Solar Thermal Pipeline Drainage Containers for Salt-Melt Freezing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pipeline systems in solar power stations face challenges with salt melts as heat transfer liquids due to high melting points, leading to freezing issues, volume expansion, and difficulties in reliable drainage, especially during offline times, which can cause damage and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A pipeline system design with convergers and distributors at different geodetic heights, assisted by pressurized gas, allows for independent drainage of each pipeline loop, reducing the risk of freezing and enabling rapid and reliable drainage by using multiple drainage containers and pressurized gas to facilitate flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If salt melts are used as heat transfer liquid to achieve higher operating temperatures, then operating efficiency is improved, but freezing risk increases due to high melting points
Solution Approach 1:
The pipeline system is divided into multiple independent drainage sections, each with its own drainage container and control valves. This segmentation allows isolated drainage of specific pipeline segments without affecting the entire system, enabling rapid response to freezing risks while maintaining high operating temperatures in active sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary drainage actions by positioning drainage containers at strategic locations and pre-configuring control valves. When freezing is anticipated (e.g., during offline periods), drainage can be initiated immediately without waiting for temperature sensors to detect actual freezing conditions, preventing the harmful effect before it occurs.
2Reliability
If pipeline systems are drained during offline times to prevent freezing, then freezing damage is avoided, but drainage time increases and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the pipeline system into multiple drainage sections with independent containers and control valves, only the necessary segments need to be drained at any given time. This selective drainage significantly reduces the total drainage time compared to draining the entire system, while still effectively preventing freezing in vulnerable areas.
Solution Approach 2:
Drainage containers serve as intermediary storage vessels that can quickly receive and hold drained salt melt. These containers act as buffers that enable rapid drainage operations without requiring the entire pipeline to be emptied through long flow paths, thus reducing drainage time while maintaining freezing prevention capability.
3Device complexity
If a single central drainage container is used to receive drained liquid, then system complexity is reduced, but drainage effectiveness decreases due to long flow paths and solidification risk
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of one central drainage container, the system uses multiple distributed drainage containers positioned at strategic locations along the pipeline. Each container serves a specific pipeline segment, creating short flow paths that prevent salt melt solidification during drainage. This segmented approach maintains relatively simple system architecture while dramatically improving drainage effectiveness.
4Productivity
If pipeline gradients are increased to facilitate drainage, then drainage speed is improved, but optical efficiency of collectors decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Drainage containers positioned at strategic low points act as intermediaries that collect salt melt from nearby pipeline segments through short, gentle gradients. This eliminates the need for steep pipeline gradients, preserving collector optical efficiency while still enabling effective drainage through the intermediary collection points.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses controlled hydraulic principles with positioning the drainage containers at appropriate elevations to create sufficient hydrostatic pressure for drainage without requiring steep gradients. This allows gentle pipeline slopes that maintain optical efficiency while achieving adequate drainage speed through proper hydraulic design.
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 design ensures reliable and efficient drainage of pipeline systems during offline times, preventing damage from freezing and allowing for continuous operation by maintaining fluid flow without gradients, thus enhancing the operational efficiency and safety of solar power stations.
Implementation Method 1
pressurized gas can be fed into the converger and the distributor is connected to a drainage container, and when the distributor lies on top pressurized gas can be fed into the distributor and the converger is connected to a drainage container
Implementation Method 2
A drainage container (21) for receiving a liquid flowing through a pipeline system is connected to the pipeline system via an immersion pipe (33) projecting into the drainage container, a siphon being formed in the immersion pipe, between the pipeline system and the drainage container
Implementation Method 3
the siphon being heatable, the siphon being heated, so that the material contained in the siphon melts and the path into the drainage container is thereby opened
Data Source
AI summary
A pipeline system in a linearly concentrating solar power station comprises at least one pipeline which is connected at one end to a converger and at a second end to a distributor. The converger and the distributor are arranged at a different geodetic height. When the converger lies on top pressurized gas can be fed into the converger and the distributor is connected to a drainage container. When the distributor lies on top pressurized gas can be fed into the distributor and the converger is connected to a drainage container. The drainage container is lower than the converter and the distributor.