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US 11,242,843 B2Granted
Concentrated solar power generation using solar receivers
Assignee247Solar Inc.
InventorsBruce N. Anderson, William Dean Treece, Dan Brown, Florian Bennhold, Christoph Hilgert
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Inventive concentrated solar power systems using solar receivers, and related devices and methods, are generally described. Low pressure solar receivers are provided that function to convert solar radiation energy to thermal energy of a working fluid, e.g., a working fluid of a power generation or thermal storage system. In some embodiments, low pressure solar receivers are provided herein that are useful in conjunction with gas turbine based power generation systems.
Claims28
A system, comprising:
- a solar receiver constructed and arranged to heat a gas at a pressure of less than or equal to 2 atmospheres, wherein the solar receiver comprises a fluid chamber comprising an inlet conduit, an outlet conduit, an opening for receiving concentrated solar radiation, a solar absorber contained within the fluid chamber, and one or more transparent objects that define a window positioned in the opening of the fluid chamber;
- a thermal storage system fluidically connected to the outlet conduit of the solar receiver;
- and
- a heat exchange system fluidically connected to the outlet conduit of the solar receiver, constructed and arranged to transfer thermal energy from the gas heated by the solar receiver to a second gas,
- wherein the inlet conduit of the fluid chamber is fluidically connected to an outlet of the thermal storage system and to an outlet of the heat exchange system, such that a portion of the gas heated by the solar receiver includes one or both of an exhaust stream of the thermal storage system and an exhaust stream of the heat exchange system, and
- wherein the system is constructed and arranged such that a first portion of the gas heated by the solar receiver can be transported to the thermal storage system and a second portion of the gas heated by the solar receiver can be transported to the heat exchange system.
3 more elements
A method, comprising:
- heating a gas at a pressure of less than or equal to 2 atmospheres within a solar receiver, wherein the solar receiver comprises a fluid chamber comprising an inlet conduit, an outlet conduit, an opening for receiving concentrated solar radiation, a solar absorber contained within the fluid chamber, and one or more transparent objects that define a window positioned in the opening of the fluid chamber;
- transporting a first portion of the gas from the outlet conduit of the solar receiver to a thermal storage system fluidically connected to the outlet conduit of the solar receiver;
- and
- transporting a second portion of the gas from the outlet conduit of the solar receiver to a heat exchange system fluidically connected to the outlet conduit of the solar receiver,
- wherein the heat exchange system is constructed and arranged to transfer thermal energy from the gas heated by the solar receiver to a second gas, and
- wherein the inlet conduit of the fluid chamber is fluidically connected to an outlet of the thermal storage system and to an outlet of the heat exchange system, such that a portion of the gas heated by the solar receiver includes one or both of an exhaust stream of the thermal storage system and an exhaust stream of the heat exchange system.
3 more elements
A system comprising:
- a solar receiver constructed and arranged to heat a gas at a pressure of less than or equal to 2 atmospheres, wherein the solar receiver comprises a fluid chamber comprising an inlet conduit, an outlet conduit, an opening for receiving concentrated solar radiation, a solar absorber contained within the fluid chamber, and one or more transparent objects that define a window positioned in the opening of the fluid chamber;
- a thermal storage system fluidically connected to the outlet conduit of the solar receiver;
- and
- a heat exchange system fluidically connected to the outlet conduit of the solar receiver, constructed and arranged to transfer thermal energy from the gas heated by the solar receiver to a second gas;
- wherein the inlet conduit of the fluid chamber is fluidically connected to an outlet of the thermal storage system and to an outlet of the heat exchange system, such that a portion of the gas heated by the solar receiver includes one or both of an exhaust stream of the thermal storage system and an exhaust stream of the heat exchange system, and
- wherein the system is configured so that flow from the outlet conduit of the solar receiver comprising the gas heated by the solar receiver can be switched between the thermal storage system and the heat exchange system.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- heating a gas at a pressure of less than or equal to 2 atmospheres within a solar receiver, wherein the solar receiver comprises a fluid chamber comprising an inlet conduit, an outlet conduit, an opening for receiving concentrated solar radiation, a solar absorber contained within the fluid chamber, and one or more transparent objects that define a window positioned in the opening of the fluid chamber;
