Individual Fresnel modules for research and prototypes
Installation of fresnel demonstrators
Individual teams for research projects
At SOLATOM we are specialists in installing individual Fresnel equipment for research projects. Our module allows to have an autonomous linear Fresnel at laboratory scale. The module is ideal for prototypes, demonstrators and small pilots. The same functionalities of a commercial plant at laboratory scale.
Characteristics
We have two versions. One of 12 kW with 2 vacuum absorber tubes and another of 10 kW with a single vacuum tube. Both versions have the following features:
- Solar field of 26.4 m2 useful aperture area
- Individual tracking for each of the 10 axis that form the collector
- It does not need foundations, as it is supported to the ground
- MODBUS TCP/IP Control Output - Ethernet LAN
- Transportable
R&D Projects
CALIHPSO
Full title: Hybrid Solar boilers for industries
Budget : 240708 €
Details of Solatom’s role:
- Number of partners: 1
- Company Role: Coordinator
- Project duration: 2021 - Present
- Funding received: 168252 €
Project Description: The main objective of the project is to demonstrate the technical feasibility of hybridizing industrial boilers using solar energy. This hybridization would combine concentrated solar energy with the boiler combustion of sustainable gases (hydrogen, biogas and natural gas with CO2 sequestration), for use in the industrial sector. This objective is intended to be achieved through a theoretical investigation in which the different components of the system are studied separately, and a demonstrator to validate the results obtained in the theoretical research.
CREATEC
Full title: Research and development of a portable solar energy concentration system for its use in industrial processes
Budget : 89385 €
Details of Solatom’s role:
- Number of partners: 1
- Company Role: Coordinator
- Project duration: 2017 - 2018
- Funding received: 44692 €
Project Description: The technology of this project focuses on the design of the first transportable concentrating solar system. The system consists of modules with high efficient Fresnel optics. These modules generate high temperature thermal energy (up to 300ºC) using solar energy for its use in industrial processes. This system represents a renewable alternative to fossil fuels in the industrial sector (large consumer of fossil fuels such as gas or diesel).
SOLPINVAP
Full title: Research and Development of medium temperature solar technology for Industrial Processes with steam demand
Budget : 309697 €
Details of Solatom’s role:
- Number of partners: 1
- Company Role: Subcontracting
- Project duration: 2020 - 2021
- Funding received: 14500 €
Project Description: The objective of SOLPINVAP is the development of thermal energy generation technologies in the form of steam from concentrated solar type Fresnel for industrial applications. Objective 1: To develop an indirect steam generation system with a Kettle type generator. Objective 2: Optimization of the direct steam generation system. Objective 3: To develop a steam storage system in which the energy is produced by a direct steam generation system.
SOLPINTER
Full title: Research and development of medium temperature solar technology for Industrial processes with high a thermal demand
Details of Solatom’s role:
- Number of partners: 1
- Company Role: Subcontracting
- Project duration: 2019 - 2020
- Funding received: 14500 €
Project Description: The goal of this project is to investigate, develop and validate a compact energy production system, based on renewable solar thermal energy. This energy is supplied to thermal industrial applications at medium temperature heat (100-400ºC). The system will serve as a complement to the traditional generation systems, and it will help to reduce the fossil fuel consumption. As a consequence it will have a positive environmental and social impact where it is located. Its use in the plant will mean savings in the energy bill, thus also allowing its viability from the economic point of view
inSHIP
Full title: Integrating National Research Agendas on Solar Heat for Industrial Processes
Budget : 2.9 million €
Details of Solatom’s role:
- Number of partners: 29
- Company Role: National stakeholder group coordinator
- Project duration: 2018 - 2020
- Funding received: 0 €
Project Description: INSHIP (Integrating National Research Agendas on Solar Heat for Industrial Processes) aims at the definition of an ECRIA (European Common Research and Innovation Agenda) engaging major European research institutes with recognized activities on SHIP
MICROGENVASOL
Full title: micro GENeración de VApor SOLar
Budget : 154592 €
Details of Solatom’s role:
- Number of partners: 1
- Company Role: Coordinator
- Project duration: 2021 - Present
- Funding received: 69566 €
Project Description: 1) Design a new water/steam separator that allows working with low flow regimes to be able to adapt it to micro generation projects 2) Study the behavior of the flow patterns that are generated in the absorber tube in small plants with limited flows. Developing control systems and elements that reduce the risk of unfavorable flow patterns occurring (such as stratified flow) 3) Design and build a prototype that allows experimental validation throughout the operating range of the theoretical models and components developed
Participation in working groups
- Group scope: International
- Company Role: Subtask B2.1, Task C Coordinator
- Duration of participation: 2019 - Present
Project Description: The goal of this Task is to help solar technologies be (and also be recognized as) a reliable part of process heat supply systems. These systems are hybrid supply systems and will have to be integrated in the upcoming developments of the digitalization of industrial production systems and their energy demand. Instead of focusing on component development, we will look at the overall (solar) system at process temperatures from just above ambient temperature up to approx. 400°C-500°C. Open research questions are the standardization of integration schemes on process level and on supply level and the combination with other efficient heat supply technologies. As a very important aspect, the experiences of numerous solar process heat markets throughout the world will be brought together to enable a market-oriented dissemination of existing and new knowledge. The key objective of this new Task is to identify, verify, and promote the role of solar heating plants in combination with other heat supply technologies for process heat supply, such as fossil and non-fossil (biomass and biogas) fuel boilers, combined heat and power, heat pumps, or power-to-heat.
- Group scope: International
- Company Role: Participant
- Duration of participation: 2019 - Present
Project Description: This international standard specifies the requirements and the test methods for the characterization of a large-size linear Fresnel collector. This standard covers the determination of optical and thermal performance of linear Fresnel collectors, and the tracking accuracy of the collector one-axis tracking system. This test method is for outdoor testing only. This standard applies to linear Fresnel collectors equipped with the manufacturer-supplied sun tracking mechanism.
- Group scope: National
- Company Role: Participant
- Duration of participation: 2016 - Present
Project Description: The goal of this working group is to promote the field of medium temperature concentrated solar thermal energy. With this in mind, it provides new applications outside the field of solar thermal power for electricity production. It is currently made up of entities in the field of industry, R&D, and public administrations. They meet every three months and among other goals they look for the following: Support a new market with great potential at the national level, for the promotion of business creation and job creation (solar air conditioning systems and feeding endothermic industrial processes)
Main areas of research of the company
Active Areas
Areas focused on industrial applications
- Water treatment and solar sludge drying
- Solar drying processes with hot air as fluid
- Direct generation of saturated steam
- Hydrogen generation
Horizontal areas
- Storage systems
- Modularization of hydraulic integration systems
- Hybridization with conventional systems
- Numerical simulation of SHIP applications
- Advanced market analysis by geolocation
Resources for R&D in the company
Resources available for R&D
Team
Research at SOLATOM is led by Miguel Frasquet. Miguel holds a PhD in Solar Energy from the University of Seville, and has been working in the solar concentration sector for 10 years. Before SOLATOM Miguel directed the Solar R&D department at the CTAER research center in the Tabernas desert (Almería)
Facilities
We have several facilities for use in solar research projects. These include the 90 kW SOLPINVAP test field. This installation has the following characteristics:
- Solar field of 158 m2 aperture
- Operation with saturated steam (up to 8 bar) and pressurized water
- Direct and indirect steam generation
- Remote monitoring of test variables