Solar power system mounted on tower - has cooling tower for exhaust steam suspended from main tower for simpler construction

摘要

The tower (1) carries a machine space at its top. This has openings (2) through which solar radiation reflected from mirrors (4) on the ground reaches air heaters (5). The heated air passes to a gas turbine (8) which drives a compressor (7) and a generator (6). The turbine works on an open cycle. The exhaust from the turbine is cooled in a heat exchanger (11) in which it superheats steam. The steam drives a turbine (13) which is coupled to a generator (14). The exhaust steam returns through cooling coils (16) at the base of a cooling tower (17). The cooling tower with the coils (16) surrounds the generating tower (1) and is suspended (18) from it.