Owner/operator: AREVA Solar
The 5-MW Kimberlina Solar Thermal Energy Station is the first to use compact linear Fresnel reflector technology developed to generate continuous superheated steam, a key element for higher-efficiency power generation and integration with new and existing plants. The facility’s innovative technology helps deliver power even during periods of transient cloud cover.
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| Courtesy: AREVA Solar |
Situated in central California’s breadbasket region, Bakersfield is a key agricultural center and a center for petroleum extraction and refining. Now this area is harvesting another abundant resource: the sun’s energy.
The Kimberlina Solar Thermal Energy Plant, (initially developed by Ausra, which was purchased by AREVA Solar in February 2010), began operation in 2008 with its first three solar steam generators (SSGs), which used saturated steam boilers. Since 2009, the plant has operated with approximately 96% availability. In 2010, AREVA Solar constructed, commissioned, and began operating its fourth solar steam generator (SSG4) at the 5-MW Kimberlina facility in Bakersfield (Figure 1), which is the first to use direct steam compact linear Fresnel reflector (CLFR) technology, a type of concentrating solar power (CSP).
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| 1. Solar light and heat. The Kimberlina facility in Bakersfield features the first once-through, direct steam compact linear Fresnel reflector (CLFR) superheated solar steam generator. This major technology advancement drives down costs for stand-alone CLFR plants and improves the integration of solar resources with fossil-fired power plants for solar augmentation and solar/hybrid power applications. Courtesy: AREVA Solar |
“It uses the most advanced CLFR technology in the world,” Katherine Potter, vice president of communications for AREVA Solar, told POWER in October. The result is lower costs for stand-alone CLFR plants and easier integration of solar resources with fossil-fired power plants for solar augmentation and solar/hybrid power applications.
AREVA Solar was able to achieve direct steam generation through a proprietary model predictive control system that overcame the challenge associated with parabolic trough systems of temperature gradients in the absorber tubes and controllability of the two-phase water/steam flow.
At full capacity, Kimberlina’s solar steam generators can generate up to 25 MW of thermal energy or up to 5 MW of electricity—enough power to supply 3,500 central California households, according to Potter. Field trials during September 2010 consistently demonstrated steam flow exceeding predictions during steady and transient conditions, while maintaining exit steam conditions at 60 ±3 bar and 370 ±20C. The SSG4 is expected to generate up to 450C superheated steam by year-end.
Kimberlina’s SSG4 proved that AREVA Solar’s CLFR technology can help deliver power even during periods of transient cloud cover. During “lights out” testing, SSG4 had sufficient solar thermal inertia to supply more than 18 minutes of superheated steam.
Kimberlina is designed to help meet California peak demand and has operated with high availability since it entered commercial operation. Its peak production comes during Central California’s peak demand times, when fossil-fired electricity is most expensive. A key benefit of solar energy is that the cost of its fuel—solar radiation—will remain consistent while the price of fossil fuels will remain volatile.
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