Falling particle solar receivers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solar power systems face challenges in efficiently capturing solar energy to heat particles for energy conversion, storage, and thermal processes, often requiring complex structures or fluidization, which increase costs and parasitic electricity consumption.
Innovation Solution
A falling particle solar receiver system with non-linear waveform inlets and multiple parallel curtains of particle flow is used to capture concentrated solar energy, allowing for efficient heating of particles and reducing heat losses through recirculation and controlled light transmittance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If complex structures or fluidization are used to heat particles, then particle heating efficiency is improved, but device complexity and parasitic electricity consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the fluidization system from the particle heating process, using simple gravity-driven falling particle curtains instead. This removes the complex fluidization equipment while maintaining effective particle heating through direct solar irradiation of the falling particles.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using complex structures to actively move and heat particles, the patent inverts the approach by letting particles fall passively under gravity while being heated by solar radiation. The heating effect is achieved through the particle flow pattern itself rather than through complex heating equipment.
2Quantity of substance
If non-linear waveform inlets are used, then solar radiation capture is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs non-linear waveform (curved) inlet structures that create optimized particle flow patterns. These curved geometries enhance solar radiation capture by positioning particles optimally in the solar beam, while the waveforms can be manufactured using standard forming techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The inlet structures incorporate non-linear waveforms that add dimensional complexity to the particle flow path, creating multiple planes of particle flow that increase solar radiation interception without requiring excessively complex manufacturing processes.
3Productivity
If multiple parallel curtains of particle flow are used, then energy conversion efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the particle flow into multiple parallel curtains, each independently receiving solar irradiation. This segmentation increases the total surface area of particles exposed to solar energy, enhancing overall heating efficiency and energy conversion without requiring complex interconnections between curtains.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple parallel particle flow curtains are combined within a single receiver structure, allowing simultaneous solar heating of multiple particle streams. The curtains work together in parallel to maximize energy capture while sharing common structural support and control systems.
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 system effectively captures more solar radiation, reduces heat losses, and enables higher temperature particle flows for efficient energy conversion and storage, improving the economic viability of solar power systems.
Implementation Method 1
heating the curtain of falling particles with the concentrated solar energy
Implementation Method 2
reduces heat losses through recirculation
Data Source
AI summary
Falling particle solar receivers, systems, and methods are disclosed that include one non-linear falling particle curtain or two or more falling particle curtains within a solar receiver that receives incident solar radiation. The particles heated in the solar receiver may be used to heat a secondary fluid. In an embodiment, the particles may be recirculated to improve energy capture and thermal efficiency. In other embodiments, an air curtain may be used across the aperture of the receiver, and flow-control devices may be used to evenly spread particles across the width of the receiver inlet. Finally, feed particles may be preheated using heat from the solar receiver.