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US 12,716,618 B2Granted
Concentrated solar energy collection, thermal storage, and power generation systems and methods with optional supplemental fuel production
Assignee247Solar Inc.
InventorsBruce N. Anderson, William Dean Treece, James S. Nash, Douglas A. Hamrin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems related to concentrated solar combination heating and power generation; solar heating; industrial heat driven power generation; thermal storage systems and heat exchanger and power generation systems therefore, including any of the above with optional supplemental fuel production, and associated methods, are generally described.
Claims41
A concentrated solar combination heating and power generation system, comprising:
- a solar receiver comprising:
- a fluid chamber comprising a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and an opening for receiving concentrated solar radiation;
- a solar absorber housed within the fluid chamber;
- and
- a transparent object that defines at least a portion of a wall of the fluid chamber, wherein the concentrated solar radiation received through the opening passes through the transparent object into the fluid chamber and impinges upon the solar absorber to produce a heated first fluid having a first pressure that is less than 2 atmospheres;
- a thermal storage unit comprising a vessel containing a thermal storage medium therein, and having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the fluid inlet of the thermal storage unit in valved fluid communication with the fluid outlet of the fluid chamber of the solar receiver;
- and
- a power generation system comprising:
- a heat exchange system comprising at least a first heat exchange unit, the heat exchange system positioned downstream of the solar receiver and the thermal storage unit and having an inlet in valved fluid communication with the fluid outlet of the fluid chamber of the solar receiver and in valved fluid communication with the fluid outlet of the thermal storage unit such that the heat exchange system can receive the heated first fluid selectively from either or both of the fluid chamber of the solar receiver and the thermal storage unit,
- the heat exchange system being configured to transfer heat from the heated first fluid to a second fluid to produce a heated second fluid having a second pressure, the second pressure being greater than the first pressure;
- and
- a gas turbine in fluid communication with and downstream of an outlet of the heat exchange system, configured to receive the heated second fluid at an inlet of the gas turbine inlet and generate power therefrom;
- and
- a fuel-fired combustion unit positioned upstream of the heat exchange system and in fluid communication with the heat exchange system, the fluid chamber of the solar receiver, and the thermal storage unit, and configured to further heat the heated first fluid prior to introduction to the heat exchange system and/or to independently provide a sufficient quantity of the heated first fluid to the heat exchange system to power the gas turbine.
11 more elements
A combination heating and power generation system, comprising:
- an industrial source of a heated first fluid, the heated first fluid between greater than or equal to 200° C. and less than or equal to 2000° C. and at a first pressure of less than or equal to 2 atmospheres;
- a thermal storage unit comprising a vessel containing a thermal storage medium therein, and having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the fluid inlet in valved fluid communication with a fluid outlet of the industrial source of the heated first fluid;
- and
- a power generation system comprising:
- a heat exchange system comprising at least a first heat exchange unit, the heat exchange system positioned downstream of the industrial source of the heated first fluid and the thermal storage unit and having an inlet in valved fluid communication with the fluid outlet of the industrial source of the heated first fluid and in valved fluid communication with the fluid outlet of the thermal storage unit, such that the heat exchange system can receive the heated first fluid selectively from either or both of the industrial source of the heated first fluid and the thermal storage unit,
- the heat exchange system being configured to transfer heat from the heated first fluid to a second fluid to produce a heated second fluid having a second pressure, the second pressure being greater than the first pressure;
- and
- a gas turbine in fluid communication with and downstream of an outlet of the heat exchange system, configured to receive the heated second fluid at an inlet of the gas turbine inlet and generate power therefrom;
- and
- a fuel-fired combustion unit positioned upstream of the heat exchange system and in fluid communication with the heat exchange system, the industrial source of the heated first fluid, and the thermal storage unit, and configured to further heat the heated first fluid prior to introduction to the heat exchange system and/or to independently provide a sufficient quantity of the heated first fluid to the heat exchange system to power the gas turbine.
