As of my last update in September 2021, solar thermoelectric power systems, also known as concentrating solar power (CSP) systems, use solar energy to generate electricity through the following steps:
Solar Concentration: CSP systems use mirrors or lenses to concentrate sunlight onto a small area, typically focusing the sunlight onto a receiver. The receiver is designed to absorb as much sunlight as possible and convert it into heat energy.
Heat Collection: The concentrated sunlight heats up a working fluid (often a heat transfer fluid like oil or molten salt) within the receiver. The working fluid's temperature can reach extremely high levels due to the concentration of solar energy.
Thermal Energy Conversion: The hot working fluid is then used to produce steam by transferring its heat to water or another fluid in a heat exchanger. The steam generation is similar to what occurs in traditional fossil fuel power plants but is driven by solar heat instead.
Electricity Generation: The steam, at high pressure and temperature, is used to drive a turbine connected to an electricity generator. As the turbine rotates, it produces electricity through the generator. This process is similar to how electricity is generated in conventional steam power plants.
Energy Storage (Optional): Some CSP systems incorporate thermal energy storage to store excess heat during sunny periods and use it later to generate electricity during cloudy periods or at night. This helps to improve the dispatchability and reliability of the solar power plant.
The key advantage of CSP systems is their ability to store thermal energy, which allows them to produce electricity even when the sun isn't shining. This energy storage capability makes them more reliable and suitable for supplying power to the grid consistently.
It's worth noting that technology may have evolved beyond my last update, so newer advancements or variations might exist in solar thermoelectric power systems. To get the most up-to-date information, I recommend consulting more recent sources and research on concentrating solar power technologies.