UTILIZATION SOLAR ENERGY FOR STEAM PRODUCTION

Solar energy is the most available, clean, and inexpensive source of energy among the other renewable sources of energy. Solar energy it is a source of energy which have high intensity in Iraq (latitude 32o – 36o N). The average solar radiation is (7 kWh/day) incident on it. The Iraq is focusing on concentrating solar energy because it's one of the words best areas for sunlight. This high solar radiation could be utilized to produce steam and then could be used to produce electricity; because of the climate of Iraq is arid region. This work was deal with utilization of concentrating solar power tower system to produce steam. The solar collectors using mirrors to concentrate heat from the sun upon the receiving tank to produce steam. This work deals with experimental steady to determent the performance of solar tower to produce steam for power generation. Designed and fabricated of a solar tower, consist of a central receiver tank (0.8 m × 1.2 m) and 150 heliostat mirrors arranged around it. The central tank was made of galvanized steel. Each heliostat consisted of two (0.5 m × 0.5 m) mirror. The results of this work produce steam at temperature 110 °C. Large steam quantity could be obtained when using large scale experimental. The results of the work give good indication for application of solar energy to produce power in Iraq.