Rotating collector ring for centrifugal solar receiver
AssigneeHeliogen Holdings, Inc.
InventorsAndrew Stephen Oles, Lars Oliver Kim Amsbeck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A collector ring assembly can capture particles from a centrifugal solar receiver and reduce a speed of the particles. The collector ring assembly can include a collector ring and a stationary shroud. The collector ring can include a plurality of collection members disposed circumferentially around the collector ring. Each collection member can be formed as a shovel. Each shovel can include a front wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall, an angled shield, a lateral lip, and a top wall. The front wall, the bottom wall, and the rear wall of each shovel can form a trough for collecting the particles. The stationary shroud can be disposed around the collector ring. The stationary shroud can receive and funnel particles exiting from the collector ring.
Claims18
A collector ring for a centrifugal solar receiver, the collector ring comprising a plurality of collection members arranged circumferentially about a central longitudinal axis of the collector ring, wherein the plurality of collection members are configured to capture particles and reduce a speed of the particles;
- wherein the plurality of collection members comprises a plurality of shovels, each of the plurality of shovels comprising:
- a front wall;
- a bottom wall extending from the front wall;
- and a rear wall extending from the bottom wall, wherein the front wall, the bottom wall, and the rear wall define a trough configured to collect particles;
- wherein the plurality of shovels are configured to receive and collect particles from the centrifugal solar receiver when the plurality of shovels are positioned between about 9 o'clock about 4 o'clock along a clockwise rotation cycle of the collector ring, and wherein the plurality of shovels are configured to release particles when the plurality of shovels are positioned between about 6 o'clock and about 9 o'clock along the clockwise rotation cycle of the collector ring.
A collector ring assembly for a centrifugal solar receiver, the collector ring assembly comprising:
- a collector ring configured to capture particles from the centrifugal solar receiver and reduce a speed of the particles, the collector ring comprising a plurality of shovels arranged circumferentially about a central longitudinal axis of the collector ring, each of the plurality of shovels comprising:
- a front wall;
- a bottom wall extending from the front wall;
- and
- a rear wall extending from the bottom wall, wherein the front wall, the bottom wall, and the rear wall define a trough configured to collect particles;
- and
- a stationary shroud disposed around the collector ring, the stationary shroud configured to collect and funnel particles exiting from the collector ring, the stationary shroud comprising a pointed top shelf and a stepped bottom shelf.
A collection member of a collector ring for a centrifugal solar receiver, the collection member comprising:
- a front wall;
- a bottom wall extending from the front wall;
- a rear wall extending from the bottom wall, the rear wall comprising a wide portion and a narrow portion, wherein the front wall, the bottom wall, and the rear wall define a trough configured to collect particles;
- an angled shield extending from the front wall, the angled shield comprising an angled surface, wherein the angled shield is configured to direct particles into the trough;
- a lateral lip extending from the front wall, wherein the lateral lip is configured to capture particles that travel past the angled shield and direct those particles into the trough;
- and
- a top wall extending from the front wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.