Systems, methods, and devices for operating a solar thermal electricity generating system

A method for operating a solar thermal electricity generating system, the method comprising:

• during a first time period, heating at least a portion of a first receiver using steam from an auxiliary steam source, an initiation of the first time period being responsive to a first signal from a control system;
• during a second time period, heating at least a portion of a second receiver using solar insolation incident thereon, an initiation of the second time period being responsive to a second signal from the control system;
• and
• after the first time period, continuing to heat the at least a portion of the second receiver using solar insolation incident thereon while directing steam from an outlet of the second receiver to an inlet of the first receiver,
• wherein the first receiver is a superheating receiver and the second receiver is an evaporator, and
• wherein an end of the first period and initiation of the directing steam is responsive to a third signal from the control system, the third signal indicating that the steam from the second receiver is at or exceeds a threshold temperature and pressure.

A method for operating a solar thermal electricity generating system, the method comprising:

• during a first time period, heating at least a portion of a first receiver using steam from an auxiliary steam source;
• during a second time period, heating at least a portion of a second receiver using solar insolation incident thereon;
• and
• after the first time period, continuing to heat the at least a portion of the second receiver using solar insolation incident thereon while directing steam from an outlet of the second receiver to an inlet of the first receiver,
• wherein the first receiver is a superheating receiver and the second receiver is an evaporator,
• wherein steam is directed from the second receiver to the first receiver by way of a steam separation drum,
• and the method comprises, during the first time period, recirculating fluid from an outlet of the second receiver back to an inlet of the second receiver along a recirculating flow path that bypasses the steam separation drum.

A method for operating a solar thermal electricity generating system, the method comprising:

• during a first time period, heating at least a portion of a first receiver by flowing steam from an auxiliary steam source through the first receiver from an inlet to an outlet thereof, steam exiting the first receiver at the outlet bypassing a steam turbine coupled to the outlet of the first receiver;
• during a second time period, heating at least a portion of a second receiver using solar insolation incident thereon;
• and
• after the first time period, continuing to heat the at least a portion of the second receiver using solar insolation incident thereon while directing steam from an outlet of the second receiver to the inlet of the first receiver,
• wherein the first receiver is a superheating receiver and the second receiver is an evaporator, and
• during a portion of the first time period that does not overlap the second time period, the second receiver is unheated.