A system and method for tracking the sun with a heliostat mirror is disclosed. The solar tracking system comprises: a camera configured to capture high dynamic range images of the sky, a plurality of cameras configured to capture images of the heliostat mirror, and a tracking controller. The images of the heliostat mirror include reflections of the sky. The tracking controller is configured to generate a circumsolar radiance map characterizing the brightness of at least a portion of the sky with the high dynamic range images. During tracking operations, the tracking controller is configured to estimate an orientation of the heliostat mirror; calculate coordinates of the portions of sky in the reflections in the heliostat mirror; estimate brightness levels of portions of sky in the reflections of the heliostat mirror based on the calculated coordinates and the radiance model; determine brightness levels of portions of sky in the reflections of the heliostat mirror based on the images from the plurality of cameras; generate an error measurement characterizing a difference between the brightness level estimated from the radiance model and the brightness level determined from the images of the heliostat mirror; search for an orientation angle of the at least one mirror that minimizes the error measurement; and re-orient the at least one mirror based on the orientation angle that minimizes the error measurement.

Systems and methods for falling particle receivers are disclosed that include shield or deflector structures around the receiver aperture to reduce wind effects and/or heat losses from the falling particles. External and internal structures are disclosed that can be tailored to reduce particle, thermal, and radiative losses from within the cavity receiver due to external wind and the falling particles that are irradiated within the receiver. Structures of varying shapes, sizes, and composition (transparent, reflective) are described.

Systems and methods for falling particle receivers are disclosed that include shield or deflector structures around the receiver aperture to reduce wind effects and/or heat losses from the falling particles. External and internal structures are disclosed that can be tailored to reduce particle, thermal, and radiative losses from within the cavity receiver due to external wind and the falling particles that are irradiated within the receiver. Structures of varying shapes, sizes, and composition (transparent, reflective) are described.

A thermal receiver, such as a solar flux thermal receiver, is disclosed comprising a modular arrangement of arrayed microchannels or micropins to heat a working fluid by heat transfer. Disclosed solar receivers provide a much higher solar flux and consequently a significant reduction in thermal losses, size, and cost, relative to known receivers. Unit cell receivers can be numbered up and combined in parallel to form modules, and modules combined to form full scale receivers.

A thermal receiver, such as a solar flux thermal receiver, is disclosed comprising a modular arrangement of arrayed microchannels or micropins to heat a working fluid by heat transfer. Disclosed solar receivers provide a much higher solar flux and consequently a significant reduction in thermal losses, size, and cost, relative to known receivers. Unit cell receivers can be numbered up and combined in parallel to form modules, and modules combined to form full scale receivers.

Provided are solar collection energy storage and energy conversion or chemical conversion systems. Also provided are tubing components, such as for solar receivers, including Mo and having a MoSiB coating on an external surface. The systems can include a solar receiver containing a heat transfer material or chemically reacting material and can operate at temperatures of 700° C. or higher. The solar receiver can include tubing components selected from a Mo tubing component, a MAX phase material tubing component, a MoSiB composite tubing component, or a combination thereof. The Mo component, when present, can include a coating on surfaces of the Mo component that operate above 700° C.

Provided are solar collection energy storage and energy conversion or chemical conversion systems. Also provided are tubing components, such as for solar receivers, including Mo and having a MoSiB coating on an external surface. The systems can include a solar receiver containing a heat transfer material or chemically reacting material and can operate at temperatures of 700° C. or higher. The solar receiver can include tubing components selected from a Mo tubing component, a MAX phase material tubing component, a MoSiB composite tubing component, or a combination thereof. The Mo component, when present, can include a coating on surfaces of the Mo component that operate above 700° C.

The invention relates to a receiver (50) having an absorber (55) and an opening (53) for the solar rays incident on the absorber (55) during operation, wherein a window (52, 60, 61, 62) is provided, which covers the opening (53), and wherein a changing assembly (51) is provided, which interacts with said window to change the window (52) covering the opening (53) for another window (60, 61 62).

The invention relates to a receiver (50) having an absorber (55) and an opening (53) for the solar rays incident on the absorber (55) during operation, wherein a window (52, 60, 61, 62) is provided, which covers the opening (53), and wherein a changing assembly (51) is provided, which interacts with said window to change the window (52) covering the opening (53) for another window (60, 61 62).

Reactors are provided that can include a first set of fluid channels and a second set of fluid channels oriented in thermal contact with the first set of fluid channels. The reactor assemblies can also provide where the channels of either one or both of the first of the set of fluid channels are non-linear. Other implementations provide for at least one of the first set of fluid channels being in thermal contact with a plurality of other channels of the second set of fluid channels. Reactor assemblies are also provided that can include a first set of fluid channels defining at least one non-linear channel having a positive function, and a second set of fluid channels defining at least another non-linear channel having a negative function in relation to the positive function of the one non-linear channel of the first set of fluid channels. Processes for distributing energy across a reactor are provided. The processes can include transporting reactants via a first set of fluid channels to a second set of fluid channels, and thermally engaging at least one of the first set of fluid channels with at least two of the second set of fluid channels.