Performance of parabolic through solar power plant under weather conditions of the Oujda city in Morocco

Abstract

A numerical simulation of Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plant based on an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) power generation unit integrated with parabolic trough collectors is carried out. For the study we refer to the Solar Electric Generating System VI (SEGS VI), installed in the Mojave desert-California (USA), whose solar field which is constituted by LS2 parabolic trough collectors and we consider the same plant implementation in the region of Oujda city (Morocco). To predict the energy performance, the simulations are carried out using TRNSYS 16 simulation program known for its modularity and flexibility and the external library known as the Solar Thermal Electric Components (STEC) library. The meteorological parameters including Direct Normal Irradiation (DNI), ambient temperature and other weather conditions are taken from meteorological year database provided by a high precision MHP station located in Mohamed Premier University. The obtained results show that the region of East offers great potential in general for implementing this type of plant. In fact, the value of 30 MWe is reached during the strongest sunshine day and the operating time can go from 7 AM until 19 PM for a summer day.