Overview
IEC TS 62862-1-1:2018 is a technical specification developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) focusing on solar thermal electric (STE) plants. This part, titled Solar Thermal Electric Plants – Part 1-1: Terminology, consolidates essential terms and definitions relevant to the STE industry. It serves as a foundational reference for professionals and organizations involved in the design, operation, and documentation of solar thermal electric projects.
Given the diversity of concentrating solar thermal (CST) technologies-including central receivers, parabolic-trough collectors, parabolic dishes, and linear Fresnel concentrators-this standard identifies terminology variations and provides clarifications to promote consistency in industry communications.
Key Topics
IEC TS 62862-1-1:2018 encompasses a wide range of terminology used in STE plants, structured by system elements and measurement concepts:
- System Components and Configurations: Definitions for major subsystems such as the solar field, power block, and thermal storage system, including terms like absorber, heliostat, receiver, and heat transfer fluid.
- Concentrating Solar Technologies: Clarifies nomenclature associated with different types of concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies, ensuring unambiguous references to central receiver, parabolic-trough, linear Fresnel, and parabolic-dish systems.
- Measurement and Geometric Definitions: Standardizes critical angular and area definitions, such as aperture area, acceptance angle, rim angle, incidence angle, as well as collector axis and tilt angle.
- Optical Properties: Establishes definitions for optical metrics including absorptance, emittance, transmittance, and reflectance, which are essential for performance analysis and component specification.
- Operational Concepts: Includes terms like dispatchability and auxiliary heater, supporting discussions on the integration of STE plants into broader energy grids.
Applications
The standardized terminology of IEC TS 62862-1-1:2018 enhances practical operations across the STE industry by:
- Ensuring Clear Communication: Facilitates accurate, reliable exchange of technical information among manufacturers, engineers, project developers, and regulators.
- Supporting System Design: Provides a common vocabulary for specifying components, evaluating design alternatives, and integrating subsystems in complex STE projects.
- Improving Documentation Quality: Enables consistent reporting, documentation, and compliance in project proposals, technical manuals, and industry publications.
- Facilitating Training and Standardization: Serves as an authoritative reference for developing training materials and aligning industry practices with international standards.
- Benchmarking and Performance Evaluation: Helps in the comparison and assessment of STE plant capabilities by providing precise, industry-recognized definitions for operational parameters and performance metrics.
Related Standards
To maximize the value of IEC TS 62862-1-1:2018, users should consider the following related international standards and resources:
- ISO 9488:1999: Solar Energy – Vocabulary: An essential reference for general solar energy terminology.
- IEC 62862 Series: Encompasses additional parts covering testing, performance, and safety for solar thermal electric plants.
- IEC Electropedia: Comprehensive online dictionary for electronic and electrical terminology.
- ISO Online Browsing Platform: For access to a wide range of ISO standards relevant to solar energy and renewable technologies.
IEC TS 62862-1-1:2018 is an indispensable technical resource for anyone operating in the solar thermal electricity sector, fostering global harmonization and technical precision in the rapidly evolving field of solar thermal electric power generation.