transcritical cycles, and adding details on the simulations and design of the DESOLINATION project’s demonstration plant, the 1.8 MWel cycle operating with the CO2+SO2 mixture.

Experimental investigation of the CO2+SiCl4 mixture as innovative working fluid for power cycles: Bubble points and liquid density measurementsv- Energy Journal
Read the article

In this perspective, complete off-design simulations have been carried out, including the behavior of the real heat exchangers that will be installed and including the management of the inventory of the cycle in off-design.

Learn more of the effect of supercritical CO2 Fluid Properties on Heat Exchanger Design…

Effects of Supercritical CO2 Fluid Properties on Heat Exchanger Design
Read the article

Simulation of the large scale CSP plant with CO2+SiCl4 mixture

POLIMI combined CSP with CO2-mixtures power cycles and forward osmosis desalination system, performing simulations in Dubai.

Using these innovative technologies, our CSP plant showed high solar-to-electric efficiencies (around 19% on yearly basis) and very low freshwater specific thermal consumption (about 10 kWhth/m3) when the PABG2000 is used as draw agent.

Characterization of the physical properties of the thermoresponsiveblock-copolymer PAGB2000 and numerical assessment of its potentialities in Forward Osmosis desalination
Read the article

Specifically, when comparing the CSP (concentrated solar power) +FO (forward osmosis) studied in DESOLINATION with the CSP+MED assuming the same solar plant and power cycles, the freshwater production is incremented by more than 50%.

When the solution of DESOLINATION is compared with a PV+RO plant, a reduction of reflective area of 28% is foreseen, if both freshwater and electricity are produced with the PV+RO plant.

Simulations of CSP combined with CO2 mixed power cycles and a forward osmosis desalination system in Dubai
Read the article

Finally, POLIMI also conducted an experimental campaign on the coalescer using a solution of water and PAGB2000, obtaining an expression of the separation efficiency, to be deployed in the simulations.

The research team from the Energy Department at Politecnico di Milano will shortly be publishing an article on the results of its Experimental study on coalescer efficiency for liquid-liquid separation.

Saty tuned!

Consults our literature to find out more

All publications

Simulations of CSP combined with CO2 mixed power cycles and a forward osmosis desalination system in Dubai

Simulations of CSP combined with CO2 mixed power cycles and a forward osmosis desalination system in Dubai

by | Dec 27, 2023 | Milestones, Results - Combination of CSP pland and forward osmosis desalination

This year, our project coordinator, Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI) carried out simulations at its CSP (concentrated solar power) plant in Dubai to combine CSP with CO2-mixed electric cycles and a forward osmosis (FO) desalination system.

Using innovative technologies, POLIMI’s CSP plant has demonstrated high solar-electric efficiencies (around 19% on an annual basis) and very low specific thermal consumption of fresh water (around 90 kWhth/m3) when PABG2000 is used as the drawing agent. The synergy between electricity and freshwater production was effective.

In particular, if the CSP+FO solution studied in DESOLINATION is compared with the CSP+MED solution, assuming the same solar power plant and energy cycles, freshwater production is increased by over 40%.

The DESOLINATION project aims to develop an innovative desalination system combining direct osmosis and membrane distillation, using a draw-off solution. Forward osmosis means that seawater is extracted from the sea, the water is drawn through the membrane by the draw solution and the remaining minerals (brine) are rejected.

When the DESOLINATION solution is compared with a PV+RO plant, a 47% reduction in reflective surface is predicted, if the PV+RO plant produces both fresh water and electricity.

We have also carried out an experimental campaign on the coalescer* using a solution of water and PAGB2000, the aim being to obtain an expression for the separation efficiency, which will then be used in simulations.

*Coalescer: used to separate elements from an emulsion (i.e. liquid water and oil from compressed air using a coalescing effect)

Back to results