KLINGER Brazil had the opportunity to contribute a project concentrated solar energy which emerged in the city of Rosana, in Sao Paulo, where Eudora Energia has just completed the first heliothermal plant in the country.
The energy is heliothermal, also known as concentrated solar energy or CSP (Concentrated Solar Power), converts sunlight into heat through the use of parabolic mirrors and thermal fluid.
Sun rays are reflected and concentrated by mirrors at a single point, which heats the thermal fluid and produces steam through heat exchange. This steam drives turbines, that move a generator and produce electricity. A Eudora Energia, specialized in energy solutions, began to develop this technology in 2015.
When Eudora was preparing the plant project, the team did research on the valves to learn about fluid control options. Once exact specifications are finalized, They realized the choices were limited: few companies were capable of producing valves that met the stringent requirements necessary to control the thermal fluid with the precision required for the project.
Their search then led them to KLINGER, who already had a proven track record with the fluid control.
“Eudora did technical research on the success we have had for over 20 years of using our valves in thermal oil applications. This was a great motivator for installing the project.”
Rodrigo Rigolo, Sales Executive at KLINGER Brazil.
High impermeability and reliability
After a detailed consultation with Lucas Hipólito, Project Analyst at KLINGER Brazil, Eudora opted for piston globe valves KVN, which have class VI sealing in accordance with ANSI/FCI standards, ensuring a high level of impermeability and reliability.
The high durability of the valves leads to less frequent maintenance it's at fewer spare parts. This reduces the waste and prevents fugitive emissions, what contributes to keep the project as environmentally friendly as possible.
Another important feature was the valves' ability to adjust flow levels precisely., allowing the team to make granular adjustments as needed without disrupting the system.
After valve installation begins, KLINGER continued to show its relevance to Eudora through specialized technical support and readily available, which allowed the team to tune the valves with even higher levels of precision than originally expected.
“The benefits of the presented valves were even better than what was initially required by the project. We had a great and innovative job on our hands, no room for error. We chose KLINGER valves, as we needed to install the safest ones on the market.”
Alessandro Sete, Project Manager at Eudora, are excited about the benefits of valves, that exceeded all requirements.
After almost a year of trouble-free operation, It is clear that the Eudora plant is powered by energy from the sun, but the real star of the project are the KVN piston globe valves.
Contacts mentioned in the article:
- Lucas Hipolito, Project Analyst at KLINGER Brazil
- Rodrigo Rigolo, Sales Executive at KLINGER Brazil
Facts and figures
- When Eudora Energia's solar thermal plant in São Paulo began operations, at the end of January 2022, it was the first project of its kind in Brazil. R$ were invested in it 49 millions, and project works were in progress since 2017.
Since its completion, the plant has been producing 0,5 megawatts of electrical energy to supply the surrounding area. The tank, where heat can be stored overnight, almost has 23 meters high.
Common questions (FAQ)
- What is CSP?
CSP stands for “concentrated solar energy” and works as a method of capturing energy from the sun. While photovoltaic systems only produce electricity during the day, CSP plants can store solar energy to also use at night, increasing, so, its energy efficiency.
- How CSP can be used?
The main production of CSP plants is solar thermal energy. This heat can be used in industrial processes, powering a steam turbine, for example, or in the production of electricity with an electrical power generator.
- What is the operating temperature of the CSP?
In plants using parabolic trough technology, temperature levels vary from 150 to 350 °C water temperature adjustment (302 to 662 °F). Solar energy towers, that concentrate sunlight at a single point, reach up to 500–1000 °C (932–1.832 °F).