A solar thermal power system includes a solar receiver, and a thermal energy storage arrangement having thermal energy storage fluid to be circulated through the solar receiver to store thermal energy. The system includes a multistage steam turbine operable on variable pressure steam generated by a steam generator arrangement, by utilizing the thermal energy storage fluid. The arrangement includes an economizer section, an evaporator section, and a superheater section communicably configured to utilize the heat of the hot thermal energy storage fluid to generate and supply the variable pressure steam to the turbine. The system includes a recirculation line configured around the economizer section to recirculate the heated water to an inlet of the economizer section, increasing pressure range of the variable pressure steam in the arrangement.

The invention relates to a commercially viable modular ceramic oxygen transport membrane system for utilizing heat generated in reactively-driven oxygen transport membrane tubes to generate steam, heat process fluid and/or provide energy to carry out endothermic chemical reactions. The system provides for improved thermal coupling of oxygen transport membrane tubes to steam generation tubes or process heater tubes or reactor tubes for efficient and effective radiant heat transfer.

The invention relates to a method and to a steam power plant, wherein solar energy can be very flexibly and very efficiently coupled into the water steam circuit of the steam power plant.

Method for operating a solar installation. The solar installation includes a solar field with direct evaporation accompanied by the generation of superheated live steam, a turbine for expanding the live steam, and a generator driven by the turbine for generating electrical energy. At least one valve is associated with the turbine by which the amount of live steam fed to the turbine is adjusted. The valve, or each valve, through which the amount of live steam fed to the turbine is adjusted such that an actual value of a live steam pressure occurring upstream of the turbine follows a reference value determined depending on a live steam temperature of the live steam upstream of the turbine.

The present invention provides a steam generator capable of greatly improving energy efficiency, and an energy supply system that uses the steam generator. The steam generator of the present invention includes a high-temperature chamber to which heat of 250° C. to 800° C. is supplied; a low-temperature chamber arranged adjacent to the high-temperature chamber and configured to produce low-temperature steam of 50° C. to 185° C. from water using the heat of the high-temperature chamber; and at least one thermoelectric element arranged between the high-temperature chamber and the low-temperature chamber.

A hybrid steam power plant is disclosed using the steam generator as a sub-construction for a solar receiver.

Separators and mixers for delivering controlled-quality solar-generated steam over long distances for enhanced oil recovery, and associated systems and methods. A representative method includes heating water to steam at a solar field, separating a liquid fraction from the steam, directing the steam toward a target steam user via a first, steam conduit, and directing the liquid fraction toward the target steam user in parallel with the steam via second, liquid fraction conduit. The method can further include mixing the liquid fraction and the steam before delivering the combined liquid fraction and steam to the target user.

Liquid heating devices and methods of use are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, devices include a heating element and a surface area interactive material contacting the heating element, the surface area interactive material having approximately zero surface tension interaction with a liquid which is passed through the surface area interactive material, the surface area interactive material conducting heat from the heating element into the liquid to raise a temperature of the liquid.

A method for modifying a solar thermal power plant operating on conventional oil based technology into a hybrid solar thermal power plant includes: providing an oil-based solar thermal power plant, which includes a solar collection system with at least one radiation absorber tube containing a heat transfer oil to be heated by the solar collection system; providing a molten salts solar thermal power plant, which includes a solar collection system to heat a molten salts mixture; and coupling the respective plants such that the hybrid solar thermal power plant is configured to heat medium temperature steam generated by the oil based solar power plant by the molten salts mixture thereby producing high temperature steam and subsequently supplying it to a steam turbine to generate electricity.

A solar power system includes a solar energy collector that has at least one solar receiver that is operable to carry a working fluid and at least one solar reflector that is operable to direct solar energy towards the at least one solar receiver to heat the working fluid. The working fluid has a maximum predefined operational temperature up to which it can be heated. A first storage unit is connected to receive the working fluid from the at least one solar receiver, and a second storage unit is connected to provide the working fluid to the at least one solar receiver. A power block generates electricity using heat from the heated working fluid. A heater is operable to heat the working fluid to approximately the maximum predefined operational temperature.