The invention provides a process for removal of gaseous decomposition products from high temperature heat transfer fluid HTF of an operational solar thermal power plant having an HTF circuit, in which a volume increase of the HTF in the HTF circuit which is caused by incident solar radiation in an HTF-traversed solar field and consequent heating by day takes place regularly in a day-night cycle and the additional volume formed by the volume increase is collected from the HTF circuit in an expansion vessel, a portion of the additional volume of the HTF is transferred into a drainage vessel operated at relatively low pressure in which gaseous decomposition products and low-boiling constituents escape from the HTF, wherein the low-boiling constituents are condensed, and during the volume contraction of the HTF occurring during the night-time cooling a portion of the additional volume of the HTF is recycled from the drainage vessel into the expansion vessel and from the expansion vessel into the HTF circuit, wherein the volumes in the expansion vessel and the drainage vessel becoming vacant as a result of the transferrals of the HTF are filled with inert gas.

The invention provides a process for removal of gaseous decomposition products from high temperature heat transfer fluid HTF of an operational solar thermal power plant having an HTF circuit, in which a volume increase of the HTF in the HTF circuit which is caused by incident solar radiation in an HTF-traversed solar field and consequent heating by day takes place regularly in a day-night cycle and the additional volume formed by the volume increase is collected from the HTF circuit in an expansion vessel, a portion of the additional volume of the HTF is transferred into a drainage vessel operated at relatively low pressure in which gaseous decomposition products and low-boiling constituents escape from the HTF, wherein the low-boiling constituents are condensed, and during the volume contraction of the HTF occurring during the night-time cooling a portion of the additional volume of the HTF is recycled from the drainage vessel into the expansion vessel and from the expansion vessel into the HTF circuit, wherein the volumes in the expansion vessel and the drainage vessel becoming vacant as a result of the transferrals of the HTF are filled with inert gas.

A solar thermal system is provided. The system comprises at least one solar thermal collector for heating a heat transfer fluid (HTF); and at least one conduit for transporting the HTF into and out of the at least one solar thermal collector; wherein said at least one conduit is of a foam or plastics material.

A solar thermal system is provided. The system comprises at least one solar thermal collector for heating a heat transfer fluid (HTF); and at least one conduit for transporting the HTF into and out of the at least one solar thermal collector; wherein said at least one conduit is of a foam or plastics material.

A solar thermal system is provided. The system comprises at least one solar thermal collector for heating a heat transfer fluid (HTF); and at least one conduit for transporting the HTF into and out of the at least one solar thermal collector; wherein said at least one conduit is of a foam or plastics material.

A solar thermal system is provided. The system comprises at least one solar thermal collector for heating a heat transfer fluid (HTF); and at least one conduit for transporting the HTF into and out of the at least one solar thermal collector; wherein said at least one conduit is of a foam or plastics material.

Technologies are disclosed herein for a thin heat exchanger through which coolant may be pumped. The heat exchanger may include an envelope and a heat conduction layer provided over the envelope. The envelope may include one or more channels formed therein. The channels formed between the envelope and the conduction layer may extend the length of the heat exchange layer and be configured to carry coolant therethrough. The heat exchange layer may include an inlet manifold on a first end and an outlet manifold on another end opposing the first end. The inlet manifold may allow the flow of coolant into the heat exchange layer and the outlet manifold may allow the removal of the coolant from the heat exchange layer. Coolant flow may be controlled by a suction pump operating under computer control based at least in part on sensor data.

A self-draining solar collector system includes one or more solar collector assemblies, a manifold connecting assembly, and a crossover connecting assembly. Each solar collector assembly includes a collector support subsystem, one or more heating pipes, and one or more parabolic reflectors. The manifold connecting assembly connects the heating pipes of each solar collector assembly to a manifold disposed at a lower elevation than the heating pipes of the solar collector assemblies when the solar collector assemblies are oriented in respective draining positions. The crossover connecting assembly connects the heating pipes of each solar collector assembly to a crossover pipe disposed at a higher elevation than the heating pipes of the solar collector assemblies when the solar collector assemblies are oriented in their respective draining positions.

Wind screen for one or more photovoltaic arrays and method thereof. For example, a wind screen for one or more photovoltaic arrays includes a screen foundation including a concrete block, and one or more perforation blocks on the concrete block. In another example, the wind screen is configured to cover at least a first side of each array of the one or more photovoltaic arrays.

The invention relates to a solar power plant with a first heat transfer medium circuit and with a second heat transfer medium circuit, in which the first heat transfer medium circuit comprises a store (3) for hot heat transfer medium and a store (5) for cold heat transfer medium and also a pipeline system (6) connecting the stores (3, 5) for hot heat transfer medium and for cold heat transfer medium and leading through a solar array (7), and the second heat transfer medium circuit comprises a pipeline system (9) connecting the stores (3, 5) for hot heat transfer medium and for cold heat transfer medium and in which at least one heat exchanger (11) for the evaporation and superheating of water is accommodated, the at least one heat exchanger (11) having a region through which the heat transfer medium flows and a region through which water flows, said regions being separated by a heat-conducting wall, so that heat can be transmitted from the heat transfer medium to the water. Each heat exchanger (11) has a break detection system (21), by means of which a possible break of the heat-conducting wall can be detected, and valves (23) for the closing of supply lines (13, 17) and outflow lines (15, 19) for heat transfer medium and water, upon the detection of a break the valves (23) in the supply lines (13, 17) and outflow lines (15, 19) for heat transfer medium and water being closed.