Solar receiver with direct absorption media irradiation

Abstract

A solar receiver having a receiver vessel with a receiver chamber, a receiver cover with a receiver window, a receiver fluid inlet, a receiver fluid outlet, and an absorption media matrix in the receiver chamber. In operation of the solar receiver, incident solar radiation is transmitted through the receiver window to the absorption media matrix. Receiver fluid is circulated through the receiver chamber and the absorption media matrix. Heat is transferred from the absorption media matrix to the receiver fluid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solar receiver for receiving and absorbing incident solar radiation and transferring energy received and absorbed from the incident solar radiation to a receiver fluid, the solar receiver comprising:
 a receiver vessel having a receiver chamber, a receiver fluid inlet, a receiver fluid outlet, and a receiver window; and   an absorption media matrix positioned in the receiver chamber, the absorption media matrix being comprised of absorption media.   
     
     
         2 . The solar receiver recited in  claim 1  wherein the absorption media matrix has physical characteristics providing for penetration of a portion of the incident solar radiation transmitted by the receiver window to the receiver chamber, to positions internal to the absorption media matrix. 
     
     
         3 . The solar receiver recited in  claim 1  wherein the absorption media comprises a fiber matrix of fibers having a fiber diameter and a total length of fiber per unit volume of absorption media which provide for penetration of a portion of the incident solar radiation transmitted by the receiver window to the receiver chamber, to positions internal to the absorption media matrix. 
     
     
         4 . The solar receiver recited in  claim 1  wherein the receiver chamber is box shaped. 
     
     
         5 . The solar receiver recited in  claim 1  wherein the receiver chamber is spiral shaped. 
     
     
         6 . The solar receiver recited in  claim 1  wherein the receiver chamber is cylindrically shaped and has a curvilinear receiver window. 
     
     
         7 . The solar receiver recited in  claim 1  wherein the receiver chamber has one or more chamber baffles. 
     
     
         8 . The solar receiver recited in  claim 1  wherein the receiver chamber has one or more chamber baffles for reducing short circuiting of receiver fluid as it follows a chamber fluid path through the receiver chamber from the receiver fluid inlet to the receiver fluid outlet. 
     
     
         9 . The solar receiver recited in  claim 1  wherein the receiver window has a reflective undercoating for reducing a radiative loss of reflected chamber radiation and a radiative loss of infrared radiation emitted from the receiver chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The solar receiver recited in  claim 1  wherein the receiver vessel has a receiver door with a receiver door fluid seal. 
     
     
         11 . The solar receiver recited in  claim 1  wherein the absorption media is a metallic wool. 
     
     
         12 . A method for receiving and absorbing incident solar radiation and transferring energy received and absorbed from the incident solar radiation to a receiver fluid, the method comprising:
 providing a solar receiver having a receiver vessel with a receiver window, a receiver chamber, a receiver fluid inlet, and a receiver fluid outlet, the receiver chamber having an absorption media matrix of absorption media;   transmitting the receiver fluid through the receiver fluid inlet to the receiver chamber;   irradiating the receiver window with the incident solar radiation, the receiver window transmitting a first portion of the incident solar radiation to the receiver chamber;   transmitting a second portion of the first portion of the incident solar radiation through the receiver fluid directly to the absorption media of the absorption media matrix, the receiver fluid having a transmissivity which provides for the transmission of the second portion of the first portion of the incident solar radiation directly to the absorption media of the absorption media matrix without being absorbed by the receiver fluid;   passing the receiver fluid through the absorption media of the absorption media matrix and transferring heat from the absorption media to the receiver fluid, producing heated receiver fluid; and   transmitting the heated receiver fluid from the receiver chamber through the receiver fluid outlet.   
     
     
         13 . The method recited in  claim 12  wherein the absorption media provides for penetration of the second portion of the first portion the incident solar radiation to positions internal to the absorption media matrix. 
     
     
         14 . The method recited in  claim 12  wherein the absorption media is comprised of a fiber matrix of fibers having a fiber diameter and a total length of fiber per unit volume of absorption media which provide for penetration of the second portion of the first portion of the incident solar radiation to positions internal to the absorption media matrix. 
     
     
         15 . The method recited in  claim 12  wherein the receiver window has a reflective undercoating for reducing a radiative loss of reflected chamber radiation and a radiative loss of infrared radiation emitted from the receiver chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The method recited in  claim 12  wherein the receiver vessel has a receiver door with a receiver door fluid seal. 
     
     
         17 . The method recited in  claim 12  wherein the absorption media is a metallic wool.