US4400946A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solar thermal power plant
Assignee: BBC Brown Boveri AG Switzerland
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Filing: 1980-07-28
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Granted: 1983-08-30
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Expires: 2000-07-28
Abstract
Abstract A solar thermal power plant containing a heliostat field and a collector system mounted upon a tower or column, the radiation receivers of the collector system being structured to be elongate, preferably circular ring sector-shaped and extending over part of the circumference of the crown or top of the tower. The removal of steam is accomplished directly or indirectly from a hot water storage which is alternately or overlappingly charged and discharged. According to one embodiment there are provided three heat receivers, two of which serve for charging and discharging the hot water storage, whereas in the third receiver there is directly generated steam for the compensation of time periods devoid of sun.
Inventors
- 👤 Georg Oplatka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:13
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24S; F24S20/00; F24S20/20; F03; F03G; F03G6/00; F03G6/06; F03G6/065; F03G6/071; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
253 words
A solar thermal steam turbine power plant comprising: a tower; a radiation receiver installed at and supported by said tower; means defining a heliostat field cooperating with the radiation receiver supported by the tower and containing reflectors for directing in a concentrated fashion the incident solar radiation onto the radiation receiver; a hot water storage operatively associated with the radiation receiver supported by the tower and serving for storage of a work medium which has been heated-up to a predetermined operating temperature; means for thermally charging and discharging the hot water storage; said radiation receiver having an elongate configuration and being subdivided into a multiplicity of partial receivers; said means for charging and discharging said hot water storage containing at least the following components: a throttle element arranged after said hot water storage for reducing the pressure of heated water constituting said work medium in order to generate steam; a turbine; a condenser and a condensate pump operatively connected with said turbine; said condenser condensing exhaust steam of said turbine into water; a pre-heater installation arranged following said condenser and said condensate pump; said turbine containing intermediate stage-bleed taps for bleeding steam used for heating said pre-heater installation; a cold water container for the reception of the water delivered by the condenser and water which has not been converted by the throttling action into steam; a water return flow line for withdrawing said water which has not been converted into steam, at a location following said throttle element, into the cold water container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
253 words
A solar thermal steam turbine power plant comprising: a tower; a radiation receiver installed at and supported by said tower; means defining a heliostat field cooperating with the radiation receiver supported by the tower and containing reflectors for directing in a concentrated fashion the incident solar radiation onto the radiation receiver; a hot water storage operatively associated with the radiation receiver supported by the tower and serving for storage of a work medium which has been heated-up to a predetermined operating temperature; means for thermally charging and discharging the hot water storage; said radiation receiver having an elongate configuration and being subdivided into a multiplicity of partial receivers; said means for charging and discharging said hot water storage containing at least the following components: a throttle element arranged after said hot water storage for reducing the pressure of heated water constituting said work medium in order to generate steam; a turbine; a condenser and a condensate pump operatively connected with said turbine; said condenser condensing exhaust steam of said turbine into water; a pre-heater installation arranged following said condenser and said condensate pump; said turbine containing intermediate stage-bleed taps for bleeding steam used for heating said pre-heater installation; a cold water container for the reception of the water delivered by the condenser and water which has not been converted by the throttling action into steam; a water return flow line for withdrawing said water which has not been converted into steam, at a location following said throttle element, into the cold water container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The solar thermal steam turbine power plant as defined in claim 1, wherein: said radiation receiver comprises a circular ring sector-shaped structure; and an exapnsion vessel arranged between the throttle element and the turbine for generating steam from hot water defining said work medium and received from said hot water storage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
The solar thermal steam turbine power plant as defined in claim 2, further including: a collecting line for interconnecting the heat receiver with the hot water storage; said collecting line serving for infeeding heated water to the hot water storage; and a return flow line directly connecting the cold water storage with the heat receiver and serving for feeding the water back into the heat receiver.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
The solar thermal steam turbine power plant as defined in claim 3, further including: a heat exchanger; a return flow pump; said heat exchanger together with said heat receiver, said collecting line, said return flow pump and said return flow line forming a closed cycle which is separated from the remaining parts of the installation as concerns the work medium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The solar thermal steam turbine power plant as defined in claim 4, wherein: said heat exchanger together with said hot water storage forms a structural unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
130 words
The solar thermal steam turbine power plant as defined in claim 1, further including: three heat receivers defining first, second and third heat receivers; line means for connecting said first and second heat receivers directly with the hot water storage for charging said hot water storage; the removal of steam for the drive of the turbine being directly accomplished at said hot water storage; a valve provided between the throttle element and said turbine; a circuit for operating the power plant during sunshine; said circuit containing: said third heat receiver; a steam infeed line; a throttle element; a valve; a condensate pump; a pre-heater installation; a water return flow line leading to the third heat receiver; and said water return flow line being designated for the direct formation of steam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
167 words
The solar thermal steam turbine power plant as defined in claim 1, further including: three heat receivers defining first, second and third heat receivers; a line for connecting said first heat receiver directly with the cold water storage for charging the hot water storage; line means for connecting said second heat receiver with said cold water storage, so that the water pre-heated in the second heat receiver arrives at the hot water storage after flowing through the cold water storage and the first heat receiver; the removal of steam being accomplished directly out of said hot water sorage; a valve provided between the throttle element and the turbine; a circuit intended for operation of the power plant in the presence of sunlight; said circuit containing: said third heat receiver; a vapor infeed line; a throttle element; a valve; a condensate pump; a pre-heater installation; a water return flow line leading to the third heat receiver; and said third heat receiver being designed for direct formation of steam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The solar thermal steam turbine power plant as defined in claim 1, wherein: said hot water storage is structured as a substantially torous-shaped ring container; said cooling tower having a jacket portion; and said torous-shaped ring container being arranged within the jacket portion of said cooling tower.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-08-29 | 1987-02-28 | 1987-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-29 | 1991-02-28 | 1991-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-29 | 1995-02-28 | 1995-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |