# US 9,038,386 B2 · Thermal vector system for solar concentration power plant

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- Number: US 9,038,386 B2
- Document ID: US9038386B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/063,017
- Filed: 2009-09-10
- Published: 2011-08-18
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2008-09-12
- Assignees: Internew Electronics S.R.L.; Giordano Michele Di Giordano Michele; Geodesk.It Di De Martino Pasquale
- Applicants: Pasquale De Martino; Paolo Harabaglia
- Inventors: Pasquale De Martino; Paolo Harabaglia
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038386B2

## CPC

- F24S 10/45: {the enclosure being cylindrical}
- 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 40/50: Preventing overheating or overpressure (by draining the working fluid F24S40/60)
- F24S 60/30: storing heat in liquids
- F24S 80/20: Working fluids specially adapted for solar heat collectors
- Y02B 10/20: Solar thermal
- Y02E 10/40: Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
- Y02E 10/44: Heat exchange systems
- Y02E 10/46: Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling or solar thermal engines
- Y02P 80/20: using renewable energy
- F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00)
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- 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

The present invention relates to a thermal vector system for solar concentration plants, in particular for parabolic trough solar concentration plants, both for industrial and domestic use, comprising a solid state thermal vector. A preferred solar concentration plant comprises one or more solar collectors (1), an heat exchanger (3-5), a heat accumulator (2) and a connecting pipe circuit, in which a solid state thermal vector is pushed through said circuit by mechanical means (6).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A parabolic through solar concentration plant comprising one or more solar collectors each including a parabolic trough, a heat exchanger, a heat accumulator and a connecting pipe circuit, wherein said connecting pipe circuit including therein a solid state thermal vector in grain or particle form for operating at a temperature of at least 500° C. within said connecting pipe circuit, said grains or particles comprise at least clinker material, said clinker material comprising calcium silicates and calcium aluminates, the clinker material having a particle size ranging from 100 μm to 0.5 cm, and wherein said connecting pipe circuit is adapted with mechanical means to push said solid state thermal vector through said connecting pipe circuit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The solar concentration plant according to claim 1, wherein said connecting pipe circuit further includes a gas.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The solar concentration plant according to claim 1, wherein said mechanical means are screw conveyors.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The solar concentration plant according to claim 1, wherein said collectors comprise a toroidal shaped receiver pipe.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The solar concentration plant according to claim 1, wherein said heat accumulator is buried in the ground.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The solar concentration plant according to claim 1, wherein said heat accumulator comprises an external outer shell, a thermal insulator and an internal core in which the connecting pipe circuit is going through.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The solar concentration plant according to claim 6, wherein said external outer shell is metallic and said internal core comprises clinker, graphite, copper, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The solar concentration plant according to claim 1, wherein said collector comprises a lens.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The solar concentration plant according to claim 1, wherein said grains or particles of said solid state thermal vector do not undergo chemical reactions up to at least 900° C. within the connecting pipe circuit.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The solar concentration plant according to claim 1, wherein said solid state material in grain or particle form further comprises expanded processed clay clinker, high temperature furnaces ash, graphite, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The solar concentration plant according to claim 1, wherein said plant comprises an external pre-heater shaped as a metallic serpentine.

### Claim 12 (depends on 2)

The solar concentration plant according to claim 2, wherein said gas is a noble gas.