Joint for high temperature fluid

Abstract

A joint for systems for transporting a high temperature heat-transfer fluid is provided. The joint includes a fixed conduit, a first sealing ring joined to the fixed conduit, a rotatable conduit in abutment with the sealing ring, and an outer casing delimiting a chamber. A contact region between the rotatable conduit and the first sealing ring is arranged in the chamber. The outer casing is sealingly engaged with the rotatable conduit by a second sealing ring and with the fixed conduit.

1 . A joint for systems for transporting a high temperature heat transfer fluid, the joint comprising:
 a fixed conduit comprising a fixed tubular element having extension along a rectilinear axis between an outer end and an opposing inner end;   a first sealing ring joined to the fixed conduit;   a rotatable conduit permanently in contact with the first sealing ring; and   an outer casing that delimits a chamber from which the fixed conduit and the rotatable conduit extend, wherein a contact region is arranged between the rotatable conduit and the first sealing ring;   wherein the outer casing is sealingly engaged with the rotatable conduit by a second sealing ring and with the fixed conduit,   wherein the first sealing ring is permanently pressed in contact with the rotatable conduit,   wherein the fixed conduit comprises an axially elastically deformable elastic conduit, coaxial to the fixed tubular element and made as a metallic bellows,   wherein the outer casing comprises an annular outlet wall, through which the rotatable conduit passes, and the second sealing ring is permanently axially compressed against the outlet wall and radially compressed against the rotatable conduit, and   wherein the joint further comprises a stuffing box device operating on the second sealing ring.   
     
     
         2 . The joint of  claim 1 , wherein the outer casing comprises at least one of casing components or flanges, sealingly connected to each other by static gaskets. 
     
     
         3 . The joint of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable conduit comprises a bushing placed in contact with the first sealing ring, the bushing being rotatably supported inside the outer casing. 
     
     
         4 . The joint of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure sensor housed in the chamber and suitable to detect pressure in the chamber and to transmit a pressure signal outside of the outer casing. 
     
     
         5 . A concentrator system for converting solar power, the concentrator system comprising:
 a plurality of modules, wherein each module comprises a plurality of rotatable mirrors and a local circuit for a heat transfer fluid, wherein the local circuit comprises a receiver section, a local inlet section, and a local outlet section;   a distribution network for fluidically connecting the plurality of modules, comprising a network inlet section connected to the local inlet section, and a network outlet section connected to the local outlet section; and   a plurality of joints, wherein each joint comprises:   a fixed conduit comprising a fixed tubular element having extension along a rectilinear axis between an outer end and an opposing inner end;   a first sealing ring joined to the fixed conduit;   a rotatable conduit permanently in contact with the first sealing ring; and   an outer casing that delimits a chamber from which the fixed conduit and the rotatable conduit extend, wherein a contact region is arranged between the rotatable conduit and the first sealing ring;   wherein the outer casing is sealingly engaged with the rotatable conduit by a second sealing ring and with the fixed conduit,   wherein the first sealing ring is permanently pressed in contact with the rotatable conduit,   wherein the fixed conduit comprises an axially elastically deformable elastic conduit, coaxial to the fixed tubular element and made as a metallic bellows,   wherein the outer casing comprises an annular outlet wall, through which the rotatable conduit passes, and the second sealing ring is permanently axially compressed against the outlet wall and radially compressed against the rotatable conduit, and   wherein the joint further comprises a stuffing box device operating on the second sealing ring,   each joint connecting the local inlet section or the local outlet section of each module with respectively the network inlet section or the network outlet section of the distribution network.   
     
     
         6 . The concentrator system of  claim 5 ,
 wherein each joint further comprises a pressure sensor housed in said chamber and suitable to detect pressure in said chamber and to transmit a pressure signal outside of the outer casing, and   wherein the concentrator system further comprises:   transmission devices for remote transmission of a pressure signal from each joint; and   a management unit for receiving and processing pressure signals.