Apparatus and process for steam generation by solar energy
OwnerBoris Dimitroffinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Steam to be supplied to a turbine is generated in a single pressure chamber reservoir by solar energy concentrated on the head of a conductor mounted in the top wall of the reservoir chamber with its conductive portion extending downward through a head space into the water. Convector surfaces on the conductor in the head space super heats the steam as it flows to the turbine. The solar energy is supplied from a parabolic reflector and directed through a lens system to a focus on the head of the conductor. The focus may be modulated to assure optimum operation without overheating.
Claims6
For use in a steam generating system having a conventional steam turbine,
- apparatus to generate steam from solar energy, comprising
- reflector means to concentrate said solar energy and
- lens means to focus such solar energy substantially at a focal point,
- a conductor element having a heat-receiving head portion positioned substantially at said focal point, whereby such energy impinges thereon, and having a conductive portion depending therefrom,
- a water reservoir chamber having a normal water level and a head space thereabove including a steam outlet communicating with such turbine, said conductor element being mounted in a top wall of said reservoir chamber with its head portion projecting thereabove and its heat conducting portion extending downward into the lower part of said reservoir chamber,
- whereby its lower end projects below such water level, thereby to conduct heat to such water,
- said conductive portion having finned convection surface means above such water level,
- whereby to superheat the steam rising in the head-space of said reservoir chamber.
The process of converting solar energy into superheated steam, comprising the steps of
- directing such solar energy gathered by a reflector through a lens system to converge on the head of a conductive element mounted in the upper wall of a reservoir chamber with a head portion projecting therethrough and a heat conducting portion extending downward through a head space into water in the lower part of such reservoir chamber,
- heating such head portion to a temperature substantially above the boiling point of water,
- conducting the heat downward from the head portion through the conductive portion in part to projecting convection surface means mounted thereon in the head space and in part downward into the water,
- from said water generating steam which rises in the head space, and
- superheating the steam so rising by transferring heat thereto from the projecting convection surface means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.