Flow Control Systems and Methods for a Phase Change Material Solar Receiver

Abstract

Disclosed embodiments include concentrating solar power (CSP) systems and solar receivers for CSP systems configured to provide inlet and outlet heat transfer material flow control. The disclosed embodiments feature heat transfer material flowing in and open heat transfer material circuit. Certain embodiments may be implemented with a solid-liquid phase change material as the heat transfer material. Alternative embodiments include methods of heat transfer material flow control in a CSP system and CSP systems configured as described.

1 . A concentrating solar power system receiver comprising:
 at least one receiver tube having an inlet;   a pressure equalizing pipe in fluid communication with the receiver tube at an end of the receiver tube opposite the inlet, the pressure equalizing pipe comprising a riser portion and an outlet providing for passive pressure equalization between an upper portion of the pressure equalizing pipe and the inlet to the receiver tube; and   a launder positioned to receive liquid flowing from the outlet of the pressure equalization pipe, wherein a gap exists between the outlet of the pressure equalization pipe and the launder.   
     
     
         2 . The concentrating solar power system receiver of  claim 1  further comprising a vent in the pressure equalizing pipe. 
     
     
         3 . The concentrating solar power system receiver of  claim 1  further comprising a drain opening in fluid communication with the end of the receiver tube opposite the inlet. 
     
     
         4 . The concentrating solar power system receiver of  claim 1  further comprising multiple receiver tubes in fluid communication with the pressure equalizing pipe through one or more headers. 
     
     
         5 . The concentrating solar power system receiver of  claim 1  further comprising multiple receiver tubes in fluid communication with separate pressure equalization pipes which are not in fluid communication with other pressure equalization pipes. 
     
     
         6 . The concentrating solar power system receiver of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the receiver tube and the pressure equalizing pipe comprises a monolithic block simultaneously sintered with at least one elbow. 
     
     
         7 . The concentrating solar power system receiver of  claim 1  wherein the monolithic block comprises SiC. 
     
     
         8 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A concentrating solar power system comprising:
 a solid-liquid phase change heat transfer material contained within an open heat transfer material circuit;   a solar receiver configured to receive concentrated solar flux to heat a quantity of the heat transfer material and thereby cause a solid-phase portion the heat transfer material to melt to a liquid phase at a selected location in a heat transfer material circuit, the solar receiver further comprising;
 at least one receiver tube having an inlet; 
 a pressure equalizing pipe in fluid communication with the receiver tubes at an end of the receiver tubes opposite the inlet, the pressure equalizing pipe comprising a riser portion and an outlet providing for passive pressure equalization between the upper portion of the pressure equalizing pipe and the inlet to the receiver tube; and 
 a launder positioned to receive liquid flowing from the outlet of the pressure equalization pipe, wherein a gap exists between the outlet of the pressure equalization pipe and the launder; and 
   a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the solar receiver, the heat exchanger receiving liquid heat transfer material and providing for heat exchange between the liquid heat transfer material and a working fluid of a power cycle.   
     
     
         14 . The concentrating solar power system receiver of  claim 13  wherein at least one of the receiver tube and the pressure equalizing pipe comprises a monolithic block simultaneously sintered with at least one elbow. 
     
     
         15 . The concentrating solar power system receiver of  claim 14  wherein the monolithic block comprises SiC. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a solidification stage providing for the solidification of the liquid heat transfer material; and 
 a melting stage separate from the solar receiver providing for the melting of solid-phase heat transfer material with thermal energy from liquid-phase heat transfer material. 
 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a solidification stage providing for the solidification of the liquid heat transfer material; 
 a material transport system providing for transportation of heat transfer material from the solidification stage; 
 a hot storage tank in fluid communication with the solar receiver and the heat exchanger, the hot storage tank providing for thermal energy storage using the liquid heat transfer material as a thermal energy storage medium; and 
 an insulated cold storage tank in mechanical communication with the solidification stage and the solar receiver, the cold storage tank providing for thermal energy storage using the solid heat transfer material as a thermal energy storage medium. 
 
     
     
         18 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A receiver flow control method comprising:
 providing a solid-liquid phase change heat transfer material;   conveying the heat transfer material into a solar receiver configured to receive concentrated solar flux;   heating at least a portion of the heat transfer material in the solar receiver with concentrated solar flux;   flowing a liquid-phase heat transfer material from a lower portion of the solar receiver upward in a pressure equalizing pipe;   flowing the liquid-phase heat transfer material from an outlet in the pressure equalizing pipe into a launder; and   equalizing a pressure at an inlet to the solar receiver with a pressure at the outlet of the pressure equalizing pipe by providing a gap between the outlet of the pressure equalizing pipe and the launder.   
     
     
         22 . The receiver flow control method of  claim 21  further comprising;
 transporting liquid heat transfer material to the receiver inlet; and 
 melting a solid-phase heat transfer material to a liquid phase in a portion of a heat transfer fluid circuit which is separate from the solar receiver. 
 
     
     
         23 . The receiver flow control method of  claim 21  further comprising;
 transporting solid-phase heat transfer material to the receiver inlet using a material transport system; and 
 melting the solid-phase heat transfer material to a liquid phase in the solar receiver. 
 
     
     
         24 . (canceled)