A new chance for KLINGER Brazil to contribute to a green energy project recently came about in Rosana, São Paulo, where Eudora Energia just completed the nation’s first heliothermal power plant. Heliothermal energy, also known as concentrated solar power or CSP converts solar energy into heat through the use of parabolic mirrors and thermal fluid.

The sunrays are reflected and concentrated by the mirrors into a single point, which heats the thermal fluid and produces steam via heat exchange. This steam drives turbines, which run a generator and produce electricity. Eudora Energia, a specialist in energy solutions, started to develop this technology in 2015.

When Eudora was designing the plant project, the team researched the valve market to learn their options for fluid control. Once the exact specifications were finalized, they realized the choices were limited: few companies were capable of producing valves that met the stringent requirements necessary for controlling thermal fluid with the precision needed for the project. Their search led them to KLINGER, who had a proven history with the medium.

After conferring in detail with Lucas Hipolito, Project Analyst at KLINGER Brazil, Eudora decided on KVN piston globe valves, which feature class VI sealing per ANSI/FCI standards, guaranteeing a high level of water tightness and reliability. The high durability of the valves leads to less frequent servicing and fewer replacement parts. This reduces waste and avoids fugitive emissions, which helps to keep the project as eco-friendly as possible. Another key feature was the valves’ ability to fine-tune the flow levels, giving the team the ability to make granular adjustments as needed without taking the system out of service.