Solar receivers and methods for capturing solar energy
| DWPI Title: Solar receiver for capturing solar energy, includes photovoltaic receiver which allows concentrated solar light passing through it to illuminate heat absorbing bodies of thermal receiver |
| Abstract: Thermal receivers, systems, and methods are disclosed that efficiently capture concentrated solar energy into a plurality of heat absorption bodies for conversion into thermal energy. In an embodiment, the thermal receivers, systems, and methods enable simultaneous electricity conversion and thermal energy capture. The receiver design enables a high penetration of concentrated sunlight deep into the thermal receiver to increase light trapping and reduce thermal losses. The thermal receiver is integrated with a photovoltaic (PV) receiver platform that converts some of the incident light to electricity while passing the remaining light to the thermal receiver. In another embodiment, other thermal receivers, systems, and methods are disclosed that efficiently capture concentrated solar energy into a sheet of falling particles. In an embodiment, the thermal receivers, systems, and methods enable simultaneous electricity conversion and thermal energy capture. |
| Use: Solar receiver for capturing solar energy. |
| Advantage: A solar power system is provided that combines solar thermal and photovoltaic (PV) systems. The radial design of the volumetric receiver surfaces allows a greater penetration of the solar irradiance, reducing the radiative heat loss near the aperture. The integration of a volumetric air receiver and a PV system enables cooling of the PV system for higher efficiency operation and preheating of the air before it enters the volumetric receiver. An advantage of integrating a PV array at the aperture (and along the spillage boards surrounding the aperture) of a falling particle receiver system is that electricity and thermal energy can be simultaneously generated. |
| Novelty: The solar receiver has a thermal receiver (10) comprising a solar collector unit (19) and heat absorbing bodies. The solar collector unit has a housing (24) comprising a first end having a first opening for receiving concentrated solar energy and a second end having a second opening for allowing the concentrated solar energy to pass through the housing. The solar collector unit has a conical geometry tapered from the second end to the first end. The first opening is larger than the second opening. The heat absorbing bodies receive sunlight from the solar energy passing through the housing. The heat absorbing bodies define a passageway (34) having an axis along the axis of the focal length. A photovoltaic receiver (14) is attached to the housing of the thermal receiver proximate the first end. The photovoltaic receiver is configured to allow concentrated solar light passing through the photovoltaic receiver to illuminate the heat absorbing bodies. |
| Filed: 3/16/2016 |
| Application Number: US15071781A |
| Tech ID: SD 12949.1 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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