CONCENTRATING SOLAR POWER MODULE

Abstract

This invention relates to concentrating solar power systems with application of parabolic dish-shaped reflectors.

A proposed CSP module applies a two-phase thermosiphon intended to transport heat generated by concentrated sunlight on a sunlight receiver onto the external surface of a heat exchanging pipe. The outer end butt of a distal plug, which seals the lower section of the two-phase thermosiphon, is provided with a sunlight absorbing coating.

A tracking manipulator is installed below a dish-shaped mirror and joined with its supporting structure; it provides orientation of the axis of the dish-shaped mirror towards the sun.

The walls of the two-phase thermosiphon are provided with a metal vacuum insulated jacket, which has a flexible middle sub-section of its lower section.

Design of the middle and distal sub-sections of the lower section of the two-phase thermosiphon allows accompanied orientation of the distal sub-section axis of the two-phase thermosiphon towards the sun.

Claims

1. A concentrating solar power (CSP) module comprising following elements and units: a two-phase thermosiphon intended to transport heat generated by concentrated sunlight on a sunlight receiving member to the external surface of a heat exchanging pipe with heat transfer fluid; said two-phase thermosiphon comprises a lower section, which is divided, in turn, in a distal sub-section in the form of a pipe sealed at its lower end with a plug, an middle sub-section in the form of a bellows and a proximal sub-section in the form of a pipe; the external surface of the end butt of said plug is provided with an external sunlight absorbing coating playing a role of said sunlight receiving member; an upper section of said two-phase thermosiphon is designed as two inclined pipe, which are in flow communication at their distal sub-sections and via a 3-way connector with said proximal sub-section of said lower section of said two-phase thermosiphon; said heat exchanging pipe is positioned in said inclined pipes and said 3-way connector; the proximal sections of said heat exchanging pipe are protruded from said inclined pipes of said upper section; the proximal ends of said inclined pipes are sealingly joined with said heat exchanging pipe; said proximal protruded sections of said heat exchanging pipe are terminated by inlet and outlet connections; a metal vacuum insulated jacket surrounds the wall of said two-phase thermosiphon and said metal vacuum insulated jacket is divided in sections and sub-sections corresponded to said sections and sub-sections of said two-phase thermosiphon; the middle sub-section of the lower section of said metal vacuum insulated jacket is an additional bellows which is situated around said bellows of said lower section of said two-phase thermosiphon; two posts are provided with supporting members, which support the proximal sub-sections of said upper section of said metal vacuum insulated jacket; a metal funnel with a flanging on its lower edge is installed on said distal sub-section of said lower section of said two-phase thermosiphon; a glazing is installed on said flanging of said metal funnel; a bushing, which is fastened on said distal sub-section of said lower section of said metal vacuum insulated jacket; parabolic dish-shaped mirror and its supporting structure are positioned below said metal funnel; said bushing is joined by truss struts with said supporting structure of said parabolic dish-shaped mirror; a tracking manipulator, which is joined with said supporting structure of said parabolic dish-shaped mirror; said tracking manipulator provides orientation of the axis of said parabolic dish-shaped mirror and, therefore, of the axis of said distal sub-section of said lower section of said two-phase thermosiphon and said distal sub-section of lower section of said metal vacuum insulated jacket towards the sun.

2. The concentrating solar power (CSP) module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metal funnel is provided on its outer surface with a layer of thermal insulation.

3. The concentrating solar power (CSP) module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inter surface of the metal funnel has a high reflectance coefficient for sunlight.

4. The concentrating solar power (CSP) module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat exchanging pipes are provided with longitudinal internal ribs.

5. The concentrating solar power (CSP) module as claimed in claim 1, wherein alkali metal is used as working medium of the two-phase thermosiphon.

6. The concentrating solar power (CSP) module as claimed in claim 1, wherein water is used as working medium of the two-phase thermosiphon.

7. The concentrating solar power (CSP) module as claimed in claim 1, wherein dowtherm A is used as working medium of the two-phase thermosiphon.