7 more elements
A concentrated solar combination heating and power generation system, comprising:
- a solar receiver comprising:
- a fluid chamber comprising a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and an opening for receiving concentrated solar radiation;
- a solar absorber housed within the fluid chamber;
- and
- a transparent object that defines at least a portion of a wall of the fluid chamber;
- wherein the concentrated solar radiation received through the opening passes through the transparent object into the fluid chamber and impinges upon the solar absorber to produce a heated first fluid having a first pressure that is less than 2 atmospheres;
- a thermal storage unit comprising a vessel containing a thermal storage medium therein, and having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the fluid inlet of the thermal storage unit in valved fluid communication with the fluid outlet of the fluid chamber of the solar receiver;
- a fuel-fired combustion unit positioned upstream of a heat exchange system and in fluid communication with the heat exchange system, the fluid chamber of the solar receiver, and the thermal storage unit, and configured to further heat the heated first fluid prior to introduction to the heat exchange system and/or to independently provide a sufficient quantity of the heated first fluid to the heat exchange system to power a gas turbine;
- and
- a power generation system comprising:
- the heat exchange system, the heat exchange system comprising at least a first heat exchange unit, the heat exchange system positioned downstream of the solar receiver and the thermal storage unit and having an inlet in valved fluid communication with the fluid outlet of the fluid chamber of the solar receiver and in valved fluid communication with the fluid outlet of the thermal storage unit, such that the heat exchange system can receive the heated first fluid selectively from either or both of the fluid chamber of the solar receiver and the thermal storage unit,
- the heat exchange system being configured to transfer heat from the heated first fluid to a second fluid to produce a heated second fluid having a second pressure, the second pressure being greater than the first pressure;
- the gas turbine, the gas turbine being in fluid communication with and downstream of an outlet of the heat exchange system, configured to receive the heated second fluid at an inlet of the gas turbine inlet and generate power therefrom via an electric generator;
- and
- a fuel energy system positioned downstream of the heat exchange system and having an inlet in valved fluid communication with a second outlet of the heat exchange system, configured to receive one or more of:
- the heated first fluid from the heat exchange system, and/or
- electricity produced by the electric generator, wherein the fuel energy system produces one or more of:
- a combustible fuel suitable to be combusted by the fuel-fired combustion unit;
- electrical power;
- and/or
- a pressurized working fluid suitable to power the gas turbine.
18 more elements
A combination heating and power generation system, comprising:
- an industrial source of a heated first fluid, the heated first fluid between greater than or equal to 200° C. and less than or equal to 2000° C. and at a first pressure of less than or equal to 2 atmospheres;
- a thermal storage unit comprising a vessel containing a thermal storage medium therein, and having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the fluid inlet in valved fluid communication with a fluid outlet of the industrial source of the heated first fluid;
- a fuel-fired combustion unit positioned upstream of a heat exchange system and in fluid communication with the heat exchange system, the industrial source of the heated first fluid, and the thermal storage unit, and configured to further heat the heated first fluid prior to introduction to the heat exchange system and/or to independently provide a sufficient quantity of the heated first fluid to the heat exchange system to power a gas turbine;
- and
- a power generation system comprising:
- the heat exchange system, the heat exchange system comprising at least a first heat exchange unit, the heat exchange system positioned downstream of the industrial source of the heated first fluid and the thermal storage unit and having an inlet in valved fluid communication with the fluid outlet of the industrial source of the heated first fluid and in valved fluid communication with the fluid outlet of the thermal storage unit, such that the heat exchange system can receive the heated first fluid selectively from either or both of the industrial source of the heated first fluid and the thermal storage unit,
- the heat exchange system being configured to transfer heat from the heated first fluid to a second fluid to produce a heated second fluid having a second pressure, the second pressure being greater than the first pressure;
- the gas turbine, the gas turbine being in fluid communication with and downstream of an outlet of the heat exchange system, configured to receive the heated second fluid at an inlet of the gas turbine inlet and generate power therefrom via an electric generator;
- and
- a fuel energy system positioned downstream of the heat exchange system and having an inlet in valved fluid communication with a second outlet of the heat exchange system, configured to receive one or more of:
- the heated first fluid from the heat exchange system, and/or
- electricity produced by the electric generator, wherein the fuel energy system produces one or more of:
- a combustible fuel suitable to be combusted by the fuel-fired combustion unit;
- electrical power;
- and/or
- a pressurized working fluid suitable to power the gas turbine.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.