Heat Storage Agent Heater Using Ceramic Microspheres at 900°C
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tower Brayton solar thermal power units are limited by the high cost and manufacturing challenges of high-purity quartz glass covers and the inability to use molten salt as a heat storage agent due to its low working temperature, restricting the maximum power capacity and efficiency of the units.
Innovation Solution
A heater for heat storage agents using a multi-threaded screw sleeve made of high-temperature materials like silicon carbide or silicon nitride ceramics, combined with ceramic microspheres as the heat storage agent, allows for efficient heating of compressed air to the required 900°C for turbine operation, increasing power capacity and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high purity quartz glass covers are used to maintain air pressure and allow sunshine passage, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the manufacturing cost and difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, difficult-to-manufacture high purity quartz glass covers with a more economical cover material that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed, while maintaining the functional requirements of allowing sunshine passage and maintaining air pressure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter of the cover from high purity quartz glass to alternative materials that satisfy the optical and pressure requirements but are easier and cheaper to manufacture, potentially including treated metals or ceramics with appropriate thermal and optical properties
2Stability of the object's composition
If high purity quartz glass covers are used to prevent recrystallization at high temperatures, then the operational stability is improved, but the manufacturing cost and size limitations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes expensive high purity quartz glass with more economical cover materials that can maintain operational stability through alternative protective mechanisms or material treatments, reducing manufacturing cost and enabling larger production scales
Solution Approach 2:
The patent may employ composite material structures for the cover that combine different materials to achieve the required thermal stability, optical transparency, and mechanical strength without relying solely on expensive high purity quartz glass
3Quantity of substance
If molten salt is used as heat storage agent, then heat storage capability is provided, but the maximum operating temperature is limited to 600°C
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of heat storage medium from molten salt to solid particles or alternative materials that can withstand temperatures above 900°C, enabling the system to meet the turbine's temperature requirements while maintaining heat storage functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent may utilize phase transition mechanisms of alternative heat storage materials (such as melting/freezing of high-temperature solids or other phase changes) to provide heat storage capability at temperatures exceeding 900°C, replacing the phase transition-based storage of molten salt
4Productivity
If compressed air is heated to 900°C for optimal turbine efficiency, then power generation efficiency is improved, but the compatibility with conventional molten salt heat storage is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the heat storage medium to materials compatible with 900°C operation, enabling the system to simultaneously achieve both high temperature heating for optimal turbine efficiency and functional heat storage capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary heat storage system using high-temperature compatible materials that mediates between the solar heating process and the turbine, enabling efficient energy transfer and storage at the required 900°C temperature level
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables the heating of compressed air to 900°C, enhancing the operational efficiency of the Brayton solar thermal power unit and increasing the maximum power capacity without the need for expensive quartz glass covers, while using ceramic microspheres as heat storage agents provides superior heat transfer and storage capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
the hollow interior is capable of housing concentrated solar radiation outputted by an exterior solar power collecting module and heating the heat storage agent discharged into the multi-threaded screw sleeve using the concentrated solar radiation
Implementation Method 2
The heat storage agent collector is provided at a lower part of the heater, capable of receiving the heat storage agent heated and discharged from the multi-threaded screw sleeve and outputting the heated heat storage agent
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes a heater of heat storage agent and a Brayton solar thermal power unit with heat storage. The Brayton solar thermal power unit with heat storage may include: a heat storage agent flow adjusting module, a solar energy collecting module, a heater of heat storage agent, a heat exchange module, a thermal power generating module a heat storage agent transporting module. The heat storage agent flow adjusting module may be connected with the heat storage agent transporting module and the heater. The heater may be connected with the solar power collecting module, and the heat exchange module. The heat exchange module may be connected with the thermal power generating module and the heat storage agent transporting module. The present disclosure can significantly increase maximum power capacity of Brayton solar thermal power unit to megawatt level, improve operation efficiency, and avoid discontinuity and instability of solar power generation.