8. The concentrating solar power (CSP) module as claimed in claim 1, wherein metal halide is used as working medium of the two-phase thermosiphon.

9. The concentrating solar power (CSP) module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper sub-section of the lower section of the metal vacuum insulated jacket is joined by a cross-bar with the posts.

10. The concentrating solar power (CSP) module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper inclined sections of the metal vacuum insulated jacket and/or the inclined pipes of the upper sections of the two-phase thermosiphon are provided with auxiliary bellows.

11. The concentrating solar power (CSP) module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the space between the walls of the two-phase thermosiphon and the metal vacuum insulated jacket is filled with fibers, microporous materials or refractories.

12. The concentrating solar power (CSP) module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer surfaces of the bellows of the two-phase thermosiphon and/or the additional bellows of the metal vacuum insulated jacket are protected by braids.

13. The concentrating solar power (CSP) module as claimed in claim 1, wherein a significant part of the heat exchanging pipe is helically coiled.

14. The concentrating solar power (CSP) module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper section of the two-phase thermosiphon comprises an upper pipe having concave axis, and a heat exchanging pipe has a concave axis too and is situated coaxially in the internal space of the upper section of said two-phase thermosiphon; the terminal sections of said heat exchanging pipe with its inlet and outlet connections are protruded from said upper pipe of said two-phase thermosiphon; the ends of said upper pipe are sealingly joined with the proximal sections of said heat exchanging pipe; the metal vacuum insulated jacket surrounds the walls of said two-phase thermosiphon; the terminal sub-sections of the upper section of the metal vacuum insulated jacket are supported by the supporting member installed on the posts.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] FIG. 1a shows a concentrating solar power (CSP) module, which comprises a two-phase thermosiphon (its axial cross-section) serving for transportation of heat generated on a coating, which absorbs concentrated sunlight; this coating covers the external end butt of a distal plug sealing the lower section the two-phase thermosiphon.

[0054] The proximal sub-section of the lower section of the two-phase thermosiphon is in fluid communication via a 3-way connector with two inclined upper sections of the two-phase thermosiphon; these inclined upper sections are designed as two inclined pipes.

[0055] A heat exchanging member, which is designed as a heat exchanging pipe, is positioned in the internal spaces of two inclined upper sections and the 3-way connector of the two-phase thermosiphon; inlet and outlet connections of the heat exchanging member are protruded from the sealings of the proximal ends of the inclined pipes of the upper sections of the two-phase thermosiphon.

[0056] A metal vacuum insulated jacket surrounds the walls of the two-phase thermosiphon.

[0057] The proximal sub-sections of the upper section of the metal vacuum insulated jacket are supported by two supporting member fastened on two posts.

[0058] A glazing is installed on the flanging of the metal funnel. The internal surface of the metal funnel can be provided with a coating with high reflectance coefficient for sunlight.

[0059] The lower section of the metal vacuum insulated jacket of the two-phase thermosiphon is joined with a supporting structure of a parabolic dish-shaped mirror by a bushing installed on the distal sub-section of this lower section of the metal vacuum insulated jacket and by truss struts.

[0060] The supporting structure of the parabolic dish-shaped mirror is joined, in turn, with a tracking manipulator shown schematically.

[0061] In such a way, a sunlight receiver of the proposed CSP module is the external end butt of the distal plug with its sunlight absorbing coating and the focal spot of the parabolic dish-shaped mirror is mostly overlapped by this sunlight receiver.

[0062] FIG. 1b shows an enlarged axil cross-section of the two-phase thermosiphon at its distal part with the sunlight absorbing coating, which covers the external end butt of the distal plug.

[0063] FIG. 2 shows a CSP module comprising a two-phase thermosiphon with its lower section designed like the lower section of the two-phase thermosiphon in FIG. 1a.

[0064] The upper section of the two-phase thermosiphon comprises an upper pipe having concave axis, and a heat exchanging pipe of a smaller diameter; the heat exchanging pipe has a concave axis too and is situated coaxially in the internal space of the upper pipe; the terminal sections of this heat exchanging pipe with its inlet and outlet connections are protruded from the upper pipe and the ends of the upper pipe are sealingly joined with the proximal sub-sections of the heat exchanging pipe (the distal section of the heat exchanging heat pipe is its section near the 3-way connector).

