The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods to control particle mass flow rate in solar receivers and associated heat exchangers based on feedback from one or more temperatures of particles in the system.

A device is disclosed for the storage and transfer of solar thermal energy which includes a casing having a irradiation opening for the entry of incident solar radiation in a irradiation region of the casing. a bed of fluidizable solid particles received within the casing, and a plurality of reflecting and radiating surfaces arranged within the irradiation region and configured to convey the solar radiation entering through the irradiation opening, after multiple reflections, on the bed of particles.

A cyclical salinity-gradient power generating system based on phase change materials and solar photothermal conversion is provided. The system comprises a solution supplying device, a power generating device and a power output device. The solution supplying device provides seawater with high and low concentration as salinity-gradient energy source of the power generating device; the power generating device implements day-and-night cyclical salinity-gradient power generation; the power output device stores electricity, part of which is used as providing power for the pumps inside the system and part of which is used as system output. A cyclical salinity-gradient power generating method based on phase change materials and solar photothermal conversion is also provided.

A cyclical salinity-gradient power generating system based on phase change materials and solar photothermal conversion is provided. The system comprises a solution supplying device, a power generating device and a power output device. The solution supplying device provides seawater with high and low concentration as salinity-gradient energy source of the power generating device; the power generating device implements day-and-night cyclical salinity-gradient power generation; the power output device stores electricity, part of which is used as providing power for the pumps inside the system and part of which is used as system output. A cyclical salinity-gradient power generating method based on phase change materials and solar photothermal conversion is also provided.

A turbine (1) with flow diverter (2) comprises a support frame (25) adapted to be anchored to a fixed or movable structure, an impeller (3) rotatably mounted about a rotation axis (R) to the support frame (25) and having a front inlet section for the flow and a plurality of blades (4, 4′, 4″, . . . ) adapted to move continuously upon the rotation produced by the flow between a pushing position and an advancing position in correspondence of the front section, a main flow diverter (2) adapted to be anchored to the support frame (25) and having a peripheral wall (7) adapted to at least partially blind the front section with respect to the flow auxiliary diverter (13) extending from a first section (14) facing one or more blades (4′) in the advancing position to a second section (15) facing one or more blades (4) in pushing position. The auxiliary diverter (13) comprises a plurality of substantially curvilinear conduits (16) in reciprocal side by side position along a substantially radial direction, each conduit (16) having a first opened end (16′) facing the blades (4′) in the advancing position and a second opened. end (16″, 16′″) placed in correspondence of the conveying duet (8).

Heat storage devices and circuits suitable for storing solar energy, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. Representative systems can include a solar energy collection system having a first solar field coupled between a first working fluid source and a target heat user via first fluid network, at least one heat storage device, and a second solar field coupled to the at least one heat storage device via a second fluid network. The second fluid network carries a second working fluid and is isolated from fluid communication with the first fluid network. At least one heat exchanger is coupled to the first and second fluid networks to provide thermal communication between the first and second fluid networks.

A hybrid power and heat generating device (100) comprising: a photovoltaic solar power collector (102) configured to collect solar power from solar radiation received on an active side (103) of the photovoltaic solar power collector; and a heat exchanging unit (104) configured to cool the photovoltaic solar power collector, which heat exchanging unit includes a cooling plate (106;404;504704) arranged to transfer heat from the photovoltaic solar power collector (102) to a cooling medium. The heat exchanging unit (104) is adapted to transport the cooling medium away from the cooling plate (106;404;504;704) for heat extraction from the cooling medium. The cooling plate (106;404;504;704) is arranged with a gap (110) from a rear side (111) of the photovoltaic solar power collector (102) and the cooling medium is arranged to cool the cooling plate (106;404;504;704) to a temperature which allows water vapor of the ambient air in the gap (110) to condensate into water on the cooling plate (106;404;504;704) in the gap (110). The hybrid power and heat generating device (100) being operable in at least two operation modes; a normal operation mode in which the gap (110) is at least partly filled with condensed water, which condensed water transfers heat from the photovoltaic solar power collector (102) to the cooling plate (106;404;504;704); and a security operation mode in which the gap (110) is filled with air to thereby reduce the heat transfer from the photovoltaic solar collector (102) to the cooling plate (106;404;504;704).

A hybrid power and heat generating device (100) comprising: a photovoltaic solar power collector (102) configured to collect solar power from solar radiation received on an active side (103) of the photovoltaic solar power collector; and a heat exchanging unit (104) configured to cool the photovoltaic solar power collector, which heat exchanging unit includes a cooling plate (106;404;504704) arranged to transfer heat from the photovoltaic solar power collector (102) to a cooling medium. The heat exchanging unit (104) is adapted to transport the cooling medium away from the cooling plate (106;404;504;704) for heat extraction from the cooling medium. The cooling plate (106;404;504;704) is arranged with a gap (110) from a rear side (111) of the photovoltaic solar power collector (102) and the cooling medium is arranged to cool the cooling plate (106;404;504;704) to a temperature which allows water vapor of the ambient air in the gap (110) to condensate into water on the cooling plate (106;404;504;704) in the gap (110). The hybrid power and heat generating device (100) being operable in at least two operation modes; a normal operation mode in which the gap (110) is at least partly filled with condensed water, which condensed water transfers heat from the photovoltaic solar power collector (102) to the cooling plate (106;404;504;704); and a security operation mode in which the gap (110) is filled with air to thereby reduce the heat transfer from the photovoltaic solar collector (102) to the cooling plate (106;404;504;704).

The invention provides an unpowered anti-frost anti-heave heat gathering device and subgrade thereof, comprising a solar heat absorber, a circulating tube, a transducer, and a heat gathering tube, wherein the solar heat absorber and the transducer are connected by the circulating tube to form a circulation loop, through which a liquid state circulating working medium flows, the solar heat absorber is configured to absorb solar energy and transfer heat to the transducer through the liquid state circulating working medium, the heat gathering tube comprises a heat absorption section and a heat release section in communication, the heat absorption section is inserted into the transducer for absorbing heat from the transducer and transferring heat to the heat release section, and the heat release section is inserted into a subgrade for heating the subgrade.

The invention relates to a method for operating a linearly concentrating solar power plant (1), in which a heat transfer medium flows through a pipeline loop (47) having at least one receiver, the heat transfer medium having a flow velocity which is such that the flow in the pipeline loop (47) is turbulent, at least part of the heat transfer medium, upon exit from the pipeline loop (47), being extracted and recirculated into the pipeline loop (47). Furthermore, the invention relates to a linearly concentrating solar power plant with at least one pipeline loop (47) having at least one receiver in which a heat transfer medium flowing through the pipeline loop (47) is heated by irradiating solar energy, a mixing device (27) being comprised, in which at least part of the heat transfer medium flowing through the pipeline loop (47) is mixed with heat transfer medium to be delivered.