Solar concentrator, solar receiver and thermal storage
AssigneeStorenergy Holdings Ltd.
InventorMarko Vuksanovic
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A solar concentrator comprising: a base; a framework, the framework being hingedly joined to the base such that the framework can be rotated relative to the base; and a plurality of mirrors arranged relative to a first axis of the framework, such that all of the mirrors are located on one side of a plane which contains the first axis, each mirror being fixed to the framework and each mirror being arranged to reflect light travelling parallel to the first axis towards a common focus which lies on the first axis.
Claims13
A thermal energy storage system comprising:
- a container which comprises at least a first inlet, a second inlet and a third inlet for admitting fluid into the container and at least a first outlet and a second outlet for admitting fluid out of the container;
- and
- a solid thermal storage mass contained within the container,
- wherein each of the outlets and inlets is located at a height relative to gravity in use, such that the height of the first inlet is greater than the height of the second inlet, the height of the second inlet is greater than the height of the first outlet,
- wherein the solid thermal storage mass comprises a plurality of openings such that the fluid can pass at least between the first inlet and the first outlet, between the second inlet and the first outlet, and between the third inlet and the second outlet by passing through the openings,
- wherein the height of the second outlet is greater than the height of the third inlet, wherein the system further comprises a plurality of valves which control fluid flow through the inlets and outlets such that when the valves are in a first configuration in use the fluid enters the container via the first or second inlet and exits the container via the first outlet and when the valves are in a second configuration in use the fluid enters the container via the third inlet and exits the container via the second outlet.
A method of operating a thermal energy storage system, the method comprising:
- providing a thermal energy storage system comprising:
- a container which comprises at least a first inlet, a second inlet and a third inlet for admitting fluid into the container and at least a first outlet and a second outlet for admitting fluid out of the container;
- and
- a solid thermal storage mass contained within the container,
- wherein each of the outlets and inlets is located at a height relative to gravity in use, such that the height of the first inlet is greater than the height of the second inlet, the height of the second inlet is greater than the height of the first outlet,
- wherein the solid thermal storage mass comprises a plurality of openings such that the fluid can pass at least between the first inlet and the first outlet, between the second inlet and the first outlet, and between the third inlet and the second outlet by passing through the openings;
- directing a fluid through the first inlet so that it passes through the solid thermal storage mass and out of the first outlet when the temperature of the fluid is greater than the temperature of an upper part of the solid thermal storage mass;
- and
- directing the fluid through the second inlet so that it passes through the solid thermal storage mass and out of the first outlet when the temperature of the fluid is less than the temperature of the upper part of the solid thermal storage mass.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.