# US 8,739,774 B2 · Direct solar steam generation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,774 B2 - Document ID: US8739774B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/902,492 - Filed: 2013-05-24 - Published: 2013-09-26 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2010-07-05 - Assignees: GlassPoint Solar, Inc. - Applicants: Glasspoint Solar, Inc. - Inventors: John Setel O'Donnell; Peter Emery von Behrens; Stuart M. Heisler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739774B2 ## CPC - F24S 23/71: with parabolic reflective surfaces (with cylindro-parabolic reflective surfaces F24S23/74) - F24S 10/40: in absorbing elements surrounded by transparent enclosures, e.g. evacuated solar collectors - F24S 10/742: {the conduits being parallel to each other} - F24S 20/20: Solar heat collectors for receiving concentrated solar energy, e.g. receivers for solar power plants - F24S 23/74: with trough-shaped or cylindro-parabolic reflective surfaces - F24S 40/20: Cleaning; Removing snow - F24S 40/80: Accommodating differential expansion of solar collector elements - F28G 1/12: Fluid-propelled scrapers, bullets, or like solid bodies - B08B 3/08: the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect - B08B 9/055: the cleaning devices conforming to, or being conformable to, substantially the same cross-section of the pipes, {e.g. pigs or moles (pigs or moles per se F16L55/26; their launching and detection F16L55/46; separating pigs in pipelines F17D3/00)} - F24S 10/70: the working fluids being conveyed through tubular absorbing conduits - F24S 30/425: Horizontal axis - F24S 2023/834: {trough-shaped} - Y02A 20/142: Solar thermal; Photovoltaics - Y02E 10/40: Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers - Y02E 10/44: Heat exchange systems - Y02P 80/20: using renewable energy - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - F28G: CLEANING OF INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL SURFACES OF HEAT-EXCHANGE OR HEAT-TRANSFER CONDUITS, e.g. WATER TUBES OR BOILERS (cleaning pipes or tubes in general B08B9/02; devices or arrangements for removing water, minerals, or sludge from boilers while the boiler is in operation, or which remain in position while the boiler is in operation, or are specifically adapted to boilers without any other utility F22B37/48; removal or treatment of combustion products or combustion residues F23J; removing ice from heat-exchange apparatus F28F17/00) - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract Solar energy generates steam in a “once-through” configuration without recirculation, with closely managed steam quality, to produce wet steam from high-contaminant feed water without scaling or fouling. Feed water is pressurized, preheated, and evaporated in a series of pipes exposed to concentrated soar energy to produce a water-steam mixture for direct distribution to an industrial process such as enhanced oil recovery or desalination. Water flow rates are managed based on measurements of solar energy and steam production to manage variations in the solar energy. Steam generator piping system uses continuous receiver pipe that is illuminated by segmented parabolic mirrors enabled to track the sun. Provisions for steam generator piping recurring maintenance are provided. Thermal energy from hot condensate and/or from low quality steam is recaptured and warms inlet water. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A solar collection system, comprising: an inlet manifold coupled to a source of water; an outlet manifold; a plurality of receiver sections connected between the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold, with individual receiver sections including: a receiver having an elongated conduit, the elongated conduit having a cleaning pig launch location and a cleaning pig capture location, the elongated conduit having a uniform inner diameter, no hoses, and no expansion joints between the launch location and the capture location to permit passage of a cleaning pig; and at least one reflector positioned to receive solar radiation and direct at least a portion of the radiation to the receiver between the launch location and the capture location; a steam distribution system coupled between the outlet manifold and an oilfield steam injection well to direct steam from the water into the well, without a reboiler between the outlet manifold and the injection well; and a controller coupled to the inlet manifold, the outlet manifold and the receiver sections, the controller being configured to (a) isolate a particular receiver section from other receiver sections and (b) position a reflector corresponding to the particular section off-sun, during cleaning operations. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the elongated conduit includes a first portion in which the working fluid travels in a first direction, a second portion in which the working fluid travels in a second direction different than the first direction, and a connecting portion between the first and second portions, the first portion, the second portion and the connecting portion having at least approximately the same inner diameter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the conduit has a length of at least 100 feet between the launch location and the capture location. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3 wherein the conduit includes bends having the uniform inner diameter between the launch location and the capture location. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the conduit includes welded sections of pipe between the launch location and the capture location. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the conduit is continuous between the launch location and the capture location. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the conduit has no joints between the launch location and the capture location. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the conduit has no flanges between the launch location and the capture location. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the conduit has no constriction points between the launch location and the capture location. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the conduit has a first end that is fixed longitudinally and a second end that is extendible longitudinally under a thermal load. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the conduit includes a seam. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The solar collection system of claim 1, wherein: the elongated conduit includes a first portion in which the working fluid travels in a first direction, a second portion in which the working fluid travels in a second direction opposite the first direction, and a connecting portion between the first and second portions; and wherein the at least one reflector is positioned to receive solar radiation and direct a first portion of the radiation to the first portion of the receiver, and direct a second portion of the radiation to the second portion of the receiver. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising an enclosure having a transmissive surface positioned to transmit the solar radiation to the at least one reflector. ### Claim 14 A solar collection system comprising: an inlet manifold coupled to a source of water; an outlet manifold; a plurality of receiver sections connected between the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold, with individual receiver sections including: a receiver having an elongated conduit, the elongated conduit having a cleaning pig launch location and a cleaning pig capture location, the elongated conduit having a uniform inner diameter, no hoses, and no expansion joints between the launch location and the capture location to permit passage of a cleaning pig; and at least one reflector positioned to receive solar radiation and direct at least a portion of the radiation to the receiver between the launch location and the capture location; a steam distribution system coupled between the outlet manifold and an oilfield steam injection well to direct steam from the water into the well, without a reboiler between the outlet manifold and the injection well; and a controller operatively coupled to at least one of the inlet manifold, the outlet manifold and the receiver pipes, the controller being configured to (a) isolate a particular receiver pipe from other receiver pipes, and (b) position a reflector corresponding to the particular receiver pipe off-sun, during cleaning operations.