Solar Array, Arrangement with a Plurality of Solar Arrays and Use of the Solar Array or the Arrangement

Abstract

A solar array is provided with a first heat-transfer fluid transporting line (parabolic trough loop) for transporting a first heat transfer fluid, and at least one further heat-transfer fluid transporting line for transporting a further heat transfer fluid arranged to receive solar energy from, for example, a parabolic-trough solar array. The first heat-transfer fluid transporting line and the further heat-transfer fluid transporting line are coupled to form an overall heat-transfer fluid transporting line (for example, as a parabolic trough loop). The first heat-transfer fluid transporting line is connected to at least one main line pump for pumping the first heat transfer fluid through the heat-transfer-fluid transporting line and the further heat-transfer fluid transporting line is connected to at least one further main line pump for pumping the further heat transfer fluid through the further heat-transfer-fluid transporting line. The first and further heat-transfer fluids may be the same fluid.

1 . A solar array, comprising:
 a heat-transfer fluid transport line configured to transport a heat-transfer fluid, and   at least one further heat-transfer fluid transport line configured to transport a further heat-transfer fluid,   
       wherein
 the heat-transfer fluid transport line and the further heat-transfer fluid transport line are coupled together to form a combined heat-transfer fluid transport line, 
 the heat-transfer fluid transport line is connected to at least one line main pump for pumping the heat-transfer fluid through the heat-transfer fluid transport line, and 
 the further heat-transfer fluid transport line is connected to at least one further line main pump for pumping the further heat-transfer fluid through the further heat-transfer fluid transport line. 
 
     
     
         2 . The solar array as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the heat-transfer fluid transport lines is connected in each case to at least one solar energy collector unit for feeding solar energy into the heat-transfer fluid arranged in the respective heat-transfer fluid transport line. 
     
     
         3 . The solar array as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the solar energy collector unit has at least one parabolic-trough mirror. 
     
     
         4 . The solar array as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the heat-transfer fluid transport line is connected to at least one line auxiliary pump arranged to assist the pumping of the heat-transfer fluid through the heat-transfer fluid transport line and/or the further heat-transfer fluid transport line is connected to at least one further line auxiliary pump arranged to assist the pumping of the further heat-transfer fluid through the further heat-transfer fluid transport line. 
     
     
         5 . The solar array as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the pumps has a control device for controlling a volume flow rate of the respective heat-transfer fluid through the respective heat-transfer fluid transport line. 
     
     
         6 . The solar array as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the pumps have a common control device for controlling a volume flow rate of the respective heat-transfer fluid through the respective heat-transfer fluid transport line. 
     
     
         7 . An arrangement of a plurality of solar arrays, each solar array comprising:
 a heat-transfer fluid transport line configured to transport a heat-transfer fluid, and   at least one further heat-transfer fluid transport line configured to transport a further heat-transfer fluid,   wherein
 the heat-transfer fluid transport line and the further heat-transfer fluid transport line are coupled together to form a combined heat-transfer fluid transport line, 
 the heat-transfer fluid transport line is connected to at least one line main pump for pumping the heat-transfer fluid through the heat-transfer fluid transport line, and 
 the further heat-transfer fluid transport line is connected to at least one further line main pump for pumping the further heat-transfer fluid through the further heat-transfer fluid transport line. 
   
     
     
         8 . A method of use of at least one solar array for converting solar energy into electricity, the at least one solar array including a heat-transfer fluid transport line configured to transport a heat-transfer fluid and at least one further heat-transfer fluid transport line configured to transport a further heat-transfer fluid, wherein the heat-transfer fluid transport line and the further heat-transfer fluid transport line are coupled together to form a combined heat-transfer fluid transport line, the heat-transfer fluid transport line is connected to at least one line main pump for pumping the heat-transfer fluid through the heat-transfer fluid transport line, and the further heat-transfer fluid transport line is connected to at least one further line main pump for pumping the further heat-transfer fluid through the further heat-transfer fluid transport line, comprising the steps of:
 pumping the heat-transfer fluid and the further heat-transfer fluid though their respective heat-transfer transport lines by operation of the respective main pumps;   transferring solar energy from a solar collector of each transport line arranged to the respective heat-transfer fluids being pumped through the respective heat-transfer lines; and   controlling a volume flow rate of each of the respective heat-transfer fluids in the respective heat-transfer lines in accordance with predetermined temperature control criteria using at least one of control valves arranged to control flow in the heat-transfer lines and speed control of the respective main pumps.   
     
     
         9 . The method of use of at least one solar array as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one solar array is incorporated in a solar power plant for converting solar energy into electricity, further comprising the steps of:
 transferring the solar energy received by the respective heat-transfer fluids to an energy transfer apparatus; and   generating electricity from the energy received by the energy transfer apparatus.