[0065] A metal vacuum insulated jacket surrounds the two-phase thermosiphon.

[0066] There is a bushing, which is fastened on the distal sub-section of the lower section of the metal vacuum insulated jacket; this bushing serves, in turn, for installation of the supporting structure of the parabolic dish-shaped mirror; the supporting structure of the parabolic dish-shaped mirror is joined with a tracking manipulator (shown schematically).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0067] FIG. 1a shows a concentrating solar power module (CSP module), which comprises a two-phase thermosiphon (its axial cross-section) serving for transportation of heat generated on a coating, which absorbs concentrated sunlight; this coating covers the external end butt of a distal plug sealing the lower section of the two-phase thermosiphon.

[0068] The proximal sub-section of the lower section of the two-phase thermosiphon is in fluid communication via a 3-way connector with two inclined upper sections of the two-phase thermosiphon; these inclined upper sections are designed as two inclined pipes; the proximal ends of these inclined upper sections are sealed.

[0069] A heat exchanging member, which is designed as a heat exchanging pipe, is positioned in the internal space of two inclined upper sections and the 3-way connector of the two-phase thermosiphon; inlet and outlet connection of the heat exchanging pipe are protruded from the sealings of the proximal ends of the inclined upper sections of the two-phase thermosiphon.

[0070] A metal vacuum insulating jacket surrounds the two-phase thermosiphon.

[0071] A glazing is installed on the flanging of the lower aperture of the metal funnel.

[0072] The lower section of the vacuum insulated jacket of the two-phase thermosiphon is joined via a bushing fastened on it with a supporting structure of a parabolic dish-shaped mirror. This supporting structure is joined, in turn, with a tracking manipulator shown schematically.

[0073] In such a way, a sunlight receiver of the proposed CSP module is the external end butt of the distal plug with its sunlight absorbing coating, and the focal spot of the parabolic dish-shaped mirror is mostly overlapped by this sunlight receiver.

[0074] The CSP module comprises: a two-phase thermosiphon 100; its lower section includes, in turn, an upper sub-section 101, bellows 103, a distal sub-section 104, which is terminated with a metal funnel 105; this distal sub-section 104 is sealed by a distal plug 106; a sunlight absorbing coating 107 covers the external end butt of this distal plug 106 and its internal end butt is covered with a capillary coating 108.

[0075] There are two inclined upper sections 109 of the two-phase thermosiphon 100; these upper inclined sections 109 are in fluid communication with the lower section of the two-phase thermosiphon 100 via a 3-way connector 110.

[0076] A heat exchanging member, which is designed as a heat exchanging pipe 114, is positioned in the internal space of two inclined upper sections 109 and the 3-way connector 110 of the two-phase thermosiphon 100; inlet and outlet connections 115 and 116 of the heat exchanging pipe 114 are protruded from plugs 117 and 118.

[0077] A metal vacuum insulated jacket 102 surrounds the walls (including the 3-way connector 110) of the two-phase thermosiphon 100.

[0078] Glazing 119 is installed on the flanging of the metal funnel 105.

[0079] There is an additional bellows 120 of the metal vacuum insulated jacket 102, which surrounds bellows 103 of the lower section of the two-phase thermosiphon 100.

[0080] Bushing 122 is installed on the distal sub-section 121 of the metal vacuum insulated jacket 102; this bushing 122 serves for installation of a parabolic dish-shaped mirror 123; a supporting structure 124 of the parabolic dish-shaped mirror 123 is joined with bushing 122 by truss struts 125.

[0081] A tracking manipulator 126 is joined with the supporting structure 124 of the parabolic dish-shaped mirror 123 at a certain point of the supporting structure 124.

[0082] An upper sub-section 127 of the lower section of the metal vacuum insulated jacket 102 is joined by cross-bar 128 with posts 112; it provides mechanical rigidity to the upper sub-section 127 of the lower section of the metal vacuum insulated jacket 102.

[0083] The proximal sub-sections 111 of the upper inclined pipes 109 of the two-phase thermosiphon 100 are sealed with plugs 117 and 118.

[0084] The proximal sub-sections 131 of upper sections 130 of the metal vacuum insulated jacket 102 are supported by supporting members 113 installed on posts 112.

[0085] The upper inclined sections 130 of the metal vacuum insulated jacket 102 and the inclined upper sections 109 are provided with auxiliary bellows 129 and 128.

[0086] FIG. 1b shows a detailed axil cross-section of the two-phase thermosiphon 100 with the metal vacuum insulated jacket 102 at their distal parts.

[0087] It comprises the distal sub-section 104 of the lower section of the two-phase thermosiphon 100, which is terminated with the metal funnel 105; the distal sub-section 104 is sealed by the distal plug 106; the sunlight absorbing coating 107 covers the external end butt of this distal plug 106 and its internal end butt is covered by a capillary coating 108.

[0088] The distal sub-section 121 of the lower section of the metal vacuum insulated jacket 102 serves for installation of bushing 122, which is joined with the truss strut 125.

[0089] FIG. 2 shows a CSP module comprising a two-phase thermosiphon with its lower section designed like the lower section of the two-phase thermosiphon in FIG. 1a.

[0090] The CSP module comprises: a two-phase thermosiphon 200 with a lower section including, in turn, an upper sub-section 201, bellows 203, a distal sub-section 204, which is terminated with a metal funnel 205; this distal sub-section 204 is sealed by a distal plug 206; a sunlight absorbing coating 207 covers the external end butt of this distal plug 206 and its internal end butt is covered by a capillary coating 208.

[0091] The upper section of the two-phase thermosiphon comprises an upper pipe 209 having concave axis, and a heat exchanging pipe 214 of smaller diameter; the heat exchanging pipe 214 has a concave axis too and is situated coaxially in the internal space of the upper pipe 209; the terminal sections of this heat exchanging pipe 214 with its inlet and outlet connections are protruded from the upper pipe and the ends of the upper pipe are sealed with the proximal sub-sections of the heat exchanging pipe.

[0092] The upper section 209 of the two-phase thermosiphon 200 is in fluid communication with the lower section of the two-phase thermosiphon 200 via a 3-way connector; this 3-way connector has an upper concave axis, which fits the concave axis of the upper section 209.

[0093] Glazing 219 is installed on the flanging of the metal funnel 205.

[0094] A metal vacuum insulated jacket 202 surrounds the walls of the two-phase thermosiphon 200 (including the 3-way connector 210).

[0095] There is an additional bellows 220 of the metal vacuum insulated jacket 202, which surrounds bellows 203 of the lower section of the two-phase thermosiphon 200.

[0096] Bushing 222 is installed on a distal sub-section 221 of the metal vacuum insulated jacket 202; this bushing 222 is joined with a supporting structure 224 of a parabolic dish-shaped mirror 223 by truss struts 225.

[0097] A tracking manipulator 226 is joined with the supporting structure 224 of the parabolic dish-shaped mirror 223 at a certain point of the supporting structure 224.

[0098] An upper sub-section 227 of the lower section of the metal vacuum insulated jacket 202 is joined by cross-bar 228 with posts 212; it provides mechanical rigidity to the upper sub-section 227 of the lower section of the metal vacuum insulated jacket 202.

[0099] The proximal sub-sections of the upper concave section 209 of the two-phase thermosiphon 200 are sealed with plugs 211 and 217; these proximal sub-sections with the terminal sections of the metal vacuum insulated jacket 202 are supported by supporting members 213 installed on posts 212.

[0100] Inlet and outlet connections 215 and 216 of pipe 214 are protruded from plugs 211 and 217.

[0101] The upper concave section 230 of the metal vacuum insulated jacket 202 and the concave upper section 209 are provided with auxiliary bellows 229 and 218.