Title: Methods and systems for concentrated solar power

Abstract

Embodiments described herein relate to a method of producing energy from concentrated solar flux. The method includes dropping granular solid particles through a solar flux receiver configured to transfer energy from concentrated solar flux incident on the solar flux receiver to the granular solid particles as heat. The method also includes fluidizing the granular solid particles from the solar flux receiver to produce a gas-solid fluid. The gas-solid fluid is passed through a heat exchanger to transfer heat from the solid particles in the gas-solid fluid to a working fluid. The granular solid particles are extracted from the gas-solid fluid such that the granular solid particles can be dropped through the solar flux receiver again.

Inventors:

Ma, Zhiwen

Issue Date:

2016-05-24

Research Org.:

National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1254168

Patent Number(s):

9347690

Application Number:

13/855,088

Assignee:

ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC (Golden, CO)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E02 - HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING E02D - FOUNDATIONS

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F28 - HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL F28D - HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT

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E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E02 - HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING E02D - FOUNDATIONS

E02D27/38 - Foundations for large tanks, e.g. oil tanks

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F28 - HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL F28D - HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT

F28D2020/0047 - {using molten salts or liquid metals}
F28D2021/0045 - {for granular materials

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F24 - HEATING F24S - SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS

F24S70/10 - characterised by the absorbing material
F24S10/80 - comprising porous material or permeable masses directly contacting the working fluids

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F03 - MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS F03G - SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS

F03G6/065 - {having a Rankine cycle}

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

Y02E60/14 - Thermal storage
Y02E10/46 - Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling solar thermal engines

E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E04 - BUILDING E04H - BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES

E04H7/26 - mainly of concrete, e.g. reinforced concrete or other stone-like materials

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F24 - HEATING F24S - SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS

F24S80/20 - Working fluids specially adapted for solar heat collectors

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

Y02E10/40 - Solar thermal energy

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F28 - HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL F28D - HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT

F28D20/0056 - {using solid heat storage material

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F28 - HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL F28C - HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT WITHOUT CHEMICAL INTERACTION

F28C3/12 - the heat-exchange medium being a particulate material and a gas, vapour, or liquid
F28C3/10 - one heat-exchange medium at least being a fluent solid, e.g. a particulate material

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F24 - HEATING F24S - SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS

F24S90/00 - Solar heat systems not otherwise provided for

H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02K - DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES

H02K7/1823 - {structurally associated with turbines or similar engines}

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F28 - HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL F28D - HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT

F28D13/00 - Heat-exchange apparatus using a fluidised bed

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

Y02E10/44 - Heat exchange systems

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F24 - HEATING F24S - SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS

F24S20/20 - Solar heat collectors for receiving concentrated solar energy, e.g. receivers for solar power plants
F24S60/10 - using latent heat

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DOE Contract Number:  

AC36-08GO28308

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 2013 Apr 02

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

14 SOLAR ENERGY; 25 ENERGY STORAGE