- transporting the gas from the outlet conduit of the solar receiver to a thermal storage system fluidically connected to the outlet conduit of the solar receiver;
- and
- switching a destination of flow of the gas from the outlet conduit of the solar receiver such that the gas from the outlet conduit of the solar receiver is transported to a heat exchange system fluidically connected to the outlet conduit of the solar receiver, wherein the heat exchange system is constructed and arranged to transfer thermal energy from the gas heated by the solar receiver to a second gas, and
- wherein the inlet conduit of the fluid chamber is fluidically connected to an outlet of the thermal storage system and to an outlet of the heat exchange system, such that a portion of the gas heated by the solar receiver includes one or both of an exhaust stream of the thermal storage system and an exhaust stream of the heat exchange system.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- heating a gas at a pressure of less than or equal to 2 atmospheres within a solar receiver, wherein the solar receiver comprises a fluid chamber comprising an inlet conduit, an outlet conduit, an opening for receiving concentrated solar radiation, a solar absorber contained within the fluid chamber, and one or more transparent objects that define a window positioned in the opening of the fluid chamber;
- transporting the gas from the outlet conduit of the solar receiver to a heat exchange system fluidically connected to the outlet conduit of the solar receiver, wherein the heat exchange system is constructed and arranged to transfer thermal energy from the gas heated by the solar receiver to a second gas;
- and
- switching a destination of flow of the gas from the outlet conduit of the solar receiver such that the gas from the outlet conduit of the solar receiver is transported to a thermal storage system fluidically connected to the outlet conduit of the solar receiver,
- wherein the inlet conduit of the fluid chamber is fluidically connected to an outlet of the thermal storage system and to an outlet of the heat exchange system, such that a portion of the gas heated by the solar receiver includes one or both of an exhaust stream of the thermal storage system and an exhaust stream of the heat exchange system.
2 more elements
A system comprising:
- a solar receiver constructed and arranged to heat a gas at a pressure of less than or equal to 2 atmospheres, wherein the solar receiver comprises a fluid chamber comprising an inlet conduit, an outlet conduit, an opening for receiving concentrated solar radiation, a solar absorber contained within the fluid chamber, and one or more transparent objects that define a window positioned in the opening of the fluid chamber;
- a thermal storage system fluidically connected to the outlet conduit of the solar receiver;
- a heat exchange system fluidically connected to the outlet conduit of the solar receiver, constructed and arranged to transfer thermal energy from the gas heated by the solar receiver to a second gas;
- and
- a heat recovery system fluidically connected to the heat exchange system, constructed and arranged to recover residual heat from the gas heated by the solar receiver after it is transported through the heat exchange system,
- wherein the inlet conduit of the fluid chamber is fluidically connected to an outlet of the thermal storage system and to an outlet of the heat exchange system, such that a portion of the gas heated by the solar receiver includes one or both of an exhaust stream of the thermal storage system and an exhaust stream of the heat exchange system.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- heating a gas at a pressure of less than or equal to 2 atmospheres within a solar receiver, wherein the solar receiver comprises a fluid chamber comprising an inlet conduit, an outlet conduit, an opening for receiving concentrated solar radiation, a solar absorber contained within the fluid chamber, and one or more transparent objects that define a window positioned in the opening of the fluid chamber;
- transporting the gas from the outlet conduit of the solar receiver to a heat exchange system fluidically connected to the outlet conduit of the solar receiver, wherein the heat exchange system is constructed and arranged to transfer thermal energy from the gas heated by the solar receiver to a second gas;
- and
- transporting the gas from the heat exchange system to a heat recovery system fluidically connected to the heat exchange system, wherein the heat recovery system is constructed and arranged to recover residual heat from the gas heated by the solar receiver after it is transported through the heat exchange system,
- wherein the inlet conduit of the fluid chamber is fluidically connected to an outlet of a thermal storage system and to an outlet of the heat exchange system, such that a portion of the gas heated by the solar receiver includes one or both of an exhaust stream of the thermal storage system and an exhaust stream of the heat exchange system.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.