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Nature of Work and Objectives
Around 154 million square
meters of solar thermal collectors, corresponding to an installed capacity
of 108 GWth, had been installed worldwide by 2005. Until now, the widespread
use of solar thermal plants has focused almost exclusively on swimming
pools, domestic hot water preparation and space heating in the residential
sector.
The use of solar energy
in commerce and industry is currently insignificant compared to swimming
pools and the household sector. Most solar applications for industrial
processes have been used on a relatively small scale and are mostly
experimental in nature. Only a few large systems are in use worldwide.
However, if one compares the energy consumption of the industry,
transportation, household and service sectors in OECD countries, industry
has the highest share of energy consumption with approximately 30%, followed
closely by the transportation and household sectors.
The major share of the
energy, which is needed in commerce and industry for production processes
and for heating production halls, is below 250°C. The low temperature level
(<80°C) complies with the temperature level that can easily be reached using
solar thermal collectors already on the market. The principles of operation
of the components and systems apply directly to industrial process heat
applications. The unique features of these applications lie on the scale on
which they are used, system configurations, controls needed to meet
industrial requirements, and the integration of the solar energy supply
system with the auxiliary energy source and the industrial process. For
applications where temperatures up to 250°C are needed, the experiences are
rather limited and suitable components and systems are missing. Therefore,
for these applications the development of high performance solar collectors
and system components is needed.
To be able to make use of the huge potential for solar heat in industry and
to open a new market sector for the solar thermal industry, SHC Task 33/IV
is going to carry out studies, investigate the most promising applications
and industrial sectors for solar heat and optimize, develop and test solar
collectors for medium temperature applications (up to approximately 250ºC).
The development of integral solutions
for solar thermal energy applications for given industrial processes (based
on the “PINCH-concept”) is also one of the main topics of this Task.
Furthermore, the development of design tools (based on TRNSYS simulations)
and a software tool for fast feasibility assessment, economic analyses and
the design and erection of pilot plants in cooperation with industry are
planned.
Scope of the
Task
The scope of the Task is
solar thermal technologies for converting solar radiation into heat, (i.e.,
starting with the solar radiation reaching the collector and ending with the
hot air, water or steam transferred to the application.) The distribution
system, production process and/or optimization of the production process are
not the main topics of the Task. However, influences on the production
process and the distribution system arising from the solar character of the
heat source will be studied within the Task framework.
Applications, systems and
technologies, which are included in the scope of this task, are:
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All industrial
processes where heat up to a temperature of approx. 250°C is needed.
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Space heating of
production or other industry halls is addressed, but not space heating
of dwellings.
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Solar thermal systems
using air, water, low-pressure steam or oil as a heat carrier, i.e. not
limited to a certain heat transfer medium in the solar loop.
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All types of solar
thermal collectors for an operating temperature up to 250°C are
addressed: uncovered collectors, flat-plate collectors, improved flat-plate
collectors - for example airtight collectors filled with inert gas,
evacuated tube collectors with and without reflectors, CPC collectors,
MaReCos (Maximum
Organization
and Structure:
To
accomplish the objectives of the Task, the Participants are carrying out
research and development in the framework of the following four
Subtasks:
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Sector
IV.1: Solar Process Heat Survey and Dissemination of Task Results
(Lead
Country: Italy)
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Sector
IV.2: Investigation of Industrial Energy Systems
(Lead
Country: Austria)
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Sector IV.3:
Collectors and Components (Lead
Country: Germany)
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Sector
IV.4: System Integration and Demonstration (Lead
Country: Germany)
Collaboration
with other IEA Programmes
Due to the
complementary background and know-how of the participants of the Solar
Heating and Cooling and the SolarPACES Programs, significant synergies were
expected from collaboration. Therefore, it was agreed to cooperate with the
SolarPACES Program on a “moderate level” according to the SHC “Guidelines
for Coordination with other Programs.”
Duration
The Task was
initiated on November 1, 2003 and will be completed on October 31, 2007.
