Connector for absorber tubes in a concentrating solar power plant

Abstract

A connection of concentrating solar power plants is described. The connection of concentrating solar power plants has two terminals for coupling respectively with internal metal tubes of two solar pipes to be connected, the two terminals being provided with coupling means for reciprocal rigid mechanical movable coupling.

1 . A connection of concentrating solar power plants, comprising two terminals for coupling respectively with internal metal tubes of two solar pipes to be connected, said two terminals being provided with coupling means for reciprocal rigid mechanical movable coupling wherein said coupling means comprise a ring nut assembled on one of said two terminals and free to rotate around it, the other terminal of said two terminals being provided on its external circumference with:
 a plurality of pins fitting with a corresponding number of shaped and angled slots, formed on said ring nut; or   a thread engaging with a corresponding counter-thread formed on said ring nut,   
       each of said coupling means for reciprocal rigid mechanical movable coupling of said two terminals comprising at least one seat for housing a respective portion of an anti-rotation pin. 
     
     
         2 . The connection of concentrating solar power plants according to  claim 1 , wherein said two terminals are coupled with said internal metal tubes of said two solar pipes by welding. 
     
     
         3 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The connection of concentrating solar power plants according to  claim 1 , wherein said coupling means further comprise a seat for housing an elastic static seal, alternately formed on one of said two terminals. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The connection of concentrating solar power plants according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one seat comprises at least two seats, having different size or shape, respectively for housing a respective portion of anti-rotation pins, having corresponding size or shape. 
     
     
         8 . The connection of concentrating solar power plants according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said two terminals is connected to a corresponding terminal of a compensation apparatus comprising a metal bellow, connected by means of welding to lateral hubs connecting the metal bellow with two linking terminals linking with said two terminals coupled with said internal metal tubes of two solar pipes, and further comprising means for strengthening and protecting from mechanical stresses due to an imperfect axial alignment of a system and means for facilitating a flow within a connection. 
     
     
         9 . The connection of concentrating solar power plants according to  claim 8 , wherein said means for strengthening and protecting from mechanical stresses comprise a plurality of tie rods, supported by flanges in turn coupled with said metal bellow and with said lateral hubs. 
     
     
         10 . The connection of concentrating solar power plants according to  claim 8 , wherein said means for facilitating the flow within the connection comprise a telescopic conveyor system. 
     
     
         11 . The connection of concentrating solar power plants according to  claim 10 , wherein said means for facilitating the flow within the connection further comprise an elastic seal, positioned at a terminal of said telescopic conveyor system. 
     
     
         12 . The connection of concentrating solar power plants according to  claim 8 , wherein said lateral hubs of said compensation apparatus are both straight, both curved, or one lateral hub is curved and the other lateral hub is straight. 
     
     
         13 . The connection of concentrating solar power plants according to  claim 1  further comprising a radiation screen.