CMI Solar was awarded its first orders for two entirely in-house developed molten salt solar receivers. They will equip thermal solar towers of a 110 MW power plant to be built in the Atacama desert (Chile).
Entirely designed by the CMI Solar specialists within the frame of a Joint Development Agreement with Abengoa Solar, this CMI brand new molten salt receiver was chosen by Abeinsa EPC. With its 110 MW and its 17-hour energy storage capacity, allowing a power generation 24 hours a day, the future Atacama power station will be the largest molten salt power plant worldwide and South America’s most powerful solar station.
A specific equipment
Molten salts come from a cold salt storage tank (290°C) and are heated at a temperature of 565°C in order to be stored in the hot storage tank. The hot salts are then pumped in heat exchangers to produce on request superheated steam directly turbinable to produce electricity.
The 32 meter high CMI receiver will be installed at the top of a 217 meter high tower. Made of sixteen nearly identical panels forming a polygon of 18.4 meters in height, the receiver will be topped by a thermal shield, that will prevent sunrays from damaging the equipment.
New challenges
The process of this equip is simpler than for standard solar receivers that generate direct steam because there is no evaporator and no superheater in this technology. But solar flows are much more concentrated and metal temperatures are therefore much higher (700°C instead of 600°C), which constitutes the main challenge. To take up this challenge, materials have to resist to high temperatures. That is why the CMI receiver will be manufactured with Inconel, the only steel to resist to such temperatures with limiting corrosion risks linked with the usage of molten salts. Another challenge of this technology is the fact that molten salts solidify under 220°C and their temperature must constantly be higher than 290°C. This is why the receiver must be blown off entirely each time the sunshine becomes insufficient. The equipment must also be preheated before injecting the salts at the start-up.
A successful diversification
This new contract illustrates CMI Energy’s strategy to diversify in renewable energies. The use of molten salts enables a large energy storage capacity, which constitutes a major asset for electricity production on demand or continuous power generation - even at night. This is a real plus compared to other renewables insofar.
CMI Energy continues to develop its products in this field, which insures long lasting quality and technologies, allows to base its reputation, strengthen its worldwide presence and build up its growth in the market.
About CMI Energy
CMI was founded in 1817 by John Cockerill, an industrial genius who established his business activities in Seraing (Belgium) and sparked off the remarkable economic future of Wallonia. The CMI Group has been specializing in steam generation since almost 200 years. CMI Solar was created in 2011 based upon CMI’s long-lasting experience and know-how. Since then, CMI Solar has kept alive the tradition of John Cockerill.
For more than 45 years, CMI Energy has been on the lead in the development of Heat Recovery Steam Generators behind gas turbines, mainly for combined cycle applications. CMI Energy took advantage of this expertise to develop steam generators for high power concentrated solar power stations and in particular in:
- Generation and management of steam
- Heat exchanges, thermal processes and fluid mechanics
- Management of high temperatures, thermal stresses in material.
About the CMI Group
CMI, Cockerill Maintenance & Ingénierie, traces its roots back to 1817. Headquartered in Belgium, the CMI Group is an international Group specialised in 4 activity sectors: Energy, Defence, Industry and Services to the industry. CMI is an engineering company providing customised solutions with training and expertise services dedicated to improving its clients equipment performance. It can rely on 4500 employees and turns over nearly EUR 900 million.
For more information: www.cmigroupe.com