A solar thermal receiver with concentric tube modules is disclosed. The outer two tubes (101, 102) of each module form an annular gap (104) for the inlet flow (109) of a heat transfer fluid (HTF). A third inner tube (103) allows for the outlet flow (108) of the HTF. Each of the concentric tube modules is bottom-supported so as to allow for thermal expansion. Embodiments may include a structural element (750) to mitigate oscillation of the concentric tube modules and/or a top-mounted bell-shaped cap (534).
Systems (1300) and methods (1400, 1500) of calibrating heliostat (130, 530) parameters for subsequent open-loop sun-tracking, the calibration based on driving artificial light source (510) reflections from one or more heliostats (130, 530) into one or more image sensors (520).
F24J 2/38 - comportant des dispositifs de poursuite (F24J 2/02, F24J 2/06 ont priorité;montages ou supports rotatifs pour ces dispositifs F24J 2/54;structures de support pour modules photovoltaïques spécialement adaptées pour le suivi du soleil H02S 20/32)
G05D 3/10 - Commande de la position ou de la direction sans utilisation de contre-réaction
G01J 1/20 - Photométrie, p. ex. posemètres photographiques par comparaison avec une lumière de référence ou avec une valeur électrique de référence l'intensité de la valeur mesurée ou de référence étant modifiée jusqu' à égalisation de leurs effets au niveau du détecteur, p. ex. en faisant varier l'angle d'incidence
G02B 7/18 - Montures, moyens de réglage ou raccords étanches à la lumière pour éléments optiques pour prismesMontures, moyens de réglage ou raccords étanches à la lumière pour éléments optiques pour miroirs
4.
SOLAR THERMAL RECEIVER FOR MEDIUM-AND HIGH-TEMPERATURE APPLICATIONS
A receiver system for harnessing solar radiation. Embodiments of a receiver system include a receiver including one or more receiver elements, each receiver element including: a plurality of transparent tubes including a first tube and at least one second tube at least partially within the first tube; a first passage interposed between the first tube and the at least one second tube, the first passage having an inlet and an outlet; a second passage within the at least one second tube, the second passage having an inlet and an outlet; and an absorber in the at least one second tube, the absorber adapted to absorb the solar radiation, hi some embodiments, a receiver further includes a housing having at least one transparent portion, the housing configured to enclose the plurality of receiver elements, whereby a third passage is formed between the first tube and the housing.
Solar receivers (300, 800) and particularly to solar receivers (300, 800) having one or more cavities and optionally having absorptivity/reflectivity patterns on surfaces (851) and methods (1600, 1601) of reflective material application.
F24J 2/04 - Collecteurs de chaleur solaire avec fluide vecteur circulant à travers le collecteur
F24J 2/23 - le fluide de travail ruisselant librement sur les éléments collecteurs
F22B 33/00 - Installations de chaudières à vapeur, p. ex. comportant des associations de chaudières à vapeur, de types différents
F01K 25/00 - Ensembles fonctionnels ou machines motrices caractérisés par l'emploi de fluides énergétiques particuliers non prévus ailleursEnsembles fonctionnant selon un cycle fermé, non prévus ailleurs
F24J 2/34 - comprenant des masses d'emmagasinage de chaleur
F24J 2/10 - munis de réflecteurs comme éléments de concentration
6.
HELIOSTAT ARRAY LAYOUTS FOR MULTI-TOWER CENTRAL RECEIVER SOLAR POWER PLANTS
A solar power plant includes central receiver modules arranged in a regular pattern. Each central receiver module includes a tower, a central receiver mounted on the tower, and a heliostat array bounded by a polygon. The heliostat array includes heliostats with mirrors for reflecting sunlight to the central receiver. The heliostats are grouped in linear rows and each of the rows is parallel to another row. The locations of the heliostats are staggered between adjacent rows. The power plant also includes a power block for aggregating power from the central receivers and power conduits for transferring power from the central receivers to the power block.
F24J 2/38 - comportant des dispositifs de poursuite (F24J 2/02, F24J 2/06 ont priorité;montages ou supports rotatifs pour ces dispositifs F24J 2/54;structures de support pour modules photovoltaïques spécialement adaptées pour le suivi du soleil H02S 20/32)
7.
CALIBRATION AND TRACKING CONTROL OF HELIOSTATS IN A CENTRAL TOWER RECEIVER SOLAR POWER PLANT
A suntracking system for a central receiver solar power plant includes a heliostat field for reflecting sunlight to a receiver, cameras directed toward at least a subset of the heliostats, and a controller. The cameras are configured to produce images of sunlight reflected from multiple heliostats. The heliostats include a mirrored surface having a settable orientation and have a geometry modeled by a set of parameters. A method of estimating heliostat parameters for open-loop suntracking includes acquiring pointing samples by setting the direction of reflection of the heliostats and detecting concurrent sunlight reflections into the cameras. The method uses the acquired pointing samples and surveyed locations of the cameras to estimate the heliostat parameters. The method accurately maintains the sun's reflection directed toward the receiver open-loop utilizing the estimated tracking parameters.
A solar collector system includes a plurality of frames. Each frame includes at least a pair of spaced apart side members, a plurality of cross members connected to the side members, the cross members pivotally moveable from a shipping configuration to a deployed configuration wherein in the deployed configuration, each cross member is positioned relative to an adjacent cross member with a predetermined angle, and a plurality of stantions extending from the frames. The solar collector system further includes a plurality of heliostats, each heliostat mounted to one of the stantions, and a plurality of ballasts coupled to the frames, each ballast having a lower surface contacting the ground without substantially penetrating the ground to maintain a position of the frames on the ground.
F24J 2/38 - comportant des dispositifs de poursuite (F24J 2/02, F24J 2/06 ont priorité;montages ou supports rotatifs pour ces dispositifs F24J 2/54;structures de support pour modules photovoltaïques spécialement adaptées pour le suivi du soleil H02S 20/32)
9.
HELIOSTAT WITH INTEGRATED IMAGE-BASED TRACKING CONTROLLER
A system (100) for directing incident sun light to a receiver (150) based on an integral imager (116) is disclosed. The system includes an imager (116) mounted to a reflector (112); a tracking controller (226) coupled to the imager; and one or more actuators (114) connected to the reflector and tracking controller. The tracking controller (226) is configured to receive and process image data from the imager (116); determine angular positions of a radiation source and target relative to the mirror normal vector (N) based on the image data; and orient the reflector with the axis bisecting the angular positions of the sun and receiver (150). When the optical axis of the imager is precisely aligned with the vector normal to the reflector, the source and target will be detected as antipodal spots (320, 330) with respect to the center of the imager's field of view, which may be used to effectively track the sun or like object.
F24J 2/38 - comportant des dispositifs de poursuite (F24J 2/02, F24J 2/06 ont priorité;montages ou supports rotatifs pour ces dispositifs F24J 2/54;structures de support pour modules photovoltaïques spécialement adaptées pour le suivi du soleil H02S 20/32)
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