Solar Receiver for Electric Power Conversion System

Abstract

A solar receiver for conversion of solar radiation to thermal energy includes an enclosure defining a cavity and having an aperture for receiving an influx of concentrated solar radiation. A heat exchanger is received within the cavity for transferring heat out of the solar receiver. The heat exchanger comprises a plurality of heat exchange cells arranged in polygonal array within the cavity. Each heat exchange cell comprises an inlet, an outlet, and a heat exchange matrix interposed within a first volume defined between a first plate and a second plate spaced apart from the first plate. The inlet and outlet are in fluid communication with the first volume and the first plate, second plate, and heat exchange matrix are monolithically bonded as a unit. The first plate receives concentrated solar radiation and the heat exchange media defines a pathway for a fluid flowing from the inlet to the outlet between the first and second plates. The solar receiver further includes an inlet manifold in fluid communication with the inlet of each of the heat exchange cells and an outlet manifold in fluid communication with the outlet of the each of heat exchange cells. In a further aspect, a heat exchanger is provided.

1 . A solar receiver for conversion of solar radiation to thermal energy comprising:
 an enclosure defining a cavity;   an aperture in said enclosure for receiving an influx of concentrated solar radiation;   a heat exchanger received within said cavity for transferring heat out of the solar receiver, the heat exchanger comprising a plurality of heat exchange cells arranged in polygonal array within said cavity, each heat exchange cell comprising:
 a first inlet, a first outlet, and a first heat exchange matrix interposed within a first volume defined between a first plate and a second plate spaced apart from the first plate; 
 said first inlet and said first outlet in fluid communication with said first volume; 
 said first plate, second plate, and first heat exchange matrix monolithically bonded as a unit, said first plate for receiving the concentrated solar radiation; and 
 said first heat exchange media defining a pathway for a first fluid flowing from said first inlet to said first outlet between said first and second plates; 
   a first inlet manifold in fluid communication with the first inlet of each of said heat exchange cells; and   a first outlet manifold in fluid communication with the first outlet of each of said heat exchange cells.   
     
     
         2 . The solar received of  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchange matrix is selected from fins, pins, foam metals, porous metal structures, screen packs, wavy folded sheet, and lanced folded sheet. 
     
     
         3 . The solar receiver of  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchange cells comprise:
 a third plate spaced apart from the second plate and defining a second volume therebetween;   a second inlet and a second outlet, said second inlet and said second outlet in fluid communication with said second volume;   a second heat exchange matrix interposed within said second volume;   said third plate, second plate, and second heat exchange matrix being monolithically bonded;   said second heat exchange media defining a pathway for a second fluid flowing from said second inlet to said outlet between said second and third plates;   a second inlet manifold in fluid communication with the second inlet of each of said heat exchange cells; and   a second outlet manifold in fluid communication with the second outlet of said heat exchange cells.   
     
     
         4 . The solar receiver of  claim 1 , wherein said first plate, second plate, and first heat exchange matrix are bonded together by metallurgical bonding or ceramic sintering. 
     
     
         5 . The solar receiver of  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchange cells comprise:
 a third plate spaced apart from the second plate and defining a second volume therebetween;   a second inlet and a second outlet, said second inlet and said second outlet in fluid communication with said second volume;   a second heat exchange matrix interposed within said second volume; and   said third plate, second plate, and second heat exchange matrix being monolithically bonded.   
     
     
         6 . The solar receiver of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 said first fluid flowing through said first volume and a second fluid flowing through said second volume;   said first manifold fluidicly connected to the first inlet of each heat exchange cell;   said second manifold fluidicly connected to the first outlet of each heat exchange manifold;   a third manifold fluidicly connected to the second inlet of each heat exchange manifold; and   a fourth manifold fluidicly connected to the second outlet of each heat exchange manifold.   
     
     
         7 . A solar receiver of  claim 2  where said first fluid has a pressure higher than said second fluid. 
     
     
         8 . The solar receiver of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 said first plate has two long edges and two short edges;   said two long edges are bent to a generally 90-degree fold in the edge to form a channel;   said first heat exchange matrix having a width to fit tightly into the channel;   said second plate is sized to the width of said first heat exchange matrix; and   said first sheet, first fin element, and second sheet are monolithically bonded.   
     
     
         9 . The solar receiver of  claim 1  further comprising:
 said first and second sheets having a generally trapezoidal shape; 
 said first heat exchange matrix formed of a screen pack, porous foam structure, or an array of pins and cut into a trapezoidal shape which substantially matches the shape of the first and second sheets; and 
 said first and second sheets and said first heat exchange matrix monolithically bonded into a substantially trapezoidal heat exchange cell. 
 
     
     
         10 . The solar receiver of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 said plurality of heat exchange cells forming an array of said substantially trapezoidal cells positioned in the solar cavity to form a polygon shell with a substantially conical shape.   
     
     
         11 . A heat exchanger for a solar receiver, comprising:
 a plurality of heat exchange cells arranged in polygonal array, each heat exchange cell comprising:
 an inlet, an outlet, and a heat exchange matrix interposed within a volume defined between a first plate and a second plate spaced apart from the first plate; 
 said inlet and said outlet in fluid communication with said volume; 
 said first plate, second plate, and heat exchange matrix monolithically bonded as a unit, said first plate for receiving concentrated solar radiation; and 
 said heat exchange media defining a pathway for a fluid flowing from said inlet to said outlet between said first and second plates; and 
   an inlet manifold in fluid communication with the inlet of each of said heat exchange cells; and   an outlet manifold in fluid communication with first outlet of each of said heat exchange cells.