Solar thermal power plants
AssigneeSiemens Concentrated Solar Power Ltd.
InventorMichael Schaal
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A solar thermal power plant is provided comprising a solar collection system and a steam-electric power plant. The solar collection system comprises one or more tube radiation absorbers containing a thermal fluid therewithin, the system being configured to heat the thermal fluid by passing the thermal fluid through the one or more tube radiation absorbers while the absorbers are irradiated with solar radiation. The steam-electric power plant comprises an intermediate-pressure steam turbine, a low-pressure steam turbine, at least one additional steam turbine having an inlet pressure higher than that of the intermediate-pressure steam turbine, and piping containing a working fluid. Each turbine is associated with a heat exchange system adapted to transfer heat from the thermal fluid to the working fluid.
Claims20
A method for generating power comprising:
- extracting power from a working fluid by expanding said working fluid serially in at least three turbine stages, wherein prior to each of said expansion stages the working fluid is heated in a respective heat exchange system to a predetermined temperature associated with the corresponding stage;
- and
- converting said extracted power into electrical power;
- wherein said working fluid is heated by means of heat transfer from a thermal fluid, and wherein said thermal fluid is previously heated by passing the thermal fluid through one or more tube radiation absorbers while said absorbers are irradiated with solar radiation;
- and
- wherein the heat exchange system associated with one of the at least three turbine stages comprises three separate heat exchangers, a first heat exchanger including a pre-heater, a second heat exchanger including an evaporator, and a third heat exchanger including a super-heater.
A method according to claim 1, wherein said tube radiation absorbers constitute a portion of a solar collection system of a solar thermal power plant comprising said solar collection system and a steam-electric power plant for carrying out the method of claim 16, said steam-electric power plant comprising an intermediate-pressure steam turbine, a low-pressure steam turbine, at least one additional steam turbine having an inlet pressure higher than that of the intermediate-pressure steam turbine, and piping containing said working fluid;
- each turbine being associated with a heat exchange system adapted to transfer heat from said thermal fluid to said working fluid.
A solar thermal power plant comprising a solar collection system and a steam-electric power plant, wherein:
- said solar collection system comprises one or more tube radiation absorbers containing a thermal fluid therewithin, said system being configured to heat said thermal fluid by passing the thermal fluid through said one or more tube radiation absorbers while said absorbers are irradiated with solar radiation;
- and
- said steam-electric power plant comprises an intermediate-pressure steam turbine, a low-pressure steam turbine, at least one additional steam turbine having an inlet pressure higher than that of the intermediate-pressure steam turbine, and piping containing a working fluid;
- each turbine associated with a respective heat exchange system adapted to transfer heat from said thermal fluid to said working fluid;
- wherein the heat exchange system associated with said at least one additional steam turbine comprises three separate heat exchangers, a first heat exchanger including a pre-heater, a second heat exchanger including an evaporator, and a third heat exchanger, including a super-heater.
A solar thermal power plant comprising:
- a solar collection system including single access sun tracking parabolic reflectors and one or more tube radiation absorbers configured to collectively gather heat energy when irradiated by solar radiation;
- the one or more tube radiation absorbers configured to transfer the gathered heat into a thermal fluid as it passes through the one or more tube radiation absorbers;
- and
- a steam-electric power plant including multiple heat exchange systems, including at least a low-pressure steam turbine, an intermediate-pressure steam turbine, and one additional steam turbine having an inlet pressure higher than that of the intermediate-pressure steam turbine;
- wherein each heat exchange system comprises a steam turbine and a working fluid containing in associated piping;
- and
- wherein the heat exchange systems are configured to transfer heat energy from the thermal fluid into the respective working fluids;
- and
- wherein the heat exchange system associated with said additional steam turbine comprises three separate heat exchangers, a first heat exchanger including a pre-heater, a second heat exchanger including an evaporator, and a third heat exchanger including a super-heater.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.