Solar receiver protection means and method for loss of coolant flow
Abstract
An apparatus and method for preventing a solar receiver (12) utilizing a flowing coolant liquid for removing heat energy therefrom from overheating after a loss of coolant flow. Solar energy is directed to the solar receiver (12) by a plurality of reflectors (16) which rotate so that they direct solar energy to the receiver (12) as the earth rotates. The apparatus disclosed includes a first storage tank (30) for containing a first predetermined volume of the coolant and a first predetermined volume of gas at a first predetermined pressure. The first storage tank (30) includes an inlet and outlet through which the coolant can enter and exit. The apparatus also includes a second storage tank (34) for containing a second predetermined volume of the coolant and a second predetermined volume of the gas at a second predetermined pressure, the second storage tank (34) having an inlet through which the coolant can enter. The first and second storage tanks (30) and (34) are in fluid communication with each other through the solar receiver (12). The first and second predetermined coolant volumes, the first and second gas volumes, and the first and second predetermined pressures are chosen so that a predetermined volumemore »
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Rockwell International Corp., Canoga Park, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 864535
- Patent Number(s):
- 4380229
- Application Number:
- 06/209921
- Assignee:
- The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F24 - HEATING F24S - 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
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-78ET20567
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 1980 Nov 24
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- solar; receiver; protection; means; method; loss; coolant; flow; apparatus; preventing; 12; utilizing; flowing; liquid; removing; heat; energy; therefrom; overheating; directed; plurality; reflectors; 16; rotate; direct; earth; rotates; disclosed; storage; tank; 30; containing; predetermined; volume; gas; pressure; inlet; outlet; enter; exit; 34; tanks; fluid; communication; volumes; pressures; chosen; rate; profile; event; power; failure; ceases; stop; rotating; maintained; differential; sufficient; maintain; below; upper; temperature; defocused; respect; due; rotation; storage tanks; flowing coolant; gas volume; predetermined volume; predetermined pressure; storage tank; heat energy; flow rate; solar energy; pressure differential; coolant flow; fluid communication; solar receiver; coolant liquid; predetermined rate; removing heat; solar reflectors; power failure; energy therefrom; solar reflector; /126/
Citation Formats
Glasgow, Lyle E. Solar receiver protection means and method for loss of coolant flow. United States: N. p., 1983.
Web.
Glasgow, Lyle E. Solar receiver protection means and method for loss of coolant flow. United States.
Glasgow, Lyle E. Sat .
"Solar receiver protection means and method for loss of coolant flow". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/864535.
@article{osti_864535,
title = {Solar receiver protection means and method for loss of coolant flow},
author = {Glasgow, Lyle E.},
abstractNote = {An apparatus and method for preventing a solar receiver (12) utilizing a flowing coolant liquid for removing heat energy therefrom from overheating after a loss of coolant flow. Solar energy is directed to the solar receiver (12) by a plurality of reflectors (16) which rotate so that they direct solar energy to the receiver (12) as the earth rotates. The apparatus disclosed includes a first storage tank (30) for containing a first predetermined volume of the coolant and a first predetermined volume of gas at a first predetermined pressure. The first storage tank (30) includes an inlet and outlet through which the coolant can enter and exit. The apparatus also includes a second storage tank (34) for containing a second predetermined volume of the coolant and a second predetermined volume of the gas at a second predetermined pressure, the second storage tank (34) having an inlet through which the coolant can enter. The first and second storage tanks (30) and (34) are in fluid communication with each other through the solar receiver (12). The first and second predetermined coolant volumes, the first and second gas volumes, and the first and second predetermined pressures are chosen so that a predetermined volume of the coolant liquid at a predetermined rate profile will flow from the first storage tank (30) through the solar receiver (12) and into the second storage tank (34). Thus, in the event of a power failure so that coolant flow ceases and the solar reflectors (16) stop rotating, a flow rate maintained by the pressure differential between the first and second storage tanks (30) and (34) will be sufficient to maintain the coolant in the receiver (12) below a predetermined upper temperature until the solar reflectors (16) become defocused with respect to the solar receiver (12) due to the earth's rotation.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1983},
month = {1}
}