SDP Pump Industrial Case Study: Xinjiang Tianshan North Foothill New Energy Base
The Xinjiang Tianshan North Foothill New Energy Base marks a significant milestone in China’s renewable energy landscape. As one of the core projects supporting the “Xinjiang Power to Chongqing” initiative, the base integrates wind, solar, concentrated solar power (CSP), and energy storage, with a total installed capacity of 4.1 million kW. Upon completion, it is expected to generate an annual 97.86 billion kWh, playing a critical role in optimizing regional energy structure and supporting China’s carbon neutrality goals.
Within this comprehensive energy project, the 10 MW CSP solar thermal project has achieved a major engineering milestone: the successful casting of the first heliostat foundation pile. This event officially initiates construction of the mirror field, laying the foundation for over 20,000 heliostats, which are crucial for concentrating solar energy onto the central tower.
1.Project Highlights and Technology Overview
The CSP segment of the Xinjiang Tianshan project employs tower-type molten salt technology with a 10-hour thermal energy storage system. This system allows for effective smoothing of the intermittent nature of renewable energy, enhancing grid stability. With an expected annual output of 220 million kWh, the project will save approximately 64,000 tons of standard coal, reducing CO₂ emissions by about 175,700 tons per year. These figures underscore the project’s role in accelerating energy transition and contributing to national “dual-carbon” objectives.
The heliostat foundation piles serve as the critical support structure for the vast array of reflective mirrors, ensuring precise solar tracking and optimal energy capture. The successful completion of the first foundation pile serves as a key reference point, providing valuable data and setting the standard for large-scale, standardized pile construction.
2.SDP Pump Solutions in CSP Applications
Reliable fluid circulation is vital in CSP plants, especially for molten salt heat transfer loops. SDP Pump has been deployed in this project to ensure safe and efficient operation of high-temperature molten salt pumps, which are responsible for transporting molten salt between the solar field, thermal storage tanks, and the central receiver.
3.Why SDP Pump Was Chosen
- High-Temperature Reliability: Designed to operate in molten salt conditions exceeding 500°C.
- Corrosion and Erosion Resistance: Specialized alloys and coatings prevent wear from high-temperature salts.
- Continuous Operation: Optimized hydraulic design ensures stable flow and reduces downtime.
- Sealless Magnetic Drive Options: Zero leakage, critical for toxic or high-temperature media.
By leveraging SDP Pump’s advanced pump technology, the CSP plant ensures uninterrupted heat transfer, which is essential for energy storage efficiency and grid stability.
4.Project Impact and Industrial Significance
The Xinjiang Tianshan North Foothill New Energy Base demonstrates the integration of advanced CSP technology with industrial-grade pumping solutions to achieve large-scale, low-carbon power generation. The project highlights several key points:
- Renewable Energy Reliability: Molten salt storage combined with high-performance pumps ensures steady power supply despite intermittent solar input.
- Sustainability: Significant reductions in coal consumption and CO₂ emissions.
- Scalability: Standardized foundation and pump systems allow rapid deployment across tens of thousands of heliostats.
- Energy Security: Supports China’s national energy strategy by providing a stable, dispatchable power source.
The successful casting of the first heliostat foundation pile is a symbolic and practical milestone, representing the “kickoff” of large-scale mirror field construction. The subsequent deployment of SDP Pump molten salt systems guarantees the thermal energy captured by these mirrors can be efficiently stored and delivered to the grid.
5.Conclusion
The Xinjiang Tianshan North Foothill New Energy Base exemplifies the synergy between cutting-edge renewable energy infrastructure and industrial pump technology. With SDP Pump providing reliable high-temperature molten salt pumping solutions, the CSP plant can maintain safe, efficient, and continuous operation, ensuring that energy storage systems meet design targets.
This project not only sets a benchmark for future CSP developments but also contributes to China’s energy transition and carbon reduction goals, proving that industrial-grade pumping solutions are integral to modern renewable energy projects.
Follow Us on Social Media Stay updated on product videos, testing demos, and engineering content:
Medium👉 https://medium.com/@sdppump
