Flow Control Systems and Methods for a Phase Change Material Solar Receiver
AssigneeAbengoa Solar Inc.
InventorsLuke Erickson, Russell Muren, Ryan Webster, Cory Hodgkins, Drake Tilley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed embodiments include concentrating solar power (CSP) systems and solar receivers for CSP systems configured to provide inlet and outlet heat transfer material flow control. The disclosed embodiments feature heat transfer material flowing in and open heat transfer material circuit. Certain embodiments may be implemented with a solid-liquid phase change material as the heat transfer material. Alternative embodiments include methods of heat transfer material flow control in a CSP system and CSP systems configured as described.
Claims18
A concentrating solar power system receiver comprising:
- at least one receiver tube having an inlet;
- a pressure equalizing pipe in fluid communication with the receiver tube at an end of the receiver tube opposite the inlet, the pressure equalizing pipe comprising a riser portion and an outlet providing for passive pressure equalization between an upper portion of the pressure equalizing pipe and the inlet to the receiver tube;
- and
- a launder positioned to receive liquid flowing from the outlet of the pressure equalization pipe, wherein a gap exists between the outlet of the pressure equalization pipe and the launder.
8-12. (canceled)
A concentrating solar power system comprising:
- a solid-liquid phase change heat transfer material contained within an open heat transfer material circuit;
- a solar receiver configured to receive concentrated solar flux to heat a quantity of the heat transfer material and thereby cause a solid-phase portion the heat transfer material to melt to a liquid phase at a selected location in a heat transfer material circuit, the solar receiver further comprising;
- at least one receiver tube having an inlet;
- a pressure equalizing pipe in fluid communication with the receiver tubes at an end of the receiver tubes opposite the inlet, the pressure equalizing pipe comprising a riser portion and an outlet providing for passive pressure equalization between the upper portion of the pressure equalizing pipe and the inlet to the receiver tube;
- and
- a launder positioned to receive liquid flowing from the outlet of the pressure equalization pipe, wherein a gap exists between the outlet of the pressure equalization pipe and the launder;
- and
- a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the solar receiver, the heat exchanger receiving liquid heat transfer material and providing for heat exchange between the liquid heat transfer material and a working fluid of a power cycle.
18-20. (canceled)
A receiver flow control method comprising:
- providing a solid-liquid phase change heat transfer material;
- conveying the heat transfer material into a solar receiver configured to receive concentrated solar flux;
- heating at least a portion of the heat transfer material in the solar receiver with concentrated solar flux;
- flowing a liquid-phase heat transfer material from a lower portion of the solar receiver upward in a pressure equalizing pipe;
- flowing the liquid-phase heat transfer material from an outlet in the pressure equalizing pipe into a launder;
- and
- equalizing a pressure at an inlet to the solar receiver with a pressure at the outlet of the pressure equalizing pipe by providing a gap between the outlet of the pressure equalizing pipe and the launder.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.