System and method for harvesting solar thermal energy

Abstract

Embodiments provide a system and method for harvesting solar thermal energy. According to at least one embodiment, there is provided a system which includes an absorption module, a storage module, and a flow control module. The absorption module retains a working fluid in a substantially constant volume and facilitates absorption of solar thermal energy in the working fluid. The storage module is fluidically coupled to the absorption module and is spatially positioned such that working fluid stored therein has higher gravitational potential energy relative to that stored in the absorption module. The flow control module permits passage of the working fluid from the absorption module to the storage module based on pressure of the working fluid in the absorption module exceeding a predefined threshold. When the working fluid transfers from the absorption module to the storage module, the thermal kinetic energy of the working fluid is transformed into gravitational potential energy thereof.

1 . A system for harvesting solar thermal energy, said system comprising:
 an absorption module, said absorption module configured for retaining a working fluid in a substantially constant volume and further configured for absorbing solar thermal energy in said working fluid such that thermal kinetic energy of said working fluid is relatively increased resulting in relatively higher pressure thereof;   a storage module, said storage module being fluidically coupled to said absorption module and spatially positioned such that when stored therein, said working fluid has higher gravitational potential energy relative to when stored in said absorption module, and   a flow control module, said flow control module regulating passage of said working fluid from said absorption module to said storage module, wherein said flow control module is configured for permitting passage of said working fluid from said absorption module to said storage module based on pressure of said working fluid in said absorption module exceeding a predefined threshold, whereby thermal kinetic energy of said working fluid is transformed into gravitational potential energy thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1  further comprising a conversion module, said conversion module being fluidically coupled to said storage module and configured for transforming gravitational potential energy of said working fluid stored therein into electrical energy. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein said conversion module comprises a turbine assembly configured to be driven by said working fluid, said turbine assembly operatively coupled to a generator assembly and configured for providing a driving force thereto, whereby electrical energy is produced. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein said conversion module comprises a hydraulic motor assembly configured to be operated by said working fluid, said hydraulic motor assembly operatively coupled to a generator assembly and configured for providing a driving force thereto, whereby electrical energy is produced. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 2  further comprising a circulating pump fluidically coupling said conversion module and said absorption module and configured for guiding said working fluid from said conversion module to said absorption module. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said absorption module comprises a collector assembly configured for carrying said working fluid and absorbing therein thermal energy of incident solar radiation, and a reflector assembly configured for tracking direction of incident solar radiation and concentrating said incident solar radiation onto said collector assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said absorption module further comprises a heat exchanger such that thermal energy of incident solar radiation is absorbed using a first working fluid, and transferred to a second working fluid in said heat exchanger. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein said first working fluid has a higher specific heat relative to said second working fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein said second working fluid has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion relative to said first working fluid. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said absorption module comprises a reservoir module, said reservoir module configured for maintaining volume of said working fluid in circulation. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of flow control modules to regulate passage of fluid there through between at least a first part and at least a second part of said system. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein said flow control module is a pressure-actuated valve. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein said flow control module is an electrically-actuated valve. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a thermoelectric generation module thermally coupled to said storage module and configured to convert thermal energy resident in said working fluid to electrical energy. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 2 , further comprising an electrical energy storage module configured for storing electrical energy and providing a power supply to at least one electrically operated component of said system. 
     
     
         16 . A method for harvesting solar thermal energy, said method comprising:
 providing means for absorbing solar thermal energy in a working fluid retained in a substantially constant volume such that thermal kinetic energy of said working fluid is relatively increased resulting in relatively higher pressure thereof;   providing means for storing said working fluid spatially positioned such that when stored therein, said working fluid has higher gravitational potential energy relative to when stored in said means for absorbing solar thermal energy, and   permitting passage of said working fluid from said means for absorbing solar thermal energy to said means for storing said working fluid based on pressure of said working fluid exceeding a predefined threshold, whereby thermal kinetic energy of said working fluid is transformed into gravitational potential energy thereof.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising providing means for converting gravitational potential energy of said working fluid into electrical energy. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising providing means for guiding said working fluid from said means for converting gravitational potential energy to said means for absorbing solar thermal energy. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising providing means for flow control for regulating passage of fluid there through. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising providing means for thermoelectric generation thermally coupled to said means for absorbing solar thermal energy to convert thermal energy resident in said working fluid to electrical energy.