Concentrated solar power generation using solar receivers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Concentrated solar power systems face challenges in efficiently converting solar radiation into thermal energy due to high operating pressures, which limit the size and efficiency of solar receivers and increase production costs.
Innovation Solution
The development of low-pressure solar receivers and high-pressure solar receivers that use integrated cooling systems and advanced materials like single crystal nickel, along with modularized components and thermal storage systems, to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If high operating pressures are used in solar receivers, then power generation efficiency is improved, but collection capacity is limited and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The solar receiver system is divided into multiple independent modular units that can be arranged in arrays. Each module operates at optimized pressure levels and can be scaled by adding or removing modules, allowing the system to achieve high total collection capacity without requiring each individual unit to operate at excessively high pressures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs variable pressure operation across different modules and operational phases. By optimizing pressure parameters for each specific module and operational condition rather than using uniform high pressure throughout, the system achieves improved power generation efficiency while avoiding the penalties of universally high-pressure operation.
2Power
If high operating pressures are used in solar receivers, then power generation efficiency is improved, but production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the solar receiver into standardized modular units, manufacturing complexity is reduced and economies of scale are achieved. Each module can be manufactured using identical processes and materials, significantly lowering production costs compared to building custom high-pressure vessels.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design allows use of simpler, less expensive materials and construction methods for each individual module. Rather than requiring expensive, heavily engineered high-pressure containment for the entire system, each module uses cost-effective designs that can be easily replaced or upgraded.
3Productivity
If larger solar receivers are used to increase collection capacity, then energy collection is improved, but system weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves large total collection capacity through multiple lightweight modular units rather than one large heavy structure. Each module has an optimized weight-to-collecting-area ratio, and the distributed modular architecture eliminates the need for excessive structural support that would be required for a single large high-pressure receiver.
4Productivity
If larger solar receivers are used to increase collection capacity, then energy collection is improved, but production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the total collection capacity into multiple identical modular units, the system achieves large-scale energy collection without the exponentially increasing costs associated with building single large receivers. Each module can be manufactured independently using standardized processes, maintaining cost efficiency at scale.
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
This approach allows for larger collection capacities, lower production costs, and improved thermal efficiency, enabling the use of solar energy in power generation systems with higher temperatures and reduced system weight, thus enhancing overall power output and system performance.
Implementation Method 1
solar receivers function to convert solar radiation energy to thermal energy of a working fluid
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger fluidically connected to the solar receiver, constructed and arranged to simultaneously contain the first gas and a second gas and to transfer thermal energy from the first gas to a second gas
Data Source
AI summary
Inventive concentrated solar power systems using solar receivers, and related devices and methods, are generally described. Low pressure solar receivers are provided that function to convert solar radiation energy to thermal energy of a working fluid, e.g., a working fluid of a power generation or thermal storage system. In some embodiments, low pressure solar receivers are provided herein that are useful in conjunction with gas turbine based power generation systems.