US 4,095,118 AGranted

Solar-MHD energy conversion system

OwnerKenneth R. Rathbuninventor

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Abstract

A solar energy conversion system includes a centrally positioned tower supporting a solar receiver, and an array of pivotally mounted reflectors disposed circumferentially therearound which reflect earth incident solar radiation onto the receiver which thermally excites and photo-ionizes a working fluid to form a plasma. The plasma is accelerated and further heated through a ceramic turbo-compressor into a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) generator to produce direct current. The working fluid is then passed through a heat exchanger channel where the waste heat is removed by another working fluid which drives a vapor turbine connected to the ceramic turbo-compressor and an AC generator. Seed may then be removed and the working fluid is recycled in the closed cycle MHD system. The electrical power is distributed, part of it being used to electrolyze water into hydrogen and oxygen which are stored and allowed to exothermally recombine to drive the system during low solar radiation intervals. In a further embodiment the MHD working fluid receives its velocity from an external turbo-compressor driven by the second working fluid, and an alternative thermal and photo-ionization chamber is employed.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An energy conversion system comprising

an ionizable working fluid;
a magnetohydrodynamic generator including
conduit means for providing a path through said generator for said fluid, said conduit means having input and output ends,
means for establishing a magnetic field in said conduit means, and
means for collecting charged particles from within said conduit means and for delivering electrical energy to a load device;
means for providing a closed flow path for said working fluid from the output of said generator conduit means and to the input thereof, including
means adjacent the input end of said generator conduit means for exciting said working fluid to an elevated energy level at which said fluid is at least partially ionized into a plasma,
means for inducing flow of said plasma into said MHD conduit means,
heat exchanger means coupled to the output of said MHD generator conduit means for reducing the temperature of said working fluid by extractinng heat therefrom, and
means for delivering said working fluid from said heat exchanger to said means for exciting;
and
a plurality of heliostats arranged to receive solar radiation and to direct said radiation onto said means for exciting;
said means for exciting including
first wall means transparent to solar radiation for permitting solar radiation to pass therethrough, and
second wall means opaque to solar radiation for absorbing energy from solar radiation incident thereon;
said first and second wall means being interconnected to form a conduit chamber through which said working fluid can pass, said first and second wall means being substantially perpendicular to the direction of radiation reflected from said heliostats with said first wall means between said second wall means and said heliostats;
whereby said working fluid is excited toward non-equilibrium thermal ionization by energy absorbed from said radiation by said second wall means and is at least partially photo-ionized by radiation passing through said first wall means and by radiation re-emitted by said second wall means.

14 more elements

An energy conversion system comprising

an ionizable working fluid;
a magnetohydrodynamic generator having an input and an output for said working fluid;
means for providing an endless closed path for said working fluid between the output and input of said generator and for producing flow of said fluid in said path;
means in said path for exciting said working fluid to an elevated energy level at which said fluid is at least partially ionized into a plasma;
means for concentrating solar radiation on said means for exciting so that said fluid is excited by both thermal and photon energy absorption;
and
circuit means connected to said generator for removing electrical energy therefrom,
wherein said means for exciting includes
means defining an annular chamber having an outer wall portion exposed to said radiation, an inner wall portion having a radiation reflective surface, and an intermediate wall portion separating said chamber into a first flow path between said inner and intermediate wall portions and a second flow path between said outer and intermediate wall portions for said working fluid,
said inner and outer walls being connected to each other to provide an interconnecting flow path around an end of said intermediate wall portion,
said outer wall portion being substantially transparent to solar radiation,
said inner wall portion being radiation reflective, and
said intermediate wall portion being radiation absorptive such that working fluid is thermally excited as it passes the intermediate wall portion.

10 more elements

A method of energy conversion comprising the steps of

providing an ionizable working fluid,
passing said fluid through a chamber having a portion thereof exposed to solar radiation,
ionizing said working fluid to form a plasma,
delivering said plasma to a magnetohydrodynamic generator in the presence of a magnetic field to produce electrical energy,
continuously recirculating the working fluid from the outlet of said magnetchydrodynamic generator to said chamber for re-ionization,
and wherein the step of ionizing includes, during intervals of maximum solar radiation, the steps of
passing said working fluid through a closed chamber having a portion transparent to solar radiation so that said fluid is ionized by thermal and photon energy, and
simultaneously concentrating solar energy on the transparent portion of the chamber,
and wherein the step of ionizing includes, during intervals of reduced solar radiation, the steps of
producing an exothermic reaction in a combustion chamber, and
passing the working fluid adjacent the combustion chamber and in intimate heat exchange relationship therewith so that the fluid is thermally ionized.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 05/745,198Filed 26 Nov 1976
Granted: 13 Jun 1978
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

H02K 44/08
Machines in which the dynamo-electric interaction between a plasma or flow of conductive liquid or of fluid-borne conductive or magnetic…
F24S 20/20
Solar heat collectors specially adapted for particular uses or environments: solar heat collectors for receiving concentrated solar energy, e.g.…
Y02E 10/40
Energy generation through renewable energy sources: solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
Y10S 505/88
Apparatus per se, device per se, or process of making or operating same: inductor