Due to the high concentration factor, the new solar thermal power plants, using heliostats and tower, with molten salts in the primary circuit, allow reaching main steam parameters similar with classic thermal power plants. For optimizing their delivered power, the authors elaborated a complex numerical model. In the first step it determines pairs of parameters that optimize the exergy transfer in the steam generator, from the molten salts circuit, toward the Rankine cycle. The second part models the nonreheat steam cycle units, and the whole secondary circuit, for choosing the main steam parameters that maximize the difference between the power at generator clamps and the feed pump demand. The paper shows an example of applying the model, and the obtained results.

Keywords: Power generation, Solar energy, Steam cycle, Thermodynamic analysis and optimization