Low cost dispatchable solar power
AssigneeRaygen Resources Pty Ltd
InventorsJohn Beavis LASICH, Richard James PAYNE, Sean Alexander BAKER, Anthony John KITCHENER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of operating a solar energy plant and a solar plant are disclosed. Thermal energy produced in the plant is used to heat a first volume of water and charge a hot store in the plant. Electricity produced in the plant operates a heat engine or other device, such as a refrigeration unit, to extract heat and consequently cool a second volume of water and charge a cold store. As desired, energy is transferred from the hot store to a heat engine and energy is transferred from the heat engine to the cold store to operate the heat engine to produce power in the plant.
Claims20
A method of operating a solar energy plant that includes:
- (a) converting solar energy into thermal energy and heating a first volume of water to charge a hot store during an energy storage stage of the method;
- (b) converting solar energy into electrical energy and using the electrical energy to operate a heat engine or other device, such as a refrigeration unit, to cool a second volume of water and charge a cold store during an energy storage stage of the method;
- and
- (c) using the hot store and the cold store to operate a heat engine to power an electrical generator or for use in another application during an energy discharge stage of the method.
A solar energy plant for producing electricity from solar energy that includes:
- (a) a solar power generation system for generating electricity and thermal energy;
- (b) a system for transferring thermal energy from the solar power generation system to heat a first volume of water and ‘charging’ a hot store;
- (c) a heat engine or other suitable device, such as a refrigeration unit, for extracting heat from a second volume of water and producing a cold store, such as an ice slurry, during a charging period;
- and
- (d) a heat engine, such as an organic Rankine Cycle power generator, for generating power that is connected to the hot store and the cold store that contribute to the operation of the heat engine to generate power during an energy discharge stage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.