Solar power system and method of operation
AssigneeALSTOM Technology Ltd
InventorMarco Simiano
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solar power system, comprising a solar receiver that absorbs solar radiation, at least first and second fluid flow paths passing through the receiver, a first working fluid flowable through the first fluid flow path to absorb thermal energy from the receiver up to a first maximum temperature and a second working fluid flowable through the second fluid path to absorb thermal energy from the receiver up to a second maximum temperature.
Claims20
A solar power system, comprising a solar receiver for absorbing solar radiation and a plurality of separate fluid flow paths passing through the solar receiver in parallel with each other, wherein each fluid flow path contains a working fluid flowable at at least a minimum operating temperature through the fluid flow path to absorb thermal energy from the solar receiver up to a maximum operating temperature, the minimum and maximum operating temperatures being different for each working fluid, the arrangement being such that thermal energy absorbed in the solar receiver by a working fluid having relatively lower minimum and maximum operating temperatures is transferred to a working fluid having relatively higher minimum and maximum operating temperatures in an adjacent fluid flow path, such transfer of thermal energy occurring before the working fluid with the relatively higher minimum and maximum operating temperatures absorbs thermal energy from the solar receiver.
A method of operating a solar power system wherein thermal energy is transferred from a solar receiver to a plurality of different working fluids, the working fluids being flowable through a corresponding plurality of fluid flow paths and having different minimum and maximum operating temperatures from each other, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) flowing the working fluids at at least their minimum operating temperatures through their respective fluid flow paths to absorb thermal energy from the solar receiver up to their maximum operating temperatures;
- and
- b) transferring thermal energy absorbed in the solar receiver by a working fluid having relatively lower minimum and maximum operating temperatures to a working fluid having relatively higher minimum and maximum operating temperatures in an adjacent fluid flow path, such transfer of thermal energy occurring before the working fluid with the relatively higher minimum and maximum operating temperatures absorbs thermal energy from the solar receiver.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.