The invention relates to a method for operating a linearly concentrating solar power plant (1), in which a heat transfer medium flows through a pipeline loop (47) having at least one receiver, the heat transfer medium having a flow velocity which is such that the flow in the pipeline loop (47) is turbulent, at least part of the heat transfer medium, upon exit from the pipeline loop (47), being extracted and recirculated into the pipeline loop (47). Furthermore, the invention relates to a linearly concentrating solar power plant with at least one pipeline loop (47) having at least one receiver in which a heat transfer medium flowing through the pipeline loop (47) is heated by irradiating solar energy, a mixing device (27) being comprised, in which at least part of the heat transfer medium flowing through the pipeline loop (47) is mixed with heat transfer medium to be delivered.

The invention relates to a method for operating a linearly concentrating solar power plant (1), in which a heat transfer medium flows through a pipeline loop (47) having at least one receiver, the heat transfer medium having a flow velocity which is such that the flow in the pipeline loop (47) is turbulent, at least part of the heat transfer medium, upon exit from the pipeline loop (47), being extracted and recirculated into the pipeline loop (47). Furthermore, the invention relates to a linearly concentrating solar power plant with at least one pipeline loop (47) having at least one receiver in which a heat transfer medium flowing through the pipeline loop (47) is heated by irradiating solar energy, a mixing device (27) being comprised, in which at least part of the heat transfer medium flowing through the pipeline loop (47) is mixed with heat transfer medium to be delivered.

A curved surface absorber type solar fluid heater having radially spaced curved surfaces, preferably hemispherical and closed at bottom periphery, defining a closed chamber termed as collector which receives a fluid to be heated. The curved surface absorber type solar fluid heater encompasses two radially spaced transparent curved surfaces preferably hemispherical, closed at bottom periphery, placed over collector termed as a glazing, and an insulated hemispherical hot fluid tank, placed within the cavity of inner curved surface of the collector and bottom insulation. A plurality of plumbing connections is made between the collector and the hot fluid tank with arrangement of non-return valves to prevent backflow of fluid from hot fluid tank towards the collector. An air vent is located at the highest position of the collector. A drain plug is located at a lowest position on the collector.

Technologies are disclosed herein for a thin heat exchanger through which coolant may be pumped. The heat exchanger may include an envelope and a heat conduction layer provided over the envelope. The envelope may include one or more channels formed therein. The channels formed between the envelope and the conduction layer may extend the length of the heat exchange layer and be configured to carry coolant therethrough. The heat exchange layer may include an inlet manifold on a first end and an outlet manifold on another end opposing the first end. The inlet manifold may allow the flow of coolant into the heat exchange layer and the outlet manifold may allow the removal of the coolant from the heat exchange layer. Coolant flow may be controlled by a suction pump operating under computer control based at least in part on sensor data.

Technologies are disclosed herein for a thin heat exchanger through which coolant may be pumped. The heat exchanger may include an envelope and a heat conduction layer provided over the envelope. The envelope may include one or more channels formed therein. The channels formed between the envelope and the conduction layer may extend the length of the heat exchange layer and be configured to carry coolant therethrough. The heat exchange layer may include an inlet manifold on a first end and an outlet manifold on another end opposing the first end. The inlet manifold may allow the flow of coolant into the heat exchange layer and the outlet manifold may allow the removal of the coolant from the heat exchange layer. Coolant flow may be controlled by a suction pump operating under computer control based at least in part on sensor data.

The invention provides a process for removal of gaseous decomposition products from high temperature heat transfer fluid HTF of an operational solar thermal power plant having an HTF circuit, in which a volume increase of the HTF in the HTF circuit which is caused by incident solar radiation in an HTF-traversed solar field and consequent heating by day takes place regularly in a day-night cycle and the additional volume formed by the volume increase is collected from the HTF circuit in an expansion vessel, a portion of the additional volume of the HTF is transferred into a drainage vessel operated at relatively low pressure in which gaseous decomposition products and low-boiling constituents escape from the HTF, wherein the low-boiling constituents are condensed, and during the volume contraction of the HTF occurring during the night-time cooling a portion of the additional volume of the HTF is recycled from the drainage vessel into the expansion vessel and from the expansion vessel into the HTF circuit, wherein the volumes in the expansion vessel and the drainage vessel becoming vacant as a result of the transferrals of the HTF are filled with inert gas.

The invention provides a process for removal of gaseous decomposition products from high temperature heat transfer fluid HTF of an operational solar thermal power plant having an HTF circuit, in which a volume increase of the HTF in the HTF circuit which is caused by incident solar radiation in an HTF-traversed solar field and consequent heating by day takes place regularly in a day-night cycle and the additional volume formed by the volume increase is collected from the HTF circuit in an expansion vessel, a portion of the additional volume of the HTF is transferred into a drainage vessel operated at relatively low pressure in which gaseous decomposition products and low-boiling constituents escape from the HTF, wherein the low-boiling constituents are condensed, and during the volume contraction of the HTF occurring during the night-time cooling a portion of the additional volume of the HTF is recycled from the drainage vessel into the expansion vessel and from the expansion vessel into the HTF circuit, wherein the volumes in the expansion vessel and the drainage vessel becoming vacant as a result of the transferrals of the HTF are filled with inert gas.

A molten salt central receiver arrangement for transferring heat from panels to a molten salt that flows through the panels. A control device allows to change the condition of at least one of the panel arrangements of the molten salt central receiver arrangement depending on at least an operating parameter of at least one panel and/or depending on an environment signal that characterizes the actual or forecast available heat for the heat transfer to the molten salt. In normal operation passes, each having one or more panels, are connected in series such that molten salt flows in a serpentine or alternating way upward and downward through subsequent passes. In a parallel flow condition, molten salt may flow upward through all of the panels in parallel. In a drain condition, the molten salt is forced out of one or more panels and replaced by compressed air.

A molten salt central receiver arrangement for transferring heat from panels to a molten salt that flows through the panels. A control device allows to change the condition of at least one of the panel arrangements of the molten salt central receiver arrangement depending on at least an operating parameter of at least one panel and/or depending on an environment signal that characterizes the actual or forecast available heat for the heat transfer to the molten salt. In normal operation passes, each having one or more panels, are connected in series such that molten salt flows in a serpentine or alternating way upward and downward through subsequent passes. In a parallel flow condition, molten salt may flow upward through all of the panels in parallel. In a drain condition, the molten salt is forced out of one or more panels and replaced by compressed air.

A method for operating a hybrid collector solar system includes a heat transfer agent, which is present in a buffer accumulator, that passes via a pump into a thermal solar collector of the hybrid collector in order to heat the heat transfer agent. The pump is connected into a feed line that connects the buffer accumulator to the thermal solar collector. The hybrid collector solar system is partially filled with the heat transfer agent so that part of the hybrid collector solar system is not filled and so that the heat transfer agent is moved back and forth between the thermal solar collector and the buffer accumulator via the feed line depending on its temperature, thereby realizing an oscillating method of operation.