Concentrated solar power generation using solar receivers
AssigneeWilson 247Solar, Inc.
InventorsBruce N. Anderson, William Dean Treece, Dan Brown, Florian Bennhold, Christoph Hilgert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Inventive concentrated solar power systems using solar receivers, and related devices and methods, are generally described. Low pressure solar receivers are provided that function to convert solar radiation energy to thermal energy of a working fluid, e.g., a working fluid of a power generation or thermal storage system. In some embodiments, low pressure solar receivers are provided herein that are useful in conjunction with gas turbine based power generation systems.
Claims25
-48. (canceled)
A system, comprising:
- a solar receiver constructed and arranged to heat a gas at a pressure of less than or equal to 2 atmospheres;
- a thermal storage system fluidically connected to the solar receiver;
- and
- a heat exchange system fluidically connected to the solar receiver, constructed and arranged to transfer thermal energy from the gas heated by the solar receiver to a second gas,
- wherein the system is constructed and arranged such that a first portion of the gas heated by the solar receiver can be transported to the thermal storage unit and a second portion of the gas heated by the solar receiver can be transported to the heat exchange system.
A method, comprising:
- heating a gas at a pressure of less than or equal to 2 atmospheres within a solar receiver;
- transporting a first portion of the gas from the solar receiver to a thermal storage system fluidically connected to the solar receiver;
- and
- transporting a second portion of the gas from the solar receiver to a heat exchange system fluidically connected to the solar receiver, wherein the heat exchange system is constructed and arranged to transfer thermal energy from the gas heated by the solar receiver to a second gas.
-62. (canceled)
-66. (canceled)
A power generation system, comprising:
- a solar receiver constructed and arranged to heat a gas at a pressure of less than or equal to 2 atmospheres;
- a gas turbine fluidically connected to the solar receiver such that a portion of the gas heated by the solar receiver includes the exhaust of the gas turbine;
- and
- a blower fluidically connected to the solar receiver such that a portion of the gas heated by the solar receiver includes the exhaust of the blower.
A method of generating power, comprising:
- producing power using a first gas at a pressure of greater than 2 atmospheres within a gas turbine;
- transporting at least a portion of the exhaust stream of the gas turbine to a solar receiver, wherein the gas transported from the gas turbine to the solar receiver has a pressure of less than or equal to 2 atmospheres;
- transporting a second gas from a blower to the solar receiver;
- and
- heating the first and second gases within the solar receiver.
-80. (canceled)
-84. (canceled)
-262. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.