The 110 MW Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project is a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant, with a molten salt power tower design. Flowserve molten salt pumps, which must operate at temperatures up to 565°C, are at the heart of the CSP plant.
The Flowserve pumps use variable frequency drives designed to regulate pump speed and optimize the efficiency of the system.
The Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project is being built by Nevada-based Cobra Thermosolar Plants Inc. The solar power plant will be owned and operated by Tonopah Solar Energy LLC and is expected to generate more than 500 000 MW hours per year when it comes online in 2013.
“Our close relationship with Cobra in Spain, coupled with our 90 years of experience in high temperature pumping applications and our history of supplying equipment for solar power plant projects of this magnitude, was crucial in winning this order,” said Tom Pajonas, Flowserve chief operating officer. “Also important was our ability to be a ‘one-stop shop’ for all of the project’s pumping needs and our full line of service offerings, covering installation, start-up and lifetime maintenance.”
