Hine Renovables selects Eaton hydraulics for South African solar plants 20 October 2014

Spanish hydraulics experts Hine Renovables has chosen hydraulic valve and hose technology from Eaton for power packs being used at two large concentrated solar power (CSP) plants in South Africa.

Both CSP plants create steam, which drives a turbine for electric power – with one using flat panels (heliostats) to 'bundle' the sun's rays and send them to a central unit, while the second uses parabolic glasses that direct the sun's energy into a pipeline where thermal fluid is heated.

The two solar projects – a parabolic trough with a 100MW capacity and a solar tower type plant with a 50MW capacity – will generate a combined capacity of 150MW, effectively reducing CO2 emissions by an estimated 500,000 tons per year.

Naturally, the solar panels must be angled to the sun by a tracking system under PLC control, and it is this system that Eaton has helped to automate, according to Lander Guibelalde, managing director of Hine Renovables.

Hydraulics were selected as the drive and positioning technology, because of their effectiveness when precise, small and frequent movements are required under extreme conditions, including wind and dust.

"Our experience with Eaton has been excellent with numerous projects. It made sense to turn to them again for our solar power projects," says Guibelalde.

"Hine Renovables views Eaton as a strategic partner that can provide the necessary support with the appropriate products for the design of high-quality, long-lasting, and competitive tracking systems."

Eaton provided some 80,000 valves of various types – including DG series valves, counterbalance valves and cartridge valves – along with its WALPro tube fittings.

Brian Tinham

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