Concentrated solar power and heating systems using solar receivers, and related devices and methods, are generally described.

Solar/Rankine steam cycle hybrid concentrating solar power (CSP) systems and methods for designing or retrofitting existent natural circulation boilers using saturated or superheated steam produced by direct steam generation (DSG) or Heat Transfer Fluid (HTF) steam generators and CSP solar field technology systems are described. Additionally, methods and processes of retrofitting the existent Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSG) or biomass, gas, oil or coal fired boilers to operate integrated to a molten salt/water-steam heat exchangers are disclosed. The hybrid CSP systems are highly efficient due to the increase of steam generated by a heating section comprising either the DSG receiver or the molten salt-water-steam sequential heat exchangers, heaters, boiler/saturated steam generators, super-heaters and re-heaters. The additional saturated, superheated and reheated steam produced is directed to a Rankine cycle according to its pressure, temperature and steam quality significantly reducing the fuel consumption within a cogeneration or Combine Cycle Power Plant.

A system and a process for producing gas and generating power is disclosed herein. The system may be configured to include a produced gas, a production pipe, an indirect heat exchange system, a heat exchange medium, a concentrated solar power system, an energy conversion device, and a heat exchange circulation system. The process may include producing a gas from a reservoir that has a first temperature, heating the produced, via indirect heat exchange with a heat exchange medium, to a second temperature. This indirect heat exchange may produce a cooled heat exchange medium that may be heated again via concentrated solar power. The heated produced gas may be then expanded across an energy conversion device to produce electricity.

A concentrating solar power plant includes a solar light capturing part configured to capture solar light; and a heat exchange part configured to transform solar energy, from the captured solar light, into heat, which is stored in a solid medium, wherein the solid medium is stored underground. The solar light capturing part has a heliostat farm, a beam down solar concentrator, and a compound concentrator, each configured to reflect the solar light.

A system is disclosed that utilizes renewable energy to generate high temperature, superheated steam for driving a prime mover, such as a steam turbine coupled to an electrical generator, and/or to deliver heat where only a portion of the renewable energy system needs to withstand a high temperature working fluid that is necessary to generate high temperature superheated steam.

A solar-aided coal-fired flexible power generation system and an operating method thereof are provided. The system includes a coal-fired thermal power generation system and a high-temperature heat storage system coupled with solar thermal power generation; wherein a heat storage medium heater is arranged in the boiler flue; the flow rates of heat storage medium entering the solar heat collection device and the heat storage medium heater are adjusted by the regulating valve and the pump, eliminating irradiation fluctuation influences and maintaining stable power; a heat storage medium tank is used for peak shaving to reduce steam turbine output under stable boiler combustion; the flow and temperature of the feedwater entering the heat storage medium and feedwater heat exchanger are adjusted to realize rapid load cycling. The present invention can realize solar and coal-fired generation coupling, reduce coal consumption, and greatly improve the flexibility and economy.

Discussed is a heat transmitting system for providing a heat medium with a set temperature, the system comprises a heat source, a plurality of heat storage tanks, a heat exchanger, a heat source pump, an inlet side-heat source header, a heat source header valve, an outlet side-heat source header, an outlet valve of heat storage tank, a header outlet valve, a heat transmitting line, a heat transmitting pump, a temperature sensor of heat storage tank, and a controller conducting a heat storage mode for a heat storage tank whose temperature is the set temperature or below. During the heat storage mode, the controller operates the heat source pump, controlling the specific heat storage tank to store heat, and during the heat transmission mode, the controller suspends the operation of the heat source pump, controlling the heat medium inside the specific heat storage tank to be transmitted to the heat exchanger.

A system for generating electricity, heat, and desalinated water having a gas turbine system connected to a first electric generator, a waste heat recovery boiler (WHRB) system, a combined heat and power (CHP) generation system connected to a second electric generator, one or more solar powered energy systems, and a desalination system. The desalination system is connected to the CHP generation system and the WHRB system. The gas turbine system generates electricity and heat, the WHRB system is connected to and uses the exhaust of the gas turbine system to provide heat and steam power to the CHP generation system. The CHP generation system produces and provides electricity and heat to the desalination system, which produces product water, and at least one solar powered energy system provides thermal energy to one or more of the gas turbine system, the WHRB system, the CHP generation system, and the desalination system.

A solar-aided coal-fired flexible power generation system and an operating method thereof are provided. The system includes a coal-fired thermal power generation system and a high-temperature heat storage system coupled with solar thermal power generation; wherein a heat storage medium heater is arranged in the boiler flue; the flow rates of heat storage medium entering the solar heat collection device and the heat storage medium heater are adjusted by the regulating valve and the pump, eliminating irradiation fluctuation influences and maintaining stable power; a heat storage medium tank is used for peak shaving to reduce steam turbine output under stable boiler combustion; the flow and temperature of the feedwater entering the heat storage medium and feedwater heat exchanger are adjusted to realize rapid load cycling. The present invention can realize solar and coal-fired generation coupling, reduce coal consumption, and greatly improve the flexibility and economy.

A method of operating a solar energy plant and a solar plant are disclosed. Thermal energy produced in the plant is used to heat a first volume of water and charge a hot store in the plant. Electricity produced in the plant operates a heat engine or other device, such as a refrigeration unit, to extract heat and consequently cool a second volume of water and charge a cold store. As desired, energy is transferred from the hot store to a heat engine and energy is transferred from the heat engine to the cold store to operate the heat engine to produce power in the plant.