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Abstract: Renewable energy sources and especially solar energy may be the answer to the increasing demand for energy, leading to the reduction of fossil fuel consumption and its associated negative environmental impact. An attractive solution to this problem could be the combination of renewable and conventional energy sources technologies such as the integrated solar combined cycle power plants (ISCCP). In this paper the operation of a 50 MW ISCCP with natural gas and parabolic trough solar collectors was simulated using TRNSYS software. The proposed power plant performance, fuel consumption and solar contribution were analyzed through six different simulation scenarios for different collector area. Two different modes of operation, namely power boost and fuel saving, were considered. Also, an economic analysis shows the optimal contribution rate of solar field taking into consideration the results of various simulation scenarios. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Nowadays, conventional coal or gas fired power plants are the dominant way to generate electricity in the world. In recent years there is a growth in the field of renewable energy sources in order to avoid the threat of climate change from fossil fuel combustion. Solar energy, as an environmental friendly energy source, may be the answer to the reduction of global CO2 emissions. This paper presents the concept of Solar Aided Power Generation (SAPG), a combination of renewable and conventional energy sources technologies. The operation of the 300 MW lignite fired power plant of Ptolemais integrated with a solar field of parabolic trough collectors was simulated using TRNSYS software in both power boosting and fuel saving modes. The power plant performance, power output variation, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions were calculated. Furthermore, an economic analysis was carried out for both power boosting and fuel saving modes of operation and optimum solar contribution was estimated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper deals with the development and performance characteristics of a low-cost dish solar concentrator and its application in zeolite desorption. The dish solar concentrator consists of an old damaged satellite dish, purchased from a scrap yard, and a polymer mirror film used as reflecting surface. The proposed concentrator is connected to a sun-tracking system which is based on an electronic circuit that processes the input signals from a set of sensors and drives the dish actuator. The solar thermal energy application to adsorption technology (with the sorption pair water/zeolite) is simulated using the ‘Ice-Quick’ device manufactured by Zeo-Tech GmbH. Samples from two types of zeolites were initially brought to saturation condition and then mounted on the focal point of the dish solar concentrator in order to be regenerated. Experimental results are presented and useful conclusions are drawn. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]