Solar-MHD energy conversion system. [tower focus collector with closed-cycle MHD generator]

Patent · Tue Jun 13 04:00:00 EDT 1978

OSTI ID:6672585

Rathbun, K R

A solar energy conversion system includes a centrally positioned tower supporting a solar receiver, and an array of pivotally mounted reflectors disposed circumferentially therearound which reflect earth incident solar radiation onto the receiver which thermally excites and photo-ionizes a working fluid to form a plasma. The plasma is accelerated and further heated through a ceramic turbo-compressor into a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) generator to produce direct current. The working fluid is then passed through a heat exchanger channel where the waste heat is removed by another working fluid which drives a vapor turbine connected to the ceramic turbo-compressor and an AC generator. Seed may then be removed and the working fluid is recycled in the closed cycle MHD system. The electrical power is distributed, part of it being used to electrolyze water into hydrogen and oxygen which are stored and allowed to exothermally recombine to drive the system during low solar radiation intervals. In a further embodiment the MHD working fluid receives its velocity from an external turbo-compressor drivem by the second working fluid, and an alternative thermal and photo-ionization chamber is employed. 16 claims, 10 figures.

• Assignee: TIC; ERA-03-056710; EDB-78-119598
• Patent Number(s): US 4095118
• OSTI ID: 6672585
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
080101 -- Hydrogen-- Production-- Electrolysis
14 SOLAR ENERGY
140702* -- Solar Thermal Power Systems-- Central Receiver
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300101 -- MHD Generators-- Design & Development
BOTTOMING CYCLES
CLOSED-CYCLE MHD GENERATORS
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTROLYSIS
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
HEAT
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
HYDROGEN STORAGE
LYSIS
MHD GENERATORS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLASMA
PLASMA SEEDING
POWER PLANTS
RECOVERY
SEED RECOVERY
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
SOLAR THERMAL POWER PLANTS
STORAGE
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES
TOPPING CYCLES
TOWER FOCUS COLLECTORS
TOWER FOCUS POWER PLANTS
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
WASTE HEAT
WASTES
WATER
WORKING FLUIDS