Solar device with an air receiver and air return

Details Solar device with an air receiver and air return Solar device with an air receiver and air return

1994-02-17

1996-01-16

Price, Carl D.

Stoves and furnaces

Solar heat collector

Energy concentrator with support for material heated

126674, F24J 202

Patent

active

054839505

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a solar device in which an air stream is guided through and heated by an absorber of an air receiver that is heated by solar radiation, the heated air stream is cooled by removing useful heat energy, especially by generating steam, and at least a portion of the cooled air stream is returned in a plurality of partial streams to the upstream side of the absorber.
From CH-Z "Technische Rundschau Sulzer" 3/1989, P. 9-14, especially FIG. 10, such a solar device is known in which the not completely cooled air is guided from the steam generator into a warm air chamber upstream of the absorber. From there the air flows through suitable nozzles toward the absorber. It is stated that, for example, 60% of the not completely cooled heated air is returned into the circuit. A similar device is known from EP 399 381 A1 in which the outer edges of the absorber are also surrounded by a warm air chamber. In this arrangement a protective air stream is provided in front of the return air for preventing heat loss, which protective air stream flows to the exterior.
With respect to the technology of an air receiver reference is further made to EP 124 769 B1.
In the known method it is thus desired to return the air cooled by removal of useful heat energy, especially by generating steam, which cooled air still contains a considerable amount of detectable heat, be returned to the receiver substantially completely so that the air sucked through the receiver is preheated. In the known arrangements a warm air channel is arranged about the absorber from which the warm return air is blown toward the surface of the receiver that is radiated by the sun. In the known arrangement it is difficult to distribute the returned warm air corresponding to the radiation intensity profile that is present at the absorber over the entire receiver surface, especially when during operation of the device a strong wind is present and/or the upstream side of the absorber is relatively large. It should be noted that for a solar device having a steam output of 100 MW.sub.th the receiver must have a diameter of approximately 15 m.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a solar device of the aforementioned kind in which a desired distribution of the returned air across the upstream side of the receiver is achieved without substantially affecting the efficiency with respect to the conversion of solar radiation to heat.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The solar device according to the present invention is primarily characterized by: housing, the absorber heated by solar radiation; stream of air is guided through the absorber from the upstream side to the downstream side and heated to generate heated air and wherein the heated air is cooled to produce useful heat energy and cooled air; plurality of partial streams to the absorber such that the partial streams are guided through the absorber counter to the stream of air without mixing therewith from the downstream side to the upstream side; and partial streams are deflected toward the upstream side.
Expediently, for a uniform distribution of the partial streams over the upstream side the return air is divided into partial streams of different strengths. Preferably, each of the partial streams exiting from the absorber at the upstream side is forcibly deflected.
Advantageously, the means for returning includes a return air distributor connected within the housing downstream of the absorber in a flow direction of the heated air. The return air distributor is preferably spaced at a predetermined distance from the absorber and has a size that corresponds substantially to a size of an end face of the absorber facing the return air distributor. The return air distributor comprises outlet openings distributed in a predetermined manner about the return air distributor. The return air distributor further has for each outlet opening one return pipe, the return pipes connected to the outlet openings and extending to the upstream side of the absorber.
In

REFERENCES:
patent: 4121564 (1978-10-01), Schwartz
patent: 4280327 (1981-07-01), Mackay
patent: 4312324 (1982-01-01), Ross et al.
patent: 4633854 (1987-01-01), Mayrhgler
patent: 4777934 (1988-10-01), De Laquil, III
H. W. Fricker; 30-MW-Demonstrations-Sonnenkraftwerk-eine Studie; Mar. 1989; pp. 9-14.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Solar device with an air receiver and air return does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Solar device with an air receiver and air return, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Solar device with an air receiver and air return will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-302968