Until now, the solar field has been regarded as a mostly independent system connected to the steam line. The
SolSteam project now integrates the solar field and a fuel fired steam boiler, aiming to reduce the amount of
components for the solar field integration, especially avoiding the need for a steam drum and a second feed-water
pump (Figure 6). The solar field is connected to the conventional steam boiler and no longer directly to the steam
piping. Water steam separation occurs inside the boiler, where also water content fluctuations in the solar field are
compensated. Alternatively, a comparatively small separator may be placed before the boiler to avoid excessive
turbulence inside of the boiler. This is still under consideration.