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production of electricity from solar energyclick to hear

Heating the coolant directly with solar rays turns water into steam, which then turns the turbo-alternator to produce electricity.
production of electricity from solar energy turbo-alternator electricity transmission network transformer condenser steam generator cold coolant hot coolant pump bank of heliostats solar radiation solar ray reflected coolant tower boiler

turbo-alternator click to hear

Device that uses steam to convert the mechanical force generated by the rotation of the turbine into electricity.

electricity transmission network click to hear

Electricity is carried over vast distances by a network of cables that extends from the power plant to consumers.

transformer click to hear

Device used to alter the electric voltage; the voltage is increased at the plant outlet in order to carry the current over long distances.

condenser click to hear

Circuit that cools the steam from the turbine and condenses it into water, which is reintroduced into the steam generator.

steam generator click to hear

Device that uses heat to convert water into steam to activate the turbo-alternator.

cold coolant click to hear

After releasing its heat to the steam generator, the cold coolant returns to the boiler.

hot coolant click to hear

The coolant extracts heat from the boiler and carries it to the steam generator and turbine.

pump click to hear

Device that ensures that the cold coolant liquid flows to the boiler.

bank of heliostats click to hear

Heliostats: remote-controlled adjustable mirrors that follow the Sun’s trajectory and concentrate solar radiation toward the boiler at the top of the tower.

solar radiation click to hear

The Sun emits waves in the form of luminous radiation (41% visible light, 52% infrared light and 7% ultraviolet light).

solar ray reflected click to hear

Solar rays trapped by heliostats are sent to the boiler.

coolant click to hear

Fluid (e.g., a mixture of melted salts) that traps the heat from concentrated solar radiation and carries it to the turbine.

tower click to hear

Structure atop which the boiler sits and collects luminous energy; it can reach 325 ft in height.

boiler click to hear

Enclosure in which the concentrated heat from the Sun’s rays raises the temperature of the coolant.