Power generation plant integrating concentrated solar power receiver and pressurized heat exchanger

摘要

A power plant includes a solar receiver heating solid particles, a standpipe receiving solid particles from the solar receiver, a pressurized heat exchanger heating working fluid by heat transfer through direct contact with heated solid particles flowing out of the bottom of the standpipe, and a flow path for solid particles from the bottom of the standpipe into the pressurized heat exchanger that is sealed by a pressure P produced at the bottom of the standpipe by a column of heated solid particles of height H. The flow path may include a silo or surge tank comprising a pressure vessel connected to the bottom of the standpipe, and a non-mechanical valve. The power plant may further include a turbine driven by heated working fluid discharged from the pressurized heat exchanger, and a compressor driven by the turbine.

主权项

1. A power plant comprising:
a solar receiver configured to heat solid particles; a standpipe extending downward from the solar receiver to receive solid particles from the solar receiver, the standpipe having a height sufficient to support a column of heated solid particles of height H; a pressurized heat exchanger configured to operate at an elevated pressure higher than atmospheric pressure to heat working fluid flowing through the pressurized heat exchanger by heat transfer from heated solid particles flowing out of the bottom of the standpipe; and a flow path for solid particles from the bottom of the standpipe into the pressurized heat exchanger that is configured to be sealed by a pressure P produced at the bottom of the standpipe by a column of heated solid particles of the height H, the flow path comprising a silo or surge tank that forms a pressure vessel connected to the bottom of the standpipe, wherein the silo or surge tank includes at least one fluidization nozzle disposed in the silo or surge tank and configured to output working fluid to agitate a solid particle inventory in the silo or surge tank.