High temperature solar thermal systems and methods

A method at least partially implemented by a computing device operatively coupled to a high temperature solar thermal system, the method comprising:

• concentrating solar radiation to heat granules (“heated particles”);
• communicating the heated particles to an energy conversion engine that uses a working fluid medium to energize a gas turbine power cycle;
• compressing the working fluid medium to generate compressed gas;
• transferring heat from the heated particles in proximal relationship to a tube array containing the compressed gas to create a power cycle in the energy conversion engine;
• responsive to the power cycle, driving a shaft in the energy conversion engine.

A system for power production, the system comprising:

• high quality energy production such as the production of electric or mechanical power comprising
• a solar energy collector means for heating solid particles;
• thermal energy storage means for receiving and storing heated solid particles;
• heat transfer means for transfering heat from heated solid particles received from the solar energy collector or from the thermal energy storage to a working fluid medium;
• and
• a heat engine energy conversion means responsive to the heat transfer means to implementing a power cycle in a heat engine.