A solar energy collector and/or concentrator, a thermal energy storage and retrieval system including the same, and methods of storing and recovering thermal energy are disclosed. The solar energy collector and/or concentrator may include an array of lenses configured to concentrate solar energy, a plurality of conduits through which a heat storage or heat transport fluid flows, and one or more heat transfer elements on each of the conduits, configured to receive the concentrated solar energy from the lenses and transfer the concentrated solar energy to the heat storage/transport fluid. The conduits are configured to move in at least first and second angular dimensions. The thermal energy storage and retrieval system may include the solar energy collector and/or concentrator, a thermodynamic cycle, and a heat storage and retrieval subsystem. Heat is transferred from the heat storage/transport fluid to the heat storage and retrieval subsystem and/or the thermodynamic cycle.

The invention relates to a container for storing a liquid, which tends to decompose into gaseous decomposition components in the case of the conditions prevailing in the container (1) and in the case of which a chemical reaction equilibrium results between gaseous decomposition components and liquid, wherein a floating roof (29) is accommodated in the container (1) and the floating roof (29) comprises floats (33), using which the floating roof (29) floats on the liquid, and wherein the floating roof (29) is guided using a sliding seal (45) in the container (1).

The invention furthermore relates to a device for storing heat, comprising a first container (57) for storing a colder liquid and a second container (59) for storing a hotter liquid and a use of the container and the device for storing heat.

A concentrated solar power (CSP) system includes channels arranged to convey a flowing solids medium descending under gravity. The channels form a light-absorbing surface configured to absorb solar flux from a heliostat field. The channels may be independently supported, for example by suspension, and gaps between the channels are sized to accommodate thermal expansion. The light absorbing surface may be sloped so that the inside surfaces of the channels proximate to the light absorbing surface define downward-slanting channel floors, and the flowing solids medium flows along these floors. Baffles may be disposed inside the channels and oriented across the direction of descent of the flowing solids medium. The channels may include wedge-shaped walls forming the light-absorbing surface and defining multiple-reflection light paths for solar flux from the heliostat field incident on the light-absorbing surface.

Rankine Cycle power generation facility having a plurality of thermal inputs and at least one heat sink, where the heat sink includes a thermal chimney or a natural convective cooling tower. In a preferred embodiment, the power facility generates electricity and/or fresh water with a zero carbon footprint, such as by using a combination of solar and geothermal heating to drive a Rankine Cycle heat engine. In one embodiment, a thermal stack is mounted in the base of the thermal chimney, the thermal stack for using waste heat from the plurality of thermal inputs to drive a natural convective flow of air in the thermal chimney, the convective flow having sufficient momentum to drive additional power generation in an air turbine mounted in the chimney and to drive an evaporative cycle for concentratively extracting fresh water from geothermal brines.

Rankine Cycle power generation facility having a plurality of thermal inputs and at least one heat sink, where the heat sink includes a thermal chimney or a natural convective cooling tower. In a preferred embodiment, the power facility generates electricity and/or fresh water with a zero carbon footprint, such as by using a combination of solar and geothermal heating to drive a Rankine Cycle heat engine. In one embodiment, a thermal stack is mounted in the base of the thermal chimney, the thermal stack for using waste heat from the plurality of thermal inputs to drive a natural convective flow of air in the thermal chimney, the convective flow having sufficient momentum to drive additional power generation in an air turbine mounted in the chimney and to drive an evaporative cycle for concentratively extracting fresh water from geothermal brines.

The method is for using solar power in an efficient manner. A solar concentrator is provided in operative engagement with a storage unit. The storage unit has at least one glass rod disposed therein and at least one sheet enclosing the storage unit. The solar concentrator receives solar power as sunrays and conveys the solar power to the glass rod disposed in the storage unit. The solar power is in the glass rod is converted to heat to heat to the storage unit. Gas flows between the storage unit and the sheets. The storage unit heats the gas. The gas flows to a heat exchanger to exchange heat with steam.

The invention belongs to the technical field of solar thermal power generation equipment, and discloses a combined solar thermal power generation system. The system comprises a parabolic trough collector subsystem, a heat exchanger subsystem, a Rankine cycle power generation subsystem and a dish power generation subsystem; the parabolic trough collector subsystem comprises a trough-type mirror field, a pump and a valve; the heat exchanger subsystem comprises a superheater, an evaporator and a preheater; the Rankine cycle power generation subsystem comprises a temperature-decreased pressure reducer, a steam turbine, an electric generator, a condenser, a condensate pump, a deaerator and a feedwater pump; and the dish power generation subsystem comprises a dish-type mirror field and a Stirling engine set. The system utilizes the heat released by the cold chamber of the Stirling engine by condensed fluid of the Rankine cycle. It provides an extra heat source for the Rankine cycle, which increases the power of the steam turbine and improves the solar to electric efficiency of the thermal power generation system.

The inventive solar heat collection system reduces the risk of damage to heat transfer pipes of a high-temperature heat collection device. The low-temperature heat collection device (1) heats water by sunlight heat to generate steam. The steam-water separation device (4) separates a water-steam two-phase fluid generated in the low-temperature heat collection device into water and steam. The high-temperature heat collection device (5) heats the steam separated by the steam-water separation device by use of heat of sunlight reflected by a plurality of heliostats (8), thereby generating superheated steam. The heliostat control device (13) controls angles of the plurality of heliostats so that metal temperature of the high-temperature heat collection device is maintained not to be higher than a threshold temperature set to prevent overshoot of steam temperature at an outlet of the high-temperature heat collection device.

Electric power obtained by wind power generation is used effectively. A power generation system in an embodiment includes: a wind power generation apparatus; a solar thermal power generation apparatus; and an electrothermal converting unit. The solar thermal power generation apparatus includes: a heater heating a heating medium by solar heat; and a heat exchanger exchanging heat of the heating medium heated by the heater and heat of a working fluid to operate a drive mechanism of a power generator. The electrothermal converting unit converts part of electric power generated by the wind power generation apparatus into heat to heat the heating medium.

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.