[pranabjyoti]

At present, both efficiency and output of solar thermal power plants are quite low and it's a big reason behind the high cost of kWh electricity produced in present day solar thermal power plants. The other reason is the high cost of maintenance of array of reflectors. But, this cost can be reduced to less than 1/3rd of the present day level. The way is using atmospheric or psychometric heat along with solar heat. The way is very very simple. First, evaporate the water with the help of a vacuum pump in such a way so that the latent heat of vaporization of water comes from the atmospheric heat and then heating the vapor produced in this manner with solar heat. It can be easily calculated that in a steam at temp 300ºC produced in the same manner as that of present day thermal and solar thermal power plants; latent heat of vaporization of water is about 2/3rd of the heat consumed by water in this process. By vacuum evaporation of water, the latent heat of vaporization of water comes from the atmosphere and heating the vapor by array of solar reflector would need 1/3rd of heat necessary before. Therefore, with just 1/3rd of the amount of solar reflecting arrays, we can get same efficiency and output.
I am just giving here a short zest of the idea here. Anybody interested, who is willing to discuss this idea with me, can contact me at pranabjyoti_calcutta@rediffmail.com.

[horselover]

Can you explain this in terms that us less well versed in this concept can understand?

I was confused by your entire paragraph.

[pranabjyoti]

It is very simple. First, water is evaporated with the help of a vacuum pump and this vapor produced will be heated by solar heat. Instead of heating water from liquid state to vapor and then heating the vapor, this process is far less energy consuming. By vacuum evaporation of water, the latent heat of vaporization of water is collected from atmosphere and the solar heat, that will later heat up the vapor will be used just to raise the temp of the vapor and thus we get higher temp at the Boiler and that means more output and efficiency.