Supplemental solar concentrator for the heating of particles

A particle receiver system comprising:

• a system body forming an enclosed volume and configured to receive a primary concentrator light pattern from a primary concentrated light source;
• a plated body disposed within the enclosed volume and comprising an annular void and configured to receive a cooling fluid inlet and a cooling fluid outlet, the annular void comprising a supplemental concentrator;
• a particle feed system disposed adjacent an outlet of the supplemental concentrator, the particle feed system configured to convey a set of working particles to the outlet of the supplemental concentrator;
• and
• a cooling fluid configured to flow into the cooling fluid inlet and out from the cooling fluid outlet;
• wherein:
• the supplemental concentrator receives the primary concentrator light pattern and outputs a supplemental concentrator output light pattern having a spatially reduced light profile relative to the primary concentrator output light profile;
• and
• the a set of working particles conveyed by the particle feed system are irradiated by the supplemental concentrator output light pattern to yield a reacted material.

A particle receiver system comprising:

• a supplemental concentrator configured to receive a primary concentrator light pattern from a primary concentrator and output a supplemental concentrator output light pattern, the supplemental concentrator comprising reflective optics, the supplemental concentrator output light pattern having a second light profile and the primary concentrator having a first light profile;
• a sweeping fluid device configured to circulate a sweeping fluid within the supplemental concentrator;
• a cooler comprising cooling fluid configured to enable temperature control of the supplemental concentrator, the cooler enclosing the supplemental concentrator and comprising a heat exchange surface;
• an actuator configured to position the supplemental concentrator relative to an irradiating location;
• a working material feed configured to deliver a working material to the irradiating location and to improve solar-to-thermal efficiency relative to the supplemental concentrator output light pattern;
• and
• a controller configured to control each of:
• i) the actuator, ii) the temperature of the supplemental concentrator, iii) the temperature of the irradiating location, and iv) a speed of delivery of the working material;
• wherein:
• the second light profile is a spatially reduced light profile relative to the first light profile;
• the set of working particles are preheated by heat associated with the supplemental concentrator prior to delivery of the set of working particles to the irradiating location;
• the supplemental concentrator output light pattern irradiates the working material at the irradiating location to yield a reacted material;
• and
• the reacted material enables at least one of thermal energy storage and electricity generation.