Solar receiver protection means and method for loss of coolant flow

A protection means for a solar receiver adapted to transfer solar energy as thermal energy to a liquid passing therethrough, said protection means comprising:

• a first storage tank for containing a first predetermined volume of said liquid and a first predetermined volume of a gas at a first predetermined pressure, said first storage tank having an inlet means and an exit means through which said liquid can enter and exit;
• a second storage tank for containing a second predetermined volume of said liquid and a second predetermined volume of a gas at a second predetermined pressure, said second storage tank having an inlet means through which said liquid can enter;
• conduit means interconnecting said first storage tank exit means, said solar receiver, and said second storage tank inlet means whereby in the absence of liquid passing through said first storage tank inlet means, said first and second predetermined liquid volumes, said first and second predetermined gas volumes, and said first and second predetermined pressures are chosen so that a predetermined volume of fluid will flow at a predetermined flow rate profile from said first storage tank through said solar receiver and into said second storage tank;
• and
• wherein a pump means is in fluid communication with said first storage tank inlet means via a supply conduit, said protection means further comprising a first stop check valve means in series with said supply conduit for blocking the flow of fluid through said supply conduit when liquid pressure within said first storage tank is greater than liquid pressure within said supply conduit portion between said pump and said first stop check valve means, and
• wherein said first storage tank comprises a gas inlet means and said second storage tank comprises a gas inlet means, said protection means further comprising:
• a gas pressurization system for providing gas at said first predetermined pressure to said first storage tank gas inlet means via a first gas supply conduit, and gas at said second predetermined pressure to said second storage tank gas inlet means via a second gas supply conduit;
• and
• second stop check valve means located in said first gas supply conduit for preventing gas from flowing from said first storage tank through said first gas supply conduit.