The Essential Facilities are the core parts of the Infrastructure, those that justify the Plataforma Solar de Almería being an ICTS. In other words, they are the ones that provide the "singularity" to the Center.
Central Receiver System (CRS)
Qualification of the Solar Hydrogen Production Process
Thermal and thermodynamic characterization of thermochemical reactor prototypes for central tower technologies under real operating conditions
CESA-1
Qualification of heliostat performance
Qualification of heat storage using packed beds under real operating conditions
Thermal and thermodynamic characterization of solar receiver prototypes for central receiver solar thermal tower technology under real operating conditions.
Horizontal Solar Furnace (HSF)
(Receiver) Non-contact temperature measurement in solar furnaces
Accelerated solar aging of absorbers and selective coatings for solar receivers
Material synthesis
Qualification of industrial endothermic processes using heat from solar concentration
Surface treatment of materials with concentrated solar radiation
Vertical Solar Furnace (VSF)
(Receiver) Non-contact temperature measurement in solar furnaces
Accelerated solar aging of absorbers and selective coatings for solar receivers
Material synthesis
Qualification of industrial endothermic processes using heat from solar concentration
Surface treatment of materials with concentrated solar radiation
4 Parabolic Dish units (DISTAL)
Accelerated solar aging of absorbers and selective coatings for solar receivers
Qualification of complete parabolic dish/Stirling engine systems
Testing of solarized Stirling engines under real solar conditions
MED Facility
Solar thermal desalination through multi-effect distillation
Improvement of low-temperature distillation process efficiency using absorption heat pumps
CSP+D Facility
Techno-economic evaluation of the solar thermal cogeneration process for electricity and fresh water (CSP+D)
MDTF Facility
Solar thermal desalination through membrane distillation
Thermal treatment of industrial wastewater through membrane distillation
Optical analysis and accelerated aging laboratory for solar reflectors (OPAC)
Measurement of the average reflectance of the solar field
Characterization of the optical properties of solar reflectors
Durability of solar reflectors under accelerated aging in climate chambers
Outdoor exposure of solar reflectors
Study of cleaning methods for solar reflectors
SOLWATER
Integration of advanced technologies for the treatment and reuse of urban and industrial wastewater
Photocatalytic solar water disinfection
Design and development of solar reactors for water treatment
HyWATOx
Hydrogen production from the simultaneous removal of organic pollution present in water
OTHER FACILITIES
Heat Transfer Fluid test loop (HTF)
Characterization, under real operating conditions with solar radiation, of components for parabolic trough collectors (PTC), including new prototypes, commercial designs and/or new measurement techniques or devices for this type of system
Optical and thermal characterization of parabolic trough collectors
Direct steam generation system (DISS)
Testing of components for parabolic trough collector solar fields with direct steam generation under real operating conditions
Molten salt test loop (MOSA)
Characterization of materials and components for thermal energy storage systems
Characterization of heat exchangers
Simulation and modeling of thermal storage systems. Integration into STE plants or industrial thermal processes
Molten Salt Test Benches (BES)
Validation and verification of different types of valves, packings, pressure transmitters, tracing, insulation, etc. for use in molten salt loops.
Parabolic trough collector test loop (PTTL)
Characterization of parabolic trough collectors
Calibration of synthetic oil mass flow meters
Rotating test bench for parabolic trough collectors (KONTAS)
Optical and thermal performance under real operating conditions of linear receivers for parabolic trough collectors
Characterization under real operating conditions, with natural solar radiation, of linear focus collector units
NF-RO-FO Facility
Nanofiltration (NF) as pretreatment for solar thermal desalination processes
Forward osmosis (FO) for concentration and osmotic dilution processes
Combinations of reverse osmosis (RO) and forward osmosis (FO) for desalination and brine treatment
Laboratories for the characterization and evaluation of material durability under concentrated solar radiation (MaterLab)
3D optical surface metrology
Microhardness analysis
Solar receiver tube laboratory (SRTLab)
Measurement of the optical performance of receiver tubes for parabolic trough collectors (with natural solar radiation)
Measurement of thermal losses in receiver tubes for parabolic trough collectors (indoor test chamber).
Laboratory for the geometric characterization of reflectors and structural frames (GeoLab)
Geometric evaluation of Solar Concentrators (individual facets, point-focus concentrators and linear focus collectors)
Radiometry laboratory (RadLab)
Calibration of concentrated solar irradiance sensors
Calibration of infrared sensors
Water technologies laboratory (WATLAB)
Characterization of water samples for environmental purposes
Desalination laboratory (DESALAB)
Characterization of the membrane distillation (MD) process with different solutions and/or membranes
Forward osmosis (FO) and pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) tests in one or two stages
Energy Testing Laboratory for Building Components (LECE)
Thermal testing of specific construction components in test rooms under real weather conditions
Monitoring campaigns in real buildings under actual usage conditions with a high level of instrumentation (living labs): Single-zone building (LECE workshop building) and Demonstration Building (office building)
Testing and monitoring of specific construction systems with a high level of instrumentation: Solar chimney, etc.
HyWATOx
Hydrogen production from the simultaneous removal of organic pollution present in water
Optical analysis and accelerated aging laboratory for solar reflectors (OPAC)
Measurement of the average reflectance of the solar field
Characterization of the optical properties of solar reflectors
Durability of solar reflectors under accelerated aging in climate chambers
Outdoor exposure of solar reflectors
Study of cleaning methods for solar reflectors
Laboratories for the characterization and evaluation of material durability under concentrated solar radiation (MaterLab)
3D optical surface metrology
Microhardness analysis
Solar receiver tube laboratory (SRTLab)
Measurement of the optical performance of receiver tubes for parabolic trough collectors (with natural solar radiation)
Measurement of thermal losses in receiver tubes for parabolic trough collectors (test chamber indoor).
Laboratory for the geometric characterization of reflectors and structural frames (GeoLab)
Geometric evaluation of Solar Concentrators (individual facets, point-focus concentrators and linear focus collectors)
Radiometry laboratory (RadLab)
Calibration of concentrated solar irradiance sensors
Calibration of infrared sensors
Water technologies laboratory (WATLAB)
Characterization of water samples for environmental purposes
Desalination laboratory (DESALAB)
Characterization of the membrane distillation (MD) process with different solutions and/or membranes
Forward osmosis (FO) and pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) tests in one or two stages
Energy Testing Laboratory for Building Components (LECE).
Thermal testing of specific construction components in test rooms under real weather conditions
Monitoring campaigns in real buildings under actual usage conditions with a high level of instrumentation (living labs): Single-zone building (LECE workshop building) and Demonstration Building (office building)
Testing and monitoring of specific construction systems with a high level of instrumentation: Solar chimney, etc.
