Effective and scalable solar energy collection and storage
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsKazuaki Yazawa, Zhixi Bian, Ali Shakouri
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Solar energy collection and storage systems and processes of using such systems. Non-direct solar energy collection and storage systems can generate electricity from solar radiation using a solar thermoelectric generator and at the same time capture solar thermal energy in a working fluid. The working fluid can then transfer the heat to a thermal storage medium where the heat can be retrieved on demand to generate electricity and heat a fluid. Direct solar energy collection and storage systems can store solar thermal energy in a thermal storage medium directly from solar radiation and the heat from the thermal storage medium can be used on demand to generate electricity and heat a fluid.
Claims13
A solar energy collection and storage system, comprising:
- a first energy converter with a first side and a second side;
- a solar radiation concentrator so as to concentrate solar radiation on the first side of the first energy converter;
- a first heat exchanger attached to the second side of the first energy converter, wherein a first fluid moves through the first heat exchanger and then through a thermal storage medium;
- a second energy converter with a first side and a second side;
- a second heat exchanger attached to the first side of the second energy converter, wherein a second fluid moves through the thermal storage medium and then through the second heat exchanger, the thermal storage medium configured to allow the first fluid to move through the thermal storage medium without coming into contact with the second fluid;
- a fluid storage vessel configured to allow the second fluid to move through without coming into contact with a third fluid;
- and
- a third heat exchanger attached to the second side of the second energy converter, wherein the third fluid moves through the third heat exchanger and then into the fluid storage vessel.
A process of collecting and storing solar energy, the process comprising:
- concentrating solar radiation on a first side of a first energy converter;
- generating electricity via the first energy converter;
- heating a first fluid by moving the first fluid through a first heat exchanger that is attached to a second side of the first energy converter;
- storing the heated first fluid in a thermal storage medium;
- moving the heated first fluid through a second heat exchanger that is attached to a first side of a second energy converter;
- generating electricity via the second energy converter;
- heating a second fluid by moving the second fluid through a third heat exchanger that is attached to a second side of the second energy converter;
- and
- storing the heated second fluid in a fluid storage vessel, wherein the first fluid moves through the fluid storage vessel after exiting the second heat exchanger to further heat the second fluid.
A process of collecting and storing solar energy, the process comprising:
- concentrating solar radiation on a first side of a first energy converter;
- generating electricity via the first energy converter;
- heating a first fluid by moving the first fluid through a first heat exchanger that is attached to a second side of the first energy converter;
- heating a thermal storage medium with the heated first fluid;
- heating a second fluid by moving the second fluid through the thermal storage medium;
- moving the second fluid through a second heat exchanger that is attached to a first side of a second energy converter;
- generating electricity via the second energy converter;
- heating a third fluid by moving the third fluid through a third heat exchanger that is attached to a second side of the second energy converter;
- and
- storing the heated third fluid in a fluid storage vessel, wherein the second fluid moves through the fluid storage vessel after exiting the second heat exchanger to further heat the third fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.