A solar thermal power system includes a solar receiver, and a thermal energy storage arrangement having thermal energy storage fluid to be circulated through the solar receiver to store thermal energy. The system includes a multistage steam turbine operable on variable pressure steam generated by a steam generator arrangement, by utilizing the thermal energy storage fluid. The arrangement includes an economizer section, an evaporator section, and a superheater section communicably configured to utilize the heat of the hot thermal energy storage fluid to generate and supply the variable pressure steam to the turbine. The system includes a recirculation line configured around the economizer section to recirculate the heated water to an inlet of the economizer section, increasing pressure range of the variable pressure steam in the arrangement.

A solar thermal power system includes a solar receiver, and a thermal energy storage arrangement having thermal energy storage fluid to be circulated through the solar receiver to store thermal energy. The system includes a multistage steam turbine operable on variable pressure steam generated by a steam generator arrangement, by utilizing the thermal energy storage fluid. The arrangement includes an economizer section, an evaporator section, and a superheater section communicably configured to utilize the heat of the hot thermal energy storage fluid to generate and supply the variable pressure steam to the turbine. The system includes a recirculation line configured around the economizer section to recirculate the heated water to an inlet of the economizer section, increasing pressure range of the variable pressure steam in the arrangement.

A phase-shift-assisted gravity drive system is provided. The phase-shift-assisted gravity drive system has a series of repeating phase-shift chambers separated by inner baffles, wherein the series of repeating steam chambers define a circular loop about a hub. The phase-shift-assisted gravity drive system with the addition of a heat source is adapted to unidirectionally change steam from one phase-shift chamber to spraying condensation flowing into an adjacent phase-shift chamber. Thereby, the phase-shift-assisted gravity drive system generates force through this unidirectional transfer of the fluid throughout the loop of phase-shift chambers so that the loop rotates about its hub under the further influence of gravity, wherein the hub can be attached to a mechanism for applying rotation force thereto.

A phase-shift-assisted gravity drive system is provided. The phase-shift-assisted gravity drive system has a series of repeating phase-shift chambers separated by inner baffles, wherein the series of repeating steam chambers define a circular loop about a hub. The phase-shift-assisted gravity drive system with the addition of a heat source is adapted to unidirectionally change steam from one phase-shift chamber to spraying condensation flowing into an adjacent phase-shift chamber. Thereby, the phase-shift-assisted gravity drive system generates force through this unidirectional transfer of the fluid throughout the loop of phase-shift chambers so that the loop rotates about its hub under the further influence of gravity, wherein the hub can be attached to a mechanism for applying rotation force thereto.

A steam-assisted gravity drive system is provided. The steam-assisted gravity drive system has a series of repeating steam chambers separated by inner baffles, wherein the series of repeating steam chambers define a circular loop about a hub. The steam-assisted gravity drive system with the addition of a heat source is adapted to unidirectionally change steam from one steam chamber to spraying condensation flowing into an adjacent steam chamber. Thereby, the steam-assisted gravity drive system generates force through this unidirectional transfer of the fluid throughout the loop of steam chambers so that the loop rotates about its hub under the further influence of gravity, wherein the hub can be attached to a mechanism for applying rotation force thereto.

A solar thermal power system includes a solar receiver, and a thermal energy storage arrangement having thermal energy storage fluid to be circulated through the solar receiver to store thermal energy. The system includes a multistage steam turbine operable on variable pressure steam generated by a steam generator arrangement, by utilizing the thermal energy storage fluid. The arrangement includes an economizer section, an evaporator section, and a superheater section communicably configured to utilize the heat of the hot thermal energy storage fluid to generate and supply the variable pressure steam to the turbine. The system includes a recirculation line configured around the economizer section to recirculate the heated water to an inlet of the economizer section, increasing pressure range of the variable pressure steam in the arrangement.

A solar thermal power system includes a solar receiver, and a thermal energy storage arrangement having thermal energy storage fluid to be circulated through the solar receiver to store thermal energy. The system includes a multistage steam turbine operable on variable pressure steam generated by a steam generator arrangement, by utilizing the thermal energy storage fluid. The arrangement includes an economizer section, an evaporator section, and a superheater section communicably configured to utilize the heat of the hot thermal energy storage fluid to generate and supply the variable pressure steam to the turbine. The system includes a recirculation line configured around the economizer section to recirculate the heated water to an inlet of the economizer section, increasing pressure range of the variable pressure steam in the arrangement.