# US 10,502,459 B1 · Magnetic field falling particle solar receiver systems and methods

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- Number: US 10,502,459 B1
- Document ID: US10502459B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 15/142,968
- Filed: 2016-04-29
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2015-04-30
- Assignees: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC; Malay Mazumder
- Applicants: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC; Malay Mazumder
- Inventors: Kenneth M. Armijo; Ryan R. Anderson; Sean Michael Babiniec; Clifford K. Ho; Malay Mazumder
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502459B1

## CPC

- F24S 90/00: Solar heat systems not otherwise provided for
- Y02E 10/40: Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
- F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

Systems and methods that increase the residence time of particles falling through a solar receiver using an induced magnetic field to suspend or slow down and/or alter the flight path of the particles falling through the concentrated beam of sunlight are disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A falling particle solar receiver, comprising:
a receiver body comprising one or more walls defining an interior space;
a window in the receiver body for allowing concentrated solar energy to enter the interior space;
an inlet for allowing particles to enter and fall through the interior space; and
a magnetic field generating component configured to induce a magnetic field upon the particles falling through the interior space.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The falling particle solar receiver of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field generating component is one or more permanent magnets.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The falling particle solar receiver of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field generating component is magnetic field generator.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The falling particle solar receiver of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field generating component is positioned above the window.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The falling particle solar receiver of claim 2, wherein the one or more permanent magnets are disposed on at least one of the one or more walls defining the interior space.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The falling particle solar receiver of claim 3, wherein the magnetic field generator includes a passage for allowing the particles to pass therethrough.

### Claim 7

A falling particle solar receiver system, comprising:
a particle feed system;
a falling particle solar receiver for receiving particles from the particle feed system; and
a collection system for receiving particles discharged from the falling particle solar receiver;
wherein the falling particle solar receiver comprises:
a receiver body comprising one or more walls defining an interior space;
a window in the receiver body for allowing concentrated solar energy to enter the interior space;
an inlet for allowing particles to enter and fall through the interior space; and
a magnetic field generating component configured to induce a magnetic field upon the particles falling through the interior space.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The falling particle solar receiver system of claim 7, wherein the magnetic field generating component is one or more permanent magnets.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The falling particle solar receiver system of claim 7, wherein the magnetic field generating component is magnetic field generator.

### Claim 10

A method of heating particles in a falling particle receiver, comprising:
providing a plurality of particles to the receiver;
heating the particles falling through the receiver; and
subjecting the particles to a magnetic field as the particles fall through the receiver.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the magnetic field is from a permanent magnet.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the magnetic field is from a magnetic field generator.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the particles are selected from a group consisting of diamagnetic particles, ferromagnetic particles and charged particles.