Solar Power Central Receivers

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Solar PowerCentral Receivers

• The alternative energy market is responsible for
  some of the most innovative and powerful
  technologies in recent history.

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Central Receivers

• This evolving solar technology, works by focusing
  the suns thermal energy (solar radiation), to
  power a traditional steam turbine, and create
  electricity.
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vc9Uo3KlWNng

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Heliostats

• Heliostats are mirrors that track the suns
  position in the sky and reflect focused light to
  a central receiver on a very high tower.

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Thermal Energy

• The intense amount of thermal energy produced by
  thousands of heliostats heats nitrate salts in
  the central receiver to temperatures above 1000o F

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Molten Salt (Storage/Conversion)

• The heated salt is stored in a hot tank, and
  when needed pumped to a steam generating system

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Steam Turbine

• The superheated steam created from the molten
  nitrate salt, is used to power a standard
  generator, and electricity is created.

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Full Cycle

• The cooled (still around 500oF) salt is then
  pumped to a cold tank for storage and later
  circulated in the tower and central receiver.

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Clean, Sustainable - Energy

• Central Receiver technology is fastly rising with
  two fully operational plants in Spain and one in
  California
• The Sierra Sun Tower is capable of providing no
  emission energy for 4,000 homes in SoCal
• http//www.esolar.com/our_projects/