In a solar power plant, there will be numerous technologies and weird devices which all contributes to the powers that are gong to be supplied to domestic homes and industries. Here are three examples of these devices:
These systems produce electricity on a large scale. They are unique among solar technologies because they can store energy efficiently and cost effectively. They can operate whenever the customer needs power, even after dark or during cloudy weather. Power towers operate by focusing a field of thousands of mirrors onto a receiver located at the top of a centrally located tower. The receiver collects the sun's heat in a heat-transfer fluid, which is used to generate steam for a conventional ste
am turbine located at the foot of the tower for production of electricity.
Schematic of electricity generation using molten-salt storage:
1. sun heats salt in receiver;
2. salt stored in hot storage tank;
3. hot salt pumped through steam generator;
4. steam drives turbine/generator to produce electricity; salt returns to cold storage tank
These systems, with net solar-to-electric conversion efficiencies reaching 30%, can operate as stand-alone units in remote locations or can be linked together in groups to provide utility-scale power. Solar dish/engine systems convert the energy from the sun into electricity at a very high efficiency. Using a mirror array formed into the shape of a dish, the solar dish focuses the sun’s rays onto a receiver. The receiver transmits the energy to an engine, typically a kinematic Stirling engine (although Brayton-cycle engines are also being considered), that generates electric power. Because of the high concentration ratios
achievable with parabolic dishes and the small size of the receiver, solar dishes are efficient at collecting solar energy at very high temperatures. Tests of prototype systems and components at locations throughout the United States have demonstrated net solar-to-electric conversion efficiencies as high as 30%. This is significantly higher than any other solar technology.
Solar Trough Systems
Commercial power plants today are using mainly Solar Trough systems. They convert heat from the sun into electricity. Due to their parabolic shape, troughs can focus the sun at 30 to 60 times its normal intensity on a receiver 
pipe located along the focal line of the trough. Synthetic oil captures this heat as the oil circulates through the pipe, reaching temperatures as high as 390。C (735 F). The hot oil is pumped to a generating station and routed through a heat exchanger to produce steam. Finally, electricity is produced in a conventional steam turbine.
pipe located along the focal line of the trough. Synthetic oil captures this heat as the oil circulates through the pipe, reaching temperatures as high as 390。C (735 F). The hot oil is pumped to a generating station and routed through a heat exchanger to produce steam. Finally, electricity is produced in a conventional steam turbine.
Solar Power Tower
These systems produce electricity on a large scale. They are unique among solar technologies because they can store energy efficiently and cost effectively. They can operate whenever the customer needs power, even after dark or during cloudy weather. Power towers operate by focusing a field of thousands of mirrors onto a receiver located at the top of a centrally located tower. The receiver collects the sun's heat in a heat-transfer fluid, which is used to generate steam for a conventional ste
am turbine located at the foot of the tower for production of electricity. Schematic of electricity generation using molten-salt storage:
1. sun heats salt in receiver;
2. salt stored in hot storage tank;
3. hot salt pumped through steam generator;
4. steam drives turbine/generator to produce electricity; salt returns to cold storage tank
Solar dish and Engine systems
These systems, with net solar-to-electric conversion efficiencies reaching 30%, can operate as stand-alone units in remote locations or can be linked together in groups to provide utility-scale power. Solar dish/engine systems convert the energy from the sun into electricity at a very high efficiency. Using a mirror array formed into the shape of a dish, the solar dish focuses the sun’s rays onto a receiver. The receiver transmits the energy to an engine, typically a kinematic Stirling engine (although Brayton-cycle engines are also being considered), that generates electric power. Because of the high concentration ratios
achievable with parabolic dishes and the small size of the receiver, solar dishes are efficient at collecting solar energy at very high temperatures. Tests of prototype systems and components at locations throughout the United States have demonstrated net solar-to-electric conversion efficiencies as high as 30%. This is significantly higher than any other solar technology. 
