Method and system for operating a solar steam system during reduced-insolation events

摘要

A solar energy system can be controlled during periods of reduced insolation. For example, one or more environmental condition sensors can detect environmental properties indicating current or expected insolation levels and can generate at least one signal indicating a current or impending transient reduced-insolation event. The at least one signal can be received (for example, by a controller) from the sensors that indicates changes in insolation. Responsively to the at least one signal, characteristics of a current reduced insolation event or of an impending transient reduced-insolation event can be calculated. In response to the calculated characteristics, a quantity of available insolation can be calculated. An attemperation flow rate in the solar steam system can be controlled responsively to the calculated quantity of available insolation such that the temperature of steam entering the steam turbines is maintained within a predefined range.

主权项

1. A method of controlling a solar steam system, the solar steam system having one or more steam turbines and one or more solar receivers, the method comprising:
(i) by one or more environmental condition sensors, detecting environmental properties indicating current or expected insolation levels, and generating, based on the detected environmental properties, at least one signal indicating a current or impending transient reduced-insolation event; (ii) receiving the at least one signal from the one or more environmental condition sensors; (iii) calculating, responsively to the received at least one signal, characteristics of the current or impending transient reduced-insolation event; (iv) in response to the calculated characteristics, calculating a quantity of available insolation; and (v) controlling an attemperation flow rate in the solar steam system responsively to the calculated quantity of available insolation such that the temperature of steam entering the one or more steam turbines is maintained in a predefined range.