Device, system and method for high level of energetic efficiency for the storage and use of thermal energy of solar origin

Abstract

A device (1; 10; 11; 12) for storage and transfer of thermal energy associated with an incident solar radiation, which used in a solar plant for the production of energy, based on an optical plant configuration which makes solar radiation converge from above, and comprises: —a containment casing (2); and—a dual bed (31, 32) of fluidizable particles received inside the casing (2) and arranged the one circumscribed to the other one, wherein the casing (2) has at least one receiving cylindrical cavity (20) which extends through the bed (3) of particles and has a open top inlet (21) for receiving the solar radiation concentrated by a field of heliostats and an open or closed bottom (22) at the level of the base of the bed of particles, the overall arrangement being such that one of the beds of particles (31) is arranged in contact with the side skirt (23) of the cylindrical cavity (20) for storing thermal energy received from the solar radiation and the other one bed of particles (32) is arranged in contact with pipe bundles (41) crossed by the working fluid.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention refers to a plant for the production of energy based on the use and the storage of solar energy, to a related method and to a device for storage and transfer of thermal energy of solar origin suitable for use in such plant.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The use of solar energy concentrated by heliostats is known in the art. It is also known the possibility of storing heat not immediately used, by devices based on fluidized particle beds exposed to solar radiation concentrated by heliostats.[0003]Typically, the devices for storage of thermal energy of solar origin and / or the devices for corresponding heat exchange are located in a position elevated with respect to the installation plane of the field of heliostats, so as to receive from below the concentrated solar radiation. Therefore, the typical configuration provides a storage or exchange device placed on a tower structure, in which so-called “service” components can find accommo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]Said device allows high production efficiencies, low costs of investment and maintenance and high operation safety. This is attained thanks to the constructive simplicity of the device itself, to the possibility of positioning it on the ground, providing a solar irradiation from above.

[0048]Moreover, the abatement of costs for UGS-L construction materials and for the manufacturing contrivances associated thereto represents a further overall advantage of the plant comprising them. In fact, in a thermodynamic cycle the energy share related to saturated steam production, and therefore the modules share part consisting of UGS-Ls, is of about the 60%; therefore, the cited, advantages apply to the 60% of the generation plant, with entailed cost reductions and efficiency increases of the plant itself.

Problems solved by technology

A further criticality present in known plant configurations is linked to the presence of apparatuses that, operating at high temperature, are made of valuable and costly materials and concomitantly cause reductions in overall plant efficiency due to the associated bigger heat dispersions.

The known plant configurations just described entail significant drawbacks, linked also to the difficulty and cost of maintenance operations at an altitude, requiring, among other things, major hoisting means.

Moreover, in case of devices with a bed of fluidizable particles, accidental breakage of the device itself can cause high-temperature material leaking and falling by gravity, with danger for persons and things.

As a consequence of what has just been noted, the known devices for storage and transfer of thermal energy of solar origin can have costs of electric energy production still high, and anyhow far from the so-called “parity grid”.

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