Tubular receiver for heating particles with solar energy
AssigneeHeliogen Holdings, Inc.
InventorsAndrew Stephen Oles, Apurba Kumar Das, Chiranjeev Singh Kalra, Gary Thomas Pashko
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A particle receiver includes an inlet, an outlet and multiple tubes rotatably coupled to the inlet and the outlet. The tubes receive particles via the inlet, the particles passing along a passageway of each of the tubes to the outlet. The tubes receive a solar flux as they rotate to heat the particles passing through the tubes. A heat transfer coefficient of the particles is increased by increased mixing via air flowing in the tubes, fins used to mix the particles or via channels via which the particles pass through that increase turnover and mixing of the particles.
Claims21
A particle receiver, comprising:
- an inlet;
- an outlet;
- and
- a plurality of tubes rotatably coupled to the inlet and the outlet and configured to receive a flow of a plurality of particles via the inlet, after being delivered into each of the plurality of tubes the particles flowing along a passageway of each of the tubes to the outlet solely due to a force of gravity, the particles dispensed via the outlet, the tubes configured to receive solar energy on an outer surface thereof to heat the particles passing through the tubes, wherein each of the plurality of tubes includes an outer tube and an inner tube, the outer tube configured to rotate relative to the inner tube, an annulus defined between the inner tube and the outer tube, the particles configured to flow through the annulus between a proximal portion and a distal portion of the plurality of tubes.
A particle receiver, comprising:
- an inlet;
- an outlet;
- and
- a plurality of tube assemblies, each tube assembly comprising an inner tube fixed to the inlet and to the outlet and an outer tube rotatably coupled to the inlet and the outlet and disposed about the inner tube, the tube assembly configured to receive a flow of a plurality of particles via the inlet, after being delivered into each tube assembly the particles passing along a passageway between the inner tube and the outer tube to the outlet solely due to a force of gravity, the particles dispensed via the outlet, the outer tube being made of metal and configured to receive solar energy on an outer surface thereof to heat the particles passing through the tube assembly, wherein the passageway is an annulus between the inner tube and the outer tube that extends along a length of the tube assembly, the outer tube configured to rotate relative to the inner tube.
A particle receiver, comprising:
- an inlet;
- an outlet;
- and
- a plurality of tube assemblies, each tube assembly comprising an inner tube fixed to the inlet and to the outlet and an outer tube rotatably coupled to the inlet and the outlet and disposed about the inner tube, the tube assembly configured to receive a flow of a plurality of particles via the inlet, after being delivered into each tube assembly the particles passing along a passageway between the inner tube and the outer tube to the outlet solely due to a force of gravity, the particles dispensed via the outlet, the outer tube being made of metal and configured to receive solar energy on an outer surface thereof to heat the particles passing through the tube assembly, the inner tube comprising one or more air inlet apertures in a wall of the inner tube via which air enters the passageway between the inner tube and the outer tube to facilitate mixing of the particles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.