Extending the functionality and efficiency of energy storage tanks in solar power plants

Abstract

Improvements to the efficiency of Solar Power Plants are a key objective as the technology matures. Oneopportunity yet to be explored involves energy harvesting from hot components located within the powerplant, utilizing waste heat. We describe two approaches to energy harvesting in this context. These are basedfirstly on TEC device technology, where we describe the use of both commercially available components andour work to develop more efficient TEC devices based on nanostructured oxides. Secondly, we describe analternative thermomagnetic approach based on nanoparticle ferrofluids for thermal scavenging and theconversion of heat to usable electrical energy. For both approaches we present concept designs for theharvesting of waste heat from thermal energy storage (TES) tanks, in order to demonstrate the potential of thetechnology.