SOLAR RECEIVER HAVING IMPROVED HELIOSTAT FIELD PERFORMANCE

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a solar receiver having improved heliostat field control. The solar receiver includes a plurality of receiver panels arranged adjacent to one another. Each receiver panel includes a plurality of receiver tubes aligned tangentially to one another. Further, each of the plurality of receiver tubes includes an inlet and an outlet. In addition, at least one of the inlets or outlets of the plurality of receiver tubes are arranged at a center of the receiver panel along a height thereof.

Claims

1. A solar receiver, comprising: a plurality of receiver panels arranged adjacent to one another, each receiver panel comprising a plurality of receiver tubes aligned tangentially to one another, each of the plurality of receiver tubes comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein at least one of the inlets or outlets of the plurality of receiver tubes are arranged at a center of the receiver panel along a height thereof.

2. The solar receiver of claim 1, wherein at least one of the inlets or outlets of the plurality of receiver tubes are arranged towards an edge of the receiver panel.

3. The solar receiver of claim 1, wherein a flow direction of one or more of the inlets or outlets of the plurality of receiver tubes converges at the center of the receiver panel along a height thereof.

4. The solar receiver of claim 1, wherein a flow direction of one or more of the inlets or outlets of the plurality of receiver tubes diverges from the center of the receiver panel along a height thereof.

5. The solar receiver of claim 1, wherein each receiver panel further comprises at least one inlet header configured with the inlets of the plurality of receiver tubes and at least one outlet header configured with the outlets of the plurality of receiver tubes.

6. The solar receiver of claim 5, wherein the at least one inlet header and the at least one outlet header are configured in at least one of a center portion of the receiver panel or at an end of the receiver panel.

7. The solar receiver of claim 1, wherein a heat flux limit of each of the receiver panels corresponds to a heat flux profile having centerband aiming.

8. The solar receiver of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of receiver panels are vent-able.

9. The solar receiver of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of receiver panels are drainable.

10. The solar receiver of claim 1, wherein the plurality of receiver panels provides a continuous receiver surface configured to correspond to heat flux limits of a panel having a centerband aiming configuration.

11. A receiver panel for a solar receiver, comprising: a plurality of receiver tubes coupled tangentially to one another, each of the plurality of receiver tubes comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein at least one of the inlets or outlets of the plurality of receiver tubes are arranged at a center of the receiver panel along a height thereof.

12. The receiver panel of claim 11, wherein at least one of the inlets or outlets of the plurality of receiver tubes are arranged towards an edge of its respective panel.

13. The receiver panel of claim 11, wherein a flow direction of the inlets or outlets of the plurality of receiver tubes converges at the center of the receiver panel along a height thereof.

14. The receiver panel of claim 11, wherein a flow direction of the inlets or outlets of the plurality of receiver tubes diverges from the center of the receiver panel along a height thereof.

15. The receiver panel of claim 11, wherein each receiver panel further comprises at least one inlet header configured with the inlets of the plurality of receiver tubes and at least one outlet header configured with the outlets of the plurality of receiver tubes.

16. The receiver panel of claim 15, wherein the at least one inlet header and the at least one outlet header are configured in at least one of a center portion of the receiver panel or at an end of the receiver panel.

17. The receiver panel of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of receiver panels are vent-able.

18. The receiver panel of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of receiver panels are drainable.

19. The receiver panel of claim 13, wherein the plurality of receiver panels provides a continuous receiver surface configured to correspond to heat flux limits of a panel having a centerband aiming configuration.

20. A solar power plant, comprising: a solar receiver comprising a plurality of receiver panels arranged adjacent to one another, each receiver panel comprising a plurality of receiver tubes coupled tangentially to one another, each of the plurality of receiver tubes comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein at least one of the inlets or outlets of the plurality of receiver tubes are arranged at a center of the receiver panel along a height thereof; and a heliostat field comprising a plurality of heliostats configured to continuously reflect solar rays towards the plurality of receiver panels, wherein a heat flux limit of each of the plurality of receiver panels corresponds to a heat flux profile having centerband aiming.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:

[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of one embodiment of a heat flux profile applied on a receiver panel surface of a solar receiver with centerband aiming;

[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view of one embodiment of a flow path through a plurality of receiver tubes of a solar receiver panel according to the conventional construction;

[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a solar power plant according to the present disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic view of one embodiment of a flow path through a plurality of receiver tubes of a solar receiver panel according to the present disclosure;

[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic view of another embodiment of a flow path through a plurality of receiver tubes of a solar receiver panel according to the present disclosure;

