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US 12,584,659 B2Granted
Ceramic particles for use in a solar power tower
AssigneeCarbo Ceramics Inc.
InventorsClaude Krause, Benjamin T. Eldred, Steve Canova
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Ceramic particles for use in a solar power tower and methods for making and using the ceramic particles are disclosed. The ceramic particle can include a sintered ceramic material formed from a mixture of a ceramic raw material and a darkening component comprising MnO as Mn2+. The ceramic particle can have a size from about 8 mesh to about 170 mesh and a density of less than 4 g/cc.
Claims20
A solar energy-based power generation system, the system comprising:
- a solar receiver at or proximate the top of a solar power tower, wherein the solar receiver comprises a plurality of ceramic particles disposed within the solar receiver, the ceramic particles comprising:
- a ceramic material formed from a mixture comprising a raw material and MnO, wherein the raw material comprises kaolin or bauxite or a mixture thereof, and wherein the ceramic material further comprises:
- about 0.01 wt % to about 10 wt % MnO, and
- about 0.01 wt % to about 10 wt % Mn2O3;
- one or more heliostats configured to transmit solar radiation to the solar receiver for heating the ceramic particles;
- and
- a heat exchanger configured to cool the heated ceramic particles by transferring heat from the heated ceramic particles to a heat exchange medium.
4 more elements
A solar energy-based power generation system, the system comprising:
- a solar receiver at or proximate the top of a solar power tower, wherein the solar receiver comprises a plurality of ceramic particles disposed within the solar receiver, the ceramic particles comprising:
- a ceramic material formed from a mixture comprising a raw material and MnO, wherein the raw material comprises kaolin or bauxite or a mixture thereof, and wherein the ceramic material further comprises about 0.1 wt % to about 20 wt % FeO;
- one or more heliostats configured to transmit solar radiation to the solar receiver for heating the ceramic particles;
- and
- a heat exchanger configured to cool the heated ceramic particles by transferring heat from the heated ceramic particles to a heat exchange medium.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.