Startup/shutdown systems and methods for a solar thermal power generating facility

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to solar power production, and more particularly to systems and methods of power production with solar boilers.

#2. Description of Related Art

#So that those skilled in the art to which the subject invention appertains will readily understand how to make and use the devices and methods of the subject invention without undue experimentation, preferred embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein below with reference to certain figures, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a system constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the main and auxiliary fluid circuits of a solar boiler in a no-flow state such as when shut down during a night time layover;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the system of FIG. 1, showing the system at a start-up stage where the drum is isolated from the main fluid circuit and the auxiliary boiler is operating to supply steam to the superheater and reheater via the auxiliary fluid circuit;

#Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject invention. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, a partial view of an exemplary embodiment of a system in accordance with the invention is shown in FIG. 1 and is designated generally by reference character 100. Other embodiments of systems in accordance with the invention, or aspects thereof, are provided in FIGS. 2-10, as will be described. The systems and methods of the invention can be used to start up solar boilers, such as after a night time layover, and shut down solar boilers, such as to begin a night time layover.

#Referring to FIG. 1, startup system 10 for a solar boiler 100 is shown schematically with all of the lines shut off from fluid flow as during a night time layover or inclement weather, for example. System 10 includes a main fluid circuit 102 including a plurality of solar boiler panels for generating power from solar energy. Boiler 100 includes panels for a steam generator 104, superheater 106, and reheater 108 each configured to transfer solar energy into the main fluid circuit 102. An auxiliary fluid circuit 110 is selectively connected in fluid communication with the main fluid circuit 102 by a plurality of valves, as will be described in greater detail below.

#With reference to FIG. 10, reheater 108, steam generator 104, and superheater 106 are stacked and aligned as shown in FIG. 10 with reheater 108 on the bottom, steam generator 104 in the middle, and superheater 106 on the top. With the individual solar boiler panels in close alignment with one another both horizontally and vertically, the collective surfaces of the panels create four substantially solid receiver surfaces for receiving solar radiation from heliostats on all four sides of boiler 100. The walls can be arranged to face North, East, South, and West, respectively, for example, and boiler 100 can be placed on top of a central receiver tower in a heliostat field. With such a receiver configuration, a field of heliostats can surround boiler 100 in all compass directions to supply radiation for heating the working fluid. Some or all of the remaining components of system 100 can be shielded from the heliostats within interior space 165 of solar boiler 100, or can be located elsewhere in the solar boiler tower or on the ground.