Abstract
The current paper presents experimental observations on the particle-based integrated gas turbine-solar heating system located on the campus of King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The system was built to achieve three primary outcomes: (1) use the concentrated solar energy to raise the particle temperature to more than 600°C. (2) achieve a significant solar contribution, which can help in limiting fossil fuel consumption. (3) demonstrate the ability to store the thermal energy in the solid particles for later use. However, only two objectives have been fulfilled; due to some deficiencies and limitations in the current system, the first objective has been successfully fulfilled while the second is partially fulfilled. The paper outlines the system deficiencies and the imperative recommendations towards efficient execution of the system. The system deficiencies mentioned above include the heat loss on PHR due to exposure to the wind, particle agglomeration tendency on some regions of the PHR, heat loss while charging the thermal energy storage, and heat loss during particle circulation. However, despite all deficiencies above, the system was able to bring the particle temperature (red sand particles) to more than 600°C. Furthermore, the results show that harnessing solar energy is possible if such deficiencies were overcome. In general, the results are encouraging, and additional precautions are currently added to the system to push the particle temperature even higher and achieve higher solar contribution.