Hybrid solar system

Abstract

A hybrid solar system including a hybrid solar collector using non-imaging optics and photovoltaic components and a heat transfer and storage system in thermal communication with the hybrid solar collector, the heat transfer and storage system using particle laden gas as thermal media to simultaneously generate and store electricity and high temperature dispatchable heat.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A hybrid solar system comprising:
 a hybrid solar collector using non-imaging optics and photovoltaic components; and   a heat transfer and storage system in thermal communication with the hybrid solar collector, the heat transfer and storage system using particle laden gas as thermal media to simultaneously generate and store electricity and high temperature dispatchable heat.   
     
     
         2 . The hybrid solar system of  claim 1  wherein the hybrid solar collector comprises Gallium Arsenide cells. 
     
     
         3 . The hybrid solar system of  claim 1  wherein the hybrid solar collector comprises an outer glass tube having a thin film GaAs cell and a central high temperature receiver. 
     
     
         4 . The hybrid solar system of  claim 1  wherein the hybrid solar collector includes non-imaging optics and photovoltaic components. 
     
     
         5 . The hybrid solar system of  claim 1  wherein the particle laden gas comprises fine particles having a high melting point and a diameter of less than 100 micron. 
     
     
         6 . The hybrid solar system of  claim 1  wherein the particle laden gas comprises an inert gas. 
     
     
         7 . The hybrid solar system of  claim 1  wherein the heat transfer and storage system includes a supplementary natural gas fired heater to increase a temperature of the particle laden gas when solar radiation levels are insufficient to generate required process temperatures. 
     
     
         8 . The hybrid solar system of  claim 7  wherein the heat transfer and storage system further comprises a heat sink positioned between the gas fired heater and a first storage container and a second storage container. 
     
     
         9 . The hybrid solar system of  claim 1  further comprising a pump positioned within the heat transfer and storage system to reverse flow of the particle laden gas. 
     
     
         10 . The hybrid solar system of  claim 1  wherein the heat transfer and storage system further comprises a first storage container for separating hot particle laden gas and second storage container for separating cold particle laden gas. 
     
     
         11 . A hybrid solar system comprising:
 a hybrid solar collector using non-imaging optics and photovoltaic components;   a thermal media comprising a particle laden gas; and   a heat transfer and storage system in thermal communication with the hybrid solar collector, the heat transfer and storage system including a natural gas fired heater and a heat sink in communication with a first storage container for separating particles from hot particle laden gas and a second storage container for separating particles from cold particle laden gas, wherein electricity and high temperature dispatchable heat is simultaneously generated and stored.   
     
     
         12 . The hybrid solar system of  claim 11  wherein the hybrid solar collector comprises an outer glass tube having a thin film GaAs cell and a central high temperature receiver. 
     
     
         13 . The hybrid solar system of  claim 11  further comprising a pump positioned within the heat transfer and storage system to reverse flow of the particle laden gas. 
     
     
         14 . The hybrid solar system of  claim 11  wherein the particle laden gas comprises fine particles having a high melting point and a diameter of less than 100 micron. 
     
     
         15 . The hybrid solar system of  claim 11  wherein the particle laden gas comprises an inert gas.