Project Details
Projekt
Designing of parabolic troughs type EuroTrough in full-scale as a concrete construction for solar power plants
Subject Area
Structural Engineering, Building Informatics and Construction Operation
Term
from 2015 to 2019
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 269513802
So far, parabolic troughs are the economically most successful technology for solar thermal power plants. Up to now they are produced predominantly as steel structures. In DFG-SPP 1542 'Lightweight Concrete Structures' the applicants worked together on the project Lightweight deformation optimized shell structures made of micro-reinforced UHPC at the example of parabolic troughs for solar thermal power plants. During this project specific impacts and loads were determined, the foundation for an accuracy analysis of the inner face of the shell was generated, parametric, numerical simulation models were developed and a multilevel-optimization for form finding was carried out. Additionally, the shell stability and wind induced oscillations were investigated. Furthermore, a suitable concrete technology was identified, the deformation behavior during the hardening process was validated and a mockup (ground area 3,2 x 2,2 m) was designed and manufactured. Not least because of this demonstrator the project was paid high attention to by producers of solar power plants, who see big advantages of a concrete solution towards the existing steel structure solutions concerning stiffness, production speed and costs. Now two focus areas result: 1.) Extension of the basic concept to bridge like mega structures (ground area 30 x 10 m): Visionary producers of parabolic trough power plants follow solutions with very large dimensions of the collectors. To be able to use the material-specific properties of concrete efficiently for this by applying prestressing techniques, for these dimensions a completely new designing concept with hollow shells and a different supporting structure will become mandatory. From the point of view of the power plant technique such large structures bring up numerous unanswered questions, therefore such a project reaches far into the future. To answer the questions being connected to this concerning the concrete construction the two applicants applied for a follow-up project in the 2nd funding period of the SPP 1542 together. 2.) Transfer of the massive shell concept to up to now common collector dimensions. Current state of the power plant technique is represented by two facilities of the type ANDASOL with a performance of 50 MW, which are currently built in Spain. The collectors (Type EuroTrough) being used there have the dimensions 12,00 x 5,77 m. For this type, which can be realized economically with the massive shells from the 1st funding period, currently a high demand by the manufacturers exists. The answering of open questions for the design of this type (supporting structure, form optimization, oscillation sensitivity, reinforcement technique, adhesive technology) as a mass product as well as the manufacturing of a full-scale mockup could be realized in this applied for knowledge transfer project. This project can be processed completely independently from the granting of the SPP-follow-up project (2nd funding period).
DFG Programme
Research Grants (Transfer Project)
