Direct solar steam generation

摘要

Solar energy generates steam in a “once-through” configuration without recirculation, with closely managed steam quality, to produce wet steam from high-contaminant feed water without scaling or fouling. Feed water is pressurized, preheated, and evaporated in a series of pipes exposed to concentrated soar energy to produce a water-steam mixture for direct distribution to an industrial process such as enhanced oil recovery or desalination. Water flow rates are managed based on measurements of solar energy and steam production to manage variations in the solar energy. Steam generator piping system uses continuous receiver pipe that is illuminated by segmented parabolic mirrors enabled to track the sun. Provisions for steam generator piping recurring maintenance are provided. Thermal energy from hot condensate and/or from low quality steam is recaptured and warms inlet water.

主权项

1. A solar collection system, comprising:
an inlet manifold coupled to a source of water; an outlet manifold; a plurality of receiver sections connected between the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold, with individual receiver sections including:
a receiver having an elongated conduit, the elongated conduit having a cleaning pig launch location and a cleaning pig capture location, the elongated conduit having a uniform inner diameter, no hoses, and no expansion joints between the launch location and the capture location to permit passage of a cleaning pig; andat least one reflector positioned to receive solar radiation and direct at least a portion of the radiation to the receiver between the launch location and the capture location; a steam distribution system coupled between the outlet manifold and an oilfield steam injection well to direct steam from the water into the well, without a reboiler between the outlet manifold and the injection well; and a controller coupled to the inlet manifold, the outlet manifold and the receiver sections, the controller being configured to (a) isolate a particular receiver section from other receiver sections and (b) position a reflector corresponding to the particular section off-sun, during cleaning operations.