Project Overview

The Newcline project is structured in different work packages, whose interactions are highlighted below, where the synchronization between the different tasks is essential.

Apart from the first and the last work packages, which are related to project coordination and dissemination and exploitation issues, technical work starts with the second work package, where two reference CSP plants, one of parabolic trough type and the other a central receiver, are completely defined. Furthermore, a preliminary analysis of the new storage concepts is performed, with a clear definition and targets of the thermocline tanks. This work package is led by Empresarios Agrupados.

The third work package involves aspects related to the adaptation of the computational tools and the necessary computational studies to develop optimized thermocline tanks, and their control and operational issues. This work package is led by UPC.

The fourth work package is related to material development considering new refractory filler materials and the use of encapsulated PCM. Kraftblock leads this important task.

A wide set of experimental studies are conducted in the next two work packages, one involving a lab-scale experiment and the other a large pilot-scale. These work packages are led by the UPC and DLR, respectively.

Work package seven is focused on the conceptual design of the developed thermocline concepts from an engineering point of view, and considering the two reference CSP plants mentioned above. This work package is led by Empresarios Agrupados.

Last but not least, work package eight is focused on the system integration of the thermocline concepts developed, considering the whole plant and showing their impact on the efficiency of the system and the expected reduction of the levelized cost of energy. This work package is led by SPF.