Feasibility Study of Solar Energy Steam Generator for Rural Electrification

In Middle East region, where there are plentiful amounts of solar radiation and great desert areas, solar energy can play a potential role in replacing conventional fuel-operated electricity generation methods with a cost-effective, sustainable solution. This paper presents a feasibility study of a low-cost solar energy steam generator for rural areas electrification. The proposed system is based on the use of trough concentrator which converts solar radiation into thermal energy in its focal line (where a receiver pipe is installed with a fluid flowing in its interior). The aim of the paper is to predict the feasibility and potential for steam generation using a stand-alone solar concentrator with a small dimension for domestic and small-scale electricity generation. The study presented here is based on modelling of the system to determine the points at which the system is expected to produce sufficient steam energy at the tube outlet to drive a steam engine for producing electricity. Results are presented in graphical forms to show the operating points and the effect of changing selected input parameters on the behavior of the system in order to set some limits (boundaries) for such parameters. Results show that among the three input design parameters selected, the tube diameter is the most dominant parameter that influences steam energy, then the tube length and finally the flow rate of the water passing through the tube. The results of this paper can provide a useful guideline for future simulation and/or physical implementation of the system.