Device, system and method for high level of energetic efficiency for the storage and use of thermal energy of solar origin

Abstract

A device ( 1; 10; 11; 12 ) for storage and transfer of thermal energy associated with an incident solar radiation, which used in a solar plant for the production of energy, based on an optical plant configuration which makes solar radiation converge from above, and comprises: —a containment casing ( 2 ); and—a dual bed ( 31, 32 ) of fluidizable particles received inside the casing ( 2 ) and arranged the one circumscribed to the other one, wherein the casing ( 2 ) has at least one receiving cylindrical cavity ( 20 ) which extends through the bed ( 3 ) of particles and has a open top inlet ( 21 ) for receiving the solar radiation concentrated by a field of heliostats and an open or closed bottom ( 22 ) at the level of the base of the bed of particles, the overall arrangement being such that one of the beds of particles ( 31 ) is arranged in contact with the side skirt ( 23 ) of the cylindrical cavity ( 20 ) for storing thermal energy received from the solar radiation and the other one bed of particles ( 32 ) is arranged in contact with pipe bundles ( 41 ) crossed by the working fluid.

1 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A device for storage and transfer of thermal energy associated with incident solar radiation, which device is configured to be used in a solar plant for production of energy based upon a “beam down” configuration, wherein the device is irradiated from above by the incident solar radiation, which device comprises:
 a containment casing and 
 a solid storage means consisting of at least one bed of fluidizable particles received inside said casing, which bed of particles, in use, is fluidized by a fluidization gas; 
 characterized in that said casing has at least one receiving cavity which extends through said bed of particles and has a first open longitudinal end defining an inlet mouth for the incident solar radiation and a second closed longitudinal end, opposite to said first open end and defining a bottom of the cavity, a side skirt of the cavity being defined between said ends; 
 overall arranged such that said bed of particles is arranged circumscribed to said side skirt of said cavity and is configured to be moved by said fluidization gas for storing thermal energy received from the solar radiation through said side skirt; 
 wherein said second longitudinal end of said cavity is arranged at a base of said bed of particles. 
 
     
     
         43 . The device according to  claim 42 , wherein said cavity has a substantially elongated, preferably substantially cylindrical geometry. 
     
     
         44 . The device according to  claim 42 , wherein said cavity has a longitudinal axis and overall configuration being such that said longitudinal axis is arranged, in use, in a substantially vertical direction. 
     
     
         45 . The device according to  claim 42 , wherein said side skirt of said cavity has an external surface of a metallic material and/or of a ceramic material. 
     
     
         46 . The device according to  claim 42 , wherein said side skirt is absorbing the solar radiation. 
     
     
         47 . The device according to  claim 42 , wherein said bottom of said cavity is reflecting the solar radiation. 
     
     
         48 . The device according to  claim 42 , wherein said cavity has a transversal dimension, preferably a diameter, and a height orthogonal to said transversal dimension in a ratio comprised in a range of about 0.2-0.5. 
     
     
         49 . The device according to  claim 42 , wherein said bed of particles in turn is formed by:
 a first storage portion, adapted to store thermal energy received from the solar radiation and arranged at said side skirt of said cavity; and   a second transfer portion, arranged adjacent to said first portion, peripherally with respect to said cavity, and adapted to transfer thermal energy stored by the latter to heat exchanging means arranged within said casing;   wherein said first storage portion and said second transfer portion are selectively and independently fluidizable to carry out a step of storing thermal energy and a step of transferring said stored energy, respectively.   
     
     
         50 . The device according to  claim 49 , wherein said first storage portion is subdivided into at least two further portions, of which one adjacent to the side skirt of said cavity and one more remote from the latter side skirt, which two further portions are selectively and independently fluidizable to increase heat exchange with said cavity. 
     
     
         51 . The device according to  claim 42 , comprising means adapted to selectively vary the fluidization gas speed and/or flow rate. 
     
     
         52 . The device according to  claim 42 , comprising a gas/gas, preferably air/air heat exchanger and overall arranged such that, in use, in said exchanger are fed a first cold gas, which is the fluidization gas to be used for fluidization of said bed of particles, and a second hot gas, which is the fluidization gas outlet from said bed of particles. 
     
     
         53 . The device according to  claim 42 , comprising heat exchanging means, preferably one or more pipe bundles, crossed, in use, by a working fluid. 
     
     
         54 . The device according to  claim 53 , comprising first heat exchanging means crossed, in use, by a working fluid and arranged within said casing so as to be immersed in, or touched by, said bed of fluidizable particles, preferably said second transfer portion of the latter. 
     
     
         55 . The device according to  claim 53 , comprising second heat exchanging means crossed, in use, by a working fluid and arranged externally to said casing so as to be irradiated by an incident solar radiation. 
     
     
         56 . The device according to  claim 54 , overall configured such that said second heat exchanging means is arranged, in use, at a top of said casing, preferably at said inlet. 
     
     
         57 . The device according to  claim 56 , wherein said inlet of said cavity is defined by right-angle surfaces. 
     
     
         58 . The device according to  claim 56 , wherein said cavity inlet is defined by a frustoconical surface. 
     
     
         59 . The device according to  claim 42 , comprising a first heat exchanging circuit partially arranged within said casing so as to enable heat exchange with said bed of particles, preferably said second portion thereof. 
     
     
         60 . The device according to  claim 42 , comprising a second heat exchanging circuit arranged outside said casing so as to enable direct heat exchange with the incident solar radiation. 
     
