Device, plant and method for the storage and transfer of thermal energy of solar origin
AssigneeMagaldi Power S.P.A.
InventorMario Magaldi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The object of the present invention is to use the high temperature thermal power stored in the fluid bed in conjunction with thermophotovoltaic (TPV) technology. TPV technology requires thermal emitters at high temperature (>600° C.) to produce electricity from thermal radiation. TPV thermal emitters are located immersed in or exposed to a hot particles fluidized bed, protected by suitable layers of high temperature resistant material, like ceramic or refractory walls. Such high temperature fluidized bed, will provide thermal power to the TPV cells, to produce electricity.
Claims14
A device for storage and transfer of thermal energy associated with an incident solar radiation, which device comprises:
- a containment casing having a top and a bottom;
- a bed of fluidizable solid particles received inside said containment casing;
- a plurality of thermophotovoltaic cells arranged at or inside said containment casing and configured to transform thermal energy of said fluidizable solid particles into electric energy without steam,
- wherein thermal energy is transferred from the solar radiation to the fluidizable solid particles of said bed and from said fluidizable solid particles to said thermophotovoltaic cells,
- wherein the thermophotovoltaic cells are exposed to the fluidizable solid particles as thermal emitters at a temperature ≥600° C.;
- wherein said device further comprises fluidization means configured for inputting a fluidization gas into said bed of fluidizable solid particles thereby fluidizing said solid particles, said fluidization means being disposed proximal to said bottom of said containment casing and further configured to input said fluidization gas upwards into said bed of fluidizable solid particles and towards said top;
- wherein said bed of fluidizable solid particles, once fluidized, is configured to be selectively moved by said fluidization gas for storing thermal energy received from the solar radiation;
- wherein said device is configured to selectively vary a fluidization gas speed or flow rate of the fluidization gas;
- and
- wherein each of said solid particles is formed from an oxidation-inert material having a spherical shape.
A device for storage and transfer of thermal energy associated with an incident solar radiation, which device comprises:
- a containment casing having a top and a bottom;
- a bed of fluidizable solid particles received inside said containment casing;
- a plurality of thermophotovoltaic cells arranged at or inside said containment casing and configured to transform thermal energy of said fluidizable solid particles into electric energy without steam,
- wherein thermal energy is transferred from the solar radiation to the fluidizable solid particles of said bed and from said fluidizable solid particles to said thermophotovoltaic cells,
- wherein the thermophotovoltaic cells are exposed to the fluidizable solid particles as thermal emitters at a temperature ≥600° C.;
- wherein said device further comprises fluidization means configured for inputting a fluidization gas into said bed of fluidizable solid particles thereby fluidizing said solid particles, said fluidization means being disposed proximal to said bottom of said containment casing and further configured to input said fluidization gas upwards into said bed of fluidizable solid particles and towards said top;
- wherein said bed of fluidizable solid particles, once fluidized, is configured to be selectively moved by said fluidization gas for storing thermal energy received from the solar radiation;
- and
- wherein said device is configured to selectively vary a fluidization gas speed or flow rate of the fluidization gas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.