[0024] FIG. 6 illustrates a simplified, schematic diagram of one embodiment of a portion of a receiver panel surface of a solar receiver according to the present disclosure, particularly illustrating (A) a diverging flow path configured by an inlet around the centerline of the solar receiver and (B) a converging flow path configured by an outlet around the centerline of the solar receiver;

[0025] FIG. 7 illustrates a front view of one embodiment of a receiver panel of a solar receiver according to the present disclosure;

[0026] FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of the receiver panel of FIG. 7;

[0027] FIG. 9 illustrates a back view of the receiver panel of FIG. 7;

[0028] FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of the receiver panel of FIG. 7;

[0029] FIG. 11 illustrates another perspective view of the receiver panel of FIG. 7;

[0030] FIG. 12 illustrates a detailed, perspective view of the receiver panel of FIG. 10, particularly illustrating headers configured around the center of the panel along the height thereof;

[0031] FIG. 13 illustrates a detailed, front view of the receiver panel of FIG. 7, particularly illustrating the tube arrangement around the center of the panel along the height thereof;

[0032] FIG. 14 illustrates a detailed, back view of the receiver panel of FIG. 9, particularly illustrating headers configured around the center of the panel along the height thereof; and

[0033] FIG. 15 illustrates a detailed, side view of the receiver panel of FIG. 8, particularly illustrating headers configured around the center of the panel along the height thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0035] Generally, the present disclosure is directed to a center-fed receiver panel for a solar receiver. As mentioned, the receiver panel includes a plurality of receiver tubes aligned tangentially to one another. Further, each of the plurality of receiver tubes includes an inlet and an outlet. Moreover, at least one of the inlets or outlets of the plurality of receiver tubes are arranged at a center of the receiver panel along a height thereof.

[0036] The present disclosure provides many advantages not present in the prior art. For example, the solar receiver of the present disclosure provides easier control of the heliostat field, as well as simpler aiming strategies to achieve a heat flux limit in line with centerline/center band aiming. Further, as the spillage flux can be reduced by adopting such aiming strategy, the solar receiver of the present disclosure allows for a smaller heliostat field for the same power on the receiver. In addition, the solar receiver of the present disclosure allows for shorter receiver tubes that can be easier to source and supply. Alternatively, such arrangement can lead to larger receiver surfaces with higher thermal ratings without compromising other parameters such as the ideal height-to-diameter aspect ratio of the receiver for optimal aiming of the heliostat field, introduction of weld in the heat transfer zone, and/or a reasonable diameter of the tower to support the receiver. Moreover, the present disclosure reduces spillage at the top and the bottom of the solar receiver, thereby requiring less protective shielding. Further, the receiver panel of the present disclosure represents a fully functional process design with no high point (making the panel vent-able) and no low point (making the panel drainable) in the panel surface. Thus, the solar receiver of the present disclosure provides a simplified, cost effective approach of achieving a heat flux limit in line with centerline/center band aiming.

[0037] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a solar power plant 100 according to the present disclosure. As shown, the solar power plant 100 includes a concentrated solar tower assembly 102 having a tower structure 104 and a solar receiver 106 secured at a top of the tower structure 104. As such, solar rays 108 are concentrated towards the solar receiver 106 via a heliostat field 110 having a plurality of heliostats 111 for the production of electricity. Heliostats 111 as used herein generally refer to any devices that include a reflective surface and which turn so to maintain reflecting solar rays 108 towards the solar receiver 106. As such, the heliostats 111 are configured to compensate for the sun's movement in the sky.

[0038] Further, as shown, the solar receiver 106 includes a plurality of receiver panels 112 arranged adjacent to one another, i.e. in a side-by-side configuration. Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5, and 7-15, each of the receiver panels 112 includes a plurality of receiver tubes 114 through which fluid flows for absorbing the solar heat applied on the receiver surface in the form of concentrated solar rays 108 by the heliostats 111. For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, various embodiments of a solar receiver surface 116 of the receiver panels 112 are illustrated, particularly depicting the heat flux limit profile applied on the surface 116 according to the present disclosure. Further, as shown, each of the receiver tubes 114 includes an inlet 122 and an outlet 124. Thus, as shown, to achieve a heat flux limit in line with the centerline 118 (or centerband) of the receiver panel 112, the inlets 122 of the plurality of receiver tubes 114 may be arranged at or around the center 120 of the receiver panel 112 along a height thereof. As shown in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, the outlets 124 of the receiver tubes 114 may be configured at the top and/or bottom of the panel 112 and the inlets 122 of the receiver tubes 114 may be arranged around the center 120 of the panel 112. Thus, in such embodiments as shown in FIG. 6(A), the heat transfer medium or fluid 128 within the receiver tubes 114 is configured to flow away from or diverge from the center 120 of the panel 112. Further, a heat flux limit of each of the receiver panels 112 is configured to correspond to a heat flux profile having centerband aiming.