Work planned for 2007
Two booklets
will be prepared, summarizing the main outcomes of the survey of existing
plants for solar process heat and of the performed potential studies.
The next
industry workshop will be organized in the framework of the 8th Task 33/IV
experts meeting in Cologne (Germany) on 30 March 2007.
The third issue
of the industry newsletter will be available by the end of January 2007 in
English and in the languages of all participating countries.
In 2007 the
focus of the work in Subtask B will be on the development of a tool for a
cost analysis suitable for detection of all parameters that influence the
economic performance of energy efficiency measures and the installation of a
solar plant in an industrial process. Total Cost Assessment (TCA) was chosen
as a method, because particular emphasis is here on costs related to
environmental and health issues, which especially for solar energy use can
result in a very different appraisement of costs and investment projects
than conventional methods. Additional to the TCA tool a road map will be
developed, which will provide companies with a decision making tool to find
a tailor-made procedure for investments and/or operating options for
consecutive projects protracting over a longer period with several
investment phases or changes in operation. This road map will be an
instrument to visualize the differences, advantages and disadvantages of
viable investment or operating options and the expected results in terms of
either costs or energy use for the different approaches.
Further the
matrix of indicators will be completed with detailed data of the textile,
electro plating and chemical industry.
Development of
medium-temperature collectors will be continued in the various task projects
involved.
Round robin
testing of medium-temperature collectors is to be intensified. Experiences
from these tests will be used to make recommendations for general
medium-temperature collector testing.
Studies on
materials testing will concentrate on reflectors for concentrating
medium-temperature collectors.
In systems
studies, more field test results will be discussed at the experts meetings
in 2007. Data from monitoring pilot plants will be analyzed. This work will
also contribute to the development of adequate collector testing and
intercomparison.
The brochure
"Medium Temperature Collectors" will be revised and supplemented with
additional general information on the different categories of process heat
collectors.
The main focus
in 2007 will be on completing contributions to the final deliverables,
particularly the design guidelines on the task website and the pilot plant
booklet. A numerical tool for early annual performance evaluation for design
of potential applications, including economic analyses, will be developed to
complement the process analysis and design support tools provided from
Subtask B.
In Germany, the
design of a pilot solar process steam generator with parabolic trough
collectors at the site of a metal surface treatment plant is planned for
development. However system installation is beyond the time frame of this
task. It is endeavored to identify additional potential applications for
concentrating and non-concentrating collectors and form consortia for
further pilot installations in the most promising sectors as a follow-up
activity, for which funding will be sought.
Links with
industry
The Task defines
two levels of participation for the solar industry:
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Level 1.
An industrial participant at this level should expect to participate in
an annual workshop organized by SHC Task 33 and receive a visit from a
Task participant at least once during the duration of the Task, and to
answer technical and marketing questions on solar heat for industrial
applications (this activity is part of the system survey and the Subtask
A dissemination activity).
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Level 2.
An industrial participant at this level should expect Level 1 commitment
and to participate in all Task meetings and to bring information and
feedback from the market. Level 2 participation should be seen in close
connection with the main participant of the country of origin of the
industry.
A total of 15
companies from Austria, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, France and
Brazil participate in the Task.
Reports and Meetings
REPORTS
PUBLISHED IN 2006
REPORTS PLANNED
FOR 2007
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Report on medium temperature collector designs
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Report on pilot projects
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Report on potential studies
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·Report on design guidelines – Space Heating of Factory
Buildings
Furthermore a CD with the following content will be
published:
Meetings in 2003
First Experts Meeting, December 4 – 6th, Gleisdorf, Austria
Meetings in 2004
Second Experts Meeting, March 29 – 30, Brussels, Belgium
Third Experts Meeting, October 3 – 5, Oaxaca, Mexico
Meetings in 2005
Fourth Experts Meeting, February 23 – 25, Madrid, Spain
Fifth Experts Meeting, October 3 – 8, Kassel, Germany
Meetings in 2006
Sixth Experts Meeting, March 29 – 31,
Rome, Italy
Seventh Experts Meeting, October 11 – 13, Lisbon, Portugal
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