     
         61 . The device according to  claim 60 , wherein said second circuit is partitioned into different sectors to allow preheating and evaporation of a working fluid. 
     
     
         62 . The device according to  claim 59 , wherein said first and said second circuits that are in communication with each other, are adapted to be selectively set in communication or are completely independent and/or activatable independently of each other. 
     
     
         63 . The device according to  claim 42 , comprising means for feeding a fuel, preferably gaseous, within said bed of particles or within a part thereof. 
     
     
         64 . The device according to  claim 42 , which is suitable to be connected in thermal series with devices at different temperature regimes, arranged among them so as to assume increasing temperature with respect to the sense of crossing of a working fluid. 
     
     
         65 . The device according to  claim 42 , overall arranged such that said bed of particles is arranged in contact with said side skirt of said cavity. 
     
     
         66 . An energy production plant, comprising one or more devices according to  claim 42  and solar radiation captation means which defines, jointly to said device(s), an irradiation configuration which makes solar radiation converge from above. 
     
     
         67 . The plant according to  claim 66 , wherein said solar radiation captation means comprises primary captation means, preferably a field of heliostats, directly concerned by the solar radiation and secondary captation means, preferably a reflector, adapted to receive the solar radiation from said primary means and convey it to said cavity of said device(s). 
     
     
         68 . The plant according to  claim 66 , overall configured such that the solar radiation is conveyed within said cavity at an exposed surface of said bed of particles. 
     
     
         69 . The plant according to  claim 66 , wherein said device comprises: a first heat exchanging circuit partially arranged within said casing so as to enable heat exchange with said bed of particles, preferably said second portion thereof; and a second heat exchanging circuit arranged outside said casing so as to enable direct heat exchange with an incident solar radiation;
 overall configured such as to allow production of steam or thermal energy at a first heat exchanging circuit and optionally also at a second heat exchanging circuit, and wherein preferably said first and second heat exchanging circuit are activatable independently of each other.   
     
     
         70 . The plant according to  claim 66 , wherein said device comprises: a first heat exchanging circuit partially arranged within said casing so as to enable heat exchange with said bed of particles, preferably said second portion thereof; and a second heat exchanging circuit arranged outside said casing so as to enable direct heat exchange with an incident solar radiation;
 overall configured such as to allow generation of steam or heat for electric energy production at a first heat exchanging circuit and generation of thermal energy for one or more heat consumptions at a second heat exchanging circuit.   
     
     
         71 . The plant according to  claim 66 , providing a production of steam and/or a production of heat for connected heat consumptions, preferably for a salt removing system. 
     
     
         72 . The plant according to  claim 66 , providing a production of steam and/or a production of electric energy, comprising two or more devices connected in thermal series. 
     
     
         73 . The plant according to  claim 72 , comprising one or a first group of devices (UGS-L) configured so as to transform working water into saturated steam, and one or a second group of devices (UGS-H) configured so as to transform said saturated steam into superheated steam or even into re-superheated steam. 
     
     
         74 . A method for production of energy from a solar radiation, providing the use of a plant according to  claim 66 . 
     
     
         75 . The method according to  claim 74 , providing a solar irradiation coming from above by positioning primary captation means on natural or artificial slopes. 
     
     
         76 . The method according to  claim 74 , providing a concomitant production of electric energy and thermal energy, the latter preferably for the production of desalinated water. 
     
     
         77 . The method according to  claim 74 , wherein the device's bed of particles is formed by:
 a first storage portion, adapted to store thermal energy received from the solar radiation and arranged at said side skirt of said cavity; and   a second transfer portion, arranged adjacent to said first portion, peripherally with respect to said cavity, and adapted to transfer thermal energy stored by the latter to heat exchanging means arranged within said casing;   wherein said first storage portion and said second transfer portion are selectively and independently fluidizable to carry out a step of storing thermal energy and a step of transferring said stored energy, respectively; and   wherein said first storage portion is subdivided into at least two further portions, of which one adjacent to the side skirt of said cavity and one more remote from the latter side skirt, which two further portions are selectively and independently fluidizable to increase heat exchange with said cavity;   which method comprises:   a step of storing thermal energy received from the solar radiation concentrated by said first portion of bed of particles and   a step of transferring the thermal energy stored in said storing step to heat exchanging means crossed by a working fluid, carried out by fluidization of said second portion of bed,   wherein said heat storing and transferring steps are activated the one independently of each other, preferably one in daytime and another one in daytime and nighttime.   
     
     
         78 . The method according to  claim 74 , wherein said fluidization gas is air. 
     
     
         79 . The method according to  claim 74 , wherein a selective variation of the fluidization gas speed and/or flow rate is provided. 
     
     
         80 . The method according to  claim 74 , wherein said device comprises: a first heat exchanging circuit partially arranged within said casing so as to enable heat exchange with said bed of particles, preferably said second portion thereof; and a second heat exchanging circuit arranged outside said casing so as to enable direct heat exchange with an incident solar radiation;
 wherein said second heat exchanging circuit is activated in the daytime and said first heat exchanging circuit is activated in the nighttime.   
     
     
         81 . The method according to  claim 74 , which uses water or air as working fluid. 
     
     
         82 . The method according to  claim 74 , providing the use of one or a first group of devices (UGS-L) configured so as to transform working water in saturated steam, and one or a second group of devices (UGS-H) configured so as to transform such saturated steam into superheated steam or even into re-superheated steam.