Integration of a Pressurized-Air Solar Receiver Array to a Gas Turbine Power Cycle for Solar Tower Applications

The thermal performance of an array of pressurized-air solar receiver modules integrated to a gas turbine power cycle is analyzed for a simple Brayton cycle (BC), recuperated Brayton cycle (RC), and combined Brayton–Rankine cycle (CC). While the solar receiver's solar-to-heat efficiency decreases at higher operating temperatures and pressures, the opposite is true for the power cycle's heat-to-work efficiency. The optimal operating conditions are achieved with a preheat stage for a solar receiver outlet air temperature of 1300 °C and an air cycle pressure ratio of 9, yielding a peak solar-to-electricity efficiency—defined as the ratio of the net cycle work output divided by the solar radiative power input through the receiver's aperture—of 39.3% for the combined cycle configuration.