[0039] Alternatively, as shown in illustrated embodiment of FIG. 5, some of the inlets 122 and some of the outlets 124 of the receiver tubes 114 may be configured at the top and/or the bottom of the panel 112 and some of the outlets 124 may be arranged around the center 120 of the panel 112. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6(B), the heat transfer medium or fluid 128 within the receiver tubes 114 is configured to flow towards or converge at the center 120 of the panel 112 when heated, e.g. by the solar rays 108. Further, a heat flux limit of each of the receiver panels 112 is configured to correspond to a heat flux profile having centerband aiming.

[0040] Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a panel arrangement having a flow path of the heat transfer medium 128 to either diverge (center-feed) or converge (center-discharge) the flow around the centerline 120 of the panel, according to the heat flux limits of a given pass. More specifically, if the heat flux limit is decreasing with temperature, then the heat transfer medium 128 will diverge from the centerline 120 (center-fed), whereas if the heat flux limit is increasing with temperature, then the heat transfer medium 128 will converge to the centerline (center-discharge).

[0041] In additional embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 7-15, the receiver panel(s) 112 of the solar receiver 106 may include at least one inlet header 130 configured with the inlets 122 of the plurality of receiver tubes 114 and at least one outlet header 132 configured with the outlets 124 of the plurality of receiver tubes 114. More specifically, as shown particularly in FIGS. 8-12 and 14-15, the inlet header(s) 130 may be configured with a center portion 134 of the receiver panel 112. Alternatively, the inlet header(s) 130 may be configured with an end 132 of the receiver panel 112.

[0042] The center portion 134 (or centerband) of the receiver panel 112 as used herein generally encompasses the center 136 of the receiver panel 112 along a length thereof plus or minus a certain distance on either side of the centerline 118, e.g. (+/−) 25% on either side. Further, the center 136 or centerband of the receiver panel 112 may include the centerline 118 (i.e. the actual center) of the panel 112, but may also be shifted up or down by any suitable amount to include a generally central portion 134 of the panel 112. For example, the center portion 134 of the receiver panel 112 may encompass the center 136 of the receiver panel 112 along a length thereof plus or minus (+/−) more or less than 25% on either side as mentioned in the previous example. Further, the center portion 134 (or centerband) of the receiver panel 112 may encompass the center 136 of the receiver panel 112 along a length thereof plus or minus a first distance on one side of the centerline 118 and a different distance on an opposite side of the centerline 118.

[0043] More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 8-12 and 14-15, each receiver panel 112 of the solar receiver 106 may include at least four inlet headers 130 (or outlet headers) configured with the inlets 122 (or outlets 124) of the receiver tubes 114, wherein each of the four inlet headers 130 are configured in a center portion 134 of the receiver panel 112. In further embodiments, the receiver panel(s) 112 of the solar receiver 106 may include more than four or less than four inlet headers 130. Moreover, in certain embodiments, each of the receiver panel(s) 112 of the solar receiver 106 may include the same number or a different number of inlet headers 130. In addition, as shown, the inlet headers 130 may be arranged in any suitable configuration. For example, as shown in FIGS. 8-12 and 14-15, the inlet headers 130 have a staggered configuration. In another embodiment, the inlet headers 130 may have an aligned configuration.

[0044] In further embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 7-11, the outlet header(s) 132 may be configured at one or more of the ends 138, 140 of the receiver panel 112. For example, as shown, each receiver panel 112 may include at least two outlet headers 132 configured with the outlets 124 of the plurality of receiver tubes 112, wherein the two outlet headers 132 are configured at opposing ends 138, 140 of the receiver panel 112. Further, as described herein, the inlet headers 130 and the outlet headers 132 may be interchangeable depending on whether the fluid flow is converging or diverging.

[0045] In yet another embodiment, the receiver panels 112 of the solar receiver 106 may include additional piping 142 configured with the plurality of receiver tubes 114. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 15, at least a portion of the additional piping 142 may be external to the plurality of receiver panels 114. Such piping 142 is configured to connect the inlet and outlet headers 130, 132 to the inlets and outlets 122, 124 of the receiver tubes 114.

[0046] Accordingly, the panel arrangement of the present disclosure arranges the flow path of the heat transfer medium 128 in such a way, that the heat flux limits of the receiver panel 112 is closer to the heat flux incident on the solar receiver 106 with centerband aiming. This enables easier focusing and control of the heliostat field 110. It also increases the solar field efficiency as the spillage loss is substantially reduced.

[0047] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.