A process for increasing the service life of a solar receiver by reducing the concentration of dissolved hydrogen present in a hydrogen atom containing liquid (HACL) stream including (a) contacting a HACL stream containing a first concentration of dissolved hydrogen with an inert gas stream under predetermined process conditions such that at least a portion of hydrogen in the HACL stream is transferred to the inert gas stream and a second reduced concentration of dissolved hydrogen remains in the HACL stream; and (b) passing the HACL stream having the second reduced concentration of dissolved hydrogen through the solar receiver.

A process for increasing the service life of a solar receiver by reducing the concentration of dissolved hydrogen present in a hydrogen atom containing liquid (HACL) stream including (a) contacting a HACL stream containing a first concentration of dissolved hydrogen with an inert gas stream under predetermined process conditions such that at least a portion of hydrogen in the HACL stream is transferred to the inert gas stream and a second reduced concentration of dissolved hydrogen remains in the HACL stream; and (b) passing the HACL stream having the second reduced concentration of dissolved hydrogen through the solar receiver.

An absorber pipe for solar collectors is provided. The absorber pipe includes a metal pipe for and a cladding pipe surrounding the metal pipe to form an annular space that can be evacuated. The absorber pipe can include a wall extending between the cladding pipe and the metal pipe for sealing the annular space and a retaining device for a getter material or a container filled with getter material or inert gas. The retaining device has a receiving section for receiving the getter material or the container. The retaining device is fastened to the wall. The absorber pipe can alternately include a getter material disposed in the annular space for binding free hydrogen present in the annular space and a reflector disposed in the annular space for reflecting radiation. The reflector has a housing with a support section for fastening and protecting the getter material from the radiation.

An absorber tube, especially for solar collectors in solar thermal power plants with at least one collector mirror, is provided. The absorber tube includes a metal tube for supplying and heating a heat transfer medium, a sheath tube surrounding the metal tube to form an annular space that can be evacuated, a wall extending through the sheath tube and the metal tube to seal the annular space, and a getter material binding free hydrogen in the annular space. The absorber tube has a temperature variation device that changes the temperature of the getter material and the wall.

There is provided a pipe in a solar thermal power plant. The pipe includes an inner tube configured for carrying a heated heat transfer fluid, an outer tube surrounding the inner tube, wherein the space between the inner and outer tube is evacuated, and a getter restraint structure configured for maintaining getters in a predetermined position. The getter restraint structure is in contact with the outer tube and otherwise entirely free of contact with the inner tube and/or is in thermal isolation from the inner tube.