Solar thermal power system
Abstract
A solar thermal power generator includes an inclined elongated boiler tube positioned in the focus of a solar concentrator for generating steam from water. The boiler tube is connected at one end to receive water from a pressure vessel as well as connected at an opposite end to return steam back to the vessel in a fluidic circuit arrangement that stores energy in the form of heated water in the pressure vessel. An expander, condenser, and reservoir are also connected in series to respectively produce work using the steam passed either directly (above a water line in the vessel) or indirectly (below a water line in the vessel) through the pressure vessel, condense the expanded steam, and collect the condensed water. The reservoir also supplies the collected water back to the pressure vessel at the end of a diurnal cycle when the vessel is sufficiently depressurized, so that the system is reset to repeat the cycle the following day. The circuital arrangement of the boiler tube and the pressure vessel operates to dampen flow instabilities in the boiler tube, damp out the effects of solar transients, and provide thermal energy storage which enables time shifting of power generation to bettermore »
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1176350
- Patent Number(s):
- 7735323
- Application Number:
- 12/030,065
- Assignee:
- Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (Livermore, CA)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F01 - MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL F01K - STEAM ENGINE PLANTS
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F03 - MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS F03G - SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 14 SOLAR ENERGY; 25 ENERGY STORAGE; 42 ENGINEERING
Citation Formats
Bennett, Charles L. Solar thermal power system. United States: N. p., 2010.
Web.
Bennett, Charles L. Solar thermal power system. United States.
Bennett, Charles L. Tue .
"Solar thermal power system". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1176350.
@article{osti_1176350,
title = {Solar thermal power system},
author = {Bennett, Charles L.},
abstractNote = {A solar thermal power generator includes an inclined elongated boiler tube positioned in the focus of a solar concentrator for generating steam from water. The boiler tube is connected at one end to receive water from a pressure vessel as well as connected at an opposite end to return steam back to the vessel in a fluidic circuit arrangement that stores energy in the form of heated water in the pressure vessel. An expander, condenser, and reservoir are also connected in series to respectively produce work using the steam passed either directly (above a water line in the vessel) or indirectly (below a water line in the vessel) through the pressure vessel, condense the expanded steam, and collect the condensed water. The reservoir also supplies the collected water back to the pressure vessel at the end of a diurnal cycle when the vessel is sufficiently depressurized, so that the system is reset to repeat the cycle the following day. The circuital arrangement of the boiler tube and the pressure vessel operates to dampen flow instabilities in the boiler tube, damp out the effects of solar transients, and provide thermal energy storage which enables time shifting of power generation to better align with the higher demand for energy during peak energy usage periods.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2010},
month = {Tue Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2010}
}
Works referenced in this record:
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journal, April 2004
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The DISS Project: Direct Steam Generation in Parabolic Troughs — Operation and Maintenance Experience — Update on Project Status
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Test loop for reserach on direct steam generation in parabolic trough power plants
journal, December 1991
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