Operation and Training Tool for a Gas - Molten Salt Heat Recovery Demonstrator Facility

Abstract The supply of stable and reliable power is the main challenge that renewable power plants must tackle. Concentrating Solar Power (CSP), among renewable energies, is one of the most appropriate for large-scale energy production since it can efficiently store heat by means of Thermal Energy Storage (TES) systems. However, under unfavorable meteorological conditions, they may not be enough to satisfy the thermal demand of the power plant. With this aim emerges the HYSOL project, which presents an innovative hybridization configuration of CSP and biogas for a 100% renewable power plant. The demonstrator of this technology includes a gas - molten salt Heat Recovery System (HRS), a virtual gas turbine, a molten salt tank and an air cooler. The design of an operation and training tool for the HYSOL project, which includes a dynamic model of the demonstrator, is essential to evaluate the transient response, to test control schemes and to train plant operators. The design of such tool is